The Myth of the Raven Settling at Yang’s Burial Site in Tainan – The Former Residence of Gong Lianzhen

Text by / MOOK Scenic Spots Family, compiled and reported

On October 24, 2016, Mayor Lai Qingde held a plaque-hanging ceremony for the historical figures’ residences in Tainan City at Gong Lianzhen’s former residence.During the ceremony, he mentioned: “This place is the legendary ‘Raven Settling at Yang’s Burial Site,’ believed to bring prosperity in wealth, gather fortune, and produce generals and high-ranking officials.” Considering that this small area produced notable figures such as Gong Lianzhen, Wu Sanlian, Wu Zunxian, and Wu Shuqi — all influential in Taiwan’s political and business circles and collectively known as the “Tainan Gang” — the legend of the “Raven Settling at Yang’s Burial Site” seems quite plausible. The legend of Touchiangzai’s treasured land tells that during the Guangxu era of the Qing Dynasty, a renowned feng shui master from Tangshan, China, pointed out to the Wu clan that a site located one kilometer east of Old Touchiangzai was an exceptional geomantic treasure — encircled by a jade belt, prosperous in wealth, blessed with outstanding people and descendants, and ideal for passing down through generations. In feng shui terms, it is called the “Raven Settling at Yang’s Burial Site.”

Whether it’s the legend of the “Raven Settling at Yang’s Burial Site” or the saga of the “Tainan Gang,” wandering through the traditional three-courtyard compound of Gong Lianzhen’s residence — built from a mix of bricks, lime, and wood that is now increasingly rare — inevitably stirs a deep sense of nostalgia. One can’t help but feel the passage of time and the weight of fading sunlight, as if stepping back to an era when alleyways and old trees were lush and green, even though flowers bloom and fade, and while the scenery remains, the people have long since changed.

Fortunately, in a cultural hub like the ancient city of Tainan — a place with both the will and the ability to preserve its heritage — the tradition of remembering one’s roots is regarded as the highest form of respect for the land itself. As a result, legends and sagas are passed down through generations here in Tainan, sparing people the sorrow of seeing historical tales and anecdotes lost forever (“拍无去” in Taiwanese Hokkien, meaning lost or gone), which would otherwise leave only homesickness and no way to trace the past.

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