This Jieyuan plaque is 2.095 meters long, 0.78 meters wide, and about 3 centimeters thick. The wooden board was partly mottled with age and the red paint in the surface  had flaked off. Two large characters “Jie Yuan” are engraved in the center of the plate and in the middle is a vertical line of words that read “Guo Youda ranks first in the provincial imperial examination in Hunan in 1729 during the reign of Yongzheng of the Qing Dynasty”. The handwriting on both sides has become somewhat blurred over time. 

 

According to the Guidong County Annals, Guo Youda was born in 1706 in Dashuijiang. He has had great aspirations, intelligence and eagerness to learn since childhood. 

 

Through diligent study, at the age of 12, he was able to recite the essence of the “History as a Mirror” and his unique insights into the subset of Confucian classics often amazed his teachers.

 

 

In 1729 AD, he participated in the Hunan provincial examination and won the first place.

 

During the reign of Emperor Qianlong, Guo Youda served twice as magistrate of Anyue County in Sichuan Province. He was diligent and honest in government, impartial in justice, attached great importance to education, and cultivated talents. He was highly praised by the local people. 

 

Later, he resigned for health reasons and returned to his hometown. He was enthusiastic about education and donated land and rent to set up “scholarships” to encourage children to study hard.

 

Chinese source: voc.com.cn