Tomb of Duke Hu of Chen

　　  Duke Hu of Chen, whose given name was Gui Man, was a descendant of Emperor Shun. After King Wu of Zhou overthrew the Shang Dynasty, he enfeoffed Gui Man in the territory of Chen and gave him his daughter, Lady Da Ji, in marriage. Gui Man was a man of great talent and vision. He established the State of Chen, built the city of Chen, developed numerous industries, and brought prosperity to the people, enabling the State of Chen to rank among the twelve major feudal states. Gui Man passed away in the State of Chen and was buried here. King Wu of Zhou granted him the surname Chen based on the name of the fiefdom, and thus he became known as Duke Hu of Chen. Naturally, Duke Hu of Chen is regarded as the progenitor of the Chen surname, which explains the origin of the Chen family name.

　　  At the time of Duke Hu of Chen's death, it was an era when tombs were made without mounds, but for kings, nobles, and meritorious civil and military officials, worship halls could be built atop the tombs. Therefore, the burial chamber of Duke Hu of Chen was constructed underground, while the worship hall above ground 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 worship hall in ancient times. Ming Dynasty scholar Wang Liangchen wrote in a poem: “A cleverly cast iron coffin lies hidden beneath the waters, its radiant legacy shining upon the world.” Historical records state that Hu Gong’s tomb was cast in molten iron, hence it is also called the Iron Tomb of Duke Hu of Chen. The current tomb was rebuilt in 1995 by the well-known Singaporean entrepreneur Mr. Chen Yonghe, who funded the project on the original tomb mound. It was constructed using ash-brown bricks that give it the appearance of iron.

　　  The descendants of Duke Hu of Chen have flourished, numbering more than 80 million people spread across the world. For over 3,000 years and spanning more than 120 generations, particularly in Fujian and Taiwan, there is a saying that “the Chens and Lins make up half the world,” and the Chen family can indeed be regarded as a grand and distinguished clan. The global Chen clan shares a common belief: the Chens are spread all over the world, but Huaiyang is our ancestral home; though the Chens number 80 million, they all trace their origins to Duke Hu. An inscription on the stone memorial archway reads: “From Kuangqiu arose lofty and holy achievements that will last for millennia; the Chen lineage stands enduring with descendants spread across the five continents.” As a result, an increasing number of Chen descendants from all over the world come to seek their roots and pay homage to their ancestors. Distinguished 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 Huaiyang, donating funds and flags as a show of reverence. When Chen Nianshun, president of the Macau Chen Clan Association, led clan members and representatives of Yingchuan School students to Huaiyang to worship their ancestors, he also established a sister-school relationship with Huaiyang Middle School. As for the Chen ancestors worshipped in places like Xinzheng, Gushi (Henan), Shunde (Guangdong), and Xiamen (Fujian), they are the founding ancestors of the Chen clans in those respective regions.

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

　　  To better welcome Chen dignitaries from around the world seeking their roots and paying homage, as well as visitors from all directions for sightseeing, the local government has now formulated a comprehensive plan for the overall restoration of the Tomb of Duke Hu of Chen. Currently, the cemetery covers an area of 58 mu, surrounded by water on three sides, with beautiful scenery. The planned structures within the park include: the First Ancestral Temple of the Chen Clan — the Temple of Duke Hu of Chen, branch ancestral temples, the Chen Clan Museum, the Chen Clan Academy, the Chen Clan Hall of Fame, the Chen Clan Stele Forest, and the Ling Pagoda. At present, with the support of the local government and the efforts of the Chen Clan, the spirit way leading to the tomb of Duke Hu of Chen has been renovated, a new square has been built in front of the tomb, a large stone memorial archway has been erected, and the elegantly designed Hall of Duke Hu is nearing completion. If esteemed members of the Chen Clan and insightful individuals can contribute to the restoration of the Tomb of Duke Hu of Chen and help bring this project to fruition, this place will surely become a sacred site for Chen descendants to seek their roots and an ideal destination for visitors from all over the world.

　　  Source: Huaiyang Government Website