Tomb and Memorial Temple of Wu Xun

Tomb and Memorial Temple of Wu Xun

The Tomb and Memorial Temple of Wu Xun is a cultural heritage site protected at the provincial level in Shandong Province.

The Wu Xun Memorial Temple is located in Liulin Town, Guan County, and is a provincial-level cultural heritage site.

The Tomb and Memorial Temple of Wu Xun are the burial site and memorial temple of Wu Xun, a prominent educator among commoners during the Qing Dynasty. In the 22nd year of the Guangxu reign (1896), Wu Xun passed away from illness at the charitable school on Yushi Lane in Linqing. According to his will, he was buried east of the first free school he founded, known as "Chongxian Free School." In the 29th year of the Guangxu reign (1903), local gentry from three counties — Tangyi, Linqing, and Guantao — built a memorial temple in front of Wu Xun’s tomb. The perimeter of the walls surrounding the tomb and temple is 890.12 meters, and the entire complex faces south with a north-south central axis alignment. Structures are arranged in sequence: the main gate, stele corridor, statue, memorial hall, and tomb. On the east and west sides of the stele corridor are the Wu Xun Spirit Pavilion and the Song Platform, among other features.

The Tomb and Memorial Temple of Wu Xun form an overall rectangular layout, enclosed by blue brick walls, with the Wuh River flowing around the outside, creating an independent courtyard. Wu Xun’s tomb is 2 meters high with a circumference of 10 meters. In front of the tomb stands a stele inscribed with “Tomb of Mr. Wu Xun,” written by Mr. Xu Yunbei.

The Wu Xun Memorial Hall was initially built in 1903 with only three rooms. In 1937, it was rebuilt to its current scale under the direction of He Siyuan. It underwent another renovation in 1989. The hall features a hip-and-gable roof structure made of brick and wood, spanning five bays in width and three in depth, with soaring eaves that give it a solemn and dignified appearance. The courtyard is shaded by lush pines and cypresses, while willows sway gracefully outside the wall. A clear stream called the Wuh River encircles the compound. The entire memorial hall is set in a refreshing and pleasant environment.

The Wu Xun Stele Corridor was constructed in 1995, stretching 140 meters in length, with 26 stone steles erected on both sides. These steles bear inscriptions by notable figures such as Feng Yuxiang and Guo Moruo, as well as messages from prestigious institutions like Beijing Normal University and East China Normal University. The corridor extends from the memorial temple’s main gate archway to the front platform of the hall. Each stele is surrounded by evergreen shrubs and set off by verdant cypresses, creating a magnificent sight. Visitors here can not only pay tribute to the noble character of Wu Xun but also appreciate calligraphy in diverse styles.

The Song Platform, also known as the “Yingming Platform,” is located west of the stele corridor. The platform is shaped like a plum blossom and is carved from bluestone. It stands 18.38 meters tall. The name “Yingming Platform” was inscribed by the renowned sociologist Fei Xiaotong, taken from the line in the Book of Songs: “A bird chirps softly, seeking its companion’s song.” It symbolizes raising one’s voice to promote the spirit of Wu Xun and to seek like-minded friends from all walks of life. This pavilion commemorates individuals who made outstanding contributions to promoting Wu Xun’s spirit, including Tao Xingzhi, Feng Yuxiang, He Siyuan, Guo Moruo, Sun Zhijun, Li Shizhao, Sun Yu, and Zhao Dan. Among them, Sun Zhijun and Li Shizhao were the authors of Illustrations of Wu Xun’s Life; Sun Yu wrote the screenplay for the film The Life of Wu Xun; and Zhao Dan, a famous actor, played Wu Xun in the movie.

The Wu Xun Spirit Pavilion is located east of the stele corridor. It was funded and built in 1995 by Mr. Wang Haiting from Hong Kong. Inside the pavilion stands an octagonal stone stele engraved with Wu Xun’s educational mission and the Wu Xun Education Song, handwritten by Ren Jiyu, then director of the National Library of China. The pedestal of the stele is carved with a lotus flower, symbolizing Wu Xun’s noble character of “rising unstained from the mud.” The nameplate of the “Wu Xun Spirit” Pavilion was inscribed by Ji Xianlin, a distinguished Chinese academic master.

Wu Xun (1838–1896) was born in Wuzhuang Village, Tangyi County (now part of Liulin Town, Guan County). He became famous in the late Qing Dynasty for “begging to build schools.” Born into a poor farming family, he was the seventh child among his siblings, hence his name “Wu Qi” (“Qi” means seven). “Xun” was the name bestowed upon him by the Qing court as an honorific title.

Wu Xun lost his father at the age of seven and begged on the streets with his mother. At around fifteen or sixteen, his mother died, and he went to work as a servant for a distant uncle, Zhang Ju. When it came time to collect his wages, Zhang Ju, taking advantage of Wu Xun’s illiteracy, used false accounts to cheat him out of his hard-earned money. When Wu Xun tried to argue, he was severely beaten and fell ill, foaming at the mouth (earning him the nickname “Wu Dou…” More details about Wu Xun++

Liulin Town: Located in the northeastern part of Guan County, Liulin Town is the hometown of Wu Xun, the legendary beggar of ancient times. It administers 50 administrative villages, has a population of 50,000, covers a total area of 70 square kilometers, and has 75,000 mu of arable land. In 1998, it was honored as a “Famous Town of China” and is a historic and cultural town. In 2000, it was approved as a central town by the Shandong Provincial Government. The town is situated close to the Beijing-Kowloon Railway and Provincial Highway 329, with Provincial Highways 040 and Gouma Road intersecting within its boundaries, offering a superior geographical location and convenient transportation.

The town has a strong agricultural foundation. Key agricultural industries include vegetables, animal husbandry, peanuts, and fruit and forestry… More information about Liulin Town++

Further reading:

· Third Batch of Shandong Provincial Cultural Heritage Sites