1. Wen Tianxiang, noble title Duke of Xin, was a Chinese statesman, poet and politician in the last years of the Southern Song dynasty.
27 Facts About Wen Tianxiang
1. 2.
Wen Tianxiang is depicted in the Wu Shuang Pu by Jin Guliang.
3.
Wen Tianxiang's continuing symbolic importance was evident in an event that took place in Wen Tianxiang's historical shrine in Haifeng in 1908, where Chen Jiongming persuaded over thirty young men from the village to swear secret support for a national revolution.
4.
Wen Tianxiang was frequently in conflict with the corrupt magistrate Jia Sidao and the pro-peace faction as he supported the war effort against the invading Mongols.
5.
Wen Tianxiang once requested the execution of a eunuch who proposed fleeing from the capital Lin'an.
6.
Later when the war situation further deteriotated, Wen Tianxiang was recalled an appointed as the Prefect of Ganzhou.
7.
Wen Tianxiang immediately recruited some troops from the local population and was later assigned to defend the region of Pingjiang.
8.
Wen Tianxiang hurriedly rushed to Yuhang but he was too late, his former base in Pingjiang was quickly overwhelmed by the Mongols.
9.
Together with Zhang Shijie, Wen Tianxiang proposed a plan to keep fighting, but it was rejected by Chancellor of the Right Chen Yizhong.
10.
The Song Empress Dowager finally decided to surrender, and Wen Tianxiang was appointed as the new Chancellor of the Right to lead the Song delegation to ask the Yuan for peace.
11.
However, Wen Tianxiang didn't plead for a surrender as tasked.
12.
When meeting Bayan, Wen Tianxiang asked Bayan about the Mongol's intentions and demanded the retreat of the Yuan forces:.
13.
Nonetheless, Wen Tianxiang managed to escape from the Yuan Mongol camp, and head to Yang province.
14.
Wen Tianxiang managed to gain several victories, but he was overwhelmed by the Yuan forces led by Zhang Hongfan and was arrested.
15.
Wen Tianxiang was treated well by Zhang Hongfan and was promised a prestigious Yuan post in exchange for his surrender, but Wen Tianxiang refused.
16.
Later, Song resistance forces was completely destroyed at the Battle of Yamen, Zhang again provide the same offer, reasoning that Wen Tianxiang was no longer bound by the already perished as Song Dynasty.
17.
The Yuan court, still hoping to persuade Wen Tianxiang, sent the former Song Chancellor Liu Mengyan to see Wen in prison.
18.
An enraged Wen Tianxiang immediately gave Liu a violent scolding.
19.
In 1283, Wen Tianxiang was summoned to appear before Kublai Khan.
20.
Wen Tianxiang briefly bowed his head to greet the Yuan Emperor, but refused to prostrate as a subordinate of the Yuan.
21.
Wen Tianxiang adopted the three sons of his younger brother when his two sons died young.
22.
The well-known Ming dynasty painter and calligrapher Wen Tianxiang Zhengming belonged to the Wen Tianxiang family.
23.
The mother of Mao Zedong, Wen Tianxiang Qimei, was a descendant as well.
24.
Exhibitions of paintings, calligraphy, and even army uniforms supposedly left by Wen Tianxiang are displayed in the Wen Tianxiang Family Ancestral Temple in Futian.
25.
The Memorial to Prime Minister Wen Tianxiang was built in 1376 during the reign of the Hongwu Emperor of the Ming dynasty.
26.
The location of Wen Tianxiang's execution is thought to be near the entrance to Fuxue Alley in the East City District of Beijing and a memorial has been established on the northern side of the entrance to South Fuxue Alley near Beixinqiao.
27.
Wen Tianxiang is a famous resort in the east of Taiwan.