Hometown of Jiang Gong

Hometown of Jiang Gong

The hometown of Jiang Gong is located within Guangqi City to the north of Bucity, with a stone stele by the canal bearing an inscription. The stele is inscribed in seal script with five large characters: “Hometown of Jiang Gong of the Han Dynasty.” It was later moved to the east side of the northern end of the hutong near the Datongmen (Tongji Gate). Jiang Gong was a renowned scholar of the Han Dynasty, celebrated for his filial piety. He had a profound knowledge of the Five Classics and was praised as having "a wealth of learning that could fill five carts." Over three thousand students came from afar to study under him. Throughout his life, he never entered officialdom. Despite being summoned by the emperor and recommended by high-ranking officials, he consistently refused to appear — either fleeing his home to live in seclusion by the coast, or pretending to be seriously ill and receiving medical treatment while lying in a secluded chamber. At one point, he went into hiding near the borders of Qingzhou, making a living by fortune-telling all year round. Jiang Gong and his younger brother were extremely close, sharing a quilt while sleeping until adulthood. The term “Jiang’s Quilt” has since become a classical allusion symbolizing fraternal affection. His story was recorded in “The Book of Han” and he has been esteemed by literati throughout the ages. To this day, the local area still circulates the tale of Jiang Gong’s large quilt.