Memorial Hall of Wang Erlie

Memorial Hall of Wang Erlie

Memorial Hall of Wang Erlie

The Memorial Hall of Wang Erlie is located in the “Hanlin Mansion,” the former residence of Wang Erlie, inside the west gate of the ancient city of Liaoyang. The “Hanlin Mansion” was designated as a municipal-level key cultural relics protection unit by the People’s Government of Baita District, Liaoyang

0 in 1991.

The original “Hanlin Mansion” consisted of two courtyards, north and south, separated by a pathway. The layout changed after reconstruction to become two east-west courtyards with two entries, facing east, covering an area of 3,250 square meters, with 32 imitation Qing-style tiled houses. Currently, the exhibits in the museum are divided into three parts: First, the Life Exhibition of Wang Erlie: this section uses detailed historical materials and related artifacts to showcase Wang Erlie’s family background, education and imperial examinations, official career, and life after retirement; second, the Art of Wang Erlie’s Poetry and Calligraphy: a special exhibition displaying dozens of Wang Erlie’s calligraphic works, examination papers, articles, and poems from different periods, allowing visitors to appreciate the artistic elegance of the “Foremost Talent of the Northeast”; third, the Restored Dwelling Exhibition of Wang Erlie’s Former Residence: this part restores some scenes of the daily life of Wang Erlie’s family after his retirement according to the historical layout, including the living room, study, and bedrooms, aiming to offer visitors a more direct understanding of Wang Erlie himself and the daily life and customs of official families at that time.

This Hanlin residence differs in architectural layout from the symmetrical and enclosed mansions of feudal-era officials. The courtyard is not large, consisting of two sections, east and west, with over 20 rooms. The west courtyard served as the residential area, while the east courtyard housed the study and garden. The entrance faces south and features a mounting stone, a screen wall, and a small gatehouse labeled 0 “Tai Shi Di” (Residence of the Grand Historian), with two plaques hanging inside inscribed with “Chuan Lu” (Announced Candidate), in blue with gold characters, written by Grand Secretary Wang Jie.

The first row inside the gate consists of five front rooms, with “steel brake longevity” ornaments diagonally placed on the roof ridges, signifying the high status of the official. The second row has five rear rooms, serving as a place for worshiping 0. The hall houses portraits and genealogical books of Wang Erlie, as well as two birthday screens commemorating his seventieth birthday and his mother’s ninetieth birthday, which were stored in the partition walls as treasured heirlooms of the Wang family. Today, these two birthday screens are preserved in the Liaoyang Museum.

In the 36th year of the Qianlong reign (1771), he ranked first among the second-class successful candidates in the imperial examination, was appointed as a compiler in the Hanlin Academy, and as a consultant in the Office of Transmission. He served as an official for decades, participating in the compilation of 0 Baita District

“Siku Quanshu” (Complete Library in Four Branches of Literature), and served as a compiler for the “Three Classics Office” and as the chief examiner for the Jiangnan provincial examination. Many legends about him have been passed down through the ages, and he is known as the “Talent of Liaodong.”

Today, to promote historical culture, the Memorial Hall of Wang Erlie has been built on the site of the former Hanlin Mansion, covering an area of 9,200 square meters, with a construction area of 1,060 square meters and 32 rooms. Preparations are actively underway to exhibit his family background, life achievements, examination papers from the provincial and metropolitan imperial examinations, contributions to the compilation of the “Siku Quanshu,” as well as his calligraphy and poetry, through cultural relics and historical materials.