Tao Yuan Reishi Tanglifang Anti-Japanese Martyrs' Cemetery

Tao Yuan Reishi Tanglifang Anti-Japanese Martyrs' Cemetery

Tanglifang, Group 1 of Pingqiao Village in Reishi Town, located next to the former government office of the old Chanpu Township beside the flat bridge, is an anti-Japanese memorial site. On the mountainside stands a martyrs' cemetery from that time, where over seventy anti-Japanese martyrs rest.

On the 19th and 23rd of the tenth lunar month in 1943, Japanese troops invaded Reshui Keng (Hot Water Pit) in two separate waves from the directions of Shimen and Cili, setting up camp on a street beside the bathhouse at Reshui Keng. At the same time, they seized the high mountains on both sides of the bathhouse — Yunpan Mountain and Shubei Ridge — to build fortifications as strongholds, aiming to block the troops coming to rescue Changde from the direction of Cili. After occupying Reshui Keng, the Japanese committed all kinds of atrocities — pillaging, burning, and slaughtering. They looted all the livestock, poultry, and grain of local residents, and either stole or smashed the cooking pots of nearly every household. Most local people fled to the mountains, hid in caves, or escaped to other regions. Those who stayed behind and were caught by the Japanese were either enslaved or killed. Many civilians were buried in the coal pit behind the former central primary school of Reishi.

Four days later, the 15th Division of the 73rd Army and the 161st Division of the 74th Army were dispatched from the directions of Cili, Shimen, and Tao Yuan respectively to set up strongholds near Leidaying Mountain and Lujiajian Mountain close to Reshui Keng, directly engaging the Japanese in life-or-death battles. The 73rd Army troops were stationed at the residence of Li Ciyao in Pingqiao Village at the foot of Leidaying Mountain, while the 74th Army troops were stationed on Qianjiapo of Group 13 in Mingyue Village. At that time, battles were extremely fierce every day, with non-stop sounds of artillery, machine guns, and rifles. There were daily casualties, with the wounded and dead being carried down from the front lines. The standoff lasted more than ten days without a clear victor. Meanwhile, the local populace was also mobilized. Many young and middle-aged locals voluntarily helped the 73rd Army by carrying stretchers and delivering water and tea. Liu Dalao, a passionate young man from Gaolingdong near Reshui Keng, was filled with fury upon witnessing the atrocities committed by the Japanese invaders. He volunteered to lead a platoon leader and a soldier from the 73rd Army, bringing along gunpowder and kerosene. Under the cover of night, they swam across the river and stealthily approached the makeshift huts connected to the bathhouse street where the Japanese were stationed. They poured kerosene over the straw huts, ignited them with the gunpowder, and swiftly retreated. That night, the entire main street of Reshui Keng was engulfed in raging flames. In panic, the Japanese had no choice but to withdraw entirely to their strongholds on the surrounding mountains. For some time afterward, the Japanese dared not act rashly again. Seizing the momentum, our forces launched attacks, and both armies jointly initiated a frontal assault. Despite our inferior weaponry, the fearless fighting spirit of our officers and soldiers, who were determined to fight to the death, was truly commendable. Eventually, under a death order issued by our command, battalion and company commanders led the charge, breaking through two enemy strongholds in one bold move. The enemy forces fell into chaos, with many killed or fleeing. On the 24th of the eleventh lunar month, the remaining dozens of Japanese soldiers were forced to flee toward Changde.

The battle lasted a full month, with heavy casualties on both sides. Over a hundred enemy soldiers were killed, while our army lost more than seventy officers and soldiers and had over thirty wounded. In the end, our forces emerged victorious, and the Japanese never dared to invade again. After the battle, our army left behind a company to clean up the battlefield. It took three months to select the site on Tanglifang Mountain for the construction of the martyrs' cemetery (currently in Group 1 of Pingqiao Village). Local residents donated coffins, wooden boards, and timber. Even the coffin originally intended for the wife of Li Ciyao from Pingqiao Village was offered. Three officers were laid to rest in coffins (their names were Zeng Xianchang, Li Chunfang, and Yang Jianlong), while the other soldiers were placed in wooden coffins made from timber donated by local people. The cemetery was built solemnly and majestically, covering an area of nearly 300 square meters. There were gates at both the southern and northern ends of the cemetery, with a small decorative archway and a pair of stone flagpoles (made of bluestone) erected at the center. The surroundings were enclosed by wooden railings, and eleven stone tablets were erected at the front, inscribed with the details of the battle. Other tablets listed the names of the fallen martyrs. The main gate bore a couplet: “A heart of loyalty shines with the sun and moon; rows of loyal bones build a great wall.” About fifty meters to the right of the cemetery stood a hexagonal pavilion, beside which grew a large camphor tree engraved with the three characters “Jingzhong Zhang” (Loyal Camphor). Two pine and cypress trees were also planted in front of the cemetery. At the mountaintop of Tanglifang, a Heroes’ Memorial Tower was constructed (this tower was originally relocated from the temple at the bridgehead in Reishi Town). After liberation, every year on Tomb-Sweeping Day, teachers and students from schools and local residents would spontaneously visit the cemetery to pay their respects.

Reishi Town: Hao Ping Township and Reishi Town were merged to form the current Reishi Town.

Reishi Town is located in the northern part of Tao Yuan County, 60 kilometers from the county seat and 56 kilometers from downtown Changde. It borders Lingxi and Guangfuqiao Towns of Cili County to the north, Shuangxi and Jiuxi of the same county to the south, Haoping Township of the same county to the west, and Mengquan Town of Shimen County to the east. The total area of the town is 127.43 square kilometers, with the highest elevation at 842.5 meters and the lowest at 63.86 meters. The terrain slopes from northwest to southeast, transitioning from undulating mountains to flat, open land.

The town enjoys favorable transportation and geographical advantages, with highways... Detailed information about Reishi Town++