Temple to the Cliff Mountain

The Battle of Yashan, also known as the Battle of Yamen, Yashan Campaign, or the Song-Yuan Naval Battle at Yashan, took place in 1279 during the Southern Song Dynasty (the second year of Xiangxing in the Southern Song, and the 16th year of Zhiyuan in the Yuan Dynasty). It was a large-scale naval battle between the Song and Mongol (Yuan) forces at Yashan, and one of the few major sea battles in ancient China.

Temple to the Cliff Mountain

The Temple to the Cliff Mountain is a cultural relic protection unit of Xinhui District.

The Temple to the Cliff Mountain is a memorial site dedicated to Empress Yang of the Southern Song Dynasty and her loyal court officials. The temple complex consists of 11 structures, including a memorial archway, Ciyuan Hall, Three Loyalists Shrine, Righteousness Pavilion, Righteous People’s Shrine, Poetic Stele Corridor, and Cliff-Watching Pavilion, covering a total area of over 7,800 square meters with a built-up area of more than 2,500 square meters. This temple complex embodies the noble spirit of loyalty and patriotism of the Song imperial court. For over 500 years, numerous officials and scholars have visited to pay tribute to the virtuous and honor the martyrs, attracting literati to reflect on history and express their emotions.

Built against the Cliff Mountain to the north and overlooking Yamen to the south, the Temple to the Cliff Mountain is nestled along the mountainside. It spans an area of 16,500 square meters, with a built-up area of 2,500 square meters.

The three powerful characters “Temple to the Cliff Mountain” on the main gate archway were inscribed by Chen Baisha using a brush made from thatch. Inside the temple complex are sixteen structures including the Historical Relics Exhibition Hall of Yashan, Ciyuan Temple, Three Loyalists Shrine, Righteous People’s Shrine, the Bedroom Hall of Empress Yang, White Pheasant Pavilion, and Cliff-Watching Tower. The temples are built in palatial style with red walls, yellow glazed tiles, and hip-and-gable roofs, exuding magnificence. The grounds are shaded by lush trees, offering a solemn and classical atmosphere.

The Hall of the Nation’s Mother, also known as “Ciyuan Temple,” originally called the “Whole Integrity Temple,” is a key cultural relic protection unit of Xinhui District, Jiangmen City.

With a built-up area of 1,600 square meters, the hall houses statues of Empress Yang and Emperor Zhao Bing, and displays exhibits about their life stories, as well as historical materials regarding the Southern Song court’s flight to the south and eventual downfall.

In front of the hall is a flower garden courtyard, with stele and painting corridors on both sides displaying over 60 inscribed stone tablets of poems by contemporary renowned calligraphers commemorating the historical relics of Yashan. There are also two large white jade relief sculptures: one depicting the “Imperial Court in the Fields” and the other the “Great Sea Battle at Yamen.”

On the left side of the entrance hall is an exhibition room for ancient steles from the Ming and Qing dynasties.

The Three Loyalists Shrine, originally called the “Great Loyalty Shrine,” is dedicated to the Southern Song loyal ministers Wen Tianxiang, Lu Xiufu, and Zhang Shijie. It is located to the lower left of Ciyuan Temple, housing statues of the three figures, all with solemn expressions and dignified presence.

The surrounding walls display their biographies and poetic tributes written by literati throughout history in their honor.

The Righteous People’s Shrine, originally called the “Loyalty and Righteousness Archway,” is situated to the lower right of Ciyuan Temple, commemorating the Song soldiers and loyal volunteers who sacrificed their lives in the Battle of Yashan.

The central hall features a large color mural depicting the epic naval battle at Yamen.

The shrine also showcases the historical stories of other righteous figures such as Wulongqi from Taishan, Zhang Da from Raoping, Chen Biniang from Yunxiao in Fujian, Ma Nanbao from Xiangshan, Chen Shi (mother of Li Jia) from Dongguan, Xiong Fei, Su Liuyi from Jinghu in Hubei, Du Hu from Tiantai in Zhejiang, and Chen Wenlong from Putian in Fujian.

Yang Shufei ( ?–1279 ), consort of Emperor Duzong of the Song Dynasty and mother of Emperor Duanzong Zhao Shi.

Initially entering the palace as a concubine, Yang was titled “Meiren” (Beautiful Lady), and in 1267 (the third year of Xianchun), she was elevated to the rank of Shufei (Virtuous Consort).

Historical records indicate that in 1276 (the second year of Deyou), the Yuan army entered Lin’an (present-day Hangzhou, Zhejiang). The Southern Song Empress Xie led the court officials in surrendering to the Yuan. Yang Shufei, however, fled southward to Fujian and Guangdong with Prince Yi Zhao Shi and Prince Guang Zhao Bing, along with some ministers, continuing the resistance. She eventually established a temporary court at Yashan in Xinhui, Jiangmen, historically referred to as the “Southern Flight of the Two Princes.”

After the fall of Lin’an in 1276, Yang Shufei...   Yang Shufei, Empress of Emperor Duzong of the Southern Song

Zhao Bing (1272–1279), the last emperor of the Southern Song Dynasty and the final ruler of the Song Dynasty (ninth emperor, reigning 1278–1279), was on the throne for two years and died at the age of 8. The youngest son of Emperor Duzong, Zhao Bing was previously granted titles such as Prince Xin, Prince Guang, and Prince Wei. In March 1279, the Song Dynasty suffered a crushing defeat at the Battle of Yashan, leading to the annihilation of its forces. Lu Xiufu then carried the 8-year-old Zhao Bing and jumped into the sea to die. Lu Xiufu, Empress Dowager Yang, and others also committed suicide by drowning. With the death of the last Song emperor, the Song Dynasty came to an end.

Zhao Bing, who was successively titled Prince Xin, ... 

Wen Tianxiang, the top scholar of the Southern Song Dynasty, styled Songrui and also known as Wenshan, was born in 1236 in Futian Village, Fuchun Township, Luling (now southern Ji’an, Jiangxi) in a landlord family. His father loved reading and emphasized his children’s education, hiring renowned tutors. Regardless of the season, Wen Tianxiang would study, write, and discuss history with his brother in a study adorned with moral maxims.

At the age of 18, Wen Tianxiang ranked first in the local school examinations of Luling. At 20, he studied at Bailuzhou Academy in Jizhou (now Ji’an, Jiangxi) and was selected as a tribute student of Jizhou in the same year. He accompanied his father to Lin’an (now Hangzhou) to take the imperial exams. ...  

Lu Xiufu (1236–1279), styled Junshi, also known as Yanweng or Dongjiang, was from Changjianli, Yancheng (now Jianyang Town, Jianhu County, Jiangsu Province). He served as Left Prime Minister of the Southern Song and was a famous anti-Yuan statesman, regarded as one of the “Three Heroes of the Late Song” alongside Wen Tianxiang and Zhang Shijie. After the defeat at the Battle of Yashan, he carried the young Emperor Zhao Bing and jumped into the sea to his death at the age of 44.

From the “History of the Song”: “Lu Xiufu had a refined literary talent, seldom matched by his contemporaries. He was of a quiet disposition and did not seek fame.”

Jiang Yikui: “There was a prophecy at the time: ‘He who holds up the sky is Wen Tianxiang. He who supports the sun is Lu Xiufu.’ ...  

Zhang Shijie ( ? – 1279 ), from Fanyang, Zhuozhou (now in Hebei), was a famed anti-Yuan general and national hero of the late Song Dynasty. He held titles such as Grand Tutor, Vice Minister of the Privy Council, and was granted the title Duke of Yue. Alongside Lu Xiufu and Wen Tianxiang, he was known as one of the “Three Heroes of the Late Song.” He successively supported two emperors of the Southern Song, vowing never to surrender to the Yuan. Ultimately defeated at the Battle of Yashan, he drowned near Pingzhang Mountain when his ship was destroyed in a typhoon. Zhang Shijie’s tomb is located in Huangyang Village, Jing’an Town, Doumen County. The tomb faces east and covers an area of 616 square meters. It features three terraced mounds, two winding side arms, three levels of ceremonial platforms, a golden well, a pair of tomb markers, and a guardian figure in front. The tomb is constructed of lime and sand.