Tomb of the Wei Family of Taochengpu

Tomb of the Wei Family of Taochengpu

The Tomb of the Wei Family of Taochengpu is a cultural heritage protection unit of Shandong Province.

The Tomb of the Wei Family of Taochengpu is located in Acheng Town, Yanggu County. It dates back to the Qing Dynasty. In 2013, it was designated as part of the fourth batch of provincial-level cultural heritage protection units by the People's Government of Shandong Province.

Wei Zhanqi had three sons: his eldest son, Wei Long, courtesy name Boqi, style name Zhongqi, was a martial arts candidate in the Wuzi Examination of the 57th year of the Kangxi reign; his second son, Wei Dian, courtesy name Zhonghua, style name Lizhai, was a literary candidate in the Dingyou Examination of the 56th year of the Kangxi reign, later becoming a successful candidate in the imperial examination of the first year of the Yongzheng reign (Guimao year), serving as magistrate of Xianning County, Hubei. He was known for his integrity and capability, earning the respect and fear of local officials. He was later promoted to prefect of Xingguo Prefecture, where he continued to uphold clean governance. However, due to certain circumstances, he was dismissed from office. The local gentry and populace deeply missed him, and after clarification of the facts, he was reassigned as prefect of Yunzhou, Yunnan. Unfortunately, he passed away from illness within a month of taking office. His third son, Wei Xin, courtesy name Shumei, passed the provincial examination in the same Dingyou year as his second elder brother, Wei Dian. In the ninth year of the Yongzheng reign, he was selected for civil service and served in the Ministry of Revenue. In the tenth year, he was appointed by imperial decree to assist with disaster relief efforts in Dongchang, Shandong. He was commended by the supervising official for his effective and well-managed relief work. In the eighth year of the Qianlong reign, he was appointed as magistrate of Anren County, Jiangxi. He was known for his integrity, love for the people, and diligence in handling legal cases. During times of natural disasters, he always actively petitioned for relief measures. Over his eight-year tenure, he oversaw the repair of various temples, altars, and government buildings through personal donations, which eventually led to his impeachment and return home, leaving him with almost no possessions. Wei Xin was known for his filial piety, fraternal devotion, and upright scholarship. He devoted himself to teaching his family’s descendants for over twenty years at home, emphasizing loyalty, filial piety, chastity, and righteousness. In the eighteenth year of the Qianlong reign, he was honored as a distinguished guest at the local rural drinking ceremony and passed away at the age of eighty-eight.

Wei Zhanqi was an accomplished scholar (a distinguished xiucai) and, due to the honors of his sons, was posthumously awarded the title of Cavalry Commandant (Wujieluwei) for his eldest son, Wei Long, and the title of Literary Gentleman (Wenlinlang) for his second son, Wei Dian. The epitaph on the reverse side of their tomb stele was written by his eldest son, Wei Long, and erected in the second year of the Yongzheng reign.

Wei Long was granted the title of Literary Gentleman (Wenlinlang) and appointed as magistrate of Handan County, by virtue of his son Wei Nan. He was also entitled to the rank of Attendant Gentleman (Fengzhi Dafu). The stele for his tomb was erected in the forty-eighth year of the Qianlong reign, with the front inscribed by Zhang Chengji, a successful candidate in the imperial examination from Jinxiang, and the reverse side bearing the imperial decree conferring titles upon Wei Long and his wife.

The tomb stele of Wei Dian is the most famous among the monuments in this cemetery. The front of the stele was inscribed by Liu Tongxun, a successful candidate in the imperial examination and calligrapher who was the father of Liu Yong, while the reverse side was written by Ren Zhaoxi, a successful candidate in the imperial examination from Liaocheng. Liu Tongxun and Wei Dian were brothers-in-law.

The tomb stele of Wei Xin has been lost.

Wei Nan, courtesy name Junsi, style name Heting, was the eldest son of Wei Long. He was recognized as a filial and incorruptible scholar in the first year of the Yongzheng reign, and successively served as magistrate of Jiangshan County, Zhejiang, and Handan County, Zhili, before being promoted to prefect of Cangzhou. The front of his stele was inscribed by his grandnephew Kong Xianglin, an official from the Tuntian Division of the Ministry of Works and native of Yanggu (some sources suggest he purchased his position). The reverse side was written by his son, Wei Yanli, and erected in the fifty-seventh year of the Qianlong reign. When Wei Nan served as magistrate of Handan, he initiated the construction of the Hanshan Academy in the tenth year of the Qianlong reign, and a stele inscribed by him still exists there, along with the academy itself.

According to the genealogy section in the county annals, the Wei family of Taochengpu is listed as the Wei Pi family of Taochengpu. Wei Pi, courtesy name Yeyuan, was a successful candidate in the Wuzi Examination of the Kangxi reign (year of Wuzi) and the imperial examination of the year of Guisi, and served as magistrate of Qiyang, Hunan, and Kaiping, Guangdong. Judging by his name, he seems to be of the same generation as Wei Nan, but older than Wei Nan’s father’s generation. Some online articles claim that Wei Pi’s mother was Lady Lei, the subject of the Wei Village Chastity Archway, but I believe this is fabricated. Wei Pi seemingly had no connection to Wei Village.

The county annals mention several individuals from the Wei family who achieved scholarly honors, but the records are brief and it is uncertain whether they belong to the Wei family of Taochengpu.

The three Wei brothers—Wei Long, Wei Dian, and Wei Xin—achieved prominence through the imperial examinations and demonstrated both literary and martial talents, establishing their family as a distinguished lineage. Moreover, many of their tomb steles were inscribed by notable scholars of the time, making their inclusion in the provincial-level cultural heritage list well-deserved.

Acheng Town: Located on the northern bank of the Yellow River in the eastern part of Yanggu County, Acheng Town covers an area of 115.1 square kilometers, with a population of 68,000 and 120,000 mu of cultivated land.

Acheng Town boasts a superior geographical location and a long history. Historical sites within its jurisdiction, such as the Ancient A Well, Haihui Temple, and Sun Bin Pavilion, are renowned both domestically and internationally. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, it was known as a bustling commercial hub on both sides of the canal, characterized by "a convergence of scholars and merchants."

On this ancient land, many notable figures emerged, including the famous military strategist Sun Bin from the Warring States period, the celebrated general Cheng Yu from the Three Kingdoms period, and the prominent politician Cao Yuan Yong from the Yuan Dynasty. Acheng was also the... More details about Acheng Town++

Further reading:

· Fourth Batch of Shandong Provincial Cultural Heritage Protection Units