Tomb of the Aunt and Niece

Tomb of the Aunt and Niece

The Tomb of the Aunt and Niece is a protected cultural heritage site of Guangzhou.

The Tomb of the Aunt and Niece (a cultural relic site in Baiyun Mountain Scenic Area, Guangzhou)

Located within the Cloudview Garden of Baiyun Mountain, it is the joint burial tomb of an aunt and her niece from the He family of Shawan, Panyu, dating back to the Southern Song Dynasty. In 1994, due to the construction of Cloudview Garden on the original tomb site, the tomb was rebuilt about 20 meters east of its original location, following the style of its renovation during the Jiajing era of the Ming Dynasty. It is a hillside-style grave. The tombstone is inscribed with “The Joint Burial Tomb of the Fourth Ancestral Grandmother, Madam Shi, the Virtuous Lady of the He Family of the Song Dynasty, the Chaste Niece, the Younger Niece, and the Aunt and Niece.” Adjacent to the tomb are also the burial sites of He Renduo and Madam Li.

In 1994, due to the construction of Cloudview Garden on the original tomb site, the tomb was rebuilt about 20 meters east of its original location, following the style of its renovation during the Jiajing era of the Ming Dynasty. It is a hillside-style grave. The tombstone is inscribed with “The Joint Burial Tomb of the Fourth Ancestral Grandmother, Madam Shi, the Virtuous Lady of the He Family of the Song Dynasty, the Chaste Niece, the Younger Niece, and the Aunt and Niece.” Adjacent to the tomb are also the burial sites of He Renduo and Madam Li.

The Tomb of the Aunt and Niece represents a unique funeral custom. The “aunt” was the sister of He Renjian, the fourth-generation ancestor of the He family of Shawan, and the “niece” was his wife. He Renjian was often away on official duties for the court, and their father fell ill and stayed behind in the village. The aunt and niece took care of him morning and night, never taking off their clothes to rest. After their father passed away, the niece died of exhaustion. Overcome with grief at her death, the aunt also died on the same day. Deeply moved by their filial piety and loyalty, He Renjian buried the aunt and niece together near his father’s tomb on Santai Ridge in Baiyun Mountain. Later, his brother He Renduo and Madam Li were buried to the west of them.

On August 9, 1993, it was designated as part of the fourth batch of cultural heritage protection units by the Guangzhou Municipal People's Government. It is currently overseen by the Municipal Administration Bureau and the Municipal Gardens Bureau, and managed by the Baiyun Mountain Administration.

Further Reading:

· Fourth Batch of Cultural Heritage Protection Units in Guangzhou