Site of Yang Bangyi’s Heart Extraction

Site of Yang Bangyi’s Heart Extraction

The Site of Yang Bangyi’s Heart Extraction is a cultural relic protection unit of Nanjing City.

The Site of Yang Bangyi’s Heart Extraction is located at the northeast corner of Yuhuatai in Yuhuatai District and dates back to the Southern Song Dynasty.

Also known as the Site of the Heart Extraction of Duke Yang Zhongxiang, it commemorates the martyrdom of Yang Bangyi. In the third year of the Jianyan era (1129) during the Southern Song Dynasty, Wanyan Zongbi (also known as Wujiu) led Jin troops across the Yangtze River to invade the south, advancing toward Jiankang Prefecture (now Nanjing, Jiangsu Province). At that time, Li Zhuo, Minister of Revenue of the Southern Song, and Chen Bangguang, Academician of the Xianmo Pavilion, surrendered the city to the enemy. Yang Bangyi, who was serving as the Tongpan (assistant prefect) of Jiankang Prefecture at the time, resolutely refused the Jin army’s demand for surrender, openly cursed Zongbi, and was executed. After his death, Zongbi reportedly cut open his chest and removed his heart.

The following year, Yue Fei recaptured Jiankang. To commend Yang Bangyi’s loyalty and righteousness, Emperor Gaozong of the Song Dynasty ordered the construction of the “Baozhong Shrine” at the site where Yang was martyred, just outside the southern gate of Jiankang City. In the third year of the Qingyuan era (1197), You Jiuyan erected a memorial stele along the tomb path, detailing the circumstances of Yang Bangyi’s martyrdom. Research indicates that the original site of the heart extraction was likely located at Changganli, south of the Grand Bao’en Temple outside Zhonghua Gate, an area formerly known as Tumen Gang. The Yang Bangyi Heart Extraction Memorial Archway was moved multiple times throughout history and is no longer at its original location. In 1975, the memorial stele was relocated to its current site at Yuhuatai.

The Site of Yang Bangyi’s Heart Extraction is a cultural relic protection unit of Nanjing City.

Yang Bangyi (1085–1129), courtesy name Xiji, was a native of Yangjiazhuang Village in Jishui County (now Yunzhuang Village, Huangqiao Township, Jishui County, Ji’an City, Jiangxi Province). In the fifth year of the Zhenghe era (1115) during the Northern Song Dynasty, he passed the imperial examination and was selected as a presented scholar. He successively served as the prison warden of Wuyuan County in Shezhou, a teaching officer at Qizhou Academy, and later was appointed as a Preacher Official and the magistrate of Liyang County in Jiankang Prefecture. In September of the third year of the Jianyan era (1129), he was assigned additional duties such as Tongpan of Jiankang Army and Supervisor of the Yangtze River Defense Office. In the third year of the Jianyan era (1129), when the Jin troops captured Jiankang, Yang Bangyi refused to surrender. He wrote in his own blood: “I would rather be a ghost of the Zhao clan than a minister of another state.” Wanyan Zongbi ordered his heart to be extracted by cutting open his abdomen. Further details about Yang Bangyi +++