Tomb of Hu Linyi

Tomb of Hu Linyi

The Tomb of Hu Linyi is a cultural relic protection unit of Hunan Province.

Hu Linyi (1812–1861), courtesy name Kuangsheng, art name Runzhi, was one of the prominent statesmen of the late Qing Dynasty’s revival period and a key leader of the Xiang Army. A native of Quanjiaohe in Yuanjiang County, Hunan Province, he passed the imperial examination in the 16th year of the Daoguang reign. He served successively as Prefect of Zhenyuan and Liping in Guizhou, Dao of Guidong, Judicial Commissioner of Sichuan, Financial Commissioner of Hubei, and Governor of Hubei. Together with Zeng Guofan, Zuo Zongtang, and Peng Yulin, historians refer to them as the “Four Prominent Statesmen of the Revival.” On September 30, 1861, he died of hematemesis due to illness in Wuchang and was posthumously awarded the title of Governor-General, conferred the honorific titles of Grand Guardian of the Heir Apparent and Vice Minister of War, and given the posthumous name Wenzhong. He authored military works such as *The Art of War by the Hu Family* and *Strategic Readings on Military History* (46 volumes), as well as 10 volumes of memorials and correspondence. His collected works are compiled in *The Collected Works of the Late Hu Wenzhong Gong*. He also created the *Complete Map of the Unified Qing Empire*, one of the earliest relatively comprehensive national maps in China.

Hu Linyi was a man of both literary and martial prowess, known for his integrity in office and strong emphasis on education. During his lifetime, he invested all his resources to establish the “Zhenyan Academy” at the southern foot of Yaohua Mountain in Shisun, Yiyang. For over a century, the academy has nurtured more than 30,000 outstanding talents for the nation. His military talent has also been widely admired by later generations. The eminent patriotic general Cai E of the Republic of China compiled the military strategies of Zeng Guofan and Hu Linyi into *The Quotations on Troop Management by Zeng and Hu*, which Chiang Kai-shek used as mandatory reading for Whampoa Military Academy students and even inscribed and gifted to them. In his youth, Mao Zedong read *The Complete Works of Hu Wenzhong Gong* and greatly admired Hu Linyi’s strategic brilliance and principles of conduct and governance. He regarded Hu as a role model and even changed his own courtesy name to “Runzhi” or “Runzhi.”

On September 30, 1861, during the 11th year of the Xianfeng reign of the Qing Dynasty, Hu Linyi passed away from illness in Wuchang, Hubei, and was buried in the plateau area at the junction of Caijiawan Group and Xintang Group, Zhaililun Village, Longguangqiao Town, Heshan District, Yiyang, Hunan. On February 19, 1878, during the 4th year of the Guangxu reign, Hu Linyi’s wife, Tao Jingjuan, passed away in Changsha and was subsequently buried alongside him in the same coffin. During the Great Leap Forward period, influenced by the “Four Olds” campaign, the tomb site suffered severe damage, with many structures demolished, leaving only the dilapidated tomb mound.

In 2011, the People's Government of Hunan Province designated the Tomb of Hu Linyi as a provincial-level key cultural relic protection unit. The protected area was defined as extending 30 meters in all directions from the outer edge of the tomb, while the construction control zone extended 50 meters beyond the protected area in all directions.

In 2014, the Yiyang Cultural Relics Administration led the restoration of the tomb.

Hu Linyi (1812–1861), art name Runzhi, was a native of Quanjiaohe (now Heshan District), Yuanjiang County. A successful candidate in the Daoguang imperial examination of the Qing Dynasty, he was appointed Prefect of Anshun, Guizhou, where he served for seven years. When the Taiping Army advanced to the Yangtze River region, he was transferred to Wuchang, Hubei, as Governor of Hubei. For his meritorious service in combat against the Taiping Army, the Qing court posthumously awarded him the titles of Grand Guardian of the Heir Apparent and Vice Minister of War.

In 1836 (the 16th year of the Daoguang reign), he became a Jinshi (successful imperial examination candidate) and was appointed as a Compiler. In 1840, he served successively as an Examination Evaluator for the Metropolitan Examination and as Vice Examiner for the Jiangnan Provincial Examination. In 1846, he was assigned as Prefect to Guizhou. He served successively as Prefect of Anshun, Zhenyuan, and Liping, as well as Dao of Guidong. During his tenure... Detailed information about Hu Linyi++

Longguangqiao Subdistrict: The former Longguangqiao Town and Heshan Subdistrict were merged to form the new Heshan Subdistrict.

Located in the eastern suburbs of Yiyang City, it borders the Biyun Peak Scenic Area to the south and the Yincheng area of Yiyang to the north. Covering a total area of 80 square kilometers with a population of 64,000, including 11,000 non-agricultural residents, it administers four residential committees: Changling, Liujiaqiao, Tianzifen, and Yaopuzi. It includes the villages of Longguangqiao, Quanfeng, Yaobuzi, Yejiahe, Baishitang, Peijiaba, Wangjiadi, Lijialong, Yuettanghu, Xinchafang, Tongxinqiao, Lishushan, Nantang, Ouyangtang, Xianfengmiao, Changpoling, Qijiaqiao, Daming, Tianxingqiao, Hualintang, Ningjiapu, ... Detailed information about Longguangqiao Subdistrict++

Further Reading:

· Ninth Batch of Hunan Provincial Cultural Relic Protection Units