Tomb of Wang Fu

Tomb of Wang Fu

The Tomb of Wang Fu is a cultural heritage site protected at the provincial level in Jiangsu Province.

The Tomb of Wang Fu is situated on the southern side of Xiangxiangbang and the Huanshan Highway at the western foot of Yushan Mountain. Wang Fu (1514–1555), courtesy name Dewei, art name Cangye, was a native of Dongyang, Zhejiang. In the 31st year of the Jiajing reign (1552), he was appointed magistrate of Changshu County. He oversaw the construction of Changshu’s city walls to defend against Japanese pirates. In 1555, he was tragically killed in battle while annihilating an invading pirate force and was buried in Changshu. The Ming court posthumously conferred upon him the title of Vice Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, sent officials to conduct memorial ceremonies, and established a memorial shrine. His tomb faces south and is backed by Yushan Mountain, overlooking the Shitang stone memorial archway of the Wang Fu Tomb. It covers an area of 266 square meters. The tomb was renovated in the mid-1980s. The burial mound has a circular earthwork with a diameter of 3.3 meters and a height of 9.0 meters, enclosed by an outer wall. The tomb path is 35 meters long and features a granite single-bay memorial archway built during recent renovations, inscribed with the words “Tomb of the Loyal Official Wang.” This tomb was designated as a Jiangsu Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Unit on August 30, 1957.

Wang Fu (1516–1555), courtesy name Dewei, was from Huashui Town, Dongyang City, Zhejiang Province. He passed the imperial examination and became a Jinshi (advanced scholar) in the 29th year of the Jiajing reign (1550). In the 31st year, when he served as magistrate of Changshu County, the threat of Japanese pirates was severe. He eliminated superfluous expenses, reduced taxes and corvée labor, and prioritized defense. He conducted daily military drills with his troops and selected hundreds of young men from respectable families to form a “veteran militia,” personally training them in archery. He melted down temple bells to make weapons and led soldiers in constructing the city walls. When pirates raided Fushan Town, he led the “veteran militia” to confront them at Shangye. The following year, the pirates attacked again with internal collaborators in the city. He captured and executed the spies, displaying their bodies on the city walls as a warning. Deprived of inside help, the pirates… More details on Wang Fu ++

Further Reading:

· First and Second Batches of Jiangsu Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units