Yang's Ming-Hsin Ancestral Hall and Yang Ching-Lien Memorial Hall Introduction
Built in 2011, the museum features a plaque that reads: "Mr. Yang Qinglian (1902-1968), ancestral hometown JinNing Township, MeiDong Fort. He received education in a private school in his youth, and as he grew up, to pursue his ambitions, he resolutely left his hometown of Wu Island and traveled alone to the south. Initially, in a foreign land, the customs were unfamiliar, and the living environment was desolate. Yet, he adhered to the ancestral teachings of the 'Four Knowledge,' maintaining a legacy of integrity, upheld the virtue of moderation, and faced hardships to gradually achieve success. He later married Ms. Huang Jinqie in their place of expatriation, raising six sons and three daughters, with the family living together in harmony and happiness. Mr. Yang and Ms. Huang lived simply, held themselves to high standards; they were warm-hearted toward others and treated people with kindness. From initially being employed, he later became an entrepreneur. With great character and hard work, he finally established the 'Yang Enterprises.' The Doctrine of the Mean says, 'Great virtue must gain its position, its salary, its reputation, and its longevity.' The Book of Changes states, 'A house that accumulates good deeds will have abundant blessings.' Only those who accumulate virtue over generations, cultivating their character and practicing filial piety, passing it down from ancestors to descendants, can teach their children to be filial and kind, and enjoy the true blessings of the world, as the saying goes: 'Having good descendants is a blessing.' My family inherits the protection of our ancestors and upholds true filial piety and brotherly love, passing on virtue throughout generations; this embodies giving without expecting repayment, and the best portrayal of blessings born from virtue. In my youth, I was taught 'to respect the elderly, honor the virtuous, be filial, loyal, and trustworthy, and treat siblings with friendship.' This discipline allowed me to continue the family legacy and build upon it, alongside Mrs. Chen Kai-Rong, forging ahead to create new ventures, recently investing heavily in high-speed rail and telecommunications industries. With my father promoting this before me, I was able to write a new milestone in our endeavors. The building of mansions and schools has always been a topic of pride for the residents of Kinmen, and it remains a cherished wish of mine. The thoughts of my parents are endless. The vast heavens bring great virtue, but I have no means to repay them. The sorrow of losing them weighs on me, and the regret lingers. In order to express gratitude to my roots and fulfill my obligations, I have specifically renovated the ancestral hall where Mr. Yang spent his childhood. Built during the Qing Tongzhi period, the Mingxin Ancestral Hall features a four-footed dragon-shaped roof. We have demolished the old structure and rebuilt it as the 'Yang Family Mingxin Ancestral Hall and Yang Qinglian Memorial Hall,' a three-story building. The first and second floors are dedicated to memorializing Mr. Yang's entrepreneurial journey, while the third floor serves as the ancestral hall for 'spring sacrifices and autumn tastings.' Respect is the essence of ceremony. Establishing this memorial hall not only fulfills Mr. Yang's legacy but also allows for the ancestral hall to shine anew, providing a place for our ancestors to reside. Visitors here can reflect and express their filial thoughts. As stated in the Book of Songs: 'Without thinking of your ancestors, how can you cultivate your virtue?' To highlight the responsibilities of parents in teaching children the correct moral virtues and to continue the great plan of nurturing talent in my hometown for a century, I have specifically donated resources for the expansion of buildings at National Quemoy University, hoping to benefit countless diligent students. As the renovations of the museum are in progress, a monument is erected to commemorate this occasion!"
