[2024 Xia County Attraction] Travel Guide for Simaguang Temple (Updated Dec)

The Tomb of Sima Guang in Xia County, Yuncheng, Shanxi (Northern Song Dynasty) - 'Zizhi Tongjian'

The tomb of Sima Guang is located 15 kilometers north of Xia County, Yuncheng, Shanxi, on Mingtiao Ridge. Sima Guang (1019-1086), styled Junshi, was a native of Sushui Township in Xia County, and was known as Master Sushui. He was a famous chancellor during the reign of Emperor Zhezong of the Song Dynasty, posthumously honored as Duke Wen of the State. He was a jinshi (successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations) during the Baoyuan era. From a young age, he was exceptionally intelligent, and his act of breaking a vat to save a child became a household tale. He served under four emperors: Renzong, Yingzong, Shenzong, and Zhezong, and authored works such as 'Zizhi Tongjian' and 'Sushui Jiwen'. In 1988, his tomb was listed as a third batch national key cultural relic protection unit. The cemetery covers an area of nearly 30,000 square meters. It is situated about 13 kilometers northwest of the county town on Mingtiao Ridge, facing southeast with the back to the northwest, and consists of five main parts: the tomb area, the Loyalty and Pure Virtue Stele Pavilion, the Temple of Duke Wen, the Yuqing Zen Monastery, and the Sushui Academy. The tomb area currently has thirteen orderly arranged burial mounds of Sima Guang and his father and brothers. To the east of the tomb area is the Temple of Duke Wen, with a main hall of five bays. The hall originally contained statues of Sima Guang and his ancestors up to the fourth generation, which no longer exist. In the third year of Yuanyou, Emperor Zhezong of Song, Zhao Xu, in order to commend Sima Guang's great integrity and meritorious service, ordered the Hanlin academician Su Shi to write the stele inscription, and personally inscribed the six characters 'Loyalty and Pure Virtue Stele'. The inscription detailed Sima Guang's family background and life. In the first year of Shaosheng (1094), the imperial censor Zhou Zhi first argued that 'Duke Wen slandered the former emperor. His laws should be completely abolished, and he should be punished for his crimes,' leading Emperor Zhezong to order the original stele to be toppled. The stele was later buried in the ground and then unearthed under an apricot tree, hence named the Apricot Flower Stele, but unfortunately, it has been eroded and is difficult to discern. In the eighth year of Huangtong (1148) of the Jin Dynasty, the magistrate of Xia County, Wang Tingzhi, re-engraved the original inscription and embedded it in the wall. The monk Yuanzhen financed the construction of a stele pavilion to protect it, which remains intact to this day. In the third year of Jiajing of the Ming Dynasty, the imperial censor Zhu Shichang re-engraved Su Shi's text on the stele, placed it on the old tortoise base, and topped it with the old plaque. The 'Loyalty and Pure Virtue Stele' that now stands in front of Sima Guang's tomb is exceptionally tall and is considered the number one stele in Shanxi. Additionally, the tomb area still preserves more than thirty steles from the Song Dynasty to the Republic of China, such as the Sima Xuan Divine Fish Stele, the Sima Chi Lament Inscription Stele written by Ma Duanlin, the Sima Yi Tomb Stele with text by Wang Anshi and calligraphy by Lei Jianfu, and the Maxims Stele written by Wu Qing'e. To the east is the tomb-guarding temple, and further east is the Yuqing Zen Monastery, built by imperial decree in the first year of Yuanfeng of the Northern Song Dynasty (1078), with the decree inscribed on stone still in the monastery. Inside the monastery, there is a large Buddha hall from the Song Dynasty, the only surviving official-style ancient building from the Northern Song Dynasty in the province. Inside the hall are three beautifully sculpted large Buddha statues, representing the sculpture style of the Song Dynasty. Behind the main hall, the Great Buddha Hall of Yuqing Monastery is well preserved.