Tomb of Chen Sheng

　　    The tomb of Chen Sheng, the first leader of a peasant uprising in Chinese history, is located at the southwestern foot of the main peak of Mangdang Mountain, northeast of Yongcheng City. The existing tomb mound is 5 meters high, with a circumference of about 50 meters. It is surrounded by a bluestone wall, topped with a high ridge, resting on a Sumeru pedestal, and inscribed in the center with the words “Tomb of Chen Sheng, Leader of the Late Qin Peasant Uprising,” written by Guo Moruo. Chen Sheng, whose courtesy name was She, was a native of Yangcheng. In the first year of the reign of the Second Emperor of Qin (209 BCE), he was conscripted to garrison Yuyang. Together with Wu Guang from Yangxia, he broke branches for weapons and raised poles as flags in Daze Township, Qixian, launching the first peasant uprising in Chinese history. He established the Zhangchu regime in Chen County (present-day Huaiyang), which gained significant momentum and shook the oppressive Qin rule. After the failure of the uprising, he was killed by his charioteer Zhuang Jia, but his general Lü Chen later executed Zhuang Jia and had Chen Sheng reburied on Mangdang Mountain. The Western Han Dynasty, recognizing Chen Sheng’s role in initiating the anti-Qin rebellion, allocated thirty families during Emperor Gaozu’s reign to guard his tomb, exempting them from taxes and corvée labor. This practice gradually faded after the Eastern Han Dynasty. In 1975, the state allocated special funds for renovation, clearing an area of 4,000 square meters, enclosing the tomb with stone walls, planting pines and cypresses, assigning guards, and designating it as a provincial-level key cultural relic protection unit.

　　Chen Sheng (?～208 BCE)　　    Chen Sheng, courtesy name She, was a native of Yangcheng in the southern part of Runan (present-day Yangxiang Township, Pingyu County, northwest of Zhumadian, Henan). He was a leader of the uprising initiated by Wu Guang. Chen Sheng (circa ?–208 BCE), courtesy name She, was a native of Yangcheng in the southern Chu kingdom (present-day Yangxiang Township, Pingyu County, Zhumadian City, Henan Province). He was one of the leaders of the anti-Qin rebel forces during the late Qin Dynasty. Together with Wu Guang, he led an uprising in Daze Township (present-day southwest of Suzhou, Anhui), becoming a pioneer of the resistance movement. Not long after, he declared himself king in Chen Commandery and established the Zhangchu regime. He was later defeated by the Qin general Zhang Han and was assassinated by his charioteer. At that time, the Qin Dynasty was under brutal rule, with extreme class oppression. Unwilling to be enslaved and sympathetic to others in similar plight, one day he said to... Details+

Tomb of Chen Sheng

Tomb of Chen Sheng