🏯 Tomb of Yuji (Dingyuan County, Chuzhou City, Anhui Province)

"Yuji, Yuji—what can I do with you now!" —— In the Records of the Grand Historian: Annals of Xiang Yu, Xiang Yu sang his sorrowful lament, a timeless cry echoing through history. Though historical records do not definitively name the site where Yuji died by suicide to honor her love, the Tomb of Yuji in Dingyuan County has been officially recognized across generations, documented in reliable sources, and continuously commemorated for over a millennium. It stands as a profound symbol of Chu-Han cultural memory and unwavering loyalty.

📜 Historical Evolution: A Thousand-Year Tribute, Documented in History

• Historical Origins: According to the Records of the Grand Historian and Book of Han, after Xiang Yu’s defeat at Gaixia (in present-day Lingbi County, Anhui), he fled southward and took his own life at the Wu River (present-day He County, Anhui). The exact location of Yuji’s death remains uncertain; however, records confirm the existence of her tomb in Dingyuan County from the Tang Dynasty onward.
• Documentary Evidence:
  • Yuanhe County and Prefecture Gazetteer, Volume Nine (Tang Dynasty): “Dingyuan County… has the Tomb of Yuji, located sixty miles south of the county.”
  • Dingyuan County Annals (Jiajing Edition, Ming Dynasty): Clearly states, “The Tomb of Yuji lies three miles east of Ou Tang Town, sixty miles south of the county. Locally known as ‘Bawang Mausoleum,’ it is traditionally believed that Xiang Yu stationed his troops here, and Yuji fell ill and was buried on this site.”
  • The Comprehensive Gazetteer of Jiangnan and Fengyang Prefecture Annals of the Qing Dynasty both list it among “famous historic sites,” noting that the county magistrate conducted restoration work during the Qianlong era.
• Archaeological Confirmation: In 1982, during Anhui Province’s cultural heritage survey, the tomb was confirmed as a Han dynasty mound tomb. The existing burial mound stands approximately 4.5 meters high with a base diameter of about 25 meters, featuring dense rammed earth construction consistent with early Western Han elite tombs. Although no formal excavation has taken place, surface finds include Han-era rope-patterned pottery shards and fragments of tile roofing, corroborating its historical period.

🏛️ Architectural Layout and Existing Remains

The Tomb of Yuji is a typical Han-dynasty commemorative mausoleum complex. The current layout results from Qing Dynasty renovations and modern conservation efforts, characterized by solemn simplicity and embodying the traditional principle of “establishing ritual to honor the deceased.”

• Core Remains:
  • Mound Tomb: A circular rammed-earth tumulus encircled by green bricks forming protective slopes. At the front stands a stone stele erected in the 29th year of Guangxu (1903), inscribed on the front with the words “Tomb of Yuji” in regular script (engraved in reverse), and on the back listing donors and a brief account of its origins.
  • Ruins of the Sacrificial Hall: Originally rebuilt in the Qing Dynasty with three rooms, only the foundation platform and two stone column bases remain today. Crafted from gray stone and carved with lotus petal motifs, these are original structural remnants.
  • Two Ancient Cypresses: One ancient cypress tree stands on each side of the tomb mound. Verified by forestry authorities to be over 1,800 years old, their gnarled branches exude strength and resilience. Known as the “Faithful Twin Cypress Trees,” they are designated as key protected ancient trees in Dingyuan County.
• Ancillary Facilities:
  • To the east of the cemetery stands the Yuji Temple (rebuilt in 1998 based on historical records), measuring three bays wide with a gabled roof covered in gray tiles. Inside, a standing statue of Yuji is displayed, meticulously modeled according to Han dynasty costume regulations. An altar is placed before the statue, and the walls feature six engraved rubbings of poems about Yuji from the Ming Dynasty onward.
  • Within the grounds stand two contemporary steles inscribed with poems from Gai Xia Ge and He Gai Xia Ge, composed by renowned calligraphers, along with the Protection Marker Stele for the Tomb of Yuji (established in 1986 by the Anhui Provincial Government), designating it a provincial-level cultural relic protection unit.

🏺 Cultural Relics and Significance

• Key Artifacts:
  • The Qing Guangxu-era stele inscribed “Tomb of Yuji” (original copy housed in the Dingyuan County Museum; a replica stands at the site);
  • A stone carving titled Record of the Rebuilding of the Tomb of Yuji from the Republic of China era (embedded into the northern side of the sacrificial hall’s foundation platform);
  • A rare illustrated woodblock manuscript titled Stories of Yuji, published during the Daoguang era (Qing Dynasty), preserved in the Dingyuan County Museum. It includes vivid scenes such as “Dancing with Sword in the Tent” and “Covering Her Face Before Suicide,” offering invaluable visual narratives of folk traditions.
• Cultural Value:
  • Material Embodiment of Loyalty and Devotion: Throughout history, Yuji has been idealized by Confucian scholars as a paragon of fidelity—choosing death over survival, sacrificing life for love. Her tomb thus serves as a vital space for moral education on traditional female virtue.
  • Geographical Anchor of Chu-Han Culture: As the only continuously documented, archaeologically traceable, and ritually maintained site dedicated to Yuji in eastern Anhui, it fills a crucial gap in the spatial narrative linking the battlefields of Gaixia and Wu River within the broader context of the Chu-Han struggle.
  • Symbol of Local Cultural Identity: Since the Tang Dynasty, local poets from Dingyuan have frequently referenced themes like “Autumn Wind at the Yu Tomb” and “Contemplating the Ancient Twin Cypress Trees” in their works, forming a stable literary motif found in regional collections such as Dingyuan Poems and Jiaoling Poems.

🌍 Tourism Information (as of 2024)

• 📍 Location: 3 kilometers east of Outang Town, Dingyuan County, Chuzhou City, Anhui Province (formerly part of Yongkang Township). Take exit "Dingyuan South" off G36 Ningluo Expressway, proceed south for about 12 kilometers, then follow County Road X023 directly to the site.
• 🎫 Opening Information:
  • Open year-round, free admission;
  • Hours: 08:00–17:30 (until 17:00 in winter);
  • Visitor reservation required (book via the “Wanshi Tong” app or the official WeChat account “Dingyuan Culture & Tourism”; daily capacity limited to 300 visitors).
• 🚌 Transportation Guide:
  • By car: Approximately 1.5 hours (about 120 km) from Hefei; about 1 hour (around 70 km) from Chuzhou.
  • Public transit: Take a bus from Dingyuan Bus Station on the “Dingyuan–Outang” route (every 40 minutes), alight at “Yuji Tomb Intersection,” then walk 800 meters.
• ℹ️ Travel Tips:
  • The tomb is a provincial-level cultural relic protection unit (designated in 1986). Climbing the burial mound, carving on monuments, or burning paper offerings is strictly prohibited.
  • Recommended itinerary: Combine your visit with nearby attractions—the Ou Tang Martyrs’ Cemetery (former headquarters of the New Fourth Army’s Second Division) and the Jinshan Dishui Temple (a Tang Dynasty Buddhist temple) for a full day of cultural exploration.
  • Best visiting seasons: Late March to early April (local public memorial ceremonies held); October (when the ancient cypresses are lush and golden gingko trees cast a serene glow, creating a solemn and enduring atmosphere).

✨ Cultural Insight: The Tomb of Yuji is more than just a grave—it is a spiritual monument rising across the Huai River region. It speaks not of victory or defeat, but of integrity; not of absolute historical certainty, but of enduring cultural sincerity. Visiting this site evokes not only sorrow over the passing of a noble woman, but also a deep reverence embedded in Chinese civilization for human dignity, emotional commitment, and the preservation of historical memory.