Yuan Chonghuan Temple and Tomb

　　Destination Introduction

　　The Yuan Chonghuan Temple and Tomb are located in the northeastern part of Chongwen District, on Donghuasi Xiejie, on the former site of the Guangdong Yi Garden. Its temple is located in the southeastern part of the district by the East Lake of Longtan Park.

　　Yuan Chonghuan (1584–1630) was a renowned general in the late Ming Dynasty who fought against the Later Jin and defended Shanhaiguan and Beijing, achieving remarkable military exploits. Later, he was wrongfully executed due to slander by Emperor Chongzhen. In his memory, later generations built both a temple and a tomb.

　　The temple and tomb stele were built around the early Qing Dynasty, commonly known as the She Family Hall. It faces south, and the original gate bore a plaque inscribed by later generations: "Tomb of Yuan Chonghuan, National Martyr of the Ming Dynasty." The main hall of the temple has five rooms, with stone carvings such as the "Stele for the Reconstruction of the Ming Dynasty Grand Coordinator Yuan Chonghuan's Temple and Tomb" written by Li Jishen embedded in the front porch and indoor walls. Under the eaves is a plaque inscribed by Ye Gongchuo: "Tomb Hall of Yuan Chonghuan, Grand Coordinator of the Ming Dynasty from Guangdong." Behind the temple lies Yuan Chonghuan’s tomb. Originally, there was a burial mound about 2 meters high, in front of which stood a stone stele inscribed with “Tomb of Great General Yuan of the Ming Dynasty” by Hunan Governor Wu Rongguang in the 11th year of the Daoguang reign (1831), along with a stone altar. The tomb area was enclosed by a brick flower wall, planted with evergreen pines and cypresses. Currently, only the tomb stele and some stone carvings on the walls remain.

　　Location: Northeastern part of Chongwen District, Donghuasi Xiejie

　　The Yuan Chonghuan Temple was established in 1917 by Mr. Zhang Bozhen, a fellow townsman from Guangdong. The temple faces east and has three bays, situated on a platform about 1 meter high. The three inner bays are individually partitioned, with the central gatePurchase bearing a stone lintel inscribed with “Temple of Yuan Chonghuan.” The stone couplet on both sides of the gate reads: “His life and deeds were tied to the survival of China; worshipped for millennia, his death outweighs Mount Tai, though he suffered great injustice; hearing the war drums, one thinks of the generals of Eastern Liaodong—one man guards the pass, standing as a formidable foe—where else can such a master be found?” Inside the central bay of the temple is inlaid a stone carving of Yuan Chonghuan. Above it originally hung a plaque inscribed with Yuan Chonghuan’s own calligraphy “Listening to the Rain,” now lost. The side walls feature stone carvings such as “Record of the Temple of Yuan Chonghuan of the Ming Dynasty,” “Stele Record of the Temple of Yuan Chonghuan,” and “Epitaph of the She Family Martyr.” The gate lintel, couplet, and temple records are all written by Kang Youwei, holding significant historical and calligraphic value. The left and right auxiliary rooms of the temple are Mr. Zhang’s “Yidi Ting” (Pavilion for Leisure Fishing) and “Daowang Ting” (Pavilion for Mourning the Deceased), serving as family shrines for his deceased wife and son. They also house 23 stone carvings including couplets inscribed by Liang Qichao and works by notable figures such as Song Bolu.

　　Bus routes 3, 8, 39, 43, 60, 610, 723, get off at Huashi Station on the west side

　　 Beijing Chongwen District

　　Yuan Chonghuan (1584～1630)　　Yuan Chonghuan (1584–1630), courtesy name Yuansu, art name Ziru, also known as Yuan Duzhi, was a famous general in the late Ming Dynasty. Yuan Chonghuan achieved major victories at Ningyuan and Ningjin, effectively resisting the Qing army, but resigned and returned home due to Wei Zhongxian. After Emperor Chongzhen Zhu Youjian ascended the throne and removed Wei Zhongxian, Yuan Chonghuan was reinstated. However, he was later falsely accused of colluding with the Later Jin forces during a battle with Hong Taiji, leading Emperor Chongzhen to sentence him to death by lingchi, exile his family 3,000 li away, and confiscate his property. Yuan Chonghuan wrote poems such as “Failing the Imperial Exam,” “Admiring the Moon During Autumn Examinations,” “Imprisonment,” and “Moon in Prison.” Biography Early Life ......  More+

The Yuan Chonghuan Temple and Tomb is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.