Pay homage at Yuan Chonghuan's Memorial Temple

Pay homage at Yuan Chonghuan's Memorial Temple

Pay homage at Yuan Chonghuan's Memorial Temple This is a cultural tourism attraction.

Pay homage at Yuan Chonghuan's Memorial Temple

Yuan Chonghuan, a national hero of the late Ming Dynasty from Teng County, Guangxi, was a tragic figure in Chinese history who died wrongfully while resisting the Later Jin. To commemorate him, in the early years of the Republic of China, Zhang Bozhen, a scholar from Dongguan, Guangdong, built the Yuan Memorial Temple in Beijing.

Also known as Yuan Gong Temple, the Yuan Memorial Temple is located among the solemn pines and cypresses in Beijing’s Longtan Park. It is a late Qing-style temple built with gray bricks, covering an area of about 100 square meters. From the front of Yuan Gong Temple, the carved stone plaque with the recessed characters “Yuan Memorial Temple” can be seen through the gaps of the trees from afar. Climbing over a dozen steps, one will find on the right side of the main gate a white marble plaque inscribed with: “Beijing Cultural Relics Protection Unit: Yuan Chonghuan’s Ancestral Hall, Tomb and Temple. Announced by the People’s Government of Beijing Municipality on May 24, 1984.” On both sides of the main gate are couplets written by Kang Youwei: “His life and deeds were tied to the survival of China; his death weighs heavier than Mount Tai, honored in a temple for a thousand autumns. He faced great adversity in his time. Hearing the war drums, we think of the generals in Liaodong. A single man guarded the pass as if he were a match for an enemy state. Where else can we find another like him?”

The Yuan Memorial Temple consists of three small rooms in the center and on both sides, displaying illustrations and texts created by later generations chronicling Yuan Chonghuan’s deeds: From a young age, Yuan Chonghuan loved learning and had lofty ambitions. In the 34th year of the Wanli era (1606), he passed the local imperial examination. In the 47th year of Wanli (1619), he passed the metropolitan examination in the capital and was first appointed as the magistrate of Shaowu County, Fujian Province. As an official, Yuan Chonghuan was upright and diligent, wholeheartedly dedicated to public service. On one occasion, when a residential building caught fire, he climbed onto the roof in his official robe and court shoes to put out the fire, earning the love and respect of the people.

In the first year of the Tianqi era (1621), due to his outstanding performance, Yuan Chonghuan was summoned to the capital. At that time, the Later Jin had just been established, and Nurhaci was eyeing the Central Plains, launching continuous incursions. Yuan Chonghuan resolutely submitted a memorial to the emperor, laid down his pen, and joined the military, heading to the frontier battlefield. He successively held positions such as border supervisor, assistant defense commissioner, and vice minister of war. In the sixth year of Tianqi (1626), Nurhaci of the Later Jin led troops across the Liao River twice, capturing cities like Jinzhou, Linghe, and Songshan, and laying siege to Ningyuan. In the seventh year of Tianqi (1627), Hong Taiji of the Later Jin led 100,000 troops in another attack. Yuan Chonghuan inspired his soldiers by writing blood letters and repelled the Later Jin forces with red-barreled cannons, achieving the great victories of Ningyuan and Ningjin.

In the first year of the Chongzhen era (1628), Yuan Chonghuan was appointed Minister of War and Right Vice Censor-in-Chief, as well as the Supervisor-General of Jiliao, due to his outstanding achievements and exceptional strategic talent. In the second year of Chongzhen (1629), the Later Jin launched a massive invasion of the Ming, bypassing Yuan Chonghuan’s Shanhai Pass defense line and heading straight for the capital. Upon hearing the news, Yuan Chonghuan led nine thousand cavalry troops to rush to the capital overnight, vowing to defend Beijing to the death. They fought a fierce battle at Guangqu Gate and achieved a great victory. Yuan Chonghuan, as Supervisor-General of Jiliao, repeatedly repelled invasions by the Later Jin and achieved numerous military accomplishments. His heroic spirit and brilliant strategy struck fear into the hearts of the Later Jin army.

Despite his remarkable achievements, the incompetent Emperor Chongzhen fell for the Later Jin’s treachery. In the second year of Chongzhen (1629), Yuan Chonghuan was arrested and imprisoned on trumped-up charges. The following year, he was executed by the brutal method of lingchi (slow slicing) at the West Market, effectively destroying the nation’s own great wall.

Among these illustrations and texts is a depiction of the “Monument to Yuan Chonghuan, Supervisor-General of the Ming Dynasty,” erected in Xinma Village, Tianping Town, Teng County. Little-known is that this monument was established during the Anti-Japanese War by He Si, the then-county magistrate of Teng County, along with others, to inspire the public to fight the war by invoking Yuan Chonghuan’s national spirit. I recall the couplet written by He Si: “A solitary pagoda symbolizes unswerving loyalty; by the White Horse River, historic relics remain. For a thousand autumns, truthful history is passed on; beneath the ancient Yan walls, we recall heroic spirit.”

On the wall directly facing the entrance of the central room is the text “Portrait of Yuan Chonghuan, National Hero of the Late Ming Dynasty,” below which is a carved stone portrait of Yuan Chonghuan. On the left wall are carved stone versions of eight poems left behind by Yuan Chonghuan. The Yuan Memorial Temple was established by Zhang Bozhen from Dongguan in the early years of the Republic of China. The “Inscription on the Yuan Memorial Temple of the Ming Dynasty” praises the righteous act of temple-founder Zhang Bozhen, written by Wang Shucun and calligraphed by Song Bolu, a surviving official from the late Qing Dynasty. There is also the “Epitaph of She Yishi,” written by Zhang Bozhen for Yuan Chonghuan’s tomb keeper: “In the third year of Chongzhen (1630), Yuan Chonghuan died wrongfully. It is said that She Yishi, one of his subordinates, secretly retrieved his body and buried it in the Old Charity Garden in Guangdong (now Donghuashi Xiejie). She’s family guarded the tomb for generations and never left. After She’s death, he too was buried beside the Supervisor-General. Zhang Bozhen wrote his epitaph.” Hundreds of years later, the 17th-generation descendants of She Yishi still guard Yuan Chonghuan’s tomb in Beijing—a truly remarkable story in the world.

On the right wall is the carved stone version of the “Record of Yuan Memorial Temple” written and inscribed by Kang Youwei in 1917, along with three of his seven-character poems expressing admiration for Yuan Chonghuan’s patriotism and lamenting the tragic fate of the Supervisor-General, whose “extraordinary talent and ambition were not fully utilized by his ruler.” The “Record of Yuan Memorial Temple” states: “Alas, the transition between the Ming and Qing dynasties was a pivotal moment in Chinese history—not merely the rise or fall of a single dynasty. Look at Yuan Chonghuan’s extraordinary talent and military prowess, unmatched in the world, yet envied by enemies and brought down by slander. Though it may be attributed to fate, isn’t it also a matter of human actions? A nation cannot stand without talent. Those who rule, upon hearing the drums of war, all think of seeking and employing talent. But the more exceptional the talent and the greater the ambition, the less likely the ruler is to fully utilize them. Even if such talent is trusted and employed, internal interference from favored consorts and external threats from foreign enemies, coupled with slander from treacherous individuals, combine to bring down the nation’s great wall, leading to its demise. Alas, history repeats itself—does this apply only to Yuan Chonghuan? When I was twelve, I studied the biography of the Supervisor-General under my late grandfather Lianzhou. When we reached the part about his strategies on border affairs, climbing the Great Wall, assessing the terrain, and advising Emperor Sizong that the enemy could be defeated within five years, he praised him greatly. My late grandfather said, ‘He was someone the enemy feared and thus sought to eliminate through treachery!’ Later, when I climbed the Great Wall, I thought of the Supervisor-General’s heroic spirit. My disciple Zhang Bozhen from Dongguan commemorated the Supervisor-General, compiled his writings, and built his shrine and tomb in the capital, so that future generations who love China will remember the talent of its generals, and the Supervisor-General’s heroic spirit and valor will continue to inspire awe.” The 2,468th year of Confucius, the seventh month of the year of Dingyou, written and inscribed by your fellow villager from the South Sea, Kang Youwei.

Observing affairs at the frontier, he ascended the Great Wall to assess the military situation and reported his findings to Emperor Chongzhen, who was impressed by his prediction of defeating the enemy within five years. Magistrate Lianzhou remarked, "This enemy feared him and had him assassinated through intrigue!" Later, when ascending the Great Wall, one thinks of the heroism of this man. His disciple, Zhang Bozhen from Dongguan, commemorated his noble spirit, published his collected works, and also erected a memorial shrine and tomb for him in the capital. May those who love China in later generations remember his talent as a general, so that his valorous spirit and martial prowess may remain awe-inspiring. In the 2,468th year of Confucius, the year of Dingyou, seventh month. Respectfully composed and inscribed by Kang Youwei, a humble scholar from Nanhai.

In 1984, historians and scholars of Ming history from across the country gathered in Teng County to hold a symposium commemorating the 400th anniversary of Yuan Chonghuan’s birth, shedding new light on this great historical injustice in China.

As Mo Naiqun wrote: “The monument in his hometown feels even closer; through patriotism, we recognize his pure loyalty. Three great strategies in defending Liaodong, his safety tied to the nation’s fate. He rushed back to save the capital and won a great victory, crushing the enemy ranks like dust. The land owes its strength to the spirit of heroes, keeping its scenery forever fresh.” Facing his noble spirit, my blood boils—we, the Chinese nation, have endured five thousand years without perishing. When have we ever lacked those national backbones who are willing to sacrifice their lives for the country, for the destiny of the nation, and for the hardworking masses?

Yuan Chonghuan (1584–1630), courtesy name Yuansu, art name Ziru, also known as Yuan Supervisor-General, was a famous general of the late Ming Dynasty. Yuan Chonghuan achieved major victories at Ningyuan and Ningjin, effectively resisting the Qing army, but resigned and returned home due to Wei Zhongxian. After the accession of Emperor Chongzhen Zhu Youjian, who eliminated Wei Zhongxian, Yuan Chonghuan was reinstated. However, in a battle against Hong Taiji, he was falsely accused of colluding with the Later Jin army. Emperor Chongzhen sentenced him to death by lingchi, exiled his family three thousand li, and confiscated his property. Yuan Chonghuan authored poems such as “Failing the Imperial Exam,” “Admiring the Moon During the Autumn Exams,” “Imprisonment,” and “Moon in Prison…” More details on Yuan Chonghuan ++