Site of the Zunsanwei Defense Battle

Site of the Zunsanwei Defense Battle

The Site of the Zunsanwei Defense Battle is located in Zhen'gang Village, Zhen'gang Township, Anyuan County, dating back to 1933. In March 2018, it was designated as part of the sixth batch of provincial-level cultural heritage protection units in Jiangxi Province.

The weiwu is a traditional dwelling of the Hakka people and features strong defensive capabilities. Zunsanwei is a square-shaped weiwu, consisting of four rows of enclosed buildings forming a closed-off square. Its windows are very small, and there are watchtowers at each of the four corners, making it easy to defend but difficult to attack—like a sturdy fortress. In the 1930s, this weiwu served as the site of the local Soviet government.

In May 1933, the Nationalist forces under Chen Jitang launched a “suppression campaign” against the Soviet regime in the Anyuan area. Enemy troops used two regiments to heavily surround Zunsanwei. At that time, there were only about 200 Red Guards and residents inside the weiwu. Relying on the solid structure of the weiwu and using limited firearms and homemade weapons, they put up a tenacious resistance for 40 days. Despite relentless attacks from machine guns and artillery, the enemy also deployed aircraft, but still failed to break through. Eventually, the enemy soaked bundles of straw, tied them into large bales, used them as shields, and climbed onto the roof along the straw piles, finally breaching the weiwu. Of the 156 township Soviet officials, Red Guards, and revolutionary civilians inside, all were killed except for 13 infants who were sold off. This tragic event came to be known as the “Battle of Zunsanwei.” The Zunsanwei weiwu was razed to the ground by the Nationalist army during the battle and was once left in ruins.

Further Reading:

· Sixth Batch of Provincial-Level Cultural Heritage Protection Units in Jiangxi Province