Zeng Gong Memorial Hall

Zeng Gong Memorial Hall

Zeng Gong Memorial Hall is located in the suburbs of Nanfeng County and is one of the top ten historical figures' memorial halls in Jiangxi Province. It is a top destination for both domestic and international tourists visiting Nanfeng and also serves as one of the county's patriotic education bases. Nanfeng County is the hometown of Zeng Gong, one of the "Eight Great Prose Masters of the Tang and Song Dynasties." The Zeng Gong Memorial Hall scenic area features Reading Rock, the Zeng Gong Museum, the Nanfeng Nuo Culture Exhibition Hall, Yangfeng Pavilion, and Guanjin Pavilion, among other attractions. A poem praises the site: “Spanning the Xushui River stands the South Terrace, where cliffs echo verses of Zigu’s prose. Gazing at the Ink Pool, ancient rhythms arise; lost in thought on Maple Ridge, we honor sages past. Trees cast shadows by moonlit streams before the pavilion, while rock-carved springs murmur beneath the study cave. Glorious relics fade gently into history, passed down through generations as timeless marvels.”

Within the scenic area lies a square-shaped pool, said to be where Zeng Gong washed his brushes and inkstones as a child. The two characters “墨池” (Ink Pool) inscribed on the wall were written by Zhu Xi of the Southern Song Dynasty. In the eighth year of the Qingli era, Zeng Gong penned his famous essay “Record of the Ink Pool,” inspired by this very spot. Today, a statue of Zeng Gong stands within Reading Rock — the gifted scholar, serene and composed, gently holding a scroll, revered and celebrated by visitors.

​Tourist Routes:

​1. Nanfeng County – South Ring Road – Zeng Gong Cultural Park (direct driving route)

​2. Jujv Avenue – Cangshan Road – Jianshe Road – Jiefang Road – Xujang Cable Bridge – Zeng Gong Memorial Hall

​3. Nanfeng County – South Ring Road – Shuinan Village – Zeng Gong Memorial Hall (direct driving route)

Zeng Gong (1019–1083), courtesy name Zigu, was a Han Chinese from Nanfeng in Jianchang Jun (present-day Nanfeng County, Jiangxi Province), later residing in Linchuan. He was a prose writer, historian, and statesman of the Northern Song Dynasty. Born into a family of Confucian scholars, Zeng Gong’s grandfather Zeng Zhiyao and father Zeng Yizhan were both notable officials of the Northern Song. Gifted with exceptional intelligence and an extraordinary memory, Zeng Gong could recite poetry from a young age and began composing essays at just twelve. In the second year of the Xining era (1069), he served as a reviser for the Veritable Records of Emperor Yingzong of Song, and was soon appointed as Prefectural Judge of Yuezhou. He passed away in 1082 in Jiangning Prefecture (present-day Nanjing, Jiangsu), and was posthumously honored with the title “Wen…” More details about Zeng Gong ++