The Tomb of the Liu Song Family

The Tomb of the Liu Song Family

The Tomb of the Liu Song Family is a Cultural Heritage Conservation Unit of Guangdong Province.

The Tomb of the Liu Song Family includes the tombs of Liu Song, Liu Yun, Liu Fang, and Liu Jing, all of which hold significant historical value. In December 2015, it was designated as a Cultural Heritage Conservation Unit of Guangdong Province.

The tomb of Liu Song is located behind the Xiangxi Ancestral Hall in Taokeng Village, Xiadeng, Qiaodong Subdistrict, Xiangqiao District, Chaozhou City. It faces west and has a width of 10 meters, covering an area of 78 square meters. Originally built during the Tang Dynasty and renovated multiple times, the current structure features an arc-shaped backrest with three folded arms, a rectangular chamfered tombstone inscribed with: “Tomb of Liu Gong, Grand Minister of the Dali Temple and Military Governor of Qinghai Navy in the Tang Dynasty, renovated in the Xin Hai year of the Kangxi era.” Liu Song, originally from Daliang in Shanxi, was the father of Liu Ying, the founding ancestor of the Liu family of Taokeng in Chaozhou. During the Tang Dynasty, under Emperor Zhaozong, he served as Grand Minister of the Dali Temple and Military Governor of Qinghai Navy. He was killed during the “Liu Yin Rebellion” in the third year of the Zhenming era (917) of the Later Liang Dynasty.

The tombs of Liu Yun and Liu Fang are located on the southern side of the playground of Mian De Middle School in Qiaodong, Xiangqiao District, Chaozhou City. Both have a tomb structure featuring a three-peaked backrest with a single folded arm and an arched tombstone.

The tomb of Liu Yun was built in the first year of the Jingkang era (1126) of the Northern Song Dynasty and renovated in the fourth year of the Zhengde era (1509) of the Ming Dynasty. It faces north and measures 10 meters in width and 12.82 meters in depth, covering an area of 128.2 square meters. The tombstone is inscribed with: “Tomb of Lady Huang, Wife of Liu Gong of the Song Dynasty,” with side inscriptions reading: “Erected on an auspicious day in November of the first year of Jingkang, re-erected on an auspicious day in December of the fourth year of Zhengde.” Liu Yun, a successful candidate in the imperial examination of the fourth year of the Shaosheng era (1097) of the Northern Song Dynasty, served as Prefect in Huazhou, Guizhou, and Xunzhou, among other places. He was posthumously honored as the Golden Purple Doctor of the Imperial Palace and is recognized as one of the Eight Sages of Chaozhou from the Tang and Song Dynasties.

The tomb of Liu Fang is located slightly below and to the left of Liu Yun’s tomb. It was built in the 23rd year of the Shaoxing era (1153) of the Southern Song Dynasty. It also faces north, measures 10 meters in width and 12.82 meters in depth, covering an area of 128.2 square meters. The tombstone is inscribed with: “Tomb of Lady Guo, Wife of Liu Gong, Academician of the Dragon Diagram Pavilion of the Song Dynasty, and Lady of the Nanhai Commandery,” with side inscriptions reading: “Erected on an auspicious day in November of the 23rd year of Shaoxing.” Liu Fang, the eldest son of Liu Yun, became a successful candidate in the imperial examination of the sixth year of the Xuanhe era (1124) of the Southern Song Dynasty. He held various positions including Vice Minister of Rites, Assistant Minister of the Imperial Ancestral Temple, Prefect of Zhangzhou, and Prefect of Tanzhou. He was awarded the title of Academician of the Dragon Diagram Pavilion and was commonly referred to as Liu Longtu. He authored the medical text “New Book for Infants and Children,” a renowned classic in ancient Chinese pediatrics with far-reaching influence.

The tomb of Liu Jing is located on Turtle Hill in Taokeng Village, Xiadeng, Qiaodong Subdistrict, Xiangqiao District, Chaozhou City. It was built in the eighth year of the Qiandao era (1172) of the Southern Song Dynasty and renovated in the sixth year of the Zhengde era (1511) of the Ming Dynasty. It faces north, measures 10 meters in width and 12.82 meters in depth, covering an area of 128.2 square meters. The current structure features a three-peaked backrest with three folded arms, an arched tombstone, with inscriptions on the left reading: “Erected on December 26 of the eighth year of Qiandao,” in the center: “Tomb of Liu Gong, Silver Green Purple Doctor and Founder of a Noble House, and Ladies Xu, Wu, Qian, and Zhan,” and on the right: “Renovated on March 2 of the sixth year of Zhengde.” Liu Jing, the second son of Liu Yun, was recommended as a virtuous and capable scholar in the second year of the Jingkang era (1127) of the Northern Song Dynasty. During the Shaoxing era of the Southern Song Dynasty, he was granted the title of Silver Green Purple Doctor and the noble rank of Founder of a Noble House. He served as Prefect of Taizhou and Nanxiongzhou.

Protective boundary: Extending 20 meters outward in all four directions from the base of the tombstone. Construction control zone: Extending outward from the outer edge of the protective boundary — approximately 37 meters east, 16 meters west, 24 meters south, and 2 meters north.

Xiadeng Village: Xiadeng Village... More information about Xiadeng Village++

Further reading:

· Eighth Batch of Cultural Heritage Conservation Units of Guangdong Province