Ancestral Hall of the Chen Clan

　　Duke Hu of Chen, whose given name was Gui Man, was a descendant of Emperor Shun of Yu. After King Wu of Zhou overthrew the Shang Dynasty, he enfeoffed Gui Man in the territory of Chen and married his daughter, Da Ji, to him. Gui Man, a man of great talent and vision, established the State of Chen, built the city of Chen, developed various industries, and brought prosperity to the people, making the State of Chen one of the twelve major feudal states. Gui Man died in the State of Chen and was buried here. King Wu of Zhou granted him the surname Chen based on the name of the state, thus he became known as Duke Hu of Chen. Naturally, Duke Hu of Chen is the founding ancestor of the Chen surname, which explains the origin of the Chen family name.

　　During the time of Duke Hu of Chen’s death, it was an era when tombs had no mounds, but for kings, nobles, and highly respected civil and military officials, memorial halls could be built atop the tombs. Therefore, the burial chamber of Duke Hu of Chen was constructed underground, while the above-ground memorial hall no longer exists. Archaeologists have discovered pottery shards from the Western Zhou Dynasty and roof tiles from the Warring States Period here, confirming the architectural features of Duke Hu of Chen’s tomb and memorial hall. The Ming Dynasty scholar Wang Liangchen wrote in a poem: “A cleverly cast iron coffin lies hidden beneath the water, its radiant legacy shining upon the world.” Historical records indicate that Duke Hu’s tomb was cast in iron, hence it is also called the Iron Tomb of Duke Hu. The current tomb was rebuilt in 1995 by the renowned Singaporean entrepreneur Mr. Chen Yonghe, who funded the restoration on the original tomb mound. It is constructed with iron-grayish-brown bricks that give it the appearance of an iron tomb.

　　The descendants of Duke Hu of Chen have flourished, numbering over 80 million, spread across the world. For more than 3,000 years and spanning over 120 generations, especially in Fujian and Taiwan, there is a saying that “Chens and Lins make up half the world,” making the Chen clan a truly grand and prominent lineage. Chen descendants universally agree: “The Chens are spread across the world, but Huaiyang is our ancestral home; of the 80 million Chens, all trace their origin to Duke Hu.” The stone archway’s couplet reads: “From Kuangqiu arose lofty saintly achievements that shine through the ages; the Chen lineage stands enduring with descendants spread across the five continents.” As a result, an increasing number of Chen descendants from around the world come to seek their roots and pay homage to their ancestors. Notable figures such as Singapore’s Chen Yonghe and Thailand’s Chen Shao-yang, chairman of the Thai Chen Clan Association, have led large ancestral worship delegations to trace their roots, donating funds and flags as tokens of sincerity. When the president of the Macau Chen Clan Association, Chen Nianshun, led clan members and representatives of Yingchuan School to Huaiyang for an ancestral pilgrimage, they also established a sister-school relationship with Huaiyang Middle School. As for the Chen ancestors worshipped in places like Xinzheng, Gushi in Henan, Shunde in Guangdong, and Xiamen in Fujian, they are all local founding ancestors of the Chen lineage from those regions.

　　In front of the tomb stands a massive gravestone inscribed by Chen Tianran, a contemporary Chinese calligrapher and descendant of Duke Hu. The tablets on both sides are donation plaques.

　　To better welcome Chen descendants and dignitaries from home and abroad seeking their roots, as well as visitors from all directions, the local government has formulated a comprehensive plan for the full restoration of the Tomb of Duke Hu of Chen. Currently, the tomb site covers an area of 58 mu, surrounded by water on three sides, with beautiful scenery. The planned structures in the park include: the First Ancestral Temple of the Chen Clan – the Temple of Duke Hu of Chen, branch temples for various lineages, the Chen Clan Museum, the Chen Clan Academy, the Chen Clan Hall of Fame, the Chen Clan Stele Forest, and the Spirit Pagoda. With the support of the local government and the efforts of the Chen clan, the sacred path leading to Duke Hu of Chen’s tomb has been renovated, a new square has been built in front of the tomb, a grand stone archway has been erected, and the elegantly designed Hall of Duke Hu is nearing completion. If esteemed members of the Chen clan and visionary individuals can contribute to the restoration of the Tomb of Duke Hu of Chen and help bring this project to fruition, this site will surely become a sacred place for Chen descendants to seek their roots and a desirable destination for visitors from around the world.

　　Source: Huaiyang Government Website