Former Residence of Cheng Min

Former Residence of Cheng Min

The Former Residence of Cheng Min is a cultural tourism attraction.

Cheng Min was born in the first year of Emperor Gong of the Eastern Jin Dynasty, Sima Dewen’s Yuangi era (i.e., 419 AD), into an official family. Facing national crisis and the suffering of the people, he boldly submitted a memorial to Emperor Xiaowu of Song, Liu Jun, advising that "externally, we should pursue peace, and internally, we should uphold benevolence." Unexpectedly, the emperor believed he was interfering in state affairs and ordered the extermination of his entire family. Helpless, Cheng Min had no choice but to resign from office to avoid disaster, leading his clan to migrate south to Pingyuan. In Pingyuan, he influenced the broad lands of eastern Guangdong through virtue, righteousness, culture, and education. He was innovative, valued literature and education, promoted fairness and justice, and demonstrated patriotism and love for his homeland. These efforts greatly transformed the ignorant and backward local customs, earning him the titles of "Pioneer Sage of Southern Yue" and the "Forefather of Hakka Culture," and placing him at the top of Guangdong’s Ancient Eight Sages. "In those days, Cheng Min, a common man, did not resort to the three-foot sword to civilize the multitude. His few words could calm strife, and his name shall last with the rivers and mountains forever" — this is how the people of the Song Dynasty praised Cheng Min.

To commemorate this great sage and carry forward the culture of the Hakka ancestors, and to help more people learn about and understand Hakka culture, in 2007, the Cheng Min Memorial Hall was rebuilt on the site of his former residence. The memorial hall is a classical-style garden building with Hakka characteristics, consisting of a main gate, uniquely themed exhibition rooms, an artificial lake, Yangxian Pavilion, Chengyuan (Source of Cheng), a leisure area, a stele corridor, the main hall, a backyard garden, an observation platform, and exhibition halls. Based on the style of a classical garden, it incorporates textual meaning, calligraphy, painting, carving, and installation art. All the calligraphy and carvings in the park were inscribed by renowned domestic painters and calligraphers.

Self-driving Route:

Pingyuan County — Provincial Road S332 eastward toward Dongshi to Batou — Dongpian Village — Former Residence of Cheng Min