Earl's Tomb of Wang Delu - The Largest Imperial Burial Site in Taiwan 台灣島上最大規模古墓-國定古蹟嘉義太保『王得祿墓』

The Taiwan Old Family(台灣老家族) made a first group visit to towns below the line of Tropic of Cancer from Jiayi to extend its networking in clan associations of the notable families who have significant impact of Taiwan in history. The tour took place on 8th to 9th January of 2021 covering places of Jiayi, Tainan and the most southern state at Pingtung where the country's Prime Minister Su came from. The Jiayi site at Taibao village was a first and an important stopover of the coach south bound trip as the Wang Earl's Tomb was one of the first 15 sites to be inscribed as a national heritage during the early year Taiwan started to pass Heritage Act to protect the tangible past built on this island. The Earl tomb was laid in 1844 and received a national heritage status in 1983.

Figure: The magnificent temple is the Chin Royal Earl Office which was turned into the Family Shrine of the Wang clan(王氏家廟) since the mid 19th century.

National Heritage of Wang Delu Tomb at Taibao Jiayi 嘉義太保國定古蹟 王得祿墓

Wang Delu (王得祿)(1770-1842) was chartered with a highest rank in officer's positional ladder during Manchu Chin China's (1684-1895) administration over Formosa. The second highest ranked officer is the Chief Hohkien Admiral Lin Wencha (林文察) from the Wufeng Lins(霧峰林家) in central Taiwan.  Wang Delu was born in village Taibao (太保) of the former Chulo (諸羅) county during Manchu Chin's reign, now named as Jiayi(嘉義). During his life time, he earned his fame with the ease of an in-island rebellion led by Lin Shuanwen(林爽文). 

Figure: The envisioned portrait of Wang Delu in the dress of officer in Manchu Chin Court. Source: Family Shrine of Wang Clan in Taibao Jiayi

Wang also led to defend Penhu islands (Pescadores) during 1840's British fought for a first Opium War along coastal Chin China. Wang sadly died in a fever illness during his mission defending the Pescadores archipelago. After Wang's death, he was ennobled by the Chin Imperial Court for his bravery and leadership and given a title of Earl (伯爵) of the state. He was buried at his home town with a lavish grandeur and scale unparalleled by any wealthy tycoons came to settle in Taiwan. His home town is now called Taibao which was a name given by the Chin Royal Court to honor Wang's rank as Taibao Master (太保) which was a position to assist Chin dynasty royal court. Taibao is a town name highly reflected with Chin Chinese culture since early 1840's.

Figure: The reading of the engraving from the tablet of the tombstone for Wang Delu shown in the center with his rank chartered as Earl (伯爵) and a title of Taibao(太保) from the Chin Royal court. Two ladies of Wang Delu were marked at either side to Wang Delu at the year of 1844 (道光歲次甲辰年). Source: Taiwan Memory Library. https://tm.ncl.edu.tw/article?u=014_002_0000052067 

The tomb site was fabricated with decent stone works during the 1844 and boasts with a vast land and scale of a cemetery which can only be seen at once from above. The unique feature of Wang's chartered cemetery is its finest stone tablets and sculptures erected in parade to honor his life time contribution in defending the nation as a first tier level of officer in Manchu Chin Government. 

Figure: The main tomb with an open arm layout and a rising central mount as a burial site. The permutation of parade of stone sculptures erected on both sides of the open arm can only be seen from remote. The land guarding Lord of Land is also in a scale larger than most tomb.

A pair of royal officers (翁仲), horse, sheep and tigers stand on both sides of the open arm layout of the tomb. The typical Han Chinese tomb safeguarded by the Lord of the Land (后土, 土地公) was also in a size of wealthy class making the total site an unprecedented importance. The engraving at the main tombstone of Wang and his two ladies were still clearly enough to read after nearly 180 years and it is suggested the tombstone had been carved on very solid granite which was rare to see throughout Taiwan.

As the first and highest Taiwanese governmental officer in royal court of Manchu Chin China and finest carving the stone works and the largest scale Han cemetery, the entire site was inscribed as a National Heritage along with another 14 sites when Taiwan first nominated historical treasure and buildings for the island after passing a first Heritage Protection Act in Taiwan in 1983 by the Ministry of Home Office.

Figure: The fine stone tablet of the central tombstone and carved statues of Imperial Officers can be traced back to early 1840's. A pair of officer(literal and martial role) standing at the first row in parade as to report to him as his life time daily routine in leading the troop.

Figure: Pair of the fine carved stone animals on the tome site ranging from eagle, sheep, tiger, horse to elephant.

Figure: Group photo of Taiwan Old Family group members with the historical Wang Delu tomb from above with a drone to visibly demonstrate the scale of the burial site of a past admiralty serving in Manchu Chin Empire. Photo Courtesy of Wang Family guide -Wang Wenchuan 王文泉

Figure: Taiwan Old Family crew stand in front of the main tome to express the real and immense scale of the historic tomb site.

Figure: Drone photography image done the Wang's clan representative Wang Wenchuan (王文泉) to encapsulate the entire landscape setting of the tomb locating in somewhere of nowhere.

II. Clan Wang Family Shrine under the Wang Delu 王氏家廟

The Clan Wang family shrine was located right inside the bustling town center of Taibao while Wang Earl's tomb sits rather remote inside a field of nowhere even after two centuries of development of west half of Taiwan. The Wang Family Shrine was built to honor the lifetime contribution of Wang Delu and his ladies as well as Wang's family. The site was originally an court office of Wang Delu when he developed a troop and naval force which can still be seen with flag holding stones from the front courtyard of the shrine.

The current building for worship is a post WWII make-over in 1963 as regime in Taiwan sought the political coherence of a real China converting most architecture to look more like Chinese Palaces in the north. The former temple's relics can still be seen in the property before the rebuilt. The portrait of the Wang Delu and his ladies are in central display in the family shrine. These portraits were made dated back to mid 19th century and are one of the most important treasure troves of the shrine which witnessed the rise of the Taiwanese in Imperial Chin Court.

Figure: A mid 19th century portrait of Admiral Wang Delu was in display in the Wang family shrine although it underwent several refurbishment over different regimental period of Taiwan.

Figure: The stone tablet at the entrance of the Wang Family Shrine to manifest the time of reconciliation of how important of the clan in local and island history during years of 1970s in an attempt to consolidate an image of authentic China at Taiwan.

Figure: The flag holder stone base of the early 1800's Wang Delu admiral office is intact standing on the original site although the office has been refurbished in every period of Taiwan. The stone tablet at the entrance to the family shrine also indicates its original office as a Chulo (諸羅) county site, the original naming of Jiayin County during Manchu Chin's Taiwan.

Figure: Group photo via Drone taken by Wang's representat Office and family shrine is.

Figure: Group photo at the front courtyard of the Wang Family Shrine of Taibao Jiayi

Figure: The Gourd shape pond at the front courtyard of the Wang family shrine typically near the entrance to ward off the demons. The shape has a metaphor to keep the negative spirits inside the pound with its inward curvature. Everyone was almost in hand off the fence. 王氏家廟的避邪葫蘆池

Visiting the Earl's Tomb and Family Shrine of Wang Delu:

These two historic attractions are located near the city of Jiayi. The Family Shrine temple can be reached in walking distance straight out of the Jiayi High Speed Train Station. Reaching the Wang Delu tomb also starts from the Jiayi Speed Train with a cab tour to the site in the further up north.

Location and direction (click to enlarge below) to the Wang Delu tomb from High Speed Train Station at Jiayi.

Location and direction (click to enlarge) to the Wang Family Shrine from Speed Train Station of Jiayi with feasible walking distance.

Reference:

1. 王得祿墓碑, 國家圖書館 臺灣記憶, https://tm.ncl.edu.tw/article?u=014_002_0000052067