Memorial Pavilion of Luo Guanzhong

The Memorial Pavilion of Luo Guanzhong stands in Xujia Gou Village, Jinshan Sub-district, Qibin District. It was built in memory of Luo Guanzhong, the great literary giant of ancient China, author of world-famous classics Romance of the Three Kingdoms and Water Margin.

Chapter 90 of Water Margin — "Song Jiang Seeks Buddhist Enlightenment on Wutai Mountain; Yan Qing Meets an Old Acquaintance at Shuanglin Town" — contains the following passages: "My surname is Xu, given name Guanzhong. My ancestral home is Daming Prefecture, and now I live amid mountains..." "Guanzhong took Yan Qing to a thatched cottage facing west toward the east. He pushed open the rear window, which overlooked a clear stream. The two leaned against the window sill and sat down..." "This mountain is Mount Dapi. In ancient times, the sage Yu the Great diverted rivers and once came here. The Book of Documents records: 'He advanced as far as Mount Dapi', which serves as evidence. The area now belongs to Xun County of Daming Prefecture. Xu Guanzhong led Yan Qing round several mountain spurs into a hollow. There was an open flat land spanning three li across, dotted with two or three thatched houses. One cottage faced the stream to the south, enclosed by bamboo fences with a half-opened wooden gate. Tall bamboo, pine and cypress trees grew thick all around. Pointing at the cottage, Xu Guanzhong said: 'This humble dwelling is my home.'"

Luo Guanzhong subtly inserted himself into the novel. Furthermore, the Chinese character Hu (the second character of the book title Water Margin) is composed of the water radical and the character Xu. This alludes to the place where Luo Guanzhong lived and wrote his works. The water radical stands for the clear Qi River that winds past Xujia Gou Village.