Tomb of Yin Shidan

Tomb of Yin Shidan

The Tomb of Yin Shidan is a cultural relic protection unit of Shandong Province.

The Tomb of Yin Shidan is located within an apple orchard approximately 500 meters north of Yinja Lin in Dangjia Town, Licheng District, Jinan City, Shandong Province, and lies against Daqiushan Mountain to the north. This tomb was designated as a municipal-level key cultural relic protection unit in 1979. On December 7, 2006, the Tomb of Yin Shidan was announced by the People’s Government of Shandong Province as part of the third batch of provincial-level cultural relic protection units.

The tomb mound stands 4.5 meters high and is encircled by carved Laizhou stone, protected by a 13.7-meter square base. A centuries-old cypress tree grows atop the tomb. About 200 meters south of the tomb lies the base of a stone memorial archway, which was built from Laizhou stone, though its components are now fragmented. The spirit way is 4 meters wide, and originally flanked by stone statues including figures, sheep, lions, horses, and tigers—of these, only one pair each of stone sheep and stone tigers remain, both damaged. Approximately 70 meters southwest of the tomb, on a canal bridge, there is an imperial edict stele erected in the third month of the first year of the Longqing era of the Ming Dynasty.

The tomb is situated on open land at the foot of a mountain. Originally, it featured a spirit way, memorial archway, and tomb stele, with stone figures and horses lining the path. The burial site is square-shaped, with a platform about 2 meters high, surrounded by bluestone crafted to resemble wooden joints. The tomb mound is 4.5 meters high, enclosed by Laizhou stone, and topped with a Sumeru pedestal. A lush oriental arborvitae covers the top of the tomb. The remaining stone carvings and fragments of the archway in the area are primarily made of white marble, finely and meticulously crafted.

Yin Shidan (1522–1581), courtesy names Zhengfu and Tangchuan, was a native of Licheng, Jinan. Having served as a Grand Secretary of the Cabinet, he was respectfully referred to as “Grand Secretary Yin.”

From a young age, Yin Shidan was diligent and studious. In 1540, during the 19th year of the Jiajing reign, he passed the imperial examination at the county level. In 1547, the 26th year of the Jiajing reign, he passed the metropolitan examination and was selected as a presented scholar (Shujishi), later appointed as a reviser in the Hanlin Academy. He subsequently served as a lecturer to Zhu Zaihou, Prince of Yu (later the Longqing Emperor). Later, he was promoted to Right Attendant of the Directorate of Education and then to Gentleman of the Household, continuing his role as tutor to the Prince of Yu. In 1567, the first year of the Longqing reign, he was elevated to Reader-in-Waiting and took charge of affairs in the Hanlin Academy, later becoming Vice Minister of Rites... More details about Yin Shidan++

Further reading:

· Third Batch of Shandong Provincial Cultural Relic Protection Units