Lü Palace

Lü Palace

Lü Palace is a cultural relic protection unit of Jiangsu Province.

The former residence of Lü is located at No. 64 Qianbeian, Changzhou. The original building had become a dangerous structure due to long-term disrepair. From October 2006 to May 2007, municipal departments restored and reconstructed the residence on its original foundation, using mostly the original (mostly) old materials. The current structure faces south, has five sections in sequence, and is built with a hip-and-gable roof in brick and wood. The first section is the entrance hall, six bays wide with six rooms, with one bay in the front eaves forming a covered corridor; the second is the main hall, also six bays wide with six rooms, with layered wooden rafters extending beyond the eaves on both front and back; the third section is an independent courtyard, with a high wall built in front of the building and a gate in the middle. The main building is two stories high, seven bays wide with seven rooms (smaller side rooms on the east and west), and features a square courtyard in front. On the east and west sides of the courtyard are two-story wing rooms, each five bays wide with three rooms, closely connected to the main building. A wooden staircase at the north end connects to the upper floor of the main building. The lower levels of the building complex and the surrounding walls all have covered corridors that interconnect. The fourth section is nine bays wide with five rooms, where the main room is five bays deep, with a three-bay-deep flip-roofed corridor under the south eaves and a one-bay-wide corridor under the north eaves; the fifth section is the kitchen, six bays wide with five rooms, featuring a one-bay-wide corridor under the south eaves. In the northeast corner of the front courtyard is an ancient well, with lotus petal patterns carved on the well curb. Overall architectural features: All buildings are arranged along a central axis. Both the east and west sides of the residence have passageways running through the front and back, connecting all buildings and courtyards. The outer sides of the second-floor wing rooms facing each other are fitted with wooden panels, which is relatively rare among the three-sided courtyard houses in Changzhou. The firewalls at the top of the east and west exterior walls vary in height and rhythm, showcasing the architectural style of the Huizhou school.

On February 26, 2008, the Municipal People's Government announced it as part of the fourth batch of cultural relic protection units of Changzhou.

On December 19, 2011, the Jiangsu Provincial People's Government designated it as a provincial-level cultural relic protection unit.

Lü Gong (1603–1664), styled Changyin, was a native of Wujin, Jiangsu, and a high-ranking official in the early Qing Dynasty. He ranked first in the first class of the imperial examination in the fourth year of the Shunzhi reign and was appointed as a compiler at the Secretariat Academy.

In the ninth year, he was promoted to Right Middle Attendant. In the tenth year, in February, the emperor visited the Inner Court and summoned Lü Gong along with Attendant-Ru Ruozhen, Compiler Cheng Fangchao, and Huang Ji, tasking them to write an essay titled “On Liu Xiahui Not Trading His Integrity for High Office.” Lü’s essay included the line: “Yi, Zhou, Wei, and Huo all contended over integrity, not whether it was compromised.” The emperor was pleased and said, “This is the language of a high minister.” Lü’s essay ranked first. Soon after, the Ministry of Personnel was instructed: “For promotions and transfers among Hanlin scholars, the old rules consider both seniority and salary, as well as talent and character. Lü Gong’s writing is concise and clear, his demeanor refined and elegant. When there is a vacancy for an academician, he should be recommended for the position.” … More detailed information about Lü Gong ++

Further reading:

· Seventh Batch of Cultural Relic Protection Units of Jiangsu Province