The Ruins of Guan Ying’s Tomb

　　“Guanzhong” refers to the tomb of Guan Ying, a great general of the Han Dynasty. It is situated between Xiguanzhuang Village (250 meters to the north) and Gaomiao Village (250 meters to the southeast) in Jiezhuang Subdistrict, Rencheng District.

　　 According to the *Chinese Historical Figures Dictionary*: “Guan Ying (?–176 BCE), a minister in the early Han Dynasty, was from Suiyang (present-day southern Shangqiu, Henan). Originally a small silk trader, he joined Liu Bang during the peasant uprisings at the end of the Qin Dynasty and fought in various battles. Later, he assisted Han Xin in defeating the Qi army and in the killing of Xiang Yu. When the Han Dynasty was established and Liu Bang became emperor, Guan Ying was appointed as a Cavalry General and granted the title Marquis of Yingyin. He later helped Chen Ping and Zhou Bo suppress the Lü Clan rebellion, welcomed Emperor Wen to the throne, served as Grand Marshal, and shortly after became Chancellor.” He died in Rencheng and was posthumously honored as Yi.

　　 The *Jining Direct-Controlled Prefecture Annals, Volume 15, Antiquities II* states: “The *Tomb Record* says that the tomb of Han’s Guan Ying is thirty li east of the prefecture.” The tomb mound was large, covering several acres, with a stele and a memorial hall in front, surrounded by lush pines and cypresses. By the Yuan Dynasty, the tomb area had been expanded with added earth, planted with cypresses, and enclosed with walls. A twelve-bay memorial hall was built, along with one stone ding tripod and one stone table. In 1441 during the Ming Dynasty’s Zhengtong era, a stele was erected to mark the site. The memorial hall was destroyed long ago, and the pines and cypresses were cut down. After the founding of the People’s Republic of China, land leveling for farmland water conservancy projects flattened the mound. However, remains still exist underground. In 1985, it was designated as a municipal-level key cultural relics protection unit.

　　 “Clear Mist over Guanzhong” was one of the Eight Scenic Spots of ancient Jining. It describes how, on clear spring days in March, when the breeze blows gently, white mist would cover the area above Guan Ying’s tomb—a beautiful natural phenomenon caused by the rising spring qi, admired for many years. Qing Dynasty literatus Wang Qing wrote a seven-character quatrain titled *Passing Guanzhong*:

　　 Great merit in aiding Liu’s rise is not to be denied,

　　 Yet who among heroes was not praised in his day?