5. The Couplet

​

The couplet “Six Dragons and Three Yan Gentlemen” inscribed at the entrance of WAN Clan Ancestral Temple at Damshuihang village was in fact glorifying our ancestors.  The Six-Dragon referred to a WAN family members who were promoted to high ranking officials in JIN State (晉國).  They were:

​​

1. Gong WAN, the father, was the provincial governor of Jinan, the capital of Shandong province in Eastern China;​

2. Xian WAN (1st son), was the Minister of Manpower;​

3. Dan WAN (2nd son), was the provincial governor of Ho Dong;​

4. Ji WAN (son of Xian WAN), was the first officer of the prince;​

5. Wen WAN (son of Xian WAN), was the guardian of the Prince;

6. Yu WAN (son of Xian Wan) who married the Princess.

​

​

“Three Yan Gentlemen”

 

“Three Yan" referred to the three brothers namely Yanhong WAN, Yanbo WAN and Yanjiang WAN in the early TONG Dynasty.  Each of them held high ranking positions at ministerial level.  People at that time called these three Mr. WAN as “Three Ministers from the same family”.