Martyrdom Monument of Li Gongpu in Kunming
The Martyrdom Monument of Li Gongpu (李公朴殉难处遗址) is located at No. 1 Yuantong Street, Wuhua District, Kunming, occupying an area of 6 square meters. The monument is made of stone, measuring 100 cm in length, 30 cm in width, and 12 cm in thickness. It is inscribed with the words “Li Gongpu (李公朴) Mr. Martyrdom Place.”
Who is Li Gongpu?
Li Gongpu (李公朴) (1900—1946) was an executive member of the Central and Yunnan Provincial Branch of the China Democratic League, a renowned scholar, social activist, and patriotic democratic fighter. He was one of the famous “Seven Gentlemen” who fought against Japanese aggression to save the country, recognized both domestically and internationally.
He established the “Beimen Bookstore” (北门书屋) and “Beimen Publishing House” (北门出版社) in Yunnan, advocating for the ideas of resisting Japanese aggression and promoting democratic progress. He frequently traveled between Chongqing and Kunming to engage in anti-Japanese activities, which aroused the jealousy of the Kuomintang (Nationalist Party) reactionaries.
On the evening of July 11, 1946, Mr. Li Gongpu and his wife, Ms. Zhang Manyun (张曼筠), were returning home by bus. After getting off at the Qingyun Street bus station, they walked along a sloping alley on the left side of the College Slope, where they were shot by Kuomintang agents who had been following them for some time. Due to severe injuries, he succumbed to his wounds at 5:20 a.m. the next day.
Legacy of Li Gongpu
Mr. Li Gongpu made the ultimate sacrifice for the people, and his deeds have had a profound impact on the patriotic education of Chinese youth. The monument holds significant historical value and was declared a district-level cultural relic protection unit in 1983.
