| Tomb of Soong Ching-ling | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Created | 1981 |
| Present location | Soong Ching-ling Memorial Park,Changning,Shanghai, People's Republic of China |
| Coordinates | 31°11′43.31″N121°24′39.75″E / 31.1953639°N 121.4110417°E /31.1953639; 121.4110417 |
| Classification | Revolutionary sites and revolutionary memorial buildings. |
| Identification | 2-10 (1982) |
| China Shanghai | |
Thetomb of Soong Ching-ling is themausoleum ofSoong Ching-ling, the last wife of the founding father of the Republic of China,Sun Yat-sen, and the honorarychairman of the People's Republic of China. It is located next to the tomb of Soong Ching-ling's parents in the Soong Ching-ling Mausoleum (formerly theInternational Cemetery) inChangning district,Shanghai. The tomb of Soong Ching-ling was completed in 1981 and was declared anational major cultural relic protection unit by theState Council on February 23, 1982.[1]
Soong Ching-ling (January 27, 1893[2] - May 29, 1981) was the wife ofSun Yat-sen, the founding father of the Republic of China,[3] honorarychairman of the People's Republic of China, vice chairman of theStanding Committee of the National People's Congress of the People's Republic of China, and chairman of theChina Welfare Institute.[4] She was born inChuansha County,Songjiang Prefecture, Jiangsu Province (nowChuansha New Town,Pudong New Area,Shanghai).[4]
On May 29, 1981, Soong Ching-ling passed away inBeijing.[5] The government of the People's Republic of China organized a funeral committee to hold a state funeral for Soong Ching-ling and, following her will, buried her ashes in the Soong family grave in theShanghai International Cemetery on the morning of June 4.[6][7][Note 1][Note 2]Deng Yingchao,Wulanhu,Liao Chengzhi,Chen Muhua, and others escorted the remains from Beijing to Shanghai. Friends of Soong Ching-ling, consuls general of various countries in Shanghai, and major leaders of Shanghai attended the funeral.[8]
After the funeral, theShanghai Municipal People's Government, in accordance with the opinions of various sectors of society, partially renovated the Soong family cemetery in the International Cemetery, which was renamed the "Soong Ching-ling Mausoleum of the People's Republic of China" in 1984.[Note 3] On February 23, 1982, theState Council of the People's Republic of China announced the tomb of Soong Ching-ling as anational major cultural relic protection unit.[9] In May 1986, a memorial stele commemorating Soong Ching-ling was erected in the Soong Ching-ling Mausoleum, with an inscription byDeng Xiaoping.[7]
Soong Ching-ling's tomb is located in the central north part of the Soong Ching-ling Memorial Park,[10] on the east side of her parents' tomb. It covers an area of 263 square meters. The tombstone is made of lying granite, measuring 120 centimeters long and 60 centimeters wide. It is engraved with the words "The tomb of Comrade Soong Ching-ling, Honorary Chairman of the People's Republic of China, born in 1893 and died in 1981, erected on June 4, 1981".[11] The font used is Liuyan.[12]: 154
At the south end of the tomb is a memorial square covering an area of 2880 square meters, capable of accommodating over 1000 people simultaneously.[13] In the center north of the memorial square stands aHan white marble statue of Soong Ching-ling,[Note 4] 2.52 meters tall, mounted on a polished granite veneer base 1.1 meters high. Behind the tomb is a small hill planted with evergreen trees such asChinese juniper, dragon juniper, and spruce. Surrounding the tomb are flowers loved by Soong Ching-ling during her lifetime, including lilacs, magnolias, crape myrtles, and azaleas.[9]
In the center of the cemetery avenue stands the Soong Ching-ling monument, 3.3 meters high and 5 meters wide. On the front, Deng Xiaoping's inscription reads: "Comrade Soong Ching-ling, the great warrior of patriotism, democracy, internationalism, and communism, will be immortalized forever". On the back is an inscription in regular script with over 3300 characters in gold leaf, recording Soong Ching-ling's life and achievements.[11]
After Soong Ching-ling's passing, people from home and abroad visit Soong Ching-ling's tomb to commemorate her on her death anniversary[14] and birthday.[15][16] Relevant seminars are also held in the Soong Ching-ling Memorial Park.[17] Additionally, local universities in Shanghai organize students to visit Soong Ching-ling's tomb for tomb-sweeping and other memorial activities around theQingming Festival.[18] Schools likeChangning district Jianqing Experimental School organize students for "summer practice activities", during which students visit Soong Ching-ling's tomb.[19] In December 2002, the management of the Soong Ching-ling Memorial Park carried out major renovations, including Soong Ching-ling's tomb, which were completed before the Qingming Festival in 2003.[20]