The translation of the inscription on the tomb stone of Yu Jia Jing's nephew is as follows:
In the thirty-fourth year of Jiajing in the Ming Dynasty (1555), on the fourth day of the seventh lunar month, Yu Jia Jia was buried in Zhongshan Field.
To the southwest of the cemetery is the cemetery of Duke Wenke of Song Dynasty; to the northeast is the cemetery of Duke Yu. The two cemeteries are five miles apart and have roughly the same terrain. There is a stone tablet in front of Yu Cemetery, which reads: "The tomb of Yu Gong, the former censor of the Ming Dynasty." This stone tablet was erected by the grandfather of the Yu family and written by his grandfather himself.
Master Yu is from Hangzhou, Zhejiang. His father died when he was young and he was very filial to his mother. When she grew up, she married Yan. Two sons were born: the eldest son was named Dao, and the second son was named Da. There are also three daughters: the eldest daughter is married to the Xu family, the second daughter is married to the Wang family, and the third daughter is married to the Chen family.
The Yu family was originally from a poor family, but relied on hard work and thrift to make a fortune. Engage in business and travel among rivers and lakes. When his son grew up, his family gradually prospered. However, the Yu family did not feel arrogant because of this. They always focused on benevolence and righteousness, and spared no effort to help the poor. He once donated money to build bridges to facilitate passers-by and donated coffins to help poor families. The villagers all praised him and called him a "benevolent and righteous man".
The Yu family had a good reputation when they served as county magistrate, county magistrate, and magistrate. Be an honest official and don't be greedy for a penny. Handle government affairs conscientiously and diligently, so that there is no grievance in the prison. The people all respected and loved him, just like their parents. He once said: "Officials should put the people first and not be greedy for personal gain." This sentence is enough to serve as a warning to all officials.
On his deathbed, everyone knew that he was about to die and said to his family: "I will live my life with a clear conscience and die with no regrets." Then he bathed and changed his clothes, sat upright and passed away. It was the fourth day of the seventh lunar month in the thirty-fourth year of Jiajing (1555), and he was sixty-one years old.
When Yu was buried, his descendants followed his last wish and kept it simple. I deeply feel the kindness of everyone, so I wrote this epitaph to express my eternal memory.
The full text is as follows:
In the thirty-fourth year of the Jiajing reign of the Ming Dynasty, Year Yimao, on the fourth day of the seventh lunar month, all my nephews were buried in Zhongshan Plain.
To the southwest of the tomb is the tomb of Song Wenke Gong; to the northeast is the tomb of Yu Gong. Both are five miles away from each other and the situation is equal. There is a stele in front of Yu's cemetery, with the inscription: "The tomb of Yu Gong, the censor of the Ming Dynasty." The stele was erected by the great father, who actually wrote it.
I am a native of Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province. When you are an orphan, you should be extremely filial to your mother. If he grows up, he will marry the Yan family. They gave birth to two sons: the first one was named Dao, and the second one was named Da. Three women: the first one is named Xu, the second one is Wang, and the second one is Chen.
He came from a poor family and started his career through diligence and thrift. Businessmen travel between rivers and lakes. When his son was born, his family became prosperous. However, Mr. Yu did not feel arrogant because of this. He always regarded benevolence and righteousness as his duty, spared no effort to help the poor and the poor. They donated money to build bridges to make it easier for people to travel; they also donated coffins to help poor families. The people in the village called him "a man of benevolence and righteousness."
Yu Gong successively served as county magistrate, county magistrate, and prefecture magistrate, and he was famous wherever he went. The official should be honest and honest, and should not take any money rashly. If you are diligent in your work, there will be no injustice in prison. The people love and respect them like their parents. Chang said: "As an official, you should put the people first and not be greedy for personal gain." His words are enough to serve as a warning for all officials.
At the end of his life, Mr. Yu knew that he was about to die and said to his family: "I have no regrets in my life and will have no regrets in my death." Then he bathed and changed his clothes, sat upright and passed away. It was the fourth day of July in the thirty-fourth year of Jiajing reign. He was sixty-one years old.
The rest of the family’s nephews were buried, and their descendants all followed his orders and gave priority to frugal burials. I was deeply impressed by Yu Gong's virtues, so I wrote this stone record to never forget him.