Tomb of Scholar Liang and His Son

　　In Xifeng Liuchang Township, there is a historic site revered by locals: the Tomb of Scholar Liang and His Son. The individual tomb of Scholar Liang is situated on a small hill amid tea fields in Liangjiazhai, about 2 kilometers from the township government office.

　　(Chronicles of Figures in Qian and Feng Counties) records: Scholar Liang, named Liang Zijing, was a native of Liangjiazhai in Liuchang. In the third year of the Qianlong reign during the Qing Dynasty (1738 AD), he ranked fifth in the Wuwu Imperial Examination and earned the title of Juren (successful candidate in the imperial examination at the provincial level). He once served as an education officer in Qingzhen County. In his later years, he returned to his hometown and passed away peacefully at the age of 102. Due to their prominence and honor in the region, the tombs of Scholar Liang and his son were constructed with great care and unique design. Both tombs are located at the highest point of the burial ground. The stone materials were quarried, intricately carved, and transported from elsewhere. The tombs are circular in shape, backing the southeast and facing the northwest. The tomb of Scholar Liang alone is built on a grander scale than that of his father.

　　The tomb has a diameter of 2.8 meters and a height of 1.9 meters. The inscription in front of the tomb is exquisitely carved, featuring calligraphy of exceptional quality. The main inscription reads: “Tomb of Liang Zijing, Imperial Conferral Document of the Qing Dynasty, Scholar of the Lin Rank,” with ten large, striking characters. To the right are two lines of smaller text: “Born on

　　the thirteenth day of the second month in the year Jiawu of the Kangxi era (1691 AD), at the hour of Hai; in the third year of Qianlong (1738 AD), ranked fifth in the Guizhou provincial examination.” On the left is the signature: “Erected on the leap second month of the sixtieth year of Qianlong (1795 AD), during the Qingming Festival.” On both sides of the tomb are couplets: “The literary works underground never cease; the offerings before the grave are ever fresh.”

　　The horizontal plaque reads: “High Mountains and Long Rivers.” On the upper inner walls of the couplet, each side is engraved with a Taoist

　　“Taiji Diagram”; the lower part of the stone wall lists the names of Scholar Liang’s four sons, 18 grandsons,

　　19 great-grandsons, and 16 great-great-grandsons. It is evident that Scholar Liang, who lived to the remarkable age of 102, had a flourishing lineage with five generations under one roof. Such a large family was truly rare.

　　Just 2 meters to the left of Scholar Liang’s tomb lies the tomb of his father, Liang Zhongfu.

　　This tomb is only 1.6 meters high with a diameter of 2.1 meters. The stone materials used in its construction and the tombstone are less refined than those of Scholar Liang’s tomb.

　　This tomb was built in the fourth year of Qianlong (1739 AD), the very year after Scholar Liang earned his title, indicating that life was not particularly affluent for Liang Zijing in his first year of fame.

　　According to the tomb inscriptions and the Liang family genealogy: Scholar Liang had four brothers. It was only after he earned his scholarly title that the family began to prosper, becoming one of the wealthiest and most prominent households in the area. Strangely enough, although he had five generations of descendants totaling 57 family members at the time of his death, there are no direct descendants alive today.

　　According to residents of the Liang family—dozens of households who have lived in Liangjiazhai for over a hundred years—no descendants of Scholar Liang have visited the site in the past century. It can thus be inferred that Scholar Liang indeed has no living descendants. It is possible that during the Daoguang era, an epidemic swept through Liuchang, decimating the local population, with nine out of ten homes left empty. No one in the Liang family survived. However, remnants of Scholar Liang’s former residence—such as the stone courtyard, flower stands, and some decorative stone carvings—can still be found in Liangjiazhai.

　　(No images available. Contributions are welcome.)

　　The tomb of Liang Juren (a successful candidate in the imperial examinations at the provincial level) is quite distinctive.

　　This tomb was built in the fourth year of the Qianlong reign (1739 AD),

　　which happens to be the year following Liang Zijing’s success in the imperial examinations.

　　Its simple design suggests that his life was not very prosperous in the first year after passing the exam.

　　According to the inscriptions on the tombstone and the Liang family genealogy: Liang Juren had four brothers.

　　It was only after he passed the examination that the family began to prosper, becoming one of the wealthiest households in the area.

　　Strangely, although he died with five generations living together and a total of 57 descendants,

　　there is not a single direct descendant alive today.

　　According to dozens of Liang families who have lived in Liangjiazhai for over a hundred years, no descendants of Liang Juren have visited here in the past century.

　　It is inferred that Liang Juren indeed has no surviving descendants.

　　This may be due to an epidemic that swept through the Liuchang area during the Daoguang era, which decimated the local population—hardly any households were spared—and the Liang family was no exception.

　　However, within Liangjiazhai, remnants such as the stone courtyard, flower stands, and some carved stone patterns from Liang Juren’s former residence still remain.