County Yamen of Mishi

County Yamen of Mishi

The County Yamen of Mishi is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit and a patriotic education base.

The County Yamen of Mishi, now known as the Ancient County Yamen of Xinmi, is located in Xinmi City, 40 kilometers southwest of Zhengzhou. Built in the Sui Dynasty (616 AD), it has endured through the Sui, Tang, Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties, boasting a history of 1,400 years. In June 2006, the Ancient County Yamen of Xinmi was declared a Provincial Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit by the provincial government. It is currently the longest-existing, large-scale, well-preserved, fully equipped, and functionally comprehensive county-level yamen in China, earning the title “The First County Yamen of China.”

The County Yamen of Mishi is located 43 kilometers southwest of Zhengzhou, the capital of Henan Province. The site of the ancient yamen was originally called Faqiaobao and was relocated here from eastern Dawei in Mishi during the Sui Dynasty.

The Ancient County Yamen of Mishi was first built in the 12th year of the Daye era of the Sui Dynasty (616 AD). Having survived through the Sui, Tang, Song, Yuan, Ming, Qing dynasties, and the Republican period, it has a history of 1,400 years and is the oldest surviving official yamen in China.

Among its features, the prison within the yamen was in continuous use through successive dynasties and only discontinued in 2003. Experts describe its longevity as a miracle not just in China but worldwide, earning it the title “The First County Yamen of China” among cultural relics experts.

The county yamen underwent multiple expansions and renovations over the dynasties but was later destroyed during the wars of the Yuan Dynasty. During the Ming and Qing periods, it was renovated, with structures such as the main gate, ceremonial gate, admonition stone archway, main hall, second hall, third hall, Immortal Tower, prison, and Lotus Pond largely intact. It houses China’s longest-used prison (in service until 2003), features unique architecture, and is the only ancient building in the country with a Lotus Pond, a five-courtyard layout, dual courtyards, and one that received imperial recognition.

In the third year of the Hongwu era of the Ming Dynasty, Magistrate Feng Wanjin rebuilt the yamen on the old site. The buildings were arranged along a central north-south axis in five successive courtyards, largely preserving the original layout and penal system of ancient official yamens. The construction followed rank-specific regulations, with positioning required to face due south, be north-oriented, with civil offices on the left and military on the right, and the front halls for official duties and rear sections for living quarters.

The County Yamen of Mishi faces due south, stretching 220 meters from north to south and 110 meters from east to west. Along the central axis, structures such as the screen wall, main gate, Lotus Pond, ceremonial gate, admonition stone archway, terrace, rolled-roof canopy, main hall, second hall, third hall, Immortal Tower, backyard garden, and east-west side halls are arranged in sequence from south to north, forming nine tiers across five courtyards. Additional facilities include east-west side halls, eight duty rooms and nine offices, and the yamen prison, covering a total area of over 40,000 square meters. The entire architectural complex is logically laid out, well-proportioned, rigorously structured, and embodies the solemn and dignified aura of ancient government offices.

The “Map of the Region” in front of the main hall was constructed in the 18th year of the Republic of China (1929) by Magistrate Gu Zhenxiang of Mishi. The map was built using bricks and tiles to form two hemispheres—“land in yellow soil, water in green grass, mountains adorned with stones,” roughly representing the geographical features of ancient Mishi in a sandbox style. A poem reads: “Having traveled through Shaanxi and Gansu to reach Yuzhou, in hard times with no aid, why fret? Before my steps lies this mapped terrain, where all earthly mists and clouds are in view.”

The Twin Dragons Monument was erected by Magistrate Zhong Kunhua during the Qing Dynasty when renovating the yamen. With a history of over 300 years, the yamen underwent major refurbishment under Magistrate Zhong, gaining praise for its bright and spacious halls and complete facilities. To the east of the yamen gate stands the Twin Dragons Monument, which received imperial recognition—a decoration generally forbidden for county yamen. However, Mishi once held the status of Mizhou in the Sui and Tang dynasties, and its first magistrate, Zhuo Mao, was conferred the title “Bo De Hou” (Marquis of Moral Virtue) by the emperor, thus allowing the yamen to erect the Twin Dragons Monument and the rolled-roof canopy in front of the main hall, reflecting its second-tier official ranking.

The main gate of the yamen has three bays: the central bay serves as a corridor, while the front half of the east side bay houses a wooden drum—used by commoners to file grievances. This practice, dating back to Emperor Liu Bang of the Han Dynasty, persisted for over 2,000 years until the late Qing, serving as an important means for feudal officials to gauge public sentiment. When the drum was struck, on-duty officers had to inquire about the grievance and promptly report it to the magistrate for a hearing. Regulations allowed only three strikes per person; excessive or random drumming would result in punishment before any hearing.

The main gate features a couplet: “Those who remain clean and honest leave no regrets; those who are greedy and contentious bring misfortune upon themselves.” It conveys that officials who act with integrity and serve the people will be remembered fondly and honored in history, whereas corrupt or incompetent officials, regardless of the scale of their misconduct, will be clearly seen by the people, receive no leniency, and meet a bad end.

The gate pillars are 70 cm high, 85 cm wide, 40 cm thick, and weigh around 800 kg each. They are intricately carved with beautiful patterns. These massive gate pillars are precious relics of the yamen. Interestingly, they also come with a delightful legend: during the yamen’s construction, transportation was difficult, and these huge pillars were carried by a man named Sang, described as eight feet tall with the strength to eat two-inch-thick flatbreads in one bite. He transported them using beams meant for housing. To this day, the tale of “Sang the Strongman Carrying Gate Pillars” is told, and the upper corners of the pillars have worn down by 6 cm.

The Lotus Pond is the most unique structure in the County Yamen of Mishi and is the only known county yamen in the Central Plains region with such a pond. Inside the gate, the pond lies on both sides of the central corridor (with the corridor between the two ponds). Beneath the corridor is a three-arch stone bridge, connecting the two ponds via a double bridge. The pond is filled with water and lotus plants, with lotus roots and fish cultivated inside, creating a serene atmosphere. Measuring 18 meters north to south, 6.5 meters east to west, and 3 meters deep, the pond can display lotuses in all seasons. It symbolizes the yamen’s commitment to “integrity” and serves as a reminder for officials to remain “clean.” The pond embodies the concept of “honor and shame.” Known as the “Lotus Pond Culture” of the yamen, it reflects the traditional “Eight Virtues” valued by ancient officials: Filial Piety, Fraternity, Loyalty, Trustworthiness, Propriety, Righteousness, Integrity, and Shame. The last two—Integrity and Shame—echo the homophonic “Lotus Pond,” symbolizing a clean and uncorrupted governance, rising unstained from the mud. Lotus Ponds were typically reserved for higher-ranking government offices.

The Ceremonial Gate is the formal entrance gate of the yamen, usually kept closed. It is opened only on the first day of a new magistrate’s arrival or when receiving high-ranking officials. Additionally, during major celebrations or public trials, the gate is opened to allow commoners to enter and observe or listen from the front of the main hall.

Couplets at the Ceremonial Gate: Upper line – “When the state is righteous, heaven’s will follows”; Lower line – “When officials are clean, the people are at peace.” It means that when national policies align with the people’s will, the nation will prosper and enjoy peace. Likewise, when officials are self-disciplined, fair in rewards and punishments, and dedicated to benefiting the people, the populace can live and work in stability.

On either side of the Ceremonial Gate are two doors: the east door is called the “Gate of Life” or “Human Gate,” used for daily passage in ancient times, while the west door is called the “Gate of Death” or “Ghost Gate,” usually kept closed. This was the exit route for condemned prisoners being led to execution, as west was the traditional direction for posthumous transition or entry into hell. According to the traditional theory of Yin and Yang, the east (where the sun rises) is Yang, and the west (where the sun sets) is Yin, with the dead believed to be reincarnated or descend to hell in the west.

The “Admonition Stone Archway” bears the inscription “Impartiality Brings Clarity” on the south-facing side, meaning that only by acting impartially can one see matters clearly. This was first advocated by Emperor Zhao Kuangyin of the Northern Song Dynasty. The north-facing side is inscribed with 16 characters: “Your salary comes from the people’s hard-earned wealth; the common folk are easily oppressed, but Heaven cannot be deceived.” Issued by Emperor Gaozong of the Southern Song Dynasty to be engraved in front of the main halls of prefectures, departments, and counties, it served as a constant reminder for magistrates to govern fairly and avoid corruption. By the early Qing Dynasty, the stone was redesigned as an archway, commonly referred to as the “Admonition Stone Archway.”

The Main Hall Courtyard is the second courtyard along the yamen’s central axis. The east side houses offices for Personnel, Revenue, and Rites, while the west side contains offices for War, Punishments, and Public Works. These were the functional departments handling various administrative tasks including county governance, criminal and civil cases, finance, agriculture, transportation, and cultural education. The clerks in these six offices were collectively called “Xuli,” with each office having only two to three staff, totaling fewer than 20. Many were educated through the imperial examination system, well-versed in criminal law and adept at managing internal yamen affairs, sometimes even overriding the magistrate and engaging in corruption.

The Personnel Office was equivalent to today’s human resources department. In ancient times, it managed the promotion, transfer, and appointment of local officials, as well as issuing commissions and keeping records of officials working elsewhere, including their backgrounds and positions.

The Revenue Office was similar to today’s civil affairs, finance, taxation, and land management departments. It oversaw civil administration, finance, taxation, land management, tax collection, and disaster relief.

The Rites Office was akin to today’s propaganda, education, and culture departments. It traditionally managed education, schools, county examinations, rituals, worship, cultural events, and festivals.

The War Office was comparable to today’s military affairs department. It was responsible for conscripting soldiers and horses, training troops, organizing military exams, dispatching recruits, and managing city defenses.

The Punishments Office was similar to today’s public security, procuratorate, court, and judicial departments. It assisted the magistrate in handling cases, investigations, autopsies, trial documentation, drafting legal texts, and managing prisons.

The Public Works Office was akin to today’s urban development, water conservancy, and transportation departments. It managed construction projects, waterworks, yamen and city fortifications, warehouses, bridges, temples, minting of silver and weapons, and more. The east and west sides of the main hall included the Dispatch Office, Treasury, and Tea Room, collectively known as the Nine Offices. After the liberation, the People’s Government of Mishi demolished and repurposed the Six Offices to meet contemporary needs.

The Main Hall is the central structure along the yamen’s axis. It is where the magistrate presided over public trials, conducted major ceremonies, and issued official decrees. The main hall of Mishi County is called the “Mu’ai Hall” (Pastoral Love Hall)—“Mu” refers to the governor (as “shepherd”), and “Zai” to the county magistrate (as “ruler”), both implying love for the people. This name was given by Magistrate Zhong Kunhua in the Kangxi era of the Qing Dynasty. A couplet in front of the hall reads: “To deceive others is to deceive Heaven—do not do it,” and “To betray the people is to betray the state—how could you bear it?” This couplet links deceiving people with deceiving Heaven and betraying the people with betraying the state, reflecting the feudal rulers’ philosophy of unity between heaven and humanity and their self-disciplining democratic ideals.

In front of the Main Hall of the County Yamen of Mishi is an additional structure called the “Rolled-Roof Canopy,” a feature reflecting the architectural style of higher-tier yamens. The canopy has two side doors; after a verdict was announced in the main hall, prisoners were escorted through the west inner door of the canopy to the prison. As a seventh-rank county yamen, the main hall was not permitted to have additional structures, but the Rolled-Roof Canopy originated from the worship hall of ancient temples. Mishi was once the site of Mizhou in the Sui Dynasty, a strategic location and battleground throughout history, situated in the Central Plains. The county yamen had a large jurisdiction and also featured the imperial Twin Dragons Stone Monument. The magistrate held the fifth-rank title, as evidenced by stone inscriptions. The connection between the canopy and the main hall is open, allowing rainwater to trickle down like a string of pearls during rain—hence the name “Two Eaves Rolling Pearls,” symbolizing the yamen’s integrity.

At the center of the hall stands the magistrate’s desk, on which are placed the Four Treasures of the Study, red criminal warrants, and green arrest warrants. A plaque inscribed with “High Justice Shines Like a Mirror” hangs from the central screen, which also features colorful paintings of the “Sunrise over the Sea,” symbolizing that officials love the people and that those in power should be as clear as the sea and as bright as the sun and moon. The ceiling is painted with the Eight Trigrams and the Taiji diagram, laid out according to the principles of geomancy. Cranes painted around the edges all fly toward the center, symbolizing national unity and harmony among all directions.

On both sides of the hall are displayed the magistrate’s ceremonial procession items: blue flags, blue umbrellas, green fans, tungwood staffs, leather spears, “Silence” plaques, “Petitions Accepted” plaques, and the hall drum, along with a blue silk sedan chair carried by four men. When the magistrate went on inspection tours, a gong would be struck to clear the way ahead, while he would ride a horse or sit in the sedan chair behind, looking extremely imposing. Those seated were required to stand up, and those wearing white headscarves had to remove them as a sign of respect for the official. In feudal society, women held a low status—they could not take the imperial examinations or hold office. However, if their husbands or sons became officials, the emperor might confer upon them titles such as “Dowager of Imperial Decree,” which served as compensation and reward for their adherence to the “Three Obediences and Four Virtues.” As the saying goes, “A woman is honored through her husband, and a mother is esteemed through her son,” so they too could use the officials’ ceremonial items.

Behind the main hall lies the Second Hall, the third courtyard of the county yamen, where the magistrate exercised his authority. Before the Second Hall is the “Residence Gate,” the throat of the yamen. On either side of this gate are the Gatekeepers’ Rooms, where yamen guards were stationed in ancient times—called “Gate Rooms.” All who entered or exited had to register here before being allowed to pass. If one wished to ask an officer to do something, they had to bribe the gatekeeper—what we’d call “pulling strings” today. The partition door in front of the Residence Gate serves as a screen for the Second Hall, known as the Screen Door. This door was usually kept closed, and one had to walk around via the corridors on either side. It was only opened on the first day of a new magistrate’s inauguration or when receiving high-ranking officials. As often seen on TV: “Open the central gate to welcome [the guest],” referring to both the ceremonial gate and this Screen Door. Above the Screen Door to the north is a horizontal plaque inscribed with six large characters: “Heaven’s Principle, National Law, and Human Sentiment.” “Heaven’s Principle” refers to the natural order, “National Law” to the laws of the state, but the “Human Sentiment” here does not mean personal relationships—it refers to public sentiment or opinion. During the Tang Dynasty, to avoid using Emperor Taizong’s personal name, “public sentiment” was changed to “human sentiment,” a usage that has continued to this day. These words are visible to the magistrate during trials, serving as guiding principles for judgment and governance, reminding officials to align with Heaven’s Principle, conform to National Law, and consider Human Sentiment when handling cases.

The Second Hall features a couplet: the upper line reads, “Laws apply without favoritism, orders issued without exceptions,” and the lower line, “Rewards are weighted when in doubt, punishments lightened when uncertain.” The words “favoritism,” “exceptions,” “weighted,” and “lightened” in this couplet truly reflect the law enforcement philosophy and standards of reward and punishment for officials, also cautioning magistrates to handle doubtful cases with caution and leniency to avoid wrongful convictions.

The Second Hall is named the “Hall of Three Mirrors,” a title designated by Qing Dynasty Magistrate Zhong Kunhua. The “Three Mirrors” refer to learning from the mirror, from history, and from others. The “Biography of Wei Zheng” from the Tang Dynasty records: “Using bronze as a mirror helps adjust one’s clothes and hat; using history as a mirror helps understand the rise and fall of dynasties; using others as a mirror helps discern success and failure.” The Second Hall is used for hearing major cases not open to the public, and also serves as a place where the magistrate reflects or rests when presiding over trials in the main hall. Displayed on both sides are instruments of punishment such as canes, leg clamps, and finger-squeezers that may be used during trials, representing the magistrate’s exercise of power. There are also two kneeling stones in the hall—the plaintiff kneels on the square stone on the east side, while the defendant kneels on the rectangular stone on the west side, as defendants often have co-defendants, hence the longer stone. The east and west wing rooms are offices for eighth- and ninth-rank officials. The east wing room is a cultural relics exhibition room, displaying ancient cloth coins from the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, Han Dynasty portrait bricks, Tang Dynasty ceramics, Ming Dynasty brick carvings, and more. The west wing room showcases exhibits on notable historical officials of Mì County. Since Emperor Gaozu of Han unified the realm and established Mì County (in the year 2 AD), from the first county magistrate Zhuo Mao in the Han Dynasty to the last official in the Qing Dynasty, a total of 194 magistrates and county heads served here. Among them were 38 upright officials and 10 who were honored in the Temple of Exemplary Officials. These individuals governed with integrity, upheld justice, made special contributions to the people and the nation, and truly brought benefits to the region during their tenure, earning deep respect and admiration from the people of Mì County. Temples dedicated to them still exist throughout Mì County, passed down through generations.

The Third Hall is the fourth courtyard of the county yamen. It is where the magistrate conducted routine work, discussed politics, and received higher-ranking officials. It also handled certain confidential or private cases unsuitable for public proceedings, as well as so-called “flower cases.” However, this is not the commonly referred “Trial by the Three Judicial Halls.” That refers to particularly complex and major difficult cases in ancient times, which required joint trial by the three central ministries in the capital (the Ministry of Justice, the Court of Judicial Review, and the Censorate), known as the “Trial by the Three Judicial Halls.” The two rooms on the east side of the Third Hall were for receiving senior officials and discussing government affairs. The middle section was for hearing private and confidential cases, while the two rooms on the west side were for the magistrate’s temporary office and rest. There was also a temporary changing room for receiving senior officials or handling cases.

The east and west wing rooms of the Third Hall courtyard were offices for two secretaries—the Finance and Grain Secretary and the Criminal Law Secretary. They were important aides to the magistrate, also called “advisors.” Even the magistrate himself held them in high regard, because newly appointed officials often knew nothing about finance, grain, or legal matters, and even those who had served for many years might not be familiar with the specifics. Therefore, they had to rely on these secretaries. Historically, there was a saying, “No Shaoxing natives, no yamen.” These secretaries held no official rank and did not receive imperial salary—they were either hired by the magistrate or brought from their hometowns. The principle was “stay if you agree with my words, leave if you don’t.” Their role was similar to that of a modern-day private secretary or advisor. Their salaries were paid regularly by the magistrate, about two to three hundred taels of silver per year. Truly speaking, these secretaries were “handling official duties without holding official positions.” In ancient times, it was very rare for common people to enter this courtyard.

The Third Hall is named the “Reflection Hall,” meaning that after hearing cases, the magistrate would retreat here to rest and reflect on whether the day’s judgments were fair and aligned with national policies. The east wing room of the Third Hall displays brief histories of the Twelve Qing Emperors and the secretaries, along with Qing Dynasty imperial edicts. The couplet on the Third Hall reads: the upper line, “My heart tied to the Zhen and Wei Rivers, all surrounding peaks and clouds lie before my eyes,” and the lower line, “My governance follows Lord Zhuo’s example, the joys and sorrows of the people weigh on my heart.” It means: the Zhen and Wei Rivers are two historically significant rivers in Mì County. Magistrates taking office here were expected to cherish the local landscape, frequently go on rural inspections, understand public sentiment, and keep every mountain and river in sight.

The Immortal Tower is the fifth courtyard of the county yamen—a five-room, two-story building with small clay tiles, flanked by three-room wing rooms on the east and west. This double-layered small-tile building was used to store important documents and valuables of the yamen. At the end of the year when the official seal was sealed, it was also kept here. At that time, there was no official seal custody system, and the Seal-Guarding Immortal was worshipped here. The so-called “Immortal” was said to be a fox spirit that transformed into human form, possessing great magical powers and suppressing demons. In ancient yamens, a shrine to the “Seal-Guarding Immortal” was often maintained to prevent theft of the official seal.

The Earth God is a local guardian deity, overseeing human good and evil, moral conduct, and protecting the local people for peace and prosperity year after year. The Earth God observes human virtues and vices. Among the Five Elements—metal, wood, water, fire, and earth—earth is central, capable of giving birth to all things and benefiting the people, which is why shrines to the Earth God are found in government offices at all levels.

The Temple of the God of Justice, also called the Marquis Shrine, enshrines two Han Dynasty officials: Xiao He and Cao Can. Xiao He assisted Liu Bang in founding the Han Dynasty, served as Chancellor, established laws and regulations, judged crimes fairly, resolved legal disputes, governed the realm, and stabilized the people. After Xiao He’s death, Cao Can succeeded him as Chancellor. The yamen worshipped them in hopes of achieving the same success and prosperous careers as Xiao He and Cao Can.

The prison was an important facility for detaining criminals and executing punishments. The prison of Mì County Yamen is the only ancient prison preserved in China, built in the Sui Dynasty. Its operation represents a miracle in the judicial history of China and even the world. Located southwest of the main hall, it was commonly known as the Southern Prison. Prisons in China originated in the Xia Dynasty. Gao Yao was the first penal officer, who established penal laws and invented imprisonment and jails—over 4,000 years ago—so later generations called him the “Ancestor of Prisons.” In old prisons, there was a Prison God Shrine, where prisoners and guards would hold rituals on the first and fifteenth of each month or during major events to pray for the Prison God’s protection.

The prison of Mì County Yamen was in use from the Sui Dynasty until its relocation in 2003—a span of 1,400 years. It was divided into the Outer Prison, Inner Prison, and Women’s Prison. The Outer Prison, located in the east courtyard, was for detaining and holding prisoners, while the Women’s Prison housed female inmates. Cells were categorized into death row cells, general cells, and women’s cells. Today, the prison is furnished with penal instruments, ancient torture illustrations, displays of the Five Punishments, and clay sculptures of male and female criminals.

From the Sui Dynasty to the end of the Republic of China, a total of 194 magistrates served at the Old County Yamen of Xinmi. The deeds of 38 upright officials, who wholeheartedly served the people, are recorded one by one, while 155 mediocre officials and one—also listed.

Address: South Section of Kaiyang Road, Xinmi City, Zhengzhou

Type: Historical Architecture

Recommended Visiting Time: About 1 hour

Tel

ephone: 0371-69896016

Opening Hours:

9:00-17:00

Ticket Information:

Door Price: 60.0 RMB

Further Reading:

· Fourth Batch of Henan Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units

· Seventh Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units