Yang's Ming-Hsin Ancestral Hall and Yang Ching-Lien Memorial Museum Introduction
Built in 2011, the museum has a plaque that reads: "The late Yang Qinglian (1902-1968), whose ancestral home is in Meitong Fort, Jinning Township. He received education in private schools during his childhood and, when he grew up, determined to pursue grand ambitions by leaving his hometown of Wudao and crossing to the southern country alone. Initially in a foreign land, with unfamiliar customs and an uninhabited environment, he adhered to the ancestral teachings of the ‘Four Understandings,’ maintained integrity in family affairs, held on to honesty and righteousness, established roots in the virtue of moderation, and was thus able to overcome numerous difficulties and gradually enter a prosperous phase. Soon after, he and the late Huang Jinqie joined together in matrimony in their place of residence, raising six sons and three daughters, living in harmony and contentment as a family. The late Yang and the late Huang lived simply, were strict with themselves, actively helped others, and treated people with kindness. From an initial employed position, he ventured into entrepreneurship, and through his extraordinary perseverance and ethics, he ultimately established the 'Yang Family Enterprise.' The ‘Doctrine of the Mean’ states, ‘Great virtue will surely receive its position, its salary, its reputation, and its longevity.’ The 'I Ching' emphasizes, ‘A household that accumulates good will surely have lasting blessings.’ Only those who accumulate virtue over generations, cultivate themselves and act with filial piety in their families can ensure that future descendants are taught to be good and filial, thus enjoying the true blessings of the world. This aligns with the proverb, ‘Having good offspring is true fortune.’ My family, inheriting the protection of our ancestors and upholding genuine filial piety, has passed down virtuous conduct, not seeking to repay the creation but reflecting the ongoing rewards from it and the best embodiment of the blessings arising from virtue. I was taught in the family to ‘respect the elderly and those of merit, be filial, loyal, trustworthy, and amicable among siblings,’ which enabled me to continue the family legacy, engage in fruitful cooperation with Ms. Chen Kaiyong, and explore new ventures, recently investing heavily in high speed rail and telecommunications. My father initiated this in the past, and I followed, allowing us to write a new milestone in our business. The construction of grand residences and schools has long been a topic of delight among the people of Kinmen, and it remains close to my heart as a cherished aspiration. The trees sway as if they remember; parents do not wait. The boundless virtues of the heavens go unreported, leaving precious wishes unanswered. With sorrow on the outside and regrets on the inside, to showcase filial piety and to thoroughly honor the past, I specifically chose the childhood home of the late Yang—built during the Qing Tongzhi era, featuring a Ming-Xin ancestral shrine with dragon designs comprising four main peaks. The old building was demolished and rebuilt into a three-story ‘Yang Family Ming-Xin Ancestral Shrine and Yang Qinglian Memorial Museum.’ The first and second floors are dedicated to commemorating the entrepreneurial beginnings of the late Yang, while the third floor serves the ancestral shrine for ceremonies during the spring and autumn. Respect is an expression of reverence. Establishing this memorial can fulfill the late Yang's wishes, allowing the ancestral shrine to shine anew and providing a resting place for our ancestors’ spirits. Visitors to this hall may pay their respects and express their filial thoughts. The ‘Book of Songs, Great Odes’ states: ‘Do not forget your ancestors, and earnestly cultivate their virtues.’ To highlight the virtues of parents in teaching their children rightly and to continue the long-term plan of nurturing talents in our hometown over a century, I have specially donated to the expansion of classrooms at National Kinmen University, hoping to benefit thousands of studious students. At this moment of renovation, I hereby set up this stone tablet to commemorate the occasion!"
