Guangfu Yongmu Li Village

Guangfu Yongmu Li Village

Located in Guangfu Town on the outskirts of Nanchang City, Jiangxi Province, this is the former residence of Li Lin, the Prince of Yong during the Tang Dynasty, and lies 35 kilometers from the provincial capital, Nanchang. According to the Li family genealogy and local place-name survey records, the Lis have lived here since the Tang Dynasty, enduring through several dynasties without decline by the Ming and Qing periods. Although the village was bombed by Japanese forces during the Republican era, 37 houses still remain, 34 of which were built in the late Ming and early Qing dynasties. These houses feature simple yet distinctive styles, mostly with horse-restraining style eight-character gateways, typically consisting of two courtyards with four wing rooms or one courtyard with two wing rooms and a rear hall, some with hidden passageways on either side.

The village of Yongmu Li is fan-shaped, with houses facing east and arranged in a crescent shape (for easier viewing of performances in ancient times), encircled by a crescent-shaped pond at the front. According to elders in the village, there used to be a large stage in the middle of the pond, supported by two stone pillars. During festivals, the village would come alive with continuous performances and great festivity.

Among the ancient houses, “Shike Mansion” implies that someone from the area passed the imperial examinations or held high office. On a memorial archway inscribed with “Excellence, Purity, and Chastity,” though some text and patterns are barely legible, the word “Imperial Edict” encased between two coiled dragons still conveys the solemnity of feudal imperial authority. In front of the Young Ladies’ Building, one can imagine the shyness and charm of young ladies from wealthy families as they tossed embroidered balls to their favored suitors from above.

Behind the village lies Yishan Mountain, covered with bamboo groves and lush trees, filled with birdsong and floral scents. Further back, atop the gentle hills of Wujiashan Mountain, lies the tomb of Prince Li Lin of the Tang Dynasty, adding a touch of mystery to this millennia-old village. This is the earliest prince’s tomb in Jiangxi. The tomb mound is 2.8 meters high, 16.7 meters in diameter, and 12 meters wide, shaped like an ellipse. Historical records state: “Prince Yonglin, the 23rd son of Emperor Li Longji of the Tang Dynasty, was once appointed as the Grand Protector of Jingzhou and concurrently governed the military commands of Shannan, Jiangxi, Lingnan, and Qianzhong. During the An Lushan Rebellion, Crown Prince Li Hen declared himself emperor. Li Lin was hunted down and killed for opposing Li Hen’s will, and was buried in what is now Yongmu Li Village, Banhu, Guangfu Town, Nanchang County. Li Xin was ordered to guard the tomb and started a family there. Originally, the village was called Shoumu Li (Tomb-Guarding Li). Over time, descendants, fearing guilt by association, changed the name phonetically to Shoumu Li (Tomb-Guarding黎). By the Qing Dynasty, descendants considered the character for ‘tomb’ inauspicious, so they renamed the village Yongmu Li (Evergreen Li), from which the village gets its current name. This tomb is a key cultural relic protection unit of Nanchang City. Yongmu Li Village boasts many historical relics and attractions, including well-preserved ancient buildings such as ‘Da Fu Mansion’ and ‘Chastity Archway,’ which feature intricate carvings and embody traditional Chinese architectural styles.