Memorial Hall of Zhou Dunyi

Memorial Hall of Zhou Dunyi

The Memorial Hall of Zhou Dunyi is located on Lishu Ridge in Zhoujiawan, Lianhua Town, Lushan District, Jiujiang City, where Lianxi Avenue intersects Qianjin South Road. The site was originally the graveyard of Lianxi. In May 2008, the Jiangxi Provincial Department of Culture approved the establishment of the Zhou Dunyi Memorial Hall in Jiujiang City. It was officially inaugurated on June 14, 2008, becoming the first memorial hall dedicated to Zhou Dunyi in China. The current memorial hall reflects the state after the major renovation of the Lianxi Tomb in 2006. On the way to the memorial hall, there is an archway inscribed with “Tomb of Duke Songyuan, Zhou Lianxi.” In front of the archway lies a dismounting stone. On both sides of the entrance to the memorial hall are pavilions: the Zhaoying Pavilion on the east, behind which is a lotus pond, and the Jiaocui Pavilion on the west. Inside the memorial hall, the Ailian Hall and Lianxi Shrine are situated on the eastern and western sides respectively. The Lianxi Tomb is located on a higher hillside, and visitors ascend steps passing the Ailian Pavilion and Jiguang Pavilion along the way. The tomb is a joint burial site of Zhou Dunyi, his mother, and his two wives. Lady Zheng, Zhou’s wife, is in the center; Zhou Dunyi is on the right, while his first wife Lady Lu and his second wife Lady Pu are on the left. The surrounding wall of the entire memorial hall also serves as a stele corridor, inscribed with poems and other literary works by historical figures, either praising or dedicated to Zhou Dunyi.

The restoration project of the tomb of Zhou Dunyi, the founding figure of Neo-Confucianism in the Northern Song Dynasty, was basically completed in mid-June 2006 after more than a year of intensive construction. The reconstructed Ailian Pond, memorial archway, and commemorative pavilions have all been finished, making it another complete cultural heritage tourist attraction at the foot of Mount Lu.

Zhou Dunyi’s Tomb, also known as the Lianxi Tomb, is located on Lishu Ridge in Zhoujiawan, Lianhua Town, Lushan District, covering a total area of 43,000 square meters. During the Cultural Revolution, the surface structures of the Lianxi Tomb were severely damaged, but the underground tomb remained well preserved. In 1999, with funding from the Hong Kong Zhou Clan Association, the first phase of the restoration project was completed, preserving this precious historical site. Since 2005, with the support of relevant departments in Jiangxi and Jiujiang Provinces, the Hong Kong Zhou Clan Association has invested over one million yuan for further restoration.

It is reported that behind the Lianxi Tomb there is a curved screen wall inlaid with three bluestone steles, each two meters high, engraved with Zhou Dunyi’s representative works: “The Universal Book,” “The Love for the Lotus,” and “The Explanation of the Diagram of the Supreme Ultimate.”

The Memorial Hall of Zhou Dunyi is a national public memorial hall for a notable figure and is free of charge. To enhance free access, promote the development of Jiujiang’s cultural tourism, advocate the culture of Lianxi, establish the Lianxi brand, and build an educational base for integrity culture, plans are underway to expand the Zhou Dunyi Memorial Hall. Once expanded, the total area will be 3 to 5 times the current size, approximately 40,000 square meters. The expansion includes exhibition areas, cultural relic storage, public service zones, cultural relic conservation areas, and office and auxiliary spaces. Specific projects include:

1. “Hall of Neo-Confucianism” — the construction of an exhibition hall centered on the display of classic Neo-Confucianist texts.

2. “Garden of Integrity (Lian/Qing)” — the development of a courtyard storage area themed around stories and examples of clean and honest governance.

3. “Treasure Repository Studio” — the establishment of a conservation technical courtyard focused on values of diligence, frugality, and integrity in governance and personal conduct.

4. Supporting construction of environmental, office, and service facilities.

Bus Routes

Take Bus No. 101 and get off at Fengjiacun Station, then walk 500 meters east to reach the site.

Further Reading:

· National Second-Class Museum of China