Tomb of Hu Tao

Tomb of Hu Tao

The Tomb of Hu Tao is a cultural relic protection unit of Guangzhou City.

The Tomb of Hu Tao is located on Houlung Mountain (also known as Nanshan Mountain), Jiuru Township, Yonghe Town, Zengcheng City, at a local place called "Pig Gallbladder Hanging Liver." The tomb faces south. The grave surface is constructed with mountain stones clad in a layer of lime-sand and lime-clay mixture. Built along the mountain slope, it is divided into five levels from top to bottom, each descending and expanding progressively. The topmost part is the grave mound, encircled by a 3-meter-high rammed-earth wall forming a cylindrical shape, 7.4 meters deep and 6.4 meters wide. In the center toward the back stands a 3-meter-high stele tower made of red sandstone, octagonal with five tiers. The bottom tier is 1.2 meters high with 1.1-meter sides, and each successive tier tapers inward until the fifth tier, which is a single carved precious bead stone with a diameter of 0.24 meters. The front of the stele tower is inlaid with a large “Imperial Decree” stele (1.5m × 0.7m), which is an edict personally composed by Emperor Jiajing to commend Hu Tao and his wife. The second-level platform is 0.7 meters lower and 11.7 meters wide, with stone tablets embedded in the left and right memorial walls (Guabang) and the surrounding wall—the left one is damaged, while the right one is the “Tomb Epitaph of Hu Woyi, Late Minister of Rites, Posthumously Honored as Wenmin, of the Ming Dynasty,” written by Fang Xianfu in 1542, comprising 1,258 characters. The third-level platform is 0.9 meters lower and 14.1 meters wide, with tablets embedded in the left and right walls, containing memorial texts from various ministries in Nanjing in 1540 and 1541. The fourth level is 0.88 meters lower, 11.33 meters wide, and 4.73 meters deep, surrounded by stone pillars and railings on the front and both sides to form a pool-like base. The fifth level is 0.4 meters lower, 14.1 meters wide, and 5.2 meters deep, with eight steps leading down to a steep mountainside. This tomb is grand in scale but roughly constructed with rammed earth. It has been severely damaged in recent years due to vandalism.

Hu Tao (1487–1540), styled Weixian and also known as Weiya, was a native of Shitou Village, Nanhai County. He ranked first in the imperial examinations in the ninth year of the Zhengde era of the Ming Dynasty. He rose through the ranks to become Minister of Rites. Skilled in calligraphy and painting, he authored works such as Commentary on the Book of Songs and Distinguishing the Xiangshan School of Thought.

In 1999, the Guangzhou Municipal People's Government designated it as a cultural relic protection unit.

Yongning Subdistrict: The Yongning Subdistrict Office is located in the western part of Zengcheng City, Guangzhou. According to the “Approval of the Guangdong Provincial Department of Civil Affairs on Agreeing to Add Xiancun Town and Yongning Subdistrict Office to Zengcheng City” (Yue Min Qu [2012] No. 32), Xintang Town was divided into three administrative regions: Xintang Town, Xiancun Town, and Yongning Subdistrict Office.

The former Xintang Town’s Yonghe Community, Ningxi Community, Phoenix City Community, Fengxinyuan Community, Lihu City Community, Nanshan Mountain Community, Yeling Village, Gong’an Village, Zhaodong Village, Tagang Village, Weiyuan Village, Jian Village, Zhangbei Village, Beitou Village, Baishui Village, Jiuru Village, Feng Village, Zhongyuan Village... More detailed information about Yongning Subdistrict++

Further Reading:

· Fifth Batch of Guangzhou Cultural Relic Protection Units