Tomb of Huang Motang

Tomb of Huang Motang

The Tomb of Huang Motang is a cultural relic protected at the provincial level in Guangdong Province.

The Tomb of Huang Motang is located in Lianhua Mountain Park in Shenzhen. It is an ancient tomb from the Southern Song Dynasty, featuring an integrated tomb and pagoda structure as originally built. In 1998, it was designated as a municipal cultural relic by the Shenzhen Municipal Government; in 2002, it was further recognized as a provincial cultural relic by the Guangdong Provincial Government.

The Tomb of Huang Motang combines multiple distinctive features: it is called a Layman’s Pagoda, which is a typical form of Buddhist stupa. It has both a pagoda and a tomb, and is a two-story, hexagonal pagoda. This ancient tomb is currently the only Southern Song Dynasty pagoda-style tomb discovered in Shenzhen, and is also extremely rare in Guangdong.

On July 17, 2002, it was included in the fourth batch of Guangdong Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units.

Huang Motang, whose given name was Xianjue and courtesy name Youshu, was the founding ancestor of Dongyong Village in Shatou Subdistrict. He was born in the 10th year of the Chunxi era (1183) and died in the 8th year of the Chunyou era (1248). He cultivated much virtue, diligently built his homeland, educated his children and grandchildren, lived to the age of 65, and passed away with praise. Legend has it that Huang Motang’s tomb was originally intended for his first wife, Lady Xie. The site was known as the “Lotus Land,” but there was concern that a woman buried on a lotus site might give rise to women of ill repute. Therefore, Huang Motang was buried there instead, as a man on a lotus site is believed to bring prosperity in descendants. His wife, the Lady Xie, bore six sons: the eldest, Xin Sun, courtesy name Zhongtong; the second, Shun Sun, courtesy name Zhongli, remained in Dongyong Village; the third, Zhong Sun, courtesy name Zhongjian, was the one who relocated... More details about Huang Motang++

Further Reading:

· Fourth Batch of Guangdong Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units