Chen Wenlong (, 9 March 1232 – 17 January 1277) was a scholar-general in the last years of the

Southern Song dynasty The Song dynasty (; ; 960–1279) was an imperial dynasty of China that began in 960 and lasted until 1279. The dynasty was founded by Emperor Taizu of Song following his usurpation of the throne of the Later Zhou. The Song conquered the rest ...

and early

Yuan dynasty The Yuan dynasty (), officially the Great Yuan (; xng, , , literally "Great Yuan State"), was a Mongol-led imperial dynasty of China and a successor state to the Mongol Empire after its division. It was established by Kublai, the fift ...

. He became the City God of Fuzhou and Putian.

Biography

Chen was born on 9 March 1232 (the 16th Day of Lunar 2 Month) in Yuhu Village,

Putian Putian or Putien (, Putian dialect: ''Pó-chéng''), also known as Puyang (莆阳) and Puxian (莆仙), historically known as Xinghua or Hing Hwa (), is a prefecture-level city in eastern Fujian province, China. It borders Fuzhou City to the n ...

Fujian Fujian (; alternately romanized as Fukien or Hokkien) is a province on the southeastern coast of China. Fujian is bordered by Zhejiang to the north, Jiangxi to the west, Guangdong to the south, and the Taiwan Strait to the east. Its ca ...

province (modern

Licheng District, Putian Licheng District is an urban district of Putian on the southeast coast of Fujian Province (Minnan), China. Geography Licheng comprises the southern shore of Xinghua Bay on the Taiwan Strait and its hinterland. It forms the southeastern corner of ...

). He passed local examination in 1251, and was selected into

Taixue __NOTOC__ Taixue (Tai-shueh; ), or sometimes called the "Imperial Academy", "Imperial School", "Imperial University" or "Imperial Central University", was the highest rank of educational establishment in Ancient China created during the Han dynast ...

in 1256. In 1268, he participated in examinations in the capital, during which he was personally awarded first rank by the

Emperor Duzong Emperor Duzong of Song (2 May 1240 – 12 August 1274), personal name Zhao Qi, was the 15th emperor of the Song dynasty of China and the sixth emperor of the Southern Song dynasty. He was a nephew of his predecessor, Emperor Lizong, and reign ...

Jia Sidao Jia Sidao (August 25, 1213 – October 1275), courtesy name Shixian, was a Chinese politician. He was a chancellor of the late Song dynasty of China, the younger brother of a concubine of Emperor Lizong, who subsequently had a relationship of s ...

, who was the

chancellor Chancellor ( la, cancellarius) is a title of various official positions in the governments of many nations. The original chancellors were the of Roman courts of justice—ushers, who sat at the or lattice work screens of a basilica or law co ...

at that time, appreciated his talent for literary grace. Chen was later sent to

Fuzhou, Jiangxi Fuzhou (,), also known as Gandong (), is a prefecture-level city in the northeastern part of Jiangxi province, People's Republic of China. Fuzhou is located to the south of the provincial capital Nanchang, bordered in the east by Fujian Province ...

. Soon after his loose power, the Yuan army invaded the Song empire and within a short period, the whole empire entered a chaotic situation. Emperor Gong had to surrender to the Yuan.

Lu Xiufu Lu Xiufu (8 November 1236 – 19 March 1279), courtesy name Junshi (), was a Chinese statesman and military commander who lived in the final years of the Song dynasty. Originally from Yancheng (present-day Jianhu County) in Jiangsu Province, al ...

and

Zhang Shijie Zhang Shijie () was a Chinese admiral, military general, and politician during the Mongol invasion of China. Zhang was born to a prosperous family in present-day Hebei (part of the Liao empire, then Jin empire). After the fall of the Jin to th ...

escaped to Fujian and installed Duanzong as the new emperor in 1275. Chen was summoned back to Fujian, and was ordered to stay guard at Fuzhou, the provisional capital at that time. The Yuan army marched into Fujian in the next year, Duanzong was forced to flee to

Guangzhou Guangzhou (, ; ; or ; ), also known as Canton () and alternatively romanized as Kwongchow or Kwangchow, is the capital and largest city of Guangdong province in southern China. Located on the Pearl River about north-northwest of Hong Kong ...

, leaving Chen to resist in Fujian. Chen came to his homeland to recruit. He resisted in Xinghua (modern

) for two years. Later, he was captured and handed over to the Yuan. He refused to consider the thought of a surrender. He was taken to Dadu (modern Beijing). In the middle of the way, he starved and died in

Hangzhou Hangzhou ( or , ; , , Standard Mandarin pronunciation: ), also romanized as Hangchow, is the capital and most populous city of Zhejiang, China. It is located in the northwestern part of the province, sitting at the head of Hangzhou Bay, whi ...

in the same year. His uncle Chen Zan () continued his career safeguarding Fuzhou. Chen Wenlong and Chen Zan were posthumously appointed as the City God of Fuzhou and Putian respectively during the

Ming dynasty The Ming dynasty (), officially the Great Ming, was an imperial dynasty of China, ruling from 1368 to 1644 following the collapse of the Mongol-led Yuan dynasty. The Ming dynasty was the last orthodox dynasty of China ruled by the Han peo ...

. Chen Wenlong was posthumously given the title ''Shuibu Shangshu'' (水部尚書, "''Secretary of Water Affairs''"), and later ''Zhen Hai Wang'' (鎮海王, "''Prince of Guard Oceans''") by Chinese court. Chen was also regarded as one of oceanian deities in

Fuzhou Fuzhou (; , Fuzhounese: Hokchew, ''Hók-ciŭ''), Postal Map Romanization, alternately romanized as Foochow, is the capital and one of the largest prefecture-level city, cities in Fujian province, China. Along with the many counties of Ningde, ...

and

. He was called ''Shuang Zhong'' (雙忠, "''two loyalists''") together with his uncle Chen Zan by Putianese, while Fuzhounese call him ''Shangshu Gong'' (尚書公, "''Duke Secretary''").

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Chen, Wenlong 1232 births 1277 deaths Song dynasty politicians from Fujian Generals from Fujian Song dynasty generals Suicides by starvation Politicians from Putian Sea and river gods Folk saints Deified Chinese people Burials in Hangzhou