The Memorial Hall of General Luo Binghui in Yiliang County, Zhaotong
Chinese Name: 昭通彝良县罗炳辉将军纪念馆
English Name: The Memorial Hall of General Luo Binghui in Yiliang County, Zhaotong
Overview:
The Memorial Hall of General Luo Binghui is located at Bajiang Pavilion, General Road, Yiliang County, Zhaotong City, Yunnan Province. The memorial covers an area of 6,500 square meters with a building area of 1,300 square meters. It is a specialized memorial hall dedicated to social science figures.
In 1987, preparations began for the repair of the memorial hall, which officially opened in February 1988. As of the end of 2019, the collection included 41 items (sets), 11 of which are valuable cultural relics.
Historical Development:
- 1986: The Yiliang County Cultural Relics Management Office was established with two positions, one of which was filled by the head of the office, Zhong Dakai, who was transferred from the Yiliang County Cultural Center.
- May 1987: After discussions among relevant leaders of the Yiliang County Committee and the Cultural and Sports Bureau, it was decided to establish the “Luo Binghui Achievements Exhibition Room”. Following the Cultural and Sports Bureau’s request to the Yiliang County Committee, a special team was sent to collect and organize materials from places where General Luo Binghui had lived and fought.
- February 1988: The Luo Binghui Achievements Exhibition Room used two rooms on the second floor of the Cultural Relics Management Office, covering less than 200 square meters, to display a large number of historical photos, materials, and artifacts, officially opening the memorial.
- 1991: The Yiliang County Luo Binghui Memorial Hall was completed with a three-story building, covering 500 square meters.
- 1997: On the 100th anniversary of General Luo Binghui’s birth, the exhibition room was renovated for the second time and renamed “Luo Binghui Achievements Exhibition Hall”. In December of the same year, Jiang Zemin, then General Secretary of the Communist Party of China, personally inscribed “People’s Benefactor General Luo Binghui” for the hall.
- 1998: The Central Secretariat and the State Council officially renamed the “Luo Binghui Achievements Exhibition Hall” as the “Luo Binghui Memorial Hall” with the document No. 12 of 1998.
- November 11, 2007: The memorial hall underwent its third renovation.
Museum Layout:
- Overview: The memorial hall occupies 6,500 square meters, with a building area of 1,300 square meters and a basic exhibition area of 1,250 square meters. It is situated at the foot of General Mountain in the southeastern part of the county seat and consists of a square, relief sculptures, green spaces, the exhibition hall, and a scenic bamboo forest. It is a single-story brick-concrete structure with a north-south orientation, consisting of three floors: the first floor includes a duty room, multimedia screening room, meeting room, storage room, and office, covering 1,250 square meters; the second floor is the main exhibition hall, also covering 1,250 square meters; the third floor includes the Yiliang County Model Exhibition, Yiliang County Regional Exhibition (Natural History Museum), and a temporary exhibition hall, covering 220 square meters.
- Exhibition Halls:
- Basic Exhibition: The basic exhibition uses numerous photos, materials, and artifacts related to General Luo Binghui’s life, with four themes: “Determined to Serve the Country for Freedom,” “Risking Everything to Achieve Great Success,” “Clearing Enemies in the Jianghuai Region,” and “Bloodshed on the Battlefield Writes a Glorious History.”
- Temporary Exhibitions: The memorial hall has hosted various temporary exhibitions, including the “Marine Biology Specimen Exhibition” (October 2005), “Yiliang Folk Customs Photography Exhibition” (January 2006), “Yiliang July Calligraphy Exhibition” (July 2007), “Yiliang Spring Art Exhibition” (January 2008), “Yiliang Reform and Opening-up 30th Anniversary Photography Exhibition” (October 2009), and “Yiliang Women’s Embroidery Exhibition” (March 2010).
Museum Features:
The architectural design of the memorial hall reflects local cultural characteristics and incorporates modern building materials. The brick-concrete structure features gray-blue, white, and yellow-brown granite to highlight the solemn atmosphere of the memorial, with a front that resembles a ship’s forward motion.
Collection:
- Overview: The museum’s collection comes from donations and purchases, including cotton, paper, metal, stone, wood, and composite materials. As of the end of 2019, the collection includes 41 items (sets), 11 of which are valuable cultural relics.
- Important Collections:
- A handwritten letter from Chen Yi to Luo Zhentao, written three days after General Luo Binghui’s death on June 24, 1946. The letter encourages Luo Zhentao to remember her father’s teachings and follow his revolutionary path. This letter is a national first-class cultural relic and a treasured item of the museum.
- A revolver and ammunition belt used by General Luo Binghui during the Jianan Uprising.
- Medals awarded to General Luo Binghui for his participation in the “Shuikou Battle” in 1933.
- An agate given to General Luo Binghui by Tibetan people during the Long March.
- A water pen and notebook used by General Luo Binghui during the Anti-Japanese War.
- Japanese war sabers, maps, and leather bags confiscated from the Japanese and puppet forces.
- A government seal from when Tianchang County in Anhui Province was renamed “Binghui County” after General Luo Binghui’s death.
Collection Protection:
The museum’s artifacts are displayed in glass showcases for protection.
Cultural Activities:
- Academic Research: The memorial hall has supported the creation of the “Anti-Japanese Pioneer Luo Binghui” website by Long Meiguang and published various books on General Luo Binghui, including “Military Expert Luo Binghui,” “Luo Binghui in the Huainan Anti-Japanese Base,” “General Luo Binghui,” and “Remembering Comrade Luo Binghui.”
Honors:
On November 20, 2005, the Publicity Department of the Central Committee named the memorial hall as one of the third batch of national patriotism education bases.
Related Figures:
Luo Binghui, a senior commander of the Chinese Workers’ and Peasants’ Red Army and the New Fourth Army, was born Luo Defu on December 22, 1897, in a Yi ethnic farmer’s family in Pianzhuai, Adou Township, Yiliang County, Yunnan Province. At 17, he left home to join the Yunnan Army in Kunming, where he rose from soldier to battalion commander. He participated in the Anti-Yuan and Northern Expedition Wars and joined the Communist Party of China in 1929, leading the famous Jianan Uprising. His troops were incorporated into the Red Army, and he held various important positions during the Land Revolution War and the Long March. After the Red Army reached Shaanxi, he studied at the Anti-Japanese Military and Political University and the Central Party School, and later worked in various roles, including serving in the New Fourth Army and creating the Huainan Anti-Japanese Democratic Base.
Institution Setup:
- Unit Nature: The memorial hall is a public welfare state-owned institution.
- Funding Sources: The memorial hall’s funds come from full financial allocations by the government.
- Organization: The memorial hall has departments for operations, external relations, and exhibitions.
- Staff: The memorial hall is staffed by six personnel.
Visitor Information:
- Location: The memorial hall is located at Bajiang Pavilion, General Road, Yiliang County, Zhaotong City, Yunnan Province.
- Transportation: From the Yiliang County Government—G352— to the Memorial Hall.
- Opening Hours: 8:00–11:30 and 14:30–18:00 (open year-round).
- Admission: Free.
