Li Diaoyuan Memorial Hall

Li Diaoyuan Memorial Hall

Luojiang boasts a long history and has nurtured many talented individuals, among whom Li Diaoyuan, celebrated as "four Jinshi degree holders in one family, three Hanlin academicians among brothers," stands out with the highest esteem. Li Diaoyuan is hailed as a versatile great scholar of Bashu, following the Ming Dynasty’s top imperial examination scholar Yang Shen’an. Now we’ve arrived at the Li Diaoyuan Memorial Hall.

The Li Diaoyuan Memorial Hall is located on Yujing Mountain by Yujing Lake and is the only national memorial dedicated solely to Li Diaoyuan. In 1992, the local government built the Former Residence Park of Li Diaoyuan. After Luojiang County was re-established in 1996, the memorial hall was constructed and officially opened in June 2001. The complex includes the huge sculpture known as “Wenfeng Hanhai – The Four Lis,” the mountain gate, the Poetry Stele Forest, Huancui Pavilion, Sangzi Tower, and Jingle Palace.

Please look ahead — this is the mountain gate of the Li Diaoyuan Memorial Hall. The plaque inscribed with “Li Diaoyuan Memorial Hall” was written by He Jingzhi, former Vice Minister of the Central Propaganda Department, former Minister of Culture, and a contemporary poet. He had a deep personal connection to this place, which is why he agreed to inscribe the plaque. What exactly is that connection? I’ll explain it to you later.

The Li Diaoyuan Memorial Hall has been designated as a Luojiang County Youth Education Base, a Luojiang County Patriotic Education Base, and a Deyang City Anti-Corruption Comic Creation Base. It was also established as a Luojiang Creative Writing Base by the Sichuan Writers Association during the “2006 China · Luojiang Poetry Festival.”

Legend has it that Yujing Mountain was once a playground for the Thirteen Arhats. During the reign of Emperor Zhongzong of Tang, the Zhenming Temple was built here, and it was renamed Jingle Palace in the early years of Emperor Zhenzong of Song. After resigning from office, Li Diaoyuan often returned to his hometown and came here for visits. Do you know why? It was because a Taoist priest named Liu Xujing lived here at the time — skilled in the arts of the qin (a traditional Chinese instrument), chess, calligraphy, and painting. Li Diaoyuan frequently came here to play chess with him and listen to him play the qin, forming a deep bond over time. This friendship also added charm to Yujing Mountain, just as the saying goes, “A mountain need not be high to be famous if it has immortals; a lake need not be deep to be spiritual if it has dragons.” In 756 AD, Emperor Xuanzong of Tang fled to Wan’an Post in Luojiang to escape the An-Shi Rebellion. The emperor sighed, “One place of unrest is unacceptable, let alone ten thousand,” and moved his residence here, feeling slightly more at ease and less fearful.

Here you’ll find the “Li Diaoyuan Poetry Stele Forest,” featuring 68 stone carvings of Li Diaoyuan’s finest poetic works, contributed by figures such as He Jingzhi, Liu Yi, former Sichuan leader Yang Chao, and renowned Sichuan painters Zhu Shangquan and Li Banli. These verses were all composed by Li Diaoyuan to depict the beauty of Luojiang and express reflections on life. Feel free to read some of them; they are sure to move you deeply.

"Avoiding the vulgar, detached from the dusty world, its scenery rivals the elegance of Pingquan; nestled against the mountain and beside the water, misty clouds paint a picture like Wangchuan." These are the lines of Li Diaoyuan’s father, Li Huanan.

Here stands an ancient bell called the “Jingle Buddhist Bell,” which was once one of the Eight Scenic Spots of Old Luojiang. It was destroyed as early as 1959. What you see now was recast in 2004 to celebrate the 1,700th anniversary of Luojiang County’s establishment and the 270th anniversary of Li Diaoyuan’s birth. The Ming Dynasty poet and imperial censor Lu Yong wrote: “Where does the dark whale roar? From the emerald eaves atop the verdant heights. Its echoes cross the empty river, telling the world when night turns to dawn.” Now, let us quietly listen to the sonorous chime of this bell.

Walking through the corridor, you can feel the air filled with an ancient and elegant atmosphere. The pavilions here are perfect for leisure. Looking down through the dense foliage, you can see the lush waters of the Wen River. If you come here at night, you can overlook the illuminated banks of the Wen River, and if moonlight spills over, you might catch a glimpse of the "Wen River Moonlit Night,” one of the Eight Scenic Spots of Old Luojiang. At that time, golden ripples dance on the water’s surface, creating a truly inspiring and dreamlike scene. The Ming Dynasty poet Lu Yong also praised it with these words: “The waves are still, Luo patterns fine, perfect for moonlit nights. Surely woven by river nymphs, yet no sound of loom is heard.” Isn’t it beautiful? The pavilion up ahead is the best spot for leaning on the railing and taking in the entire view of Luojiang County. Be sure to experience it for yourself.

Here at the edge of the mountain cliff stands a 20.8-meter-tall group sculpture titled “Wenfeng Hanhai,” considered a modern cultural landmark cherished by the people of Luojiang. This sculpture group was created to commemorate the “Four Lis — One Family with Four Jinshi Holders, Three Brothers as Hanlin Academicians”: Li Huanan, Li Diaoyuan, Li Dingyuan, and Li Jiyuan. It embodies a harmonious unity between man and mountain, radiating grandeur. Among the sculptures, Li Diaoyuan’s figure is the largest — he gazes earnestly into the distance, holding a brush as mighty as a pillar, documenting the chronicles of history, deeply in love with the ancient land of Luojiang. The entire sculpture group is carved entirely from stone, and there is ample open space inside. The designers have cleverly turned this space into a humanities exhibition hall. Visiting it during the peak summer offers a cool and tranquil retreat.

In the courtyard stand two ancient dragon-head-shaped stones, originally placed to subdue water and ward off evil spirits during the construction of Taiping Bridge. Starting from the 21st year of the Qianlong reign, multiple attempts to build a bridge across the Luo River were swept away by floods until the 7th year of the Jiaqing reign. After learning from previous experiences and reinforcing the foundation, the bridge finally stood firm and has survived over 200 years of weathering, remaining intact to this day. It also serves as a key section of the Sichuan-Shaanxi Highway, reflecting the exceptional skill and wisdom of ancient architects. Look at the stone mortar nearby — it was used to grind a sticky mixture of glutinous rice, pig blood, and lime. The same bonding agent was used in building parts of the Great Wall, which speaks volumes about its adhesive strength. The worn-down stone mortar reminds us of Luojiang’s rich and enduring history.

On the right is an old wooden building called Sangzi Tower, originally a teaching building of Luojiang Middle School. In 1939, during Japan’s invasion of Shandong, schools there were shut down, and over 3,000 teachers and students relocated to Sichuan, where they established the No. 4 Branch of National No. 6 Middle School. This school attracted many distinguished educators, including Li Guangtian, Fang Jing, and Chen Xianghe, who organized patriotic resistance activities among students and helped send numerous talents to Yan'an. At that time, He Jingzhi was studying at the Zitong Branch but made the trek on foot to join this school. That’s how He Jingzhi became a student here — and explains his connection to the Li Diaoyuan Memorial Hall.

Have you ever heard of the “Yellow River Cantata”? “The wind is howling, the horse is neighing, the Yellow River is roaring, the Yellow River is roaring…” Yes, that’s the stirring song. When the composer Xian Xinghai finished writing it, he immediately sent it here to Teacher Qu Yaxian for feedback. After reading it, Teacher Qu felt it was outstanding and extremely inspiring, so she started teaching it to the teachers and students of National No. 6 Middle School’s No. 4 Branch. Six years later, it was performed publicly in Yan’an, and from there, it spread across the nation, uniting the people in the fight against Japan. So, the “Yellow River Cantata” was first performed on the banks of the Luo River.

Straight ahead is Jingle Palace, a municipal-level cultural relic protection site. The plaque reading “Li Diaoyuan’s Hometown Literary Garden” was inscribed by the well-known Sichuan calligrapher Li Banli. After the founding of the Li Diaoyuan Research Professional Committee under the Sichuan Folklore Society in late 2007, it was established here.

To the left of Jingle Palace is Sichuan Province’s “Integrity Comic Art Museum,” which displays award-winning integrity-themed comic artworks from Luojiang County, winning accolades at national, provincial, and municipal levels since 2002. These are used to educate cadres and the public on diligence, integrity, serving the people, and to honor the moral uprightness of Li Diaoyuan as an official.

As you step into the foyer, the first thing to catch your eye is a couplet. It was composed by the venerable Li Diaoyuan himself, portraying the beauty of nature. Friends, try to read it aloud — how would you read it to make it flow properly? (Pause) Ah, of course, it goes like this: “Unbound by landscapes, are the cloud formations the mountains, or is the moonlight the water? Forgotten amid poetry and wine, is the wine flushed with flowers, or the poem echoed by birds?”

After appreciating Li Diaoyuan’s poetry, please look ahead. In the corridor, you’ll see a piece of ebony wood salvaged from downstream the Luo River during the construction of Yongping Bridge. Observe its peculiarities — you're right, the upper half of the ebony has a split down the middle, and the right side resembles an ancient court lady. A beautiful legend surrounds this ebony in Luojiang. Remember the Han Dynasty folk song “Moshang Sang” (Mulberry on the Path)? It tells the story of a beautiful woman named Luo Fu, who lived by the Luo River. Legend says that after the county magistrate was rejected by Luo Fu, he got angry upon discovering that she was in love with a handsome youth from her village. In a fit of rage, he ordered the young man to be drowned in the Luo River. Grief-stricken, Luo Fu threw herself into the river and died for love. Their bodies drifted to the foot of Tiantai Mountain and embraced, transforming into this very piece of ebony. Hence, locals call it the “Ebony of Love.”

From the screen behind the “Ebony of Love,” you'll find an introduction to Li Diaoyuan’s life. He was a renowned all-around scholar, poet, and literary theorist of the Qing Dynasty. “His poetry flowed effortlessly from his brilliant mind,” and he was regarded as an “erudite scholar versed in both ancient and modern knowledge.” If you have time, pause here and read this introduction carefully. You’ll gain a good understanding of Li Diaoyuan and naturally come to admire and respect him.

Step into the inner courtyard, featuring classic Western Sichuan residential architecture — simple and elegant. The ginkgo trees on either side give the impression of returning to nature. In autumn, golden leaves blanket the courtyard, resembling “a garden draped in golden armor,” gleaming brilliantly in dazzling splendor.

Directly across from you is Haoran Hall. As you enter, you will see a statue of Li Diaoyuan. He looks vigorous and ethereal, holding a book in one hand while gazing thoughtfully into the distance. We sense his moral rectitude and clean conduct. The surrounding bookshelves house the books of the Hanhai collection. After the turmoil of the late Ming and early Qing dynasties, Sichuan suffered not only a drastic population decline and stagnant production, but also a near-total loss of legal archives and books. Impacted by the book shortage, Li Diaoyuan conceived the idea of extensively collecting ancient texts. He conducted extensive research, copying, transcribing, classifying, and printing, eventually creating the famed Hanhai. Its contents span history, geography, epigraphy, archaeology, linguistics, phonetics, poetry, calligraphy, painting, opera, folklore, agriculture, and culinary arts. It's not only an important resource for researching Bashu culture, but also a treasure of Chinese civilization. The eminent Qing scholar Yuan Mei, having received a copy gifted by Li Diaoyuan, remarked after reading it: “Hanhai stands as the fountainhead of literature.” You can see the extraordinary achievement it represents.

In terms of Sichuan Opera, his writings state: “Sichuan Opera emerged in the Yongzheng era and flourished in the Qianlong era. ‘Opera is a comprehensive art with set forms — singing, spoken parts, acting, and combat must be seamlessly integrated. Different roles such as sheng, dan, mo, and chou each have their own distinct styles.’ He advocated that ‘opera must align with human emotions’ and emphasized that ‘each style should form its own structure,’ discouraging formulaic rigidity and encouraging innovation. Li Diaoyuan also adapted numerous Yuan Dynasty zaju and Ming-Qing chuanqi scripts into Sichuan Opera productions, bringing them to the stage. He immersed himself in local culture, advocated for Sichuan Opera, and took action himself. After resigning, he often “beat the clappers himself to instruct child singers,” and even led troupes to perform in places like Chengdu and Mianyang. Thus, his contributions to Sichuan Opera earned him deep respect and recognition.

When it comes to Sichuan Cuisine, he compiled and published the important culinary text Compilation of the Xingyuan Garden, authored by his father, Li Huanan. In 2005, the Hong Kong director John Woo even shot Luojiang’s first film, “The Number One Feast Under Heaven,” based on Xingyuan Garden. If you're interested, feel free to look it up online. The book records 39 types of dishes, 24 kinds of brewing and flavoring ingredients, 24 types of cakes and snacks, 25 types of pickled foods, and 5 food preservation methods. Ingredients range from exotic delicacies and preserved goods to common staples. While featuring some northern, European, and Japanese dishes, most consist of typical Jiangnan-style fare. Additionally, it describes and praises Sichuan’s local cuisine from the perspective of the people. Throughout his life, Li Diaoyuan cherished culinary arts, especially local delicacies, and documented and celebrated numerous distinctly regional Sichuan dishes along with their ingredients. His efforts significantly shaped the development of modern Sichuan cuisine, giving it distinctively populist and grassroots characteristics. He is an immortal figure in the history of Sichuan culinary development. Even today, Luojiang’s rural restaurants continue to draw inspiration from Xingyuan Garden’s recipes. Food lovers may want to pay them a visit.

Source: Luojiang County People's Government Public Information Network