General Sun Yue's Tomb

　　　　Sun Yue, styled Yuxing, was born in 1878 in Gaoyang, Hebei Province, and was a descendant of the late Ming Dynasty general Sun Chengzong. Early in his life, he joined the Tongmenghui (Chinese Revolutionary Alliance), participated in the Xinhai Revolution and the movement against Yuan Shikai. He was the planner and leader of major historical events such as the Beijing Coup and the Wuyuan Oath-Taking, and he was a renowned patriotic general with outstanding achievements in modern Chinese history. Due to his long-term military service in Beijing, he was publicly buried on the sunny side of Xianlong Mountain in the温泉 area. A memorial hall was built east of the tomb.

　　　　Covering an area of about eighty acres, the tomb faces south. The tomb platform is semi-elliptical, with bluestone steps, and is surrounded by a base and railing made of bluestone and cement.

　　　　Originally a simple earthen mound, the tomb was rebuilt in 1990 using brushed stone to form a pyramid shape. In front of the tomb stands an epitaph written by Kuomintang elder Zhang Ji and calligraphed by the famous calligrapher Shen Yinmo. In front of the tomb platform is a grove of over 300 pine and cypress trees, lush and orderly, standing like rows of soldiers guarding General Sun Yue’s resting place. In the center of the pine grove, facing the tomb, stands a four-cornered pyramidal pavilion. At the center of the pavilion is a white marble commemorative stele, with “Commemorative Stele for Mr. Sun Yuxing” inscribed in the center of the front, “Erected in May of the 20th Year of the Republic of China” above, and “Respectfully Erected by Xu Yongchang” at the bottom. The back of the stele bears an inscription written by Xu Yongchang and calligraphed by Li Liejun.

　　　　About twenty meters to the west of the tomb is a six-cornered pyramidal pavilion. At its center stands a white marble stele, with inscriptions such as “Commemorative Stele for the Honorable Sun Yuxing” on the front. The back of the stele contains the inscription text and the names of officers from the rank of squad leader up to General Pang Xun, Commander of the 40th Army. On the hillside behind Xianlong Mountain also stands a monument commemorating Sun Yue. The front of the stele is inscribed with “Commemorative Stele for Governor and Provincial Governor Sun Yuxing, Director of Zhili Military Affairs, Written by Xu Yongchang, Calligraphed by Li Liejun, Year 23 of the Republic of China.” The back of the stele bears text written by Wang Daoyuan in May of the 18th year of the Republic of China, calligraphed by Zhang Hairuo, and carved by Li Yueting of Beiping Hanmaozhai.

　　　　Not far to the east of the tomb is a uniquely styled building blending Chinese and Western architectural elements — this is the Sun Yue Memorial Hall. The building faces south, with the central structure designed in traditional Chinese style, appearing as a two-story building from the outside. The upper level features a traditional hip-and-gable roof, while the lower level has a four-pillar, three-bay layout with a front porch and rear alcove, adorned with Suzhou-style paintings between the eaves. Tall castle-like gables on the east and west sides shield the central Chinese-style building. Inside, the building is single-storied, with walls inlaid with numerous stone-carved elegiac couplets, plaques, and tablets commemorating General Sun Yue, inscribed by important figures. The central wall features a white marble elegiac couplet written by Tan Yankai, reading “Engraved in stone, it carries aspirations eternal; the coffin closed, it slightly comforts the nation.” To the left is inlaid “The Tombstone of Mr. Sun Yuxing from Gaoyang,” composed and written by He Qigong. To the right is “The Spirit Way Stele of General Sun, Member of the National Government,” composed and written by Feng Yuxiang. On the east and west walls are also inlaid commemorative plaques inscribed by Chiang Kai-shek, Li Liejun, Yang Hucheng, Lu Zhonglin, Song Zheyuan, Han Fuju, and others. This memorial hall has now been repurposed as the library of the Beijing Geriatric Hospital.

　　　　At the intersection leading from the温泉 area to the Summer Palace, there is also a large stone bridge with the three characters “Yuxing Bridge” inscribed on its side. Later, due to road widening, the stone bridge was replaced by the current cement bridge. This too was built in commemoration of General Sun Yue.

　　　　Majestic are the Western Hills, balmy the hot springs, green the pines and cypresses, noble the spirits of valor — a distinguished general rests here eternally, his spirit enduring, shining forever.