Tomb of Zheng Dajin

Tomb of Zheng Dajin

The Tomb of Zheng Dajin is a cultural relic protection unit of Guangdong Province.

Tomb of Zheng Dajin (including the tomb and spirit way stone carvings)

The Tomb of Zheng Dajin is located on the northern slope of Fenggui Mountain in the southeast of Nianjiapu Village, Guangtai Town, Puning City. It is a large-scale tomb of a notable official from the Qing Dynasty. The tomb faces northwest and features an earthen mound. At the center of the tomb’s facade stands a stone stele inscribed with “Tomb of the Diligent and Reverent Lord Zheng, Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince, Minister of the Imperial Household, Minister of War, Governor-General of Zhili,” among other characters. To the right (east) side of the tomb lies a naturally formed giant rock, which has been flattened into a square shape and inscribed with the genealogy and official career of Zheng Dajin. The inscriptions are faint, and the carved surface measures 2.5 meters wide and 1.6 meters high. Originally, there were pairs of stone sculptures—stone horses, stone sheep, stone beasts, stone figures, and ornamental stone columns—arranged in two parallel lines in front of the tomb. Most have since been damaged or lost. In front of the eastern line of sculptures stands a pavilion housing a stone stele inscribed with the “Imperially Bestowed Eulogy.” In front of the western line is a pavilion with a stone stele inscribed with the “Imperially Commissioned Inscription.” Both pavilions and steles share the same design. Currently, both pavilions are severely damaged, but the two steles remain largely intact. The steles are about 2 meters tall and 1 meter wide, featuring dragon-headed pedestals and turtle bases, and are placed in the pavilions. The inscriptions include both Chinese and Manchu scripts. In October 1988, it was designated as a cultural relic protection unit of Puning County.

The spirit way stone carvings are located in Hongshanyuan, Shanhoushan Village, Guangtai Town, Puning City. They are carved on a massive rock that forms a flat rectangular panel, facing northwest. The carving is 3.4 meters high and 1.3 meters wide, featuring regular script inscribed in intaglio. The inscription reads: “Erected on the ninth day of the tenth month in the forty-eighth year of Qianlong (1783), this is the spirit way of the Honorable Zheng, a Jinshi degree holder, Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince, Minister of War, Governor-General of Zhili and other regions, also overseeing river management, military logistics, and grain supply, as well as the passes of Zijing and Miyun, serving additionally as the provincial governor with a fourth-rank promotion. Diligent and Reverent Lord Zheng. By Dong Gao, Vice Minister of Revenue, Left Assistant Minister, classmate and relative by marriage, respectfully composed.” The calligraphy is large and very clear, and the stone carving holds significant historical and high artistic value.

On December 10, 2015, the Tomb of Zheng Dajin 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.

Zheng Dajin (1709 (Year of the Ox) – 1782), a person of the Qing Dynasty, also known as Yu Jie, styled Qian Ji, and with the sobriquet Tui Gu. He was born in Shanmei Village, Meigang District, Jieyang County (now Yujiao Town, Jiedong District, Jieyang City), and was regarded as a child prodigy in his youth. In the 13th year of the Yongzheng reign (1735), he passed the imperial examination as a Juren (recommended man), and in the first year of the Qianlong reign (1736), he became a Jinshi (presented scholar). He served successively as Tongzhi (assistant magistrate) of Daming Prefecture and Hejian Prefecture, Prefect of Zhengding, Censorate Judge, Provincial Administration Commissioner, Salt Transport Commissioner of Lianghuai, Censorate Judge of Zhejiang, Provincial Administration Commissioner of Guizhou, and Governor of Henan and Hubei. He also concurrently held the post of Governor-General of Huguang and rose to the position of Governor-General of Zhili. During his tenure, he eradicated entrenched malpractices and cared for people’s livelihoods wherever he went... More details on Zheng Dajin++

Guangtai Town: A town under the jurisdiction of Puning City. Established as Guangtai Commune in 1961, merged into Nanxi Commune in 1963, re-established as Guangtai Commune in 1974, reorganized as a district in 1983, and upgraded to a town in 1986. Located in the northeastern part of the city, it covers an area of 37.3 square kilometers with a population of 42,000. Provincial Highway Chiwei-Zhanglin runs through the central part of the town. The town administers the Guangqing Residential Management Area and the villages of Chailaigang, Hunei, Huangye, Fengcuo, Fuer, Shitan, Shanhoushan, Shanqian, Pingbaoshan, Renmei, Huangyashan, Guangxin, Nianjiapu, Jinshipi, Daliao, Hetian, Jiaonan, Jiaobei, Zhuge Ling, Zhaishantou, Mian... More details on Guangtai Town++

Further Reading:

· Eighth Batch of Guangdong Provincial Cultural Relic Protection Units