Tomb of Ding Yunyuan

Tomb of Ding Yunyuan

The Tomb of Ding Yunyuan is a cultural relic protection unit of Guangdong Province.

The Tomb of Ding Yunyuan is located in Fengdi, Yingshan Township, Linxi Town, Chao’an County. The tomb faces northwest to southwest. It was renovated during the Ming Dynasty. The stele stands 155 cm high and 153 cm wide, with the inscription in the middle row reading “Tomb of Ding, Late Father, Honorary Grand Master Who Served as Prefect of Chaozhou, and Madam Huang of Niantian, County Lady.”

This tomb was renovated in the fifth year of the Chongzhen era of the Ming Dynasty, and in 1981, overseas Chinese of the Ding clan in Thailand donated funds for another renovation. Now, murals accompanied by poems are painted on both sides of the tomb site, recording Ding Yunyuan’s achievements in governing Chaozhou. The first painting is titled “Xiangqiao Exemplifying Virtue,” with the poem: “Xiangqiao is praised through the ages, the effort of the Grand Master unmatched. A new stone bridge design in the world, it is honored as the first of its kind.” The second painting is titled “Han Shrine Co-enshrinement,” with the poem: “Governors Han and Ding, both exalted officials, calmed the floods and promoted education, their merits equally great. Together enshrined in one shrine, their virtues forever honored, their fragrance everlasting in offerings.”

Ding Yunyuan, styled Shuzhong, was from Changzhou, Nanjing. He held the official position of Chief Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices. Known for his uprightness and dedication to duty, he enjoyed a prominent reputation. During the Chunxi era, due to his earnest plea to exempt taxes such as those on salt and iron, he incurred the emperor’s anger and was demoted to Chaozhou, where he served as Prefect. After arriving in Chaozhou, Ding advocated for the construction of Xiangqiao Bridge and the Han Shrine.

The *Haifeng County Annals · Brief on Antiquities III* records: “Prefect Ding Yunyuan of the military prefecture resided in the third section of Qiuxi District.”

On December 10, 2015, the Tomb of Ding Yunyuan was approved and announced by the People’s Government of Guangdong Province as part of the eighth batch of Guangdong Provincial Cultural Relic Protection Units.

Ding Yunyuan (1602–1671), styled Changren, also known as Youhai, was a native of Changzhou. In 1631 (the fourth year of the Chongzhen era), he passed the imperial examination and stayed in the capital to serve as an Imperial Censor of the Ministry of Revenue. He detested the heavy corvée labor that harassed the people and disapproved of corrupt officials oppressing the countryside. He submitted memorials to the court, advocating for reforms to the “Single Whip Law.”

In the second year of the Jianyan era of Emperor Gaozong of the Southern Song Dynasty (1128), he passed the imperial examination and served as Chief Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices. In the Dading era of Emperor Xiaozong of the Southern Song Dynasty (1170), the upright Ding Yunyuan, witnessing the court’s excessive spending on palace construction and treaty indemnities to foreign states, while neglecting the hardships of the populace... More detailed information about Ding Yunyuan ++

Further Reading:

· Eighth Batch of Guangdong Provincial Cultural Relic Protection Units