Yang Xuanyong

Yang Xuan Yong, born in the late Qing Dynasty with an unknown specific birth date, native to the Shuangjiang area of Sichuan Province. He was self-taught in traditional Chinese medicine and maintained the tradition of offering free medical consultations early in his career, gaining a reputation for his medical skills in the local community. During his youth, Yang Xuan Yong worked as a Confucian scholar at the ceremonial office of Sui Ning County government but resigned after half a year due to his dissatisfaction with official corruption and returned to his hometown.

Among his family members, his grandmother was often bedridden. During his care for his mother, he gradually became involved in traditional Chinese medicine, purchasing numerous medical texts for self-study, including classics such as "The Inner Canon" and "New Compilation of Empirical Prescriptions." He constantly practiced and refined his medical techniques, innovatively combining medicinal ingredients to treat his mother's measles, achieving remarkable results. His medical skills gradually gained recognition among local villagers, and he became a well-known rural doctor in the area.

In terms of cultural cultivation, Yang Xuan Yong studied various classical texts from a young age, including "The Complete Works of the Ten Sons," "The Discourse of the States," and "Historical Records with Annotations," and deeply studied the "Zhou Yi" (Book of Changes). He believed that the yin-yang philosophy of "Zhou Yi" was intrinsically related to the balance of yin and yang in traditional Chinese medicine. He regarded "Zhou Yi" as an important representative of Han Chinese culture, emphasizing its guiding role in self-cultivation and governance.

Regarding education for his children, although he did not take the imperial examinations himself, he believed children should receive good education. His eldest brother Yang Jianqiu, second brother Yang Hengshi, and fourth brother Yang An-gong studied abroad in Japan. The family had once faced financial difficulties; to support his children's studies abroad, Yang Xuan Yong sold land. He valued education highly, advocating that girls learn to keep accounts and encouraging boys to read extensively.

Yang Xuan Yong's ideological leanings focused on national strength and民族振兴 (the rejuvenation of the nation), emphasizing the importance of strengthening national consciousness and maintaining traditional values. During the Anti-Japanese War, he changed his hometown's "Loyal and Brave Shrine" to "Anti-Japanese Martyrs' Shrine," reflecting his strong patriotic sentiment. After his son Yang An-gong sacrificed himself during the "March 3rd Incident," his understanding of national affairs deepened further.

He adhered to the philosophy of "Self-cultivation, family regulation, governance of the state, and peace of the world," emphasizing the relationship between "family—clan—country," advocating for social progress through family virtue. He upheld a simple family style, promoting integrity and earning respect through moral conduct.

In his later years, Yang Xuan Yong's thoughts evolved to focus more on the nation’s resolve and spiritual strength, firmly believing that improving the quality of the populace was the fundamental way to revitalize the country. His life philosophy was influenced by traditional Confucian thought and the I Ching, leaving a notable impact on later generations.