Tomb of Tan Lun

Tomb of Tan Lun

The Tomb of Tan Lun is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

The Tomb of Tan Lun is located on the hill north of Lutang in Lianqian Village, Erdu Township, Yihuang County. It was initially built in the seventh year of the Wanli reign during the Ming Dynasty, covering an area of approximately 1,000 square meters. The site includes a spirit way, memorial archways, and a burial mound, with the sacrificial altar situated on the sloping ground. The original appearance of the tomb site has been severely damaged—structures such as the offering hall and stone statues of civil officials were destroyed long ago. Later, through funding raised by the local government, the Tomb of Tan Lun was largely preserved and restored, and it has now become an important local tourist attraction. It is recognized as a Municipal Cultural Relics Protection Unit of Fuzhou City and a Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Unit of Jiangxi Province.

Tomb Composition The Tomb of Tan Lun faces south and consists of three parts: the sacrificial path, the spirit way, and the tomb structure. Sacrificial Path: At the southern entrance stands a two-story, hip-and-gable roofed gatehouse guarded by a pair of stone lions. The brick-and-stone-paved sacrificial path extends about 300 meters in length. A plaque inscribed with the imperial calligraphy “Loyalty and Filial Piety in Both Civil and Military Service” hangs above the gatehouse. Inside the gatehouse is an offering hall that houses a statue of Tan Lun.

Spirit Way: Approximately 100 meters in length, the spirit way features a series of stone memorial archways grouped in threes, each consisting of four pillars and three gates. The central archway is taller and larger than the side ones. At the top of each stone pillar sit carved stone animals—lions, horses, deer, and elephants—serving as pedestals. The central archway is inlaid with a large plaque inscribed with “Tomb of Tan Gong, Duke of Xiangmin, Posthumously Honored as Grand Secretary of War, Who Was Granted an Imperial Burial.” A pebble-patterned stone path winds up the left slope of the hill, leading to five tiers of stone steps. The first tier features a pair of stone tigers, symbolizing Tan Lun’s zodiac sign; the second tier has a pair of stone sheep, representing his childhood; the third tier displays a pair of stone horses, signifying his military career; the fourth tier includes two stone warrior figures over two meters tall, clad in armor, symbolizing General Tan Lun’s battles across the land; the fifth tier consists of two stone civil officials—one holding a court tablet, the other a jade belt—symbolizing Tan Lun’s service as Minister of War in the capital, assisting the emperor. According to the conventions of the Ming Dynasty, only two stone figures were allowed along the spirit way, yet the Tomb of Tan Lun has four, reflecting the special favor bestowed upon Tan Lun by the emperor.

Tomb Structure The tomb measures 30 meters in length and 20 meters in width, built into the hillside in three tiers, each about 1.2 meters high, with red stone steps leading to the top. The lower level of the tomb holds the gravestone, while the upper level features a circular carved screen wall, at the center of which is an imperial stone tablet inscribed with “Imperial Decree.” The top of the tomb consists of a two-tiered stone structure, 80 centimeters in total height—the lower tier being a flat round stone base, and the upper a spherical stone carved with a design of two dragons playing with a pearl, surrounded by clouds. The entire tomb complex, situated high on the hill, commands a majestic presence and is hailed as “the No. 1 Ancient Tomb of the South.”

It is worth mentioning that all the stone carvings at the Tomb of Tan Lun demonstrate exquisite craftsmanship. The statues of figures, horses, sheep, and tigers are finely sculpted, vividly lifelike, almost coming to life. In particular, the newly unearthed “Spirit Way Stele,” densely inscribed with tiny characters, is considered a marvel of stonework from that period. The stele is made of bluestone, standing 87 centimeters high, 54 centimeters wide, and 3 centimeters thick. The inscription, in regular script and carved in intaglio, consists of 33 vertical lines with 62 characters per line, totaling 2,046 characters. The text recounts Tan Lun’s life story and the imperial mourning following his death, making it a valuable historical document of both literary and artistic significance for later research.

Tan Lun (1520–1577) was a native of Yihuang, Jiangxi Province during the Ming Dynasty, with the courtesy name Zili. From childhood, he was well-read, calm in temperament, and possessed great strategic vision. In 1543, he passed the imperial examination at the prefectural level, and the following year, he achieved the highest rank in the imperial examinations. In 1548, he was appointed as an official in the Ministry of Rites in Nanjing. Soon after, he was promoted to the position of Langzhong (a mid-level official) in the Ministry of War. At the time, Japanese pirates were approaching Nanjing, causing panic among officials and timidity among soldiers who “refused to advance.” Tan Lun volunteered to recruit 500 brave men and successfully repelled the pirates, gaining recognition for his military prowess. In 1549, with rampant pirate activity in Zhejiang, Tan Lun was appointed as Prefect of Taizhou. He recruited a thousand local militia, trained them rigorously in the “Jingchu sword technique and tactical formations,” and turned them into a formidable force. In 1557... More details about Tan Lun ++

Lianqian Village: Lianqian Village in Erdu Town is located along Provincial Highway S208, approximately 10 kilometers from the county seat. The village consists of four natural settlements situated sequentially along the highway, with a current population of 231 households and 881 people. To the east lies the Huangshui River of Yihuang; to the west is Yiquan Mountain, one of the second batch of national sites on the Xu Xiake Travel Route; to the south are Jiangxi’s premier mountain, Taiji Rock, and Shigong Temple, the first site of Master Mazu; and to the north is the Tomb of Tan Lun Cultural Park, a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit and renowned as the “No. 1 Ancient Tomb of the South.” The village enjoys a uniquely superior geographical setting and is rich in historical and cultural heritage.

As a key development zone within the county, Lianqian Village is being highlight-developed with high-standard planning and design. Experts have been engaged to... More details about Lianqian Village ++

Further Reading:

· Seventh Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units