Tomb of Li Gang

Tomb of Li Gang

The Tomb of Li Gang is located at the foot of the southern slope of Dajia Mountain. Behind the tomb, rolling hills stretch for miles, flanked by dragon- and tiger-shaped hillocks standing guard. In front of the tomb lies a vast plain with a picturesque view of lakes and mountains. Standing before the tomb and looking south, one can gaze upon the ceaselessly flowing Min River and the layered green peaks in the distance, resembling an exquisitely shaded landscape painting.

In the tenth year of the Shaoxing era (1140 AD), Li Gang passed away at Lengyan Retreat in Taijiang and was buried in Dajia Mountain in the western suburbs.

It is said that this tomb was originally the burial site of Master Shenyan. Later, the remains of Master Shenyan were moved to Yongquan Temple on Drum Mountain, and Li Gang was laid to rest here instead. This tomb is now a provincial-level cultural heritage protection unit.

The spirit way in front of the tomb is nearly 100 meters long and seven to eight meters wide, with a central section paved with flagstones and sides built from cobblestones. On both sides of the spirit way stand rows of flagpoles, stone obelisks, unicorns, and stone statues of civil and military officials. At the end of the spirit way stands a stone memorial archway inscribed with “Ancient Pillar of the State.” The pillars bear a couplet written and inscribed by Lin Zexu: “With every step he took, his fate was tied to the nation’s weal or woe; through the ages, his spirit guards these lake-and-mountain scenes.”

The tomb platform has three tiers, arranged in orderly steps. The tomb structure itself is built from blue bricks, circular in shape, resembling a yurt, standing over ten feet high with a circumference of twelve zhang. At the center of the tomb mound is embedded a recessed blue stone stele, within which is engraved in intaglio: “The Tomb of the Late Loyal and Steadfast Chancellor Li, Founding Prime Minister of the Song Dynasty.”

Jingxi Town: A town under the jurisdiction of Minhou County. In 1958, Jingxi Commune was established; in 1984, it was restructured as a township; and in 1992, it became a town. Located in the eastern part of the county, it is 6 kilometers from the county seat. Covering an area of 147 square kilometers with a population of 43,000, it is traversed by the Fu–Gu Highway and the Outer Fu Railway. The town administers 20 village committees: Jingxi, Renzhou, Liukuang, Guanzhong, Puqian, Guanxi, Guandong, Heyang, Nanshan, Qiaopu, Tanshi, Gangtou, Xixia, Guangming, Tongkou, Houyu, Gushanzhou, Taotian, Guankou, and Yongfeng. Major enterprises include those producing building materials, agricultural machinery, fans, and ships. In 1992, the provincial government approved the establishment of the province’s first... Detailed information about Jingxi Town++