Located in Jiangjin, the hometown of Jiang Yuan, Jiang Gong Ancestral Hall (the Ancestral Hall of Lord Jiang) was his former residence. It features a brick-and-wood structure, overhanging gable roof, quadrangle-courtyard-styling arrangement. Decorated with black bricks, the couplets on the two sides of the gate read, “The mansion of the meritorious court official; the residence of the state backbone”.
Jiang Gong Ancestral Hall
Jiang Yuan, enjoying great fame, is wise and benevolent and favors mountains and waters. He has composed poems to chant the 18 sceneries around Jiangjin, which were popular for over 500 years. The local literati and poets highly praise his works, and even the common people in Jiangjin, who love natural landscapes too, recite his poems repeatedly.
Inside of Jiang Gong Ancestral Hall
In 1400, Jiang Yuan, the gifted scholar, became a candidate in the highest imperial civil service examination in his thirty years. Then, he left his hometown to serve as a court official. Later, a historical event in the Ming Dynasty has caused ups and downs to his life.
On August 15, 1449, people in Beijing felt panic-stricken by the wildly-spreading news. First, a minority living in the northern region invaded the state. Zhu Qizhen, Emperor Yingzong of Ming, took his army, half-million strong, to fight against the aggressors. Defeated, the emperor was captured at Tumu Fortress.
Court of Jiang Gong Ancestral Hall
His capture by the enemy shook the empire to its core, and the ensuing crisis almost caused the dynasty to collapse overnight. Jiang Yuan urged to defend Beijing on the court because their abandonment might sway the minds of the people. All getting united and defending the city of Beijing should be the right way.
bedroom
The proposal of Jiang Yuan unexpectedly coincided with Yu Qian, who served as the Minister of War. And Zhu Qiyu, the younger brother of Zhu Qizhen, agreed their shared advice. At that time, Jian Yuan was promoted from the tutor of National Academy to the Assistant Minister of Works. He participated in the battle to defend Beijing, organized by Yu Qian. At last, they finally beat off the strong forces of Oirat and protected Beijing city properly. Afterward, Zhu Qiyu succeeded the Emperor Yingzong and changed the reign title into “Jingtai”.
Jiang Gong Ancestral Hall
In the eighth year of Jingtai, or 1457, Zhu Qizhen got back and deposed Jingtai and ruled again as the Tianshun Emperor. Then, Jiang Yuan was exiled to Tieling in Liaoning Province. Until 1465, when Zhu Jianshen came into power, he called Jiang Yuan back. That time, because Jiang Yuan was at his declining years, Zhu Jianshen approved him to resign from office and return to the hometown for a peaceful life.
Currently, Jiang Gong Ancestral Hall has become a culture promotion yard for Jiangjin people. The Sichuan Opera performed once per half month, has reinvigorated this site, after several hundred years of historical vicissitude.