Tomb of Zhao Ding’s Official Attire

　　The Tomb of Zhao Ding’s Official Attire is an important cultural relic and historic site in Hainan, dating back to the Song Dynasty. It is situated on a northern slope of Jiucun Village, Changcheng Township, Changjiang County, about 300 meters away from the village.

　　Zhao Ding, styled Yuanzhen and also known as Master Dequan, was born in 1085 (the eighth year of Yuanfeng during the reign of Emperor Huizong of the Song Dynasty) in Wenxi, Jiezhou (present-day Wenxi County, Shanxi Province). In 1106 (the fifth year of Chongning during the reign of Emperor Huizong), he passed the imperial examination. In 1134 (the fourth year of Shaoxing during the reign of Emperor Gaozong), he was appointed Right Vice Premier and concurrently Chief of the Privy Council (equivalent to vice chancellor), and became chancellor in 1135. His literary collection, "Zhong Zheng De Wen Ji," has been passed down through history.

　　In 1138 (the eighth year of Shaoxing), due to his strong advocacy for resisting the Jin and his conflict with the treacherous official Qin Hui, Zhao Ding was demoted to Jiyang Jun on Hainan Island. When passing through Leizhou, Prefect Wang Ti “pretended to offer him a ride” to send him off. Upon learning this, Qin Hui exiled Wang Ti to Jinzhou. In his memorial to Emperor Gaozong while staying at the home of Pei Wenyi in Yazhou, Zhao Ding expressed his unchanging determination to resist the Jin and save the nation: “With white hair, where shall I return? I lament how little of my life remains; my loyal heart undimmed, I will not waver even if facing death nine times.” His firm resolve frightened Qin Hui: “This old man remains as unyielding as ever.” Qin Hui then intensified his persecution. Zhao Ding in Yazhou “lived in seclusion, rarely going out and refusing visitors.” “The vast waters and clouds of Hainan fly, the Liwu Mountains rise high as the sun delays its climb; a thousand miles of solitude over a cup of wine, such feelings only old friends can know.” Zhang Zongyuan, the military governor of Guangxi, sent people with poems, medicinal stones, wine, and yeast to offer consolation. Upon learning this, Qin Hui immediately transferred Zhang away from Guangxi.

　　Due to Qin Hui’s cruelty, Zhao Ding chose death as a form of resistance. Before his death, he personally inscribed his tombstone, recording his hometown and the years of his official career. The inscription included these two lines: “Riding the tail of the Winnowing Basket, I return to the heavens; my spirit becomes the mountains and rivers that strengthen our dynasty.” This expressed that even in death, he would not forget the Song Dynasty or the mission to resist and save the nation, turning his spirit into the land and rivers to make the Song stronger. He eventually died and was buried in Jiucun Village, Changhua County. It was the eighteenth year of Shaoxing (1147), and he was only 63 years old.

　　After Zhao Ding’s death, Hu Dan’an wrote a mourning poem: “A mound of yellow earth rests on Qiongdao, a timeless beacon stands firm like Mount Tai.” The following year, by imperial decree, his remains were returned to Shimen, Zhejiang for burial. Some of his personal belongings and official attire were left behind and buried at the original tomb site in Jiucun Village, Changjiang County, creating the Tomb of Zhao Ding’s Official Attire.

　　Ten years after Zhao Ding’s death, Emperor Lizong Zhao Yun ascended the throne and posthumously honored Zhao Ding as Duke of Fengguo, conferred the title of Grand Tutor, and gave him the posthumous name Zhongjian, leading later generations to also refer to him as Zhao Zhongjian.

　　Since the Song Dynasty, the Tomb of Zhao Ding’s Official Attire has been well-preserved. There was originally a stone stele inscribed with “Tomb of Zhao Ding, Grand Chancellor and Top Scholar of the Great Song,” and for hundreds of years, every Qingming Festival, local people would mourn Zhao Gong, bringing rice and meat to the tomb site to pay respects. During the Cultural Revolution, it was destroyed and has yet to be restored. Today, only a small amount of stone charcoal and square black tombstones remain at the site. The Tomb of Zhao Ding’s Official Attire, preserved since the Song Dynasty, has a history of over 800 years and provides important historical evidence for future generations.

　　Zhao Ding (1085~1147)　　Zhao Ding (1085–1147), styled Yuanzhen and also known as Master Dequan, was from Fudi Village, Wenxi County. He was a renowned chancellor of the Southern Song who fought alongside Yue Fei against the Jin invaders. In 1106 (the fifth year of Chongning during the Northern Song), Zhao Ding passed the imperial examination and was appointed Magistrate of Luoyang, then quickly promoted to Officer of Shicheng in Kaifeng. In September 1126 (the first year of Jingkang), when the Jin army captured Taiyuan, the court discussed ceding three towns in exchange for peace. Zhao Ding firmly opposed this, saying, “The land of our ancestors cannot be given away; why discuss it?” The following April, the capital Kaifeng fell, Emperor Huizong and Emperor Qinzong were captured, and the Jin wanted to establish Zhang Bangchang as emperor, forcing Song officials to sign the agreement. Zhao Ding hid in the Imperial Academy, went through many trials, and eventually escaped southward... Details+