The Shi Family Tomb

The Shi Family Tomb

The Shi Family Tomb is a cultural heritage site protected at the provincial level in Hebei Province.

The Shi Family Tomb is situated in an orchard at the southwestern corner of Xucun in ? City. This tomb complex is that of Shi ? (a high-ranking official of the Ming Dynasty who served as Minister of Personnel) and his family. It was first constructed in the seventh year of the Jiajing reign of the Ming Dynasty (1528 AD) and is divided into eastern and western sections. The eastern area includes the tombs of Shi Yong, Shi Zhi, Shi Lin, Shi Yu (Censor-in-Chief of Taiyuan), and Shi ? (Minister of Revenue), among others, while the western section holds the tomb of Shi ?, who served as Minister of Personnel.

Above ground, six stone stelae remain at the Shi Family Tomb site, two of which have clearly preserved inscriptions. One is the Monument to the Late Imperial Literary Gentleman and Surveillance Censor of Guangdong Circuit, Shi, erected on the first day of the eleventh lunar month in the first year of the Zhengde reign (1506 AD). The other is an eulogy composed by Emperor Zhengde in honor of Shi Yu. Other features include eight stone statues of civil and military officials (four of each), four stone horses, five stone sheep, and five stone tigers.

According to local county records, Shi ? (1464–1528), courtesy name Bangyan, also known as Xiongfeng, served as Minister of Personnel during the Jiajing era of the Ming Dynasty and concurrently as Grand Secretary of the Wenyuan Pavilion (commonly referred to as Grand Secretary Shi). He entered officialdom alongside his father and elder brother, earning the contemporary praise of “three father-and-son scholars achieving the jinshi degree, and two brothers both serving as ministers.” Shi ? held office in the Grand Secretariat for three years, known for his integrity, uprightness, and candid speech. When he retired from politics and returned home, he reportedly had only a bundle of personal belongings and one cart—his austere return drew admiration from the people of the capital. Later, he was conferred the honorary titles of Grand Guardian of the Heir Apparent and eventually Grand Guardian of the State. After his death, he was posthumously honored with the title Wen Yin, later changed to Wen Jie during the Longqing era. His literary work, "Collected Works of Xiongfeng," has been passed down through generations. His father, Shi Yu, rose to the position of Censor-in-Chief and served in judicial administration for over 20 years, earning a reputation for fairness and integrity. His elder brother, Shi ?, also served as Minister of Revenue and was known for his benevolent governance.

In accordance with Ming Dynasty burial regulations, the western tomb section features an imperial decree stele. At the southern entrance of the burial grounds stands a grand stone memorial archway along with stone statues of officials and horses. Flanking the archway are two white marble stelae housed within a stele pavilion, inscribed with the life story of Shi ? and imperial edicts. In front of the burial mound are two stone stelae and a stone offering table, along with a brick-and-timber ceremonial hall. In its prime, the site featured rows of burial mounds, numerous stone tablets, and ancient cypresses providing dense shade, creating a tranquil atmosphere. The eastern tomb section has similar structures but on a smaller scale. In 1958, the area was converted into an orchard and later suffered damage during the Cultural Revolution. In 1993, the People’s Government of Hebei Province designated the Shi Family Tomb as a provincial-level key cultural relic protection unit.

Further Reading:

· Third Batch of Provincial-Level Cultural Relics Protection Units in Hebei Province