Tomb of Chen Xingju

Tomb of Chen Xingju

The Tomb of Chen Xingju is a cultural relic protection unit of Henan Province.

The Chen Xingju Memorial Hall was expanded from the Chen Xingju Tomb Complex, located in Taichen Town, Linying County, Luohe City. Historical records indicate that the Chen Xingju Tomb Complex was completed in 1889. At that time, the Qing government, recognizing his “unremitting dedication” and his role throughout the construction of Taipei, posthumously awarded him the third-rank title of Tongyi Daifu (Grand Master of Discussion) and bestowed upon him an “imperial decree for ceremonial burial as per precedent.”

The construction of the tomb complex took four years and covers an area of approximately 1,650 square meters, measuring 55 meters from north to south and 30 meters from east to west. When the tomb complex was completed in 1889, there were ornamental columns and stone tablets in front of the tomb, with stone carvings along both sides of the tomb path, including statues of stone figures, lions, horses, sheep, and monkeys in various poses. The grounds were shaded by ancient cypresses, creating a solemn and respectful atmosphere. In 1958 and 1965, the Chen Xingju Tomb was damaged twice, and today only one intact tombstone and one broken spirit way stele remain.

On September 17, 2007, an article from Xinhua News titled “The Tomb of Chen Xingju, Taipei’s First Prefect, Urgently Needs Restoration and Protection” caught the attention of Xu Guangchun, the Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee. He immediately issued instructions on the article: efforts should be made to strengthen its protection and restoration for use in patriotic education.

Adhering to the cultural heritage work principles of “protection first, rescue foremost” and the new-era cultural heritage guidelines of “effective protection, rational utilization, and strengthened management,” Luohe City formulated both short-term and long-term plans for the restoration and protection of the site. Following the principle of restoring the historical appearance as much as possible and repairing the old as it was, a comprehensive restoration plan and specific implementation scheme for the tomb complex were developed. After nine months of intensive construction, the opening ceremony was held on March 31, 2009.

The newly built Chen Xingju Memorial Hall is simple yet elegant, with exquisite architecture. According to reports, the memorial hall covers a planned area of 17,360 square meters. The first phase of the project involved an investment of 15 million yuan, with the structure stretching 248 meters from north to south and 70 meters from east to west. It includes a memorial hall, a stone memorial archway, the main gate, side gates, an exhibition room on Chen Xingju’s life, a stone bridge, parking lots, perimeter walls, and other supporting facilities. With the development of related projects, this site is expected to become a 4A-level tourist attraction in the near future.

Chen Xingju (1817–1885), courtesy name Yaotang, was a native of Taichen Village, Taichen Town, Linying County, Henan Province. Born in the 22nd year of the Jiaqing reign during the Qing Dynasty, he passed the imperial examination in 1849 (the 29th year of the Daoguang reign). After the 3rd year of the Tongzhi reign, he served successively as the magistrate of Shunchang, Jian’an, Minxian, Xianyou, and Gutian counties in Fujian Province. In the 10th year of the Tongzhi reign (1871), he was promoted to the position of Taiwan Danshui Prefect, and five years later was transferred to Lukang Prefect. In the 4th year of the Guangxu reign (1878), he was appointed as the Prefect of Taipei. Known for his strong will, sense of justice, empathy for the people, ambition for national strength, and love for his country, he bravely defended Taipei during the Sino-French War, making significant contributions to the Chinese people... More details about Chen Xingju ++

Taichen Village: Located 4 kilometers south of Linying County, Taichen Village has 677 households, a population of 2,960, all of whom are Han Chinese. The village has 2,890 mu of arable land, 13 villager groups, and 88 party members. The main crops are wheat and garlic. An annual traditional fair is held on the 19th day of the second lunar month. Eight new rooms for the village office were built and completed on April 10. ... More details about Taichen Village ++

Further Reading:

· Fifth Batch of Cultural Relic Protection Units of Henan Province