Biography

Wen was born on 6 June 1236 in Luling (Ji'an), Jiangxi Province during the Song Dynasty. At the age of 18, he excelled in his local examinations, and two years later participated in examinations in the capital, during which he was personally awarded first rank by Emperor Lizong. He would subsequently take up several posts in the government of the Southern Song, including being Attendant (郎官) of the Justice Ministry and Prefect of Ganzhou.

In 1278, Wen was captured by the invading Yuan armies of Kublai Khan. He was offered a Yuan post and ordered to convince the remaining Song forces to surrender. Wen refused and suffered for 4 years in a military prison before his execution in 1283. The idea of working for a government that his people traditionally viewed as "barbaric" was incompatible with his traditional Song values. During this time he wrote the famous classics "Song of Righteousness" (lang=zh-hans正气歌), and "Passing Lingdingyang". One phrase from "Passing Lingdingyang" has since entered the Chinese lexicon:

Ancestry and descendants

Wen Tianxiang adopted the three sons of his younger brother when his two sons died young.

There are now at least six branches of the Wen family in the provinces of Jiangxi, Hunan, Hainan, Guangdong, Fujian, and in Hong Kong and overseas locations. Local dialect pronunciations would be Man (Cantonese), Vun (Hakka), Boon (Hokkien) and Bhung (Teochew). The Man clan are considered one of the original founding families in the history of Hong Kong.

The well-known Ming dynasty painter and calligrapher Wen Zhengming also belonged to the Wen family. The mother of Mao Zedong, Wen Qimei, was a descendant as well.

One of the oldest continuous branches of the Wen family established itself in the Hengyang/Hengshan area of present-day Hunan shortly after AD 1000. A branch of this Wen family settled in the United States in the mid-1940s and is related through marriage to the prominent Sun family of Shouxian, Anhui (Sun Jianai; Fou Foong Flour Company 福丰面粉厂) and the Li family of Hefei, Anhui (Li Hongzhang).

Monuments

Man Tin Cheung Memorial Park in San Tin, Hong Kong

Jiangxi

Wen Tianxiang's hometown in Ji'an, Jiangxi honors the famous national hero with a mausoleum. Exhibitions of paintings, calligraphy, and even army uniforms supposedly left by Wen are displayed in the Wen Family Ancestral Temple in Futian. The Wen Tianxiang Mausoleum is located in Wohushan.

Beijing

The Memorial to Prime Minister Wen Tianxiang was built in 1376 during the reign of the Hongwu Emperor of the Ming dynasty. The location of Wen's execution is thought to be near the entrance to Fuxue Alley in the East City District of Beijing and a memorial has been established on the northern side of the entrance to South Fuxue Alley near Beixinqiao.

"The Song Dynasty's Top Ranking Scholar and Prime Minister, the West River's Filial Son and Loyal Subject," is carved into the columns of the memorial's main hall.

Guangdong

The "Golden Marshal's Cemetery" commemorating the heroes of the anti-Yuan nationality at the end of the Song Dynasty was established in the Gurao Township, Chaoyang District, Shantou City, Guangdong Province. There are many legends about Wen Tianxiang in the area of Gurao Town, Chaoyang District. According to legend, in the last years of the Southern Song dynasty, Wen Tian Xiang raised an army in Chaoyang to resist the invading Mongol forces and was captured in Haifeng County during the campaign. Due to the great disparity in strength between the two sides, most of the Song soldiers were killed. Based on investigation, there are nine Song tombs in Gu Rao and neighboring towns. In later years, festive activities were held to commemorate Marshal General Wen Tian Xiang and his descendant, These develop into what is known as the Gurao Festival. During this festival, the villages are covered with red and green, and the villagers walk through the streets to perform folk art tours. Overseas travellers have also returned to their hometowns.

Taiwan

In the late 1950s and 1960s, a place called , within the present Taroko National Park, was renamed "Tianxiang" in memory of Wen Tianxiang during the construction of the Central Cross-Island Highway. Tianxiang is now a famous resort in the east of Taiwan.

In addition, three streets also take their name from Wen (i.e. the "Tianxiang Road"). One is in Zhongshan District, Taipei nearby the Minquan W. Road MRT Station, another is in Sanmin District, Kaohsiung and the other is in Xiulin, Hualien County.

Hong Kong

The San Tin area in the New Territories of Hong Kong is home to many villagers surnamed "Man" in Cantonese. The "Man" villagers trace their ancestry to Man Tin Cheung via Man Tin-Sui, also a famous Song Dynasty general and the cousin of Man Tin Cheung.

A Man Tin Cheung Memorial Park and "Man" ancestral hall and residence (Tai Fu Tai Mansion) in San Tin are historical attractions in Hong Kong.

生平

文天祥生于宋理宗端平三年（1236年）五月二日。出生时，其父梦见一婴儿脚踏紫云飘然而过，出生时就将孩子命名为云孙，取字天祥。后以字行，更字履善。廷试时宋理宗见其名说：「天之祥，乃宋之瑞也。」赐字宋瑞。18岁时获庐陵乡校考试第一名；理宗宝佑四年（1256年）入吉州（今江西吉安）白鹭洲书院读书，同年中选吉州贡士，并随父前往南宋首都临安应试。在殿试中，他作「御试策」切中时弊，提出改革方案，表述政治抱负，宋理宗亲拔为第一，考官王应麟奏曰：「是卷古谊若龟鉴，忠肝如铁石，臣敢为得人贺。」但四天后父亲病故，文天祥归家丁忧三年。

开庆元年（1259年）蒙古军攻鄂州（今湖北武昌），宦官董宋臣主张迁都；他上疏请斩董宋臣，建议御敌之计，未被采纳；后历任签书甯海军节度判官厅公事、刑部郎官、江西提刑、尚书左司郎官、湖南提刑、知次年任右丞相，赴元营谈判，希望以谈判的方式来刺探蒙古军情，在谈判过程中，文天祥据理力争，怒骂伯颜，但与此同时，南宋朝廷却派人前往文天祥军营，宣布解散文天祥的军队。伯颜得知文天祥军队已经被解散，故下令逮捕他，押解北方。当文天祥被押送到镇江的时候，得当地义士相救脱险。此后力图恢复，转战东南。这时，南宋朝廷已奉表投降，恭帝被押往元大都，陈宜中等拥立7岁的宋端宗在福州即位。文天祥奉诏入福州，任枢密使，同时都督诸路军马，往南剑州（今福建南平）建立督府，派人赴各地募兵筹饷以继续抗元战争。秋天，元军攻入福建，端宗被拥逃海上，在广东一带乘船漂泊。

文天祥与当时朝臣张世杰与陈宜中意见不合，于是离开南宋行都，以同都督的身份在南剑州（治今福建南平）开府，指挥抗元。1277年，文天祥率军移驻龙岩、梅州，攻入江西。在雩都（今江西南部）大败元军，攻取兴国，收复赣州十县、吉州四县，人心振奋，抗元形势转好。但好景不长，元军主力进攻文天祥兴国大营，文天祥寡不敌众，率军北撤，败退到庐陵、汀州（今福建长汀），损失惨重，妻儿也被元军掳走。

祥兴元年（1278年）夏，文天祥得知南宋行朝移驻崖山，为摆脱艰难处境，请求率军前往，与南宋行朝会合。由于张世杰坚决反对，计画失败，文天祥率军退往潮阳县。当年八月南宋朝廷封文天祥为少保、信国公。同年冬，元军大举来攻，文天祥再败逃走；文天祥率部向海丰撤退的途中，在五坡岭（广东海丰北）造饭时遭到元将张弘范的攻击而兵败，文天祥吞下随身携带的冰片企图自杀，不过却未死，仅昏迷过去，随后文天祥被俘。张弘范要文天祥写信招降张世杰，乃书《过零丁洋诗》：「辛苦遭逢起一经，干戈寥落四周星。山河破碎风吹絮，身世飘摇雨打萍。惶恐滩头说惶恐，零丁洋里叹零丁。人生自古谁无死？留取丹心照汗青。」弘范笑而置之，不久遣使护送至大都，路上绝食八日，不死。被关押在北京府学胡同，拘囚四年。帝昺祥兴二年（1279年），宋亡，文天祥仍坚守初志，在给妹妹的信中说：「收柳女信，痛割肠胃。人谁无妻儿骨肉之情？但今日事到这里，于义当死，乃是命也。奈何？奈何！……可令柳女、环女做好人，爹爹管不得。泪下哽咽、哽咽。」狱中作《指南后录》第三卷、《正气歌》。

忽必烈爱其才，先后派出平章政事阿合马、丞相孛罗招降，至元十九年（1282年）十二月八日（西历隔年1月8日），忽必烈召见文天祥，亲自劝降。文天祥坚贞不屈，答曰：「一死之外，无可为者。」元朝又请出当时已经降元的南宋大臣，出面劝降，结果遭到文天祥的痛骂；元朝又派出已经被俘的宋恭帝赵㬎劝降，文天祥置之不理。次日押赴刑场（柴市，今北京东城区交道口），文天祥向南宋首都临安方向跪拜，从容就义，享年47岁。

行刑后不久，「俄有诏使止之」，然文天祥已死，忽必烈惋惜说：「好男子，不为吾用，杀之诚可惜也！」文天祥的妻子欧阳氏收尸时，在其衣带中发现绝笔自赞：「孔曰成仁，孟曰取义；惟其义尽，所以仁至。读圣贤书，所学何事？而今而后，庶几无愧！」

据《宋史》记载，南宋降臣留梦炎在元朝有意放文天祥的情况下指出文天祥会再度领导反元，最终说服元朝处死文天祥，留梦炎也因此遭后世唾骂，明朝时甚至要求留姓人必须手书非留梦炎子孙才能科考。但据邓光荐《文丞相传》，此系青阳梦炎所为。

文学成就

文天祥著有多篇作品，以《过零丁洋》和在狱中所题《正气歌》最为人所认识和称道，其中前者的「人生自古谁无死，留取丹心照汗青」乃千古绝句。

轶事

文天祥早期个性奢侈，对自己非常好，家中养了很多歌妓。但南宋沦亡时，眼看国家到了这种地步，便痛心地把花费降低，把家里的钱财全部拿来募兵。每当与宾客、僚属谈到国家时事，就痛哭流涕，抚案说道：「把别人的快乐当成自己的快乐，也要把别人的忧虑当成自己的忧虑，吃别人给的俸禄那更要为别人的事鞠躬尽瘁。」 。

文天祥有一则黑色幽默的故事，临安就要沦陷了，幕僚们劝文天祥自杀，并说文天祥死后大家会随他自杀。文天祥却说了一个笑话，从前刘玉川与一个妓女相恋，论及婚嫁，但刘玉川考上进士，当了官，就想甩掉这一位妓女，于是骗妓女说，朝廷不允许携带家眷赴任，约妓女一起殉情。刘玉川准备毒酒，让妓女先喝，妓女喝了一半，把剩下的一半给刘玉川，刘玉川却不喝，于是毒死了妓女，刘玉川独自离去。如今的各位，莫非是想效法刘玉川？大家听了大笑。

文天祥会游泳，且是家传的象棋高手，还喜欢在戏水时下盲棋，并留有棋谱传世。

文天祥生前所用的砚台玉带生砚仍保留至今。

评价

南宋时人王应麟在评文天祥的科举试卷时，盛赞文天祥的忠肝义胆、文章流露古代贤人之风，可以作为检视的借镜，并向宋理宗表示祝贺国得人才：「应麟读之，乃顿首曰：「是卷古谊若龟镜，忠肝如铁石，臣敢为得士贺。」

宋史编者脱脱评价文天祥将「仁」视为比生命还更重要的事物，也盛赞宋朝经由科举取进士，培养出真正的仁义之士。论曰：「自古志士，欲信大义于天下者，不以成败利钝动其心，君子命之曰「仁」，以其合天理之正，即人心之安尔。商之衰，周有代德，盟津之师不期而会者八百国。伯夷、叔齐以两男子欲扣马而止之，三尺童子知其不可。他日孔子贤之，则曰：「求仁而得仁。」宋至德佑亡矣，文天祥往来兵间，初欲以口舌存之，事既无成，奉两孱王崎岖岭海，以图兴复，兵败身执。我世祖皇帝以天地有容之量，既壮其节，又惜其才，留之数年，如虎兕在柙，百计驯之，终不可得。观其从容伏质，就死如归，是其所欲有甚于生者，可不谓之「仁」哉。宋三百馀年，取士之科，莫盛于进士，进士莫盛于伦魁。自天祥死，世之好为高论者，谓科目不足以得伟人，岂其然乎！」

纪念

为了纪念文天祥，在北京文天祥曾被关押的地方，成立了文丞相祠，后成立文天祥纪念馆。明朝正德年间在文天祥被俘虏的五坡岭建立「方饭亭」纪念。

在浙江省温州市江心屿上建有文信国公祠。

在台湾的太鲁阁国家公园境内因中部横贯公路开发，于塔比多社的佐久间神社旧址兴建文天祥纪念公园，并改称天祥。在大沙溪原名深水温泉，则取其号改称文山温泉。花莲县秀林乡天祥路、台中市北区与北屯区交界处的天祥街、台北市中山区亦有道路以天祥为名。

而香港元朗新田及大埔泰亨乡文氏族人（香港原居民新界五大氏族之一），源自江西吉安，他们的先祖文天瑞是文天祥之堂弟，于宋末避元兵祸入居东莞，故此文族子弟（包括文禄星、文寿强、文洪磋、文肇伟等人在内），在分别在新田及泰亨祠堂村兴建文天祥纪念公园及文山公园，并文天祥像及《正气歌》的碑刻。

深圳大学校区南面的两大湖泊被命名为「文山湖」（东北泊为「上文山湖」，西南泊为「下文山湖」）。深圳南山区南头城亦有信国公文天祥祠。

广东汕头市潮阳区谷饶镇域建立纪念宋末抗元民族英雄的「宋大元帅墓园」。潮阳区谷饶镇一带流传著不少关于文天祥的传说。相传南宋末年，元兵入侵。右丞相文天祥在潮阳整军图谋复国，征战中于海丰县被俘。而都统陈懿勾结叛将张弘范，与宋军血战于小北山麓。由于双方兵力悬殊，宋军大都战死于此。明太祖追封宋末抗元阵亡将士为「元帅」，钦定贵山都赤寮（谷饶旧称）等毗邻抗元战场的村庄定期祭祀当年牺牲的将士，谷饶等地才开始了祭社。民间修葺宋末殉国将士之孤冢，称为「宋大元帅之墓」，各乡各族分期依时拜祭。据查，谷饶以及周围邻乡共有宋墓九处。谷饶祭社历来隆重，在海外也有影响力。每逢祭社，各村都披红挂绿，村民们穿街走巷进行民间艺术巡演。海外游子也纷纷回乡参加。

广东省肇庆市四会市迳口镇迳口村委恩岭村通天蜡烛山有文天祥祖墓，为文天祥族人第九世祖辈（文天祥为十三世）郭氏之墓，建于元代，坐西北向东南，占地面积60平方米。文天祥祖墓在南宋时由江西迁葬于此，属二次葬墓。

在端宗撤离福州后，朝廷驻跸的福州濂浦（今福州市林浦乡）村民将皇宫改为供奉南宋功臣的庙宇。为躲避元朝追查，将正殿称作「泰山宫」，内供赵匡胤、赵昰、赵昺塑像；侧殿称作「大王殿」，供奉陆秀夫、文天祥、张世杰塑像。每年正月举行「出宫行乡」，将他们抬出宫外，家家设宴祭拜，延续至今。

庙宇

台湾新北市双溪区亦有全台唯一供奉宋末三杰的「三忠庙」。兴建于同治7年（1868年），是双溪居民的信仰中心。(但于金门县金沙镇另有一座三忠庙)

在新马泰地区，当地华人也有供奉「大宋三忠王」的庙宇。三忠王也称三忠公，是指文天祥、陆秀夫与张世杰，等三位宋代忠臣。在新加坡主祀三忠王的庙宇就有「普忠庙」与「水显宫」。

泰国普吉网寮三忠庙，成为泰国最早奉祀大宋三忠王所在，建立于大清光绪30年。

马来西亚的马六甲三威宫在1993年建庙供奉文天祥、陆秀夫、张世杰，是该州规模颇巨，香火鼎盛的庙宇。

家族

香港新界文氏始祖文天瑞，为逃避元兵追捕，于宋末元初年间移居广东宝安三门东清后坑，至明初分支迁入新界。因为文氏族人曾领导1899年的新界抗英战争，所以文氏早年被港英政府认定为新界五大氏族之一。现时，文氏主要于元朗新田及大埔泰亨一带聚居。

相关参见

• 三忠庙 (台湾)

• 文天祥纪念公园

• 香港新界新田文氏

• 「永镇江南」题额

• 泰亨乡

动漫

• 《天子传奇6洪武大帝》:已殁，以回顾角色登场，在得悉襄阳失守、元军不日南下大宋将亡下，炼制天翔五灵，以在百年后反元之用，同时精于玄道之法师承于玄空四子之二师兄淮南子，本身是赵昺及张君宝之师傅，于被俘前以九十八名童子元神炼成赵昺之最强精神及张君宝之最强肉身。