Former Residence of Yue Fei

Former Residence of Yue Fei

The former residence of Yue Fei is a cultural relic protection unit of Henan Province.

The former residence of Yue Fei is located in Chenggang Village, Caiyuan Town, 18 kilometers east of Tangyin County. It is the birthplace and childhood home of Yue Fei, the famous Southern Song Dynasty general who resisted the Jin invaders.

Chenggang, located west of Zhouliu Village (site of Yue Fei’s ancestral tomb), saw its residents scatter and the village fall into ruin after Yue Fei’s execution. When Emperor Taizu of the Ming Dynasty initiated a relocation policy, the Cheng family settled here. Due to the higher terrain to the north, the village was renamed Chenggang. Later generations, in reverence of the revered historical figure, built a temple and erected a statue of Yue Fei here, referring to it as the “Former Residence of Song Dynasty’s King Wu Mu Yue Fei.” It became commonly known as the “Chenggang Yue Temple.”

The former residence of Yue Fei was built in the mid-Ming Dynasty, slightly later than 1450 during the Jingtai era. It covers an area of over 4,200 square meters, with a construction area of 1,100 square meters.

The complex includes more than 80 rooms. It underwent multiple renovations during the late Ming Dynasty, Qing Dynasty, and the Republic of China period. It suffered severe damage during the Cultural Revolution. After 1978, the county’s cultural relics management department carried out several repairs and expansions. In 1997, it was listed as one of the “Five Tangyin One-Day Tour” attractions. On September 25, 2000, the People’s Government of Henan Province designated it as a cultural relic protection unit. At the same time, the Yue Fei Memorial Hall was established to oversee the protection, maintenance, and management of the Yue Fei former residence complex. The architectural complex faces south and is divided into eastern and western courtyards. The western courtyard features Ming and Qing Dynasty structures, including the mountain gate, main hall, Four-Character Shrine, and Xiaoe Shrine. The eastern courtyard is an extended part with faux-ancient architecture, featuring the main gate, Loyalty to the Country Shrine, Filial Piety to Mother Shrine, and a 36-section corridor. The rear courtyard replicates Yue Fei’s childhood home with Song-style thatched-roof buildings constructed in 1997. It includes a north house, kitchen, east and west wing rooms, and a courtyard, along with statues depicting Yue’s mother tattooing his back, young Yue practicing calligraphy, and martial arts—bringing to life the scene of Yue Fei’s rural upbringing.

Entering the village from the main road in the east of Chenggang, there is an ancient pavilion by the roadside with a stele inscribed “Hometown of Song Dynasty’s King Wu Mu Yue Fei” standing at its center. To the west of the village, along the north side of the road, stands an old courtyard with a red gate facing south. Above the gate hangs a golden plaque reading “Former Residence of Song Dynasty’s King Wu Mu Yue Fei.” This is the temple built by later generations to commemorate Yue Fei. Originally constructed in 1450 during the Jingtai era of the Ming Dynasty, it has a history of over 500 years. This ancient architectural complex spans over a thousand square meters and was designated as a key cultural relic protection unit by the Henan Provincial People’s Government in September 2000.

Passing through the mountain gate, you’ll see the main structure of the Yue Fei former residence, which houses seated statues of Yue Fei and his wife. Yue Fei is dressed in plain robes, gazing forward, with a dignified and serene expression. In front of the main hall is an offering hall, with a plaque hanging inside inscribed with the words “Incense from Hometown.” To the left and right of the main hall are the Ancestral Shrines of Yue Fei’s forebears and the Filial Piety Shrine of his daughter, Xiaoe. The east and west wing rooms feature statues of Yue Fei’s eldest son, Yue Yun, and his other four sons: Yue Lei, Yue Lin, Yue Zhen, and Yue Ting. Twenty meters outside the mountain gate, opposite the hall, stands the Shi Quan Shrine, housing a bronze statue of Shi Quan holding a raised sword with fierce eyes. In front of the shrine, iron statues of Qin Hui and his wife Wang kneeling in submission to Yue Fei are placed under Shi Quan’s watchful gaze.

In the 1980s and 1990s, to promote Yue Fei’s great patriotic spirit and expand the memorial site, local residents spontaneously raised hundreds of thousands of yuan. In 1997 and 1998, they built Yue Fei’s former residence behind the original temple and expanded the memorial hall to its east, bringing the total area of the Yue Fei former residence to over 4,200 square meters.

The newly built Yue Fei former residence is a faux-Song style courtyard. It includes four thatched-roof houses with a total of 10 rooms, covering an area of 154 square meters. The main room features a statue of Yue’s mother tattooing Yue Fei’s back. Adjacent to the east is a small kitchen, with a statue scene showing Yue’s mother guiding him in calligraphy practice. Yue’s mother is seated on a kang bed, spinning yarn, while the young Yue Fei squats on the ground practicing writing in a tray of sand—a vivid depiction of his healthy upbringing under his mother’s guidance. The east and west wing rooms display statues of Yue Fei studying literature and martial arts in his youth. Outside the wattle door, the rustic stone mill and millstone further illustrate the simplicity of this ordinary farmhouse—the very place that nurtured an outstanding hero in Chinese history. The newly added eastern courtyard, upon entering the mountain gate, features the “Loyalty to the Country” Shrine and the “Filial Piety to Mother” Shrine in sequence within the spacious courtyard. The construction area is 150 square meters. The front “Loyalty to the Country” Shrine displays a statue of Yue Fei writing the poem “Man Jiang Hong,” with a mural on the back wall depicting the Yangtze River and Yellow Crane Tower in Ezhou, reflecting Yue Fei’s heroic aspiration to “look up to the sky and let out a passionate roar” and “recover the lost mountains and rivers.” The west wall features a bas-relief of the victory at Zhuxian Town, while the east wall depicts the Battle of Jiankang, vividly showcasing Yue Fei leading these two major battles. The rear “Filial Piety to Mother” Shrine includes a statue of Yue Fei and his wife Lady Li attending to his ailing mother, portraying Yue Fei’s devotion to his mother while stationed in Ezhou and reflecting his filial virtues.

The former residence of Yue Fei, with its grand architectural style and unique statues, showcases scenes from Yue Fei’s childhood and highlights his embodiment of both “loyalty” and “filial piety.” It serves as a sacred site where people honor the hero, promote patriotism, and celebrate national integrity.

Chenggang Village: Chenggang Village…… More details about Chenggang Village++

Further Reading:

· Third Batch of Henan Provincial Cultural Relic Protection Units