Former Site of the General Headquarters of the Autumn Harvest Uprising (Zajin Wanshou Palace)

Former Site of the General Headquarters of the Autumn Harvest Uprising (Zajin Wanshou Palace)

The Former Site of the General Headquarters of the Autumn Harvest Uprising (Zajin Wanshou Palace) is a cultural relic protection unit of Jiangxi Province and a classic red tourism attraction.

Zajin Wanshou Palace is the largest ancient building in Zajin. Its original construction date is unknown but is believed to have been built around the time Zajin became a market town. It was originally named “Lingjian Xian Palace.” The building was renovated in the 11th year of the Tongzhi reign of the Qing Dynasty (1872). The palace has four sections in a row: the front section includes an archway and stage; the middle section features a bluestone courtyard with wine shops on both sides; the upper section is the main hall where statues of deities such as Xu Xianjun and Wu Meng are enshrined; the rear section is the Chenmu Hall, dedicated to Goddess Chenmu. Wings on both sides serve as venues for temple fair activities. The entire complex covers an area of over 1,600 square meters. There are 24 pillars throughout the palace (the main hall has six large wooden pillars and two stone pillars, with the wooden pillars about two spans in circumference). All visible beams feature carved figurative reliefs, with upturned eaves and grand, imposing architecture that is truly spectacular.

Zajin Wanshou Palace

Wanshou Palace not only served as a Taoist pilgrimage site but also integrated religious, folk, commercial, and recreational functions. In the past, grand ceremonies, competitions, opera performances, trade activities, and meetings were regularly held here.

On September 9, 1927, the shocking Autumn Harvest Uprising on the Hunan-Jiangxi border fired its first shot in Xiushui. That evening, the uprising troops arrived in Zajin, and the general headquarters set up camp in the left wing of Wanshou Palace. Commander-in-Chief Lu Deming gathered staff from the division headquarters here to plan and deploy the soldiers’ and civilians’ oath-taking assembly and the route of advance. Later, the Red Fifth Army led by Peng Dehuai and later the Red Sixteenth Army were also stationed here. The Third Workers’, Peasants’, and Soldiers’ Congress of Xiushui County and the Victory in the War of Resistance Speech Assembly of Xiushui County were both held here.

In 1947, the Zajin District Central Primary School was founded here. After the liberation, the site continued to serve as the school’s location. During the Cultural Revolution, the palace buildings were severely damaged—the archway, stage, and wine shops were demolished and rebuilt as classrooms, and all figurative carvings, plaques, and decorative eaves elements were lost. After the reform and opening-up period, to protect this millennia-old historical site and this important revolutionary relic of the Autumn Harvest Uprising, the school was relocated. Local residents actively maintained the original structures and revived the incense offerings at Wanshou Palace, making it an important ancient cultural heritage site in the Zajin town area.

In August 1927, following the spirit of the August 7th Meeting of the Party, Mao Zedong came to the Hunan-Jiangxi border as a special envoy of the Central Committee to organize the Autumn Harvest Uprising. At the end of August and beginning of September, the Guard Regiment of the Second Front Army Headquarters of the Fourth Group Army of the National Revolutionary Army, which was stationed in Xiushui County for rest and awaiting orders, along with the Pingjiang Workers’ and Peasants’ Volunteer Corps, and the Liuyang Workers’ and Peasants’ Volunteer Corps stationed in Tonggu County, held a military formation and division conference in Shankou Town, Xiushui County, establishing the First Division of the First Army of the Workers’ and Peasants’ Revolutionary Army. The Chongyang-Tongcheng Farmers’ Self-Defense Army and the Xiushui Farmers’ Self-Defense Army were incorporated into this Autumn Harvest Uprising force.

In the early hours of September 9, the oath-taking assembly of the Autumn Harvest Uprising was held at Zihua Dun in Xiushui County, marking the first outbreak of the sensational Autumn Harvest Uprising. The troops held high the first military flag of our Party and army—“First Division of the First Army of the Workers’ and Peasants’ Revolutionary Army”—and marched in a mighty procession from the county town along the ancient east-west official road. Passing through Xibai, Huangtian, Shuangjing, and Mazuhu, they arrived at the Puli area of Xiukou Village by noon, where they set up camp to cook.

At noon, former Guard Regiment Commander Lu Deming, who had endured great hardships traveling from Wuhan, caught up with the Autumn Harvest Uprising forces in Xiukou Village. Standing under the trees in Jiuguilin in Xiukou Village, Lu faced the troops stationed on the Peach Blossom Islet to the west and reported how, after leaving the Guard Regiment, he had found Xiang Jingyu of the Hubei Provincial Committee in Wuhan. He conveyed Xiang Jingyu’s instructions based on the spirit of the August 7th Meeting and the decisions of the higher Party organization: they were urged to quickly return to the troops, establish a headquarters, and participate in the Autumn Harvest Uprising. Lu then assumed the role of overall commander of the Autumn Harvest Uprising. The troops erupted in cheers. Afterwards, the uprising forces passed through Qingban Bridge, Ma’ao Old Street, Huoma, and Siqian, eventually reaching Zajin. Xu Guanghua, leader of the Party group of the Xiushui Branch of the CPC, and Zhang Boqin, along with others, led Zajin workers and peasants in welcoming the uprising troops with tea and water.

That evening, the troops arrived at the old street of Zajin Town and joined up with the Fourth Regiment of the First Division of the First Army of the Workers’ and Peasants’ Revolutionary Army, led by Qiu Guoxuan (who later defected). The general headquarters of the Autumn Harvest Uprising and the division headquarters were stationed at Wanshou Palace on the old street, while other soldiers were billeted in shops along the old street and nearby residences. Troops and local people celebrated together, marking the Mid-Autumn Festival ahead of schedule. That night, Commander-in-Chief Lu Deming convened a meeting of the Autumn Harvest Uprising general headquarters in the left wing of Wanshou Palace with division staff including Yu Saidu, Yu Benmin, and Zhong Wenjang, as well as leaders of the Xiushui Party organization. They discussed the spirit of the August 7th Meeting and directives for launching the Autumn Harvest Uprising, reviewed the uprising situation, and planned the next day’s soldiers’ and civilians’ mobilization assembly and the army’s route toward Pingjiang.

On the morning of September 10 (Mid-Autumn Festival), the uprising troops organized a massive soldiers’ and civilians’ mobilization assembly at Dashazhou near Wanshou Palace. They executed reactionary tyrants at Fuxing Bridge, gathered with the public for a grand gathering on the old street, and then advanced toward Daqiao and Pingjiang County. They subsequently achieved victories in attacking Zhufuchang (Zhuxi) in Xiushui and Longmenchang in Pingjiang. After suffering a setback at Jinping in Pingjiang County, Lu Deming led his troops through areas like Shangshan Shutang to regroup and rest in Taizhuang and Sanxiao’ao in Donggang Township, Xiushui County.

Following Mao Zedong’s instructions, Lu Deming led his troops on a circuitous journey to Wenjiashi in Liuyang County, Hunan Province, where they joined the Third and Second Regiments of the First Division of the First Army of the Workers’ and Peasants’ Revolutionary Army, thus embarking on the great journey to establish China’s first rural revolutionary base—the Jinggangshan Revolutionary Base.

During the New Democratic Revolution period, Zajin Old Street Wanshou Palace hosted many significant revolutionary activities. In August 1926, when the Northern Expeditionary Army arrived in Zajin, they were warmly welcomed by people from all walks of life, and revolutionary propaganda and mobilization were carried out in the area. On the main wall of the palace’s main hall, traces remain of slogans and images painted in brush by the Northern Expeditionary Army, including “Portrait of the Premier,” “The Premier’s Testament,” and the couplet “The revolution is not yet complete, comrades must still strive.” These relics were discovered by renovation workers in October 2011, on the centennial anniversary of the Xinhai Revolution.

Zajin Old Street Wanshou Palace is one of over 100 Wanshou Palace (including aliases) ancient buildings in Xiushui County. Originally built during the Song Dynasty and known as “Lingjian Xian Palace,” it was renovated by local people in the 11th year of the Tongzhi reign of the Qing Dynasty (1872) and renamed “Wanshou Palace.” Covering an area of more than 1,800 square meters, the palace integrates Taoist teachings, folk performances, commerce, and entertainment. Major religious ceremonies, deity worship festivals, commercial promotions, folk activities, and cultural performances in Zajin were usually held here.

Read more:

· Sixth Batch of Jiangxi Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units