Yang Zhongwu Ancestral Hall

Yang Zhongwu Ancestral Hall

The Yang Zhongwu Ancestral Hall is a cultural relic protection unit of Shanxi Province.

Located in Lutijian Village, about 20 kilometers northeast of Dai County, this ancestral hall was built by descendants of Yang Ye, a famous general of the Song Dynasty, to honor Yang Ye and his wife as well as later generations of notable family members.

The Yang Zhongwu Ancestral Hall was established in the 16th year of the Zhiyuan era during the Yuan Dynasty (1279 AD). The hall is divided into front and rear courtyards. The front courtyard has three halls on the east, west, and north sides, each with three bays, dedicated to Yang Ye and his descendants. The rear courtyard features three wing rooms on each side, a main hall with five bays, and three plaques inscribed with “Loyalty Through the Ages,” “Might Respected by All,” and “Heroic Legacy of Renown.” Couplets on the corridor pillars read: “Glorious feats and valor along the borderlands, brave beyond compare in leading ten thousand troops; heroic spirit and gallantry left on the frontier, renowned for eternity in defending the city.” In the center of the main hall stand statues...

of Yang Ye and Lady She, flanked by statues of their eight sons, while the east, west, and south sides feature statues of famous generals from the Yang family across generations. War drums and gongs used by the Yang family in battle are also displayed at the entrance of the hall.

In the center of the rear courtyard stands an exquisitely transparent Taihu rock, said to be a deer hoof stone discovered underground long ago. It has stood for over 600 years and remains lush green. On its back is carved a spotted deer, with hoof prints covering the surface and splashes of water beneath its feet. The base of the rock has four tiers, decorated with carvings of birds, beasts, flowers, floating clouds, and landscapes. The third tier bears the inscription “Tai Bao Yuan Ping.”

Yang Ye (c. 986), also referred to as Ye, originally named Zhonggui, was a famous general of the Song Dynasty.

His father, Yang Xin, known as a “local magnate of Linyou,” was likely from Linyou (now northern Shenmu, Shaanxi). During the Later Han Dynasty, he “appointed himself prefect” and pledged allegiance to both the Later Han and Later Zhou. Yang Xin had two sons: the elder, Zhonggui, and the younger, Zhongxun (Xun). Yang Zhonggui served under Liu Chong, Emperor Shizu of the Northern Han, and was granted the surname Liu and renamed Jiyi by Emperor Liu Chengjun of the Northern Han, “treated as one of his own sons.” He served as commander of the imperial guard and was promoted to military governor of Jianxiong Army (Jinzhou, then under the Later Zhou, now Linfen, Shanxi). He achieved numerous military successes and was called the “Invincible.”

Song Kaibao first year... More details on Yang Ye++

Lady She (934–1010), also known as Lady She, given name Saihua, was from Yunzhong (now Datong, Shanxi), the daughter of She Defu. She was the wife of the Song Dynasty general Yang Jiyi (Yang Ye). Her great-grandfather served as prefect of Linyou (now ten li north of Shenmu County, Shaanxi) under the Later Tang and was affiliated with Li Keyong. Her grandfather, She Congruan, was appointed prefect of Fuzhou (now Fugu County, Shaanxi) in 930 by Emperor Mingzong of the Later Tang. Her father, She Defu... According to the “Biography of She Gongwu Gong Kexing” in the Song Dynasty's “Collected Biographies,” the spirit way stele of She Gongwu Gong Kexing is located in Gushan, Fugu County... More details on Lady She Saihua++

Yang Yanhao (958–1014), originally named Yanlang, also known as Yang Liulang, changed his name in 1012 during the fifth year of the Dazhong Xiangfu era to avoid the naming taboo of Emperor Zhenzong of Song, who invented the sacred ancestor Zhao Xuanlang. He was the son of Yang Ye and a famous general of the Song Dynasty.

After Yang Ye submitted to the Song in the fourth year of the Taiping Xingguo era, Yang Yanhao inherited his father’s position as a supply official and joined him in battles. In the third year of the Yongxi era (986), when the Song army launched a major offensive against the Liao, Yang Ye served as deputy commander of the western army, attacking Yingzhou and Shuozhou. Yang Yanhao served as vanguard and, during the siege of Shuozhou, “continued to fight fiercely even after being shot through the arm.” In the same year, Yang Ye died a martyr, and Yang Yanhao was promoted... More details on Yang Yanhao++

Yang Wenguang (c. 1074), courtesy name Zhongrong, was the grandson of Yang Ye and the second son of Yang Yanhao, a famous general of the Song Dynasty.

Yang Wenguang entered officialdom through his father’s influence. In the third year of the Qingli era (1043), during the Zhang Hai rebellion in southern Shaanxi, Yang Wenguang contributed to the campaign and was promoted to dianzhi. In June of the fourth year, Fan Zhongyan was sent to pacify Shaanxi, and Yang Wenguang served under him. In September of the fourth year of the Huangyou era (1052), when Di Qing campaigned against Nong Zhigao, selecting soldiers from Shaanxi to go to Guangnan, Yang Wenguang, then military commander of Deshun Army (now Longde, Ningxia), joined the campaign. He successively served as regional commander of Guangnan, prefect of Yizhou (now Yishan, Guangxi) and Yongzhou (now Nanning), and was promoted to left storage commissioner... More details on Yang Wenguang++

Lutijian Village: Lutijian Village... More details on Lutijian Village++

Further reading:

· Third Batch of Cultural Relic Protection Units of Shanxi Province