Memorial to Prime Minister Wen Tianxiang (文丞相祠)

Beijing Memorial Temple of Wen Tianxiang, better known as the Memorial to Prime Minister Wen Tianxiang, is located at No. 63, Fuxue Hutong, Dongcheng District, where the national hero Wen Tianxiang in the Southern Song Dynasty (1236-1283) was imprisoned and sentenced to death. It was built in 1376, the 9th year under of reign of Emperor Hongwu of the Ming Dynasty, currently including the gate, the front hall and the back hall.

The memorial once housed three ancient scholar trees, as well as a “Prime Minister” elm and a date tree with their branches and trunk leaning very noticeably southward. According to local legend, these trees represent Wen Tianxiang’ s longing for his old home in the south. The three scholar trees disappeared long ago, but the date tree is still thriving.

A eulogistic couplet reading “The Song Dynasty’ s Top Ranking Scholar and Prime Minister, the West River’s Filial Son and Loyal Subject,” is carved into the columns of the memorial’ s main hall. In the center of the hall stands a sculpture Wen Tianxiang holding an official tablet before him. To the left with Wen’ s likeness and below with the 32-character“Clothes and Belt Inscription” which ends with the lines“… and today and ever after his conscience is clear. ”four large inscribed wooden plaques hang inside the hall. They read, “Loyalty and devotion to old friends”; “Righteousness in heaven and on earth”; “The utmost in benevolence and justice”; and “The Song Dynasty survives here.” A screen bears the complete text of Wen Tianxiang’s Song of Righteousness.