Tomb of Lady Li, Wife of Yue Fei

Tomb of Lady Li, Wife of Yue Fei

The tomb of Lady Li, wife of Yue Fei, is a cultural relic protection unit of Jiangxi Province.

Tomb of Lady Li, Wife of Yue Fei

It is situated on Taiyang Mountain, about five li southwest of Zhuling Mountain. This mountain encircles the peak toward the sun, flanked by low hills, with a small river flowing in front, a terrain commonly known as “A Flying Swallow Diving into the River.” Opposite the mountain are three peaks resembling a carp, a pig’s head, and a rooster respectively, facing the river across from it. Locals refer to them as the “Three Sacrificial Animals for Lady Li.”

Li Wa (1100–1175) was a native of the Jiangnan region. She was filial to her mother-in-law, affectionate toward her children, and the epitome of a devoted wife and loving mother. Before each military campaign of the Yue Family Army, she would represent Yue Fei in comforting the families of the soldiers. After the death of Yue’s mother, Lady Yao, Li Wa performed filial duties on behalf of her husband, keeping vigil at Zhuling Mountain. After Yue Fei was wrongfully executed, she was implicated and exiled to Lingnan, enduring many hardships. In the 32nd year of the Shaoxing era (1162), when Yue Fei’s name was posthumously cleared, Li Wa returned to Jiangzhou, was honored as the Lady of Chu, and passed away in the 2nd year of the Chunxi era (1175), being buried on Taiyang Mountain.

The tomb of Lady Li is 1.7 meters high, with an outer corridor built in a circular arched limestone structure. The gravestone is inscribed with the words “Tomb of Lady Li, Wife of the Loyal and Martial Duke Yue of the Song Dynasty.” In front of the tomb are two stone tablets labeled “Eulogy” and “Sealed Prohibition.” Every year during the Qingming Festival, local residents and descendants of the Yue family come here in an endless stream to pay their respects.

Yue Fei (1103–1142), courtesy name Pengju, was a native of Tangyin in Xiangzhou (present-day Henan), an outstanding military strategist and general of the Northern Song Dynasty.

Yue Fei’s father, Yue He, and mother, Lady Yao, were generations of farmers. In his youth, Yue Fei studied archery and spear techniques under Zhou Tong and Chen Guang, becoming the most skilled martial artist in the county. However, due to his family’s poverty, he later went to Xiangzhou (now Anyang) and “worked as a farmhand for the estate of Han Weigong (Qi), making a living through farming.”

In the fourth year of the Xuanhe era (1122), Yue Fei first joined the army. In October of the same year, during the Northern Song’s campaign against the Liao, he reached the Liao capital of Yanjing... More details about Yue Fei++

Further reading:

· Second Batch of Cultural Relic Protection Units of Jiangxi Province