Tomb of Chen Sheng

Tomb of Chen Sheng

The Tomb of Chen Sheng is a cultural tourism attraction.

The tomb of Chen Sheng, the first leader of a peasant uprising in Chinese history, is located at the southwestern foot of the main peak of Mangdang Mountain, northeast of Yongcheng City. The existing burial mound is 5 meters high and about 50 meters in circumference. It is surrounded by a bluestone wall with a high top and a Sumeru pedestal at the base. At the center is an inscription by Guo Moruo reading “Tomb of Chen Sheng, Leader of the Late Qin Peasant Uprising.” Chen Sheng, courtesy name She, was a native of Yangcheng. In the first year of the reign of the Second Emperor of Qin (209 BCE), he was conscripted to garrison Yuyang. Together with Wu Guang from Yangxia, he rebelled in Daze Township, Qixian County, cutting wood for weapons and raising poles as flags—launching the first peasant uprising in Chinese history. They established the Zhangchu regime in Chen County (present-day Huaiyang), which gained significant momentum and shook the oppressive Qin rule. After the uprising failed, Chen Sheng was killed by his charioteer, Zhuang Jia. His general Lü Chen later executed Zhuang Jia and had Chen Sheng reburied on Mangdang Mountain. The Western Han Dynasty, recognizing Chen Sheng’s role in initiating the anti-Qin rebellion, allocated 30 families during Emperor Gaozu’s reign to guard his tomb, exempting them from taxes and corvée labor. This arrangement gradually faded after the Eastern Han Dynasty. In 1975, the state allocated special funds for renovation, enclosing 4,000 square meters around the tomb with stone walls, planting pines and cypresses, and stationing guards. It is now a provincial-level key cultural relics protection unit.

Chen Sheng, courtesy name She, was a native of Nanyang in Runan (today’s Dongmengwa Village, Fangcheng County, Henan Province). He was a leader of the Wu Guang Uprising.

Chen Sheng (c. 208 BCE), courtesy name She, was a native of Yangcheng in the Chu Kingdom. He was one of the leaders of the anti-Qin rebel forces in the late Qin Dynasty. Together with Wu Guang, he led an uprising in Daze Township (present-day southwest Suzhou, Anhui), becoming a pioneer of the resistance movement. Soon after, he declared himself king in Chen Commandery and established the Zhangchu regime. He was later defeated by the Qin general Zhang Han and was assassinated by his charioteer.

It was a time of brutal rule under the Qin Dynasty, with extreme class oppression. Unwilling to be enslaved and sympathetic to others who shared his fate… Chen Sheng detailed information++