August, 1949

Central China Post Management Bureau of the Republic of China Post released a 500-yuan (old currency) memorial stamp with the pattern of the Tower of Profound Wisdom upon the liberation of Wuhan.

April 9, 1947

The municipal government decided in its 20th meeting that, cultural relics like Yellow Crane Tower, Ice-Embracing Hall should be erected once more, with the funding approach being established. This decision got the approval of Wan Yaohuang the Provincial President. But finally, the plan came to naught.

December 6, 1946

As documented in “Renovation of Yellow Crane Tower”, Central China Daily, Provincial President Wan Yaohuang stated “as a local cultural highlight, the tower should be preserved and repaired. Upon its completion, the tower would become a new sight on Snake Mountain.” Wan even ordered two engineers to make preparations, but that plan vanished like a bubble since there was no concrete measure.

1944

Liu Yazi wrote Inscribing “A Scroll of Yellow Crane Tower” with a Quatrain upon Liu Xueyun’s Request. The short verse has two lines “With Yellow Crane Tower in sight, I feel but upset” and “If the land could restore peace and tranquility” giving full scope to his indignation at the venomous invaders and his determination of liberating the whole China. Mao Zedong spoke highly of the verse, “This quatrain ignites the general reader’s patriotism.”

May 1944

Chen Quan created a play Yellow Crane Tower and it was later printed around Chongqing and other places. That play makes alive how the Chinese air force bravely fought against those invaders in the 1938 Counterattack of Wuhan.

April 1938

During the Wuhan Counter-Japanese Cultural Publicity Week, an Over-Water Chanting Extravaganza took place before the site of the tower. As Guo Moruo presided over the ceremony, Zhou Enlai delivered a counter-Japanese report and then Xian Xinghai conducted a pompous symphony over Wuhan. The cultural event was culminated by local artists’ posters, murals and comics, by which the tower and the stairway were flanked. Indeed, the pageant attracted too many people and kindled their passion for resisting the Japanese invasion.

1937

Local counter-Japanese group discovered a bluestone stele carved with Yue Fei’s bust and an ode in the tile debris while cleaning the dilapidated Yue Fei Temple. The people then erected a pavilion for preserving it. Such discovery inspired the local masses’ patriotism.

1932

The provincial government president Xia Douyin invited famous scholar Wang Baoxin for writing Proposal on Raising Fund for the Reconstruction of Yellow Crane Tower in Wuchang, which aims to solicit the fund from all walks of life. But due to the flood last year and other factors, the program was still in theory.

1928

Hubei Bank issued a coin embossed with the Tongzhi Period’s tower pattern.

1927

Qu Qiubai came to Wuhan following the central CPC organ he served. Qu and others like Guo Moruo together mounted the tower site, chanting Su Dongpo’s famous lines, “The Great River eastward flows; with its waves are gone all those gallant heroes of past ages.” They heaved a deep sigh, “The tower had become only a shadow. Once we won victory in the revolution, the tower should be restored according to the original design for preservation’s sake.”

1927

Mao Zedong mounted the Yellow Crane Tower (in fact Tower of Profound Wisdom) and composed famous Buddhist Dancer: Standing on Yellow Crane Tower during his heading the Peasant Movement Institute.

April 1922

Local gentry and merchants presented the same proposal. Commissioner Xiao Yaonan and Governor Liu Cheng’en added it to the agenda. But the project did not commence even when Xiao himself passed away in 1926.

April 1921

Wan De’an and others proposed Wang for reconstruction, and required “a fund should be raised for that purpose.” On April 6, Great Han Daily published a short review, “Soldiers do no good to this place. Now some people initiated once more the reconstruction proposal, yet intended to raise a fund from the militia. We have to shed tears for the misery of the famous relic site.”

1919

Commissioner and Governor of Hubei Wang Zhanyuan wanted to renovate the tower. As of March 1920, a fund more than 5,000 taels of silver was solicited. But soon incidents like mutiny erupted and the renovation program crumbled into dust.

1914

Hupeh Provincial Bank issued a 100-yuan note (Tong Yuan Yi Bai Mei i.e. Worth of 100 Copper Coins) with the tower’s pattern. Then the banknote began to be circulated throughout the province.

April 1912

Upon Commander of Hubei Li Yuanhong’s invitation, Sun Yat-sen along with Wang Jingwei, Liao Zhongkai and Hu Hanmin arrived in Wuhan. They toured the tower site in the company of Mr Li.