Yang Chuankui

Yang Chuankui, who lived during the late Qing Dynasty, was the second son of Yang Shisui, the great-grandfather of Yang Shangkun. He resided in Jinlong Village, Shuangjiang Town, Tongnan County (today part of Chongqing), a picturesque village that later became well known as the birthplace of Yang Shangkun.

Yang Chuankui built a family residence in the area, which became an important ancestral home for the Yang family. This residence was named 'Sizhitang' (Hall of Four Knowing), constructed during the Tongzhi era of the Qing Dynasty, and has stood for more than a century. The name 'Sizhitang' comes from the historical allusion to Yang Zhen of the Eastern Han Dynasty, symbolizing the moral principle of 'Heaven knows, the spirits know, I know, and my son knows,' emphasizing integrity and self-discipline.

Although Yang Chuankui himself did not leave behind a notable public career, his residence became a cultural and historical landmark for the Yang family. 'Sizhitang' not only witnessed the family’s continuity and prosperity but also served as a spiritual symbol that nurtured future generations, including Yang Shangkun.