Created in November 1917, this monumental Chinese commemorative plaque offers a remarkable glimpse into family honor during the early years of the Republic of China. Deeply carved from solid elmwood, its dark lacquered field frames four monumental characters in flowing semi-cursive script, surrounded by auspicious symbols including the Five Blessings, longevity, peace, and protective triumph. The inscription is especially significant for its dedication to a maternal grandmother, praising her role in keeping a large, multigenerational family united. It also identifies Li Fengsan, a Bagong Imperial Tribute Scholar, as the calligrapher—a mark of considerable prestige. Family sponsors are recorded alongside the dedication, making the plaque not simply decorative, but a deeply personal monument to family, status, and tradition.
The Right Column: Presented by Hui Liangong, a respected local elder and official Candidate for County Magistrate; jointly presented by a Confucian scholar and Expectant Academic who serves as the Chief Secretary for the local ten-day literary society; presented with deep bows by the husband’s direct nephew, Li Yunhan, who serves as a teacher at the National Primary School; and respectfully brushed with deep bows by clan brother Fengsan, a highly distinguished District Honorary Vice-Director and elite Imperial Tribute Scholar.
The Middle Column: “Deep maternal affection and mindfulness bless the swallows’ nesting home,” signifying that her profound care securely raised a thriving family under one roof; and continuously maintaining pristine integrity and pure honor, achieving renowned longevity across five generations.
The Left Column: Reverently erected to celebrate the fragrant and virtuous deeds of the maternal grandmother, Matriarch Yuan, of the Fan Shyang branch of Dalu village; dedicated on an auspicious day during the middle ten days of the tenth lunar month in the Sixth Year of the Republic of China [mid-November 1917].
China
Zhejiang Province
