Haikou 海口市

Located in the southern ferry of the northeastern part of the Hainan Island, Haikou (population 540,000) has such industries as rubber, machinery, textiles, sugar refinery, and canned food. Of interest to visitors are Hairui Tomb, Five Officials Temple, and Qiujun Tomb.

Hai Rui Tomb 海瑞墓

Situated at the Binya Village, five kilometers west of Haikou City, Hai Rui (1514-1587) Tomb is surrounded by walls. The tomb garden is rectangular in shape, 100 meters in length and 40 meters in width. At the entrance is a stone gate with a horizontal block, on which the four characters Yue Dong Sheng Qi, were carved. Along the path leading to the tomb are lively stone sculptures of horses, lion, sheep, tortoises, and men, creating a solemn atmosphere. Evergreen trees like vine, pine, and coconut trees grow at the tomb grounds. The tomb, 3 meters in height, was built by granite. Its base is in octagonal shape and started narrowing from the bottom to a cone shape at the top. It was built in 1589 in the Ming Dynasty. During the “cultural revolution” (1966-1976), it had been seriously damaged. In 1982, it was renovated according to its original appearance. On the left side of the tomb is an exhibition room with Hai Rui’s possessions. There is also a well near the tomb, and it is said that Hai Rui discovered the well when he was young. For more than 400 years, this well has never been dry once.

Hai Rui was born in Qiongshan County. He was a famous official in the Ming Dynasty for his upright righteousness and integrity in enforcing law. He was named as the South Bao Zheng 包拯（999-1062）（popularly known as Bao Gong, a most upright minister in the Northern Song Dynasty）of Hai Qingtian. He died in 1587 in Nanjing at the age of 74. He was then buried in his homeland—Hainan.

Hai Rui Dismissed from Office海瑞罢官

During the reign (1567-1572) of Emperor Longqing of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), Xu Ying, son of the former but powerful prime minister Xu Jie, seized the land of a peasant named Zhao Yushan, hounded the peasant’s son to death and abducted his granddaughter. Hong Alan, Zhao’s daughter-in—law, sued Xu Ying at the local court of Huating County. Xu Jie bribed the magistrate and forged documents to cover up his criminal activities. The magistrate, having pocketed a fat bribe, had Zhao Yushan tortured to death and the plaintiff Hong Alan thrown out of the courtroom. Hai Rui was appointed governor, having jurisdiction over a large area south of the Yangtze River. He came to Huating County to try the case of Hong Alan personally. At court he laid bare Xu’s crimes, sentencing him to death and punish the corrupt officials. The retired primeminister called on Hai Rui, asking him to be lenient with his son Xu Ying. Hai Rui turned down this unjustified request, insisted on the original sentence and ordered Xu Jie to return the lands he had taken by force. Xu Jie sent his men to the capital to bribe the influential eunuchs and had Hai Rui dismissed from his post.

Hai Rui Rebuked the Emperor 海瑞责问皇帝

Hai Rui, an upright official of the Ming Dynasty, decided to send a letter to the emperor pointing out his mistakes in managing the country after wintnessing bad officials in the emperor’s favour abusing their power. His wife and friends, fearing the emperor’s anger, tried to persuade him to give up the idea. But Hai Rui insisted on sending the letter. The emperor was furious and sentenced Hai Rui to death. He was reprieved when the emperor suddenly fell ill and died and the new emperor freed him.

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