Tomb of Jiang Wanli

Tomb of Jiang Wanli

The Tomb of Jiang Wanli is a cultural tourism attraction.

The Tomb of Jiang Wanli is located in Gangdong, Tuitang Town (at the western foot of Baishi Mountain, formerly known as Shisha Bay). The tomb faces southwest and is situated to the northeast, surrounded by a chair-back shaped mound with a diameter of about 8 meters. In front of the tomb lies a semi-circular flat ground offering a broad view. The tomb was originally built with purple bricks and stones but was damaged in earlier years, though the stone structure inside remains. It is a county-level protected cultural relic.

Jiang Wanli (1198–1275), courtesy name Ziyuan and art name Guxin, was from Fuqian Jiang family in Yangfeng Township, Duchang County. His grandfather, Jiang Lin, lived in seclusion all his life and taught in the local area. His father, Jiang Ye, passed the imperial examination during the reign of Emperor Lizong of the Song Dynasty, and held various positions including professor, commandant, county magistrate, transport commissioner of the Jiangnan East Circuit, tea and salt affairs officer of the Jiangnan West Circuit, and judicial commissioner. He dedicated his life to the study of Cheng-Zhu Neo-Confucianism. Even during the “Qingyuan Party Purge,” he continued to teach Cheng-Zhu doctrines in secret. His mother, Lady Chen, was the daughter of the renowned Neo-Confucian scholar Chen Dayou and sister of Chen Hao. Coming from an erudite family, Jiang Wanli studied in the library built by his grandfather in his childhood, showed remarkable intelligence, and passed the local exams successively. Later, under his father’s guidance, he studied the Book of Changes. When he grew older, he went to the White Deer Grotto Academy for advanced studies and later traveled to study at the Donghu Academy in Longxing Prefecture under the tutelage of Lin Kuison, a disciple of Zhu Xi.

In the 15th year of the Jiading era (1222) of the Song Dynasty, Jiang Wanli was recommended for admission to the National University. The crown prince Zhao Yun (later Emperor Lizong) held him in high esteem and once wrote the three characters “Jiang Wanli” on the desk and inkstone. In the 2nd year of the Baoqing era (1226), he passed the imperial examination through the college selection system. In his policy essay, "Guo Ziyi Meeting the Tiger Alone on Horseback," he expressed admiration for Guo Ziyi’s courage and patriotism. The chief examiner was moved by his writing and praised it: “The theme is original and the wording exquisite—this is a work of lofty classical prose.” In the 6th year of Baoqing, he was appointed as a professor in Chizhou through the college selection system. Later, he was summoned for palace examinations and successively held positions such as assistant compiler, acting left assistant secretary, and military affairs drafter at the Privy Council. In the 4th year of the Jiayou era (1240), he was appointed prefect of Jizhou. His poem “Encouraging Agriculture” reads: “Elders, come here, let me tell you: closeness between officials and people is an ancient virtue. To know what brings joy to the governor, look at the laughter in the farmers’ homes.” Besides governance, he showed great enthusiasm for education. In the 1st year of the Chunyou era (1241), he founded the Bailuzhou Academy on the east bank of the Gan River in the county seat of Luling, Ji Zhou, amassing a large collection of books and enrolling many students. The academy was granted an imperial plaque inscribed “Bailuzhou Academy” by Emperor Lizong. Initially without an appointed head, he managed the academy himself and personally taught the students, never putting on official airs. Later generations erected a monument in his honor, praising his educational contributions: “Jiang Wanli founded the Bailuzhou Academy, earning the respect of officials, the love of commoners, and the transformation of even the fiercest soldiers.” The next year, he was promoted to Direct Secretariat and became prefect of Longxing, where he also established the Zonglian Retreat to gather students and teach. Again, the emperor bestowed an inscribed plaque. During this time, he also instructed the military prefect of Nanan, Lin Shougong, to expand the Sanyuan Ancestral Temple (dedicated to Zhou Dunyi, Cheng Yi, and Cheng Hao) in Yuan County into the Zhou-Cheng Academy. Due to his outstanding educational achievements, in the 3rd year of Chunyou, he was promoted to Examination Bureau Official and concurrently Direct Secretariat, overseeing the Chongxi Taoist Temple in Jiankang Prefecture. Soon after, he was reassigned to the Qianqiu Mingxi Taoist Temple in Shaoxing Prefecture, then appointed as Director of the Imperial Carriage Bureau and concurrently Right Vice Director and imperial lecturer. In March of the 5th year (1245), he remarked to Emperor Lizong during a discussion on state affairs: “A noble man knows only right and wrong, not advantage or disadvantage.” Known for his uprightness and integrity, he often clashed with flatterers. In November, he opposed sycophants like Lin Guangqian. In December, against the will of the surrender faction, he persuaded the emperor to appoint Zhao Kui to lead the military and Chen Weidan to manage finances, enabling the pro-war faction to briefly control the court—a move that repeatedly drew attacks from the surrender faction. In the 6th year, he was promoted to Censor-in-Chief and concurrently imperial lecturer, soon after becoming Palace Censor. By then, Jiang Wanli was “respected for his character and admired for his eloquence,” but envy led to slander. Accusations that he failed to return home in time for his mother’s death led to severe punishment, and he was sidelined for twelve years.

In the 3rd year of the Baoyou era (1255), thanks to Lu Dexing’s defense, he was reinstated as Transport Commissioner of Fujian. In the 1st year of the Kaixing era (1259), in January, he joined the staff of Jia Sidao, the Grand Pacification Commissioner of Jinghu, as a military advisor. In October, when Jia Sidao became chancellor, Jiang Wanli entered the court as concurrently Sacrificial Official of the Imperial College and imperial tutor. In the 1st year of the Jingding era (1260), he attended court and was promoted to Vice Minister of Justice. Soon after, he became Minister of Personnel. The following year (1261), he was promoted to Academician of the Hall of Rectitude and Brightness, concurrently Signatory of the Privy Council and Tutor to the Crown Prince. By then, he was over sixty and had served the longest in Jia Sidao’s administration. Though initially reserved and compliant, his integrity made silence impossible. Jia Sidao disliked his bluntness, which often angered him, so Jiang could never hold office for long. That year, he was dismissed due to his remarks and relegated to the honorary post of Supervisor of the Dongxiao Palace in Lin’an. Not until the 4th year of Jingding was he reinstated as prefect of Fuzhou and Pacification Commissioner of Fujian.

In November of the 4th year of Jingding, Emperor Duzong ascended the throne and summoned loyal advisors. Jiang Wanli was recalled to the capital Lin’an. In February of the 1st year of Xianchun (1265), he was appointed concurrently Signatory of the Privy Council and Vice Chancellor, serving alongside Jia Sidao. As Jia Sidao consolidated power, he pursued policies that weakened the realm and endangered the state. Jiang Wanli, unable to stop him, requested retirement in July of the same year—but was denied. In December, when Jia Sidao resigned to pressure the emperor, Duzong wept and tried to dissuade him. Jiang Wanli stepped forward and supported the emperor, saying, “There has never been such a lack of propriety between ruler and minister in history. Your Majesty must not kneel.” This further enraged Jia. During lectures, whenever the emperor asked about classics or historical figures and Jia could not answer, Jiang would respond—angering Jia, who plotted to oust him. Their clashes led Jiang to request retirement four times. In the 3rd year of Xianchun, he was sent to govern Taihu Prefecture and oversee Jiangdong transport affairs, later transferred to Hunan as Pacification Commissioner. In the 5th year, he was recalled as Vice Chancellor, ennobled as Duke of Nankang, and soon promoted to Left Chancellor and concurrently Signatory of the Privy Council. In the 6th year, when Mongol forces besieged Xiangyang, Jiang Wanli repeatedly requested reinforcements, but Jia Sidao refused. As a result, Jiang was sent as Academician of the Guanwen Hall to govern Fuzhou and Pacification Commissioner of Fujian, though he insisted on remaining Supervisor of the Dongxiao Palace.

In the 9th year of Xianchun (1273), at the age of 76, Jiang Wanli was ordered to serve again as Pacification Commissioner of Hunan and prefect of Tanzhou. At the time, his disciple Wen Tianxiang was Judicial Commissioner of Hunan. That summer, Wen visited Jiang in Tanzhou. Their bond was deep, and Wen admired Jiang’s scholarship, virtue, bearing, and spirit, often comparing him to Fan Zhongyan and Sima Guang. Jiang, aware of Wen’s integrity, spoke earnestly of state affairs: “I am old. I sense change in the times. I have met many people—the responsibility for the world may rest on you. Strive, my lad!” Deeply moved, Wen wept and bowed before leaving. In January of the 10th year of Xianchun, Jiang retired due to age and illness, retaining only his honorary title. That year, the Yuan army invaded the Song in force, while corrupt officials like Jia Sidao neglected governance. Seeing the situation as hopeless, Jiang retired to Zhishan in Raozhou, dug a pond in the back garden, and named the pavilion “Still Water” to symbolize his resolve to sacrifice himself for the nation. In the 1st year of Deyou (1275), in February, when Raozhou fell to the Yuan, Jiang sat calmly awaiting death. When Yuan troops neared his home, he bid farewell to his disciple Chen Shuqi, saying through tears, “All is lost. Though I no longer hold office, I will share the nation’s fate.” He then drowned himself in the pond, followed by his son Jiang Hao and attendants—the bodies piling up. Later, Zhang Shijie (a Southern Song general resisting the Yuan) recaptured Raozhou, learned of the incident, and reported it to the court. The news shocked the nation. “All who knew or heard of him wept.” Wen Tianxiang wrote a eulogy: “A star falls from the celestial pillar—the world of letters is lost. Lake light fades into the distance, pouring into the vast river.” Emperor Gong suspended court to mourn and posthumously honored Jiang as Grand Tutor, Duke of Yi, later elevating him to Grand Preceptor with the posthumous name Wenzhong.