Ancestral Hall and Tomb of Yuan Chonghuan

Ancestral Hall and Tomb of Yuan Chonghuan

The Ancestral Hall and Tomb of Yuan Chonghuan are designated as a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit and a patriotic education base.

The Ancestral Hall and Tomb of Yuan Chonghuan are located in the northeastern part of Chongwen District, on Donghuasi Xiejie, on the former site of the Guangdong Public Cemetery. The temple is situated by the East Lake of Longtan Park in the southeastern part of the district.

Yuan Chonghuan (1584–1630) was a renowned general in the late Ming Dynasty who fought against the Later Jin and defended Shanhaiguan and Beijing, achieving remarkable military feats. He was later wrongfully executed due to false accusations believed by Emperor Chongzhen. Later generations built the ancestral hall and temple in his memory.

The ancestral hall and tombstone were built around the early Qing Dynasty and are commonly known as the She Family Shrine. It faces south, and the original gate bore a plaque inscribed by later generations: “Tomb of Yuan Chonghuan, National Martyr of the Ming Dynasty.” The main hall of the shrine has five rooms, with stone carvings such as the “Stele for the Reconstruction of the Tomb and Ancestral Hall of Yuan Chonghuan, Supervisor-in-Chief of the Ming Dynasty” by Li Jishen embedded in the front porch and interior walls. Below the eaves hangs a plaque inscribed by Ye Gongchuo: “Tomb Hall of Yuan Chonghuan, Southern Martyr of the Ming Dynasty.” Behind the shrine lies Yuan Chonghuan’s tomb. Originally, there was a mound about two meters high, in front of which stood a stone stele inscribed with “Tomb of General Yuan of the Ming Dynasty” by Wu Rongguang, Governor of Hunan, in the 11th year of the Daoguang reign (1831), along with a stone table. The tomb area was enclosed by a brick flower wall and planted with evergreen pines and cypresses. Today, only the tombstone and some stone carvings on the walls remain.

Location: Northeastern Chongwen District, Donghuasi Xiejie

The Temple of Yuan Chonghuan was established in 1917 by Mr. Zhang Bozhen, a native of Guangdong. The temple faces east and is situated on a platform about one meter high, spanning three bays. The three rooms inside are separately partitioned, with the central gate bearing a stone lintel inscribed “Temple of Yuan Chonghuan.” The couplet on both sides of the gate reads: “His life and legacy tied to the survival of China, worshipped for millennia, his death heavier than Mount Tai, yet he suffered great injustice; hearing the war drums, one thinks of the generals of Liaodong, a single man guarding the pass, appearing like an impenetrable enemy—where else can such a master be found?” Inside the central room, the main wall features an embedded stone carving of Yuan Chonghuan, above which originally hung a plaque inscribed with Yuan’s own calligraphy “Listening to the Rain

3, 8, 39, 43, 60, 610, 723 bus, get off at Huashi Station on the west side

Chongwen District, Beijing

Yuan Chonghuan (1584–1630), courtesy name Yuansu, art name Ziru, also known as Yuan Dushi, was a renowned general of the late Ming Dynasty. He achieved major victories at the Battles of Ningyuan and Ningjin, effectively resisting the Qing forces, but resigned and returned home due to the influence of Wei Zhongxian. After the accession of Emperor Chongzhen (Zhu Youjian), Wei Zhongxian was removed from power, and Yuan Chonghuan was reinstated. However, during a battle against Hong Taiji, he was falsely accused of colluding with the Later Jin forces. Emperor Chongzhen sentenced him to lingchi (death by a thousand cuts), exiled his family over 3,000 li, and confiscated his property. Yuan Chonghuan authored poems such as "Failing the Imperial Exam," "Admiring the Moon During Autumn Examinations," "Imprisoned," and "Moon in Prison..."  More details about Yuan Chonghuan++

Further reading:

·Third Batch of Municipal-Level Cultural Relics Protection Units in Beijing

·Sixth Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units