FOR 17 GENERATIONS, one ordinary family from Beijing has bestowed on its descendants a daunting but extraordinary task. 'Some families pass on money and land to their children but my family is a little different,' She Youzhi, a spirited 63-year-old, says in a thick Beijing accent. 'We pass on a promise that was made by my ancestor,' she says.
It is no ordinary pledge. For more than 350 years, members of the She family have taken it upon themselves to preserve an important piece of Chinese history. They are the guardians of the tomb of Ming-dynasty general Yuan Chonghuan, a nobleman who defended China from the invading Man-chus in the 17th century. When he died in 1630, a loyal follower of Yuan - a soldier by the name of She, vowed his descendants would look after and guard his remains.
Since then, members of the She clan have kept this promise and remained unyielding to the changing world around them. Through two dynasties and the republic, the family has lived in the same spot in Beijing and has done what its ancestors have done for generations, quietly guarded Yuan's remains. It makes for a fascinating tale of loyalty and resilience, but it's a tale that may come to an end in this generation.
Not only is She Youzhi the last direct descendant of the family, but the ever-modernising city of Beijing is finding it hard to aid her cause. For the past 20 years she has been asking the Beijing government to redevelop the tomb and its surrounding area into an official memorial, and to build a proper ancestral hall to honour Yuan. She won't rest until her dream becomes a reality.
'I don't want to be the one to end the legacy,' says She, who has lived next to the tomb since she was born. 'I can't let that happen. It's not just about betraying my ancestors, it's about betraying the heavens and my country. I just want the government to completely renovate the site and allow me to remain here to care for it.'
Beijing has no shortage of cultural and historical relics. But out of the thousands of visitors who flock to the Forbidden City and the Great Wall, few manage to find their way to Yuan's resting place. In the suburb of Hsungwen, behind the gates of the 59 Middle School, is a small courtyard where the general's tomb stands. Incense sticks are placed there daily, as well as food offerings. Visitors who pay their respects are greeted by She who, since her retirement several years ago, has vigilantly kept the place clean and free of stray footballs accidentally kicked in from the adjacent playground.