Tomb of Zhou Xuan

Tomb of Zhou Xuan

The Tomb of Zhou Xuan is a cultural relic protection unit of Nanjing City.

The Tomb of Zhou Xuan is located in the Deng Yu Tomb Garden in Yuhuatai District (relocated from Xishanqiao), dating back to the Ming Dynasty.

The Tomb of Zhou Xuan is currently located at the southeastern foot of Guanzi Mountain in Youfang Village, Xishanqiao, Nanjing. Originally, it had a rather grand layout, including a burial mound, a spirit way stele, and stone carvings such as stone sheep, stone horses, stone tigers, civil officials, and military generals. During the Cultural Revolution, the burial mound was leveled, and the stone carvings were destroyed. In 2001, the remaining stone memorial archway pillars and stone statues were relocated and displayed in the Dengfu Mountain Stone Carving Art Garden. The Tomb of Zhou Xuan is now a cultural relic protection unit of Nanjing City.

Zhou Xuan, styled Tingyu, was a native of Yangqu, Taiyuan in the early Ming Dynasty. Both his birth and death years are unclear. Based on historical records, he was likely born around the fourth year of the Yongle era (1406) and died around the nineteenth year of the Chenghua era (1483). According to the "Ming History," which states that he “repeatedly petitioned for retirement, and after a long time, his request was granted. His family owned no farmland and settled in Nanjing,” it can be inferred that his ancestors were not wealthy, nor were they engaged in farming. Instead, they were commoners who had long resided in Yangqu County.

Zhou Xuan was a late bloomer. Around the age of 30, he passed the provincial examination, becoming a juren (recommended man) in the Xuanye Year of the Xuande era (the tenth year of Xuande, 1435). After earning this academic degree, he soon entered the Imperial College... More details about Zhou Xuan++