Comments and Reply on the Letter from Ye Gongchuo [1] and Others Requesting the Preservation of the Yuan Chonghuan Memorial Temple and Tomb
(May 16 and 25, 1952)

Comrade Peng Zhen [2] is requested to investigate and handle this matter. In my opinion, if there are no major obstacles, the Yuan Chonghuan Memorial Temple and Tomb should be preserved.

Mao Zedong
May 16


Mr. Yuhu:

A few months ago, I received your gracious letter, accompanied by a poem composed by Mr. Sa Zhenbing [3]. Shortly thereafter, I received two more of your own poems. I am extremely grateful for all of them. Mr. Sa has now passed away, and the poem he wrote has become a memento. I am returning it herewith and request that you keep it safe. Recently, I received another letter [1] from you and three other gentlemen, concerning the memorial temple and tomb of Mr. Yuan Chonghuan, a patriotic figure of the late Ming Dynasty. I have informed Mayor Peng Zhen that if there are no major obstacles, they should be preserved. Regarding this matter, please contact Mayor Peng for further arrangements.

With my respectful regards.

Mao Zedong
May 25

A manuscript of Mao Zedong’s letter to Ye Gongchuo.

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**Notes:**

[1] Ye Gongchuo, courtesy name Yuhu. After the founding of the People’s Republic of China, he served as a member of the Culture and Education Committee of the Government Administration Council and deputy director of the Central Research Institute of Culture and History.
[2] Peng Zhen, then Mayor of the Beijing Municipal People’s Government.
[3] Sa Zhenbing, who served as Chief of the Navy during the rule of the Northern Warlords. After the founding of the People’s Republic of China, he served as a member of the First National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference and a member of the People’s Revolutionary Military Council.
[1] On May 14, 1952, Ye Gongchuo, Liu Yazi, Li Jishen, and Zhang Shizhao jointly wrote to Mao Zedong, proposing the preservation of the Yuan Chonghuan Memorial Temple and Tomb in Beijing.