Shijian Hall

Shijian hall is the most distinctive ancient building in Zhenze ancient town. This private house, which is both commercial and official, was built during the reign of emperor Tongzhi of the Qing Dynasty. It combines business, politics, home furnishings and gardens. It is well-known as the "big house gate" in the south of the Yangtze river.

Although it is a powerful family, it is named shijiantang in the hope of educating future generations by advocating thrift. The original intention is to follow the example of Zhang Jian, the governor of the Eastern Han Dynasty.

The courtyard is deep, six in all. On the doors, wooden windows and eaves, myths and legends, opera stories and auspicious patterns are all carved to perfection. In particular, the brick carvings on the doorstep are all made of fine ink blue bricks, most of which are relief carvings.

The most amazing thing is that there is also the smallest garden in the south of the Yangtze River hidden in Shijian hall. Although it is small, the layout is exquisite, and every inch of space has been carefully used. For example, the ancient garden emphasizes "landscape culture", with rockery built in the garden and stones paved above the ground in waves.

Because of its long and narrow area, the corridor was built against the wall, with ups and downs; even the pavilion was built against the wall.

Shijian Hall

Shijiantang, located at No.12 Baota street, Zhenze Town, Wujiang District, Suzhou City, Jiangsu Province, was built in 1801.

Shijian hall covers an area of 2746.54 square meters, with a construction area of 3534.10 square meters and more than 150 houses. The hall is bounded by pagoda street and divided into North and south parts. There are 244 carvings in Shijian hall, including 27 brick carvings, 4 stone carvings and 213 wood carvings. The main axis of Shijian hall is regular and rigorous, which is combined with the east-west axis. The architecture with clear primary and secondary integrates the garden and residence, forming a "West House and East Garden" homestead pattern. In Shijian hall, the front eaves of the gate house and hall are decorated with purlins. Shijian hall is a representative building reflecting the characteristics of the times and local characteristics of the late Qing Dynasty.

On May 25, 2006, shijiantang was announced as the Sixth Batch of national key cultural relics protection units by the State Council of the people's Republic of China.

Historical evolution

In 1801, Shijian hall was built.

In 1795, Tang Zuomei, the county magistrate of Baoshan, presented the plaque of "Yi Dun Zhou Ji".

In 1864, Xu Rufu rebuilt Shijian hall.

In 1876, Shijian hall was repaired or expanded.

In the 1960s, shijiantang house was rented by local residents.

In 1971, all 136 houses in Shijian hall were confiscated except one for self occupied house.

In 1983, 195.69 square meters in the west of the back hall of Shijian hall were returned to Xu.

In April 2004, shijiantang was opened to the public.

Architectural features

structure

Shijian hall covers an area of 2746.54 square meters, with a construction area of 3534.10 square meters and more than 150 houses. The hall is bounded by pagoda street and divided into North and south parts. From south to north, they are: central axis: Hebu, warehouse, shop, pagoda street, hall, hall, hall, Neizhai, houshijinjin, Hebu; East axis: Hebu, shop, pagoda street, Liguang Pavilion, Banting, rockery, curved corridor, simian hall, plum blossom Pavilion, Buddha tower, back patio, Hebu; West axis: Hebu, shop, pagoda street, shop, Beinong, corridor, kitchen, Hebu, zabu Houses, firewood houses, etc. There is a courtyard or patio paved with stone slabs between each entrance, and fire walls are set between roads. There are six river ports, one for commercial use, one for public use, and four for household use. The central axis of Shijian hall has six entrances.

Shijian hall has two single buildings: North and South roads, North Road has flower hall and attached room, South Road has gate house, ancestral house, hall and hall, and there is a connection between the two single buildings. Hall, gable set five mountain screen fire. Face wide three ask, deep nine purlin. It is in the form of Chongxuan in front of the inner four realms. Hall, face wide, three questions with a hatchback. Construction of auxiliary eaves on the ground floor. On the second floor, the pillars are half way back, and the corridor is riding. In the middle of the front entrance wall of the hall is a brick carved door. The flower hall, named Ningxiang library, has three wide faces and nine purlins deep. It is a two-step form of the front porch and the back porch of the inner four realms.

characteristic

Due to the restriction of surrounding buildings and the river on three sides, Shijian hall takes 43.7 ° from north to East according to local conditions. The main axis of Shijian hall is regular, rigorous and combined with the east-west axis. The main and secondary parts are clear. The garden and residence are integrated and connected with each other.

Cultural relics

carving

There are 244 carvings in all buildings of Shijian hall, including 27 brick carvings, 4 stone carvings and 213 wood carvings. The lattice of shijiantang's partition fan is composed of Hui pattern, rattan pattern, tortoise pattern, ice crack and other patterns. On the inside, flowers and birds are carved on the painted tapering board and skirt board. On the inside of the partition fan, Xu Boming copied and engraved on the painted tapering board such antiques as "Han Yuankang Ming", "Han wunaoyi", "Ying Yinzai's seal", "Han Duo", "Changshou bangou" and "Xin mangquan fan Wendi" collected by Xu Boming It's on. The third entrance hall of Shijian hall has a 4-meter-wide wooden gate building. The first sculpture tells the story of the number one scholar. The second one is about Zhuge Liang's boat driving to meet Liu Bei who came back from the eastern Wu Dynasty during the Three Kingdoms period. The third is the four gods of "fortune, fortune, longevity and Jubilee".

Painting and Calligraphy

On the skirt board of shijiantang is a group of flowers, such as "Narcissus", "plum blossom", "bamboo" and "Chrysanthemum", which were created in yishouxuan in Song Gu Nian of Qing Dynasty. They were printed and engraved by Jin Zhijun who was good at bamboo carving in Qing Dynasty. On the outside is Xu Boming's identification of the authenticity of the collected calligraphy and paintings. It was written in running script by the Qing people. Mengji (Jin Zhijun) printed it on Qingshui skirt board by means of line engraving. The signboard on the wall and door of Shijian hall is engraved with the four characters "Zhi Si Qi Ju" and the inscription "Xin you Chun Yue Cai Yuanding".

Research value

Shijian hall is an ancient residential complex in the south of the Yangtze River, which integrates River port, inn, shop, street, hall, inner house, garden and lower house. It has the functions of official, Confucian and commercial. Shijian hall is a representative building reflecting the characteristics of the times and the local characteristics of the late Qing Dynasty. As the carrier of history and culture, shijiantang has important historical, scientific and artistic values.

protective measures

In 1995, shijiantang was listed as a cultural relic protection unit in Jiangsu Province.

In July 2001, Zhenze town government began to move and replace the residents of shijiantang.

In August 2002, Jiangsu Provincial Planning Commission, Jiangsu Provincial Department of culture, Wujiang Construction Bureau and Zhenze town government jointly invested in the comprehensive renovation of Shijian hall.

On May 25, 2006, shijiantang was announced as the Sixth Batch of national key cultural relics protection units by the State Council of the people's Republic of China.

In June 2006, shijiantang was awarded the "first outstanding project award of cultural relics protection in Jiangsu Province" for its renovation.

In 2009, shijiantang was announced as a cultural relic protection unit in Suzhou.

History and culture

The origin of the name of Tang

The word "Shijian" comes from Shiji xiaoxiangguo's family: "later generations are wise, but we are thrifty; if we are not virtuous, we will not be captured by the powerful family." Its meaning not only reflects the master's attitude of thrifty and prudent management, but also points out the style and taste of the whole Shijian hall. Xu's family has distinct characteristics of Confucian businessman, which is also reflected in the construction of the hall and garden. Shijian hall has been used by Xu family for business and residence since it was rebuilt in Tongzhi period (1862-1875).

 

Jiantang people

Pan Erfeng originally opened a rice line in Huzhou, but later extended it to Jiading and Shanghai. In 1794, there was a famine in Qianlong, and a large number of refugees poured into the town. Pan Erfeng opened the granary for disaster relief, bought a pot of porridge along the way, and donated 300 tons of rice to alleviate the disaster, which was praised by the local government.

 

Tourism information

Address: No.12, Baota street, Zhenze Town, Wujiang District, Suzhou City, Jiangsu Province.

Transportation: Take Suzhou bus no.781 to shidunbang Bridge station, or take bus No.7501 (7502) to shijiantang, and then walk to it.

Opening hours: 8:00-16:30 from Monday to Sunday.

Address: Baota village, Zhenze Town, Wujiang District, Suzhou City

Longitude: 120.504052

Latitude: 30.912798

Ticket information: the ancient town is free of charge, and the joint ticket for small scenic spots is 70 yuan

Opening hours: the ancient town is open all day, with small scenic spots 8:00-17:00

Chinese PinYin : Shi Jian Tang