The Wen Tianxiang Memorial, also known as the Wen Prime Minister Temple, is the place where the Southern Song Dynasty national hero Wen Tianxiang was imprisoned and executed. It was rebuilt as a temple in the ninth year of the Hongwu era of the Ming Dynasty and still maintains the architectural style of the Ming Dynasty. The temple consists of three parts: the main gate, the front hall, and the rear hall. Upon entering the courtyard, a stele is situated in the center, engraved with Wen Tianxiang’s official portrait and his last words; the eastern wall is inscribed with Wen Tianxiang’s ‘Song of Righteousness’, written by the Ming Dynasty calligrapher Wen Zhengming.
Inside the front hall is an exhibition of Wen Tianxiang’s historical materials, with a bust of Wen Tianxiang in the center, and on the walls are hung materials on Wen Tianxiang’s life, works, images, and evaluations, from which one can see the heroic life of Wen Tianxiang. Behind is the main hall, where sacrificial ceremonies are held, with a statue of Wen Tianxiang in the center and precious cultural relics such as stone carvings from various dynasties on both sides. In the courtyard, there is a jujube tree, said to be planted by Wen Tianxiang himself. The peculiarity of this jujube tree lies in the fact that although its branches are gnarled, they all naturally lean southward, forming an angle of about 45 degrees with the ground, reflecting the spirit of the owner, ‘A minister’s heart is like a piece of magnetic stone, not pointing south, it will not rest.’ Opening hours: Closed all day on Mondays; Open from 09:30 to 17:00 on Tuesdays to Sundays.
