Tomb of Fang Yanqian

Tomb of Fang Yanqian

The Tomb of Fang Yanqian is a cultural tourism attraction.

The Tomb of Fang Yanqian is located on the sunny side of Mount Zhao, north of Xicai Village in Caishi Town, on the south side of Jiwang Road. The earthen mound of the tomb stands 5 meters high and has a diameter of 17 meters. In 1980, a brick memorial archway was built to protect the stele. The tomb was designated as a provincial-level key cultural relics protection unit in December 1977.

Fang Yanqian was the father of Fang Xuanling, the prime minister during the Zhenguan era of the Tang Dynasty. He was born in 547 AD and died in 615 AD. Originally from Qinghe in Hebei, his seventh-generation ancestor moved to Linzi. He had a deep understanding of Confucian classics and excelled in governance, having served as the chief clerk of Qi Prefecture during the Northern Qi Dynasty. During the Sui Kaihuang era, he held positions such as imperial censor, magistrate of Changge, and was exceptionally promoted to military commandant of Duzhou. After Emperor Yang of Sui ascended the throne, he resigned from office and lived in seclusion. Later, he was summoned to serve as the inspector of the Sili region and was appointed as the magistrate of Jingyang.

As the father of Fang Xuanling, he was posthumously honored as the Governor of Xuzhou and Duke of Linzi. His son, Fang Xuanling, passed the imperial examination in the late Sui Dynasty and possessed the talent to assist a ruler. By the early Tang Dynasty, he gained great trust from Prince Qin Li Shimin, participated in the “Xuanwu Gate Incident,” helped Li Shimin eliminate Crown Prince Jiancheng, and seize power. After Li Shimin ascended the throne, he appointed Fang Xuanling as “Zhongshu Ling” (Head of the Secretariat), and soon after granted him the title of Duke of Xingguo. Fang Xuanling held a long-standing position as a key minister. Under his guidance, the “Zhenguan Prosperous Age” flourished. In the fifth year of Zhenguan, Fang Xuanling transported his father’s coffin to Jinan and buried him on the sunny side of Mount Zhao. Legend has it that the funeral was extremely grand—officials from all over the country and local governments traveled from afar to pay their respects. The area was crowded with official hats and banners, chariots and horses blocked the roads, and the wells in the Caishi area ran dry while no grass grew in the fields. Originally, stone carvings such as qilin and statues of officials were lined up in front of the tomb, but now only stone sheep and stone horses remain. In front of the tomb stands the “Tang Dynasty Stele for the Late Governor of Xuzhou, Fang Gong,” authored by Li Baiyao, an eminent scholar and then Zhongshu Sheren (secretariat drafter) of the early Tang Dynasty. The lengthy, elegant, and magnificent text (a copy is preserved in the Shandong Provincial Library) was inscribed by Ouyang Xun, a renowned calligrapher of the Tang Dynasty. The calligraphy is an early Tang stone carving treasure in the province, featuring exposed-tip clerical script with sharp characters, steep strokes, and powerful brushwork.

Fang Yanqian was once praised by Emperor Wen of Sui as the “foremost capable official under heaven.” Why he earned this title is not recorded in historical texts, but there are many accounts of his integrity and honesty. He was especially admired during the chaotic end of the Sui Dynasty for maintaining his moral principles. He once told his son Fang Xuanling, “Others become rich through holding office, but I have grown poor because of it. The only legacy I leave my descendants is the word ‘integrity.’” The spiritual wealth he left behind is revered by later generations.

Further Reading:

· First Batch of Shandong Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units