Former Residence of Feng Daoli

Former Residence of Feng Daoli

The former residence of Feng Daoli is a cultural tourism attraction.

The former residence of Feng Daoli is located at No. 2 Beitang Lane, Shinian Town, Dongtai City. This is a residential building constructed during the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty. It features a brick-and-wood structure with a south-facing main gate. The central hall has three bays, with lattice windows and doors that exude an elegant and classic charm. Covering a land area of 624 square meters and a built-up area of 19.9 square meters, it served as the birthplace and long-time residence of the Feng family. In 1993 and 1995, the Dongtai Municipal People's Government allocated special funds for its restoration on two separate occasions.

Feng Daoli, courtesy name Wutang, art name Xiyuan, was born in the 47th year of the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty (1782 AD) and passed away in the 10th year of the Xianfeng reign (1860 AD), living to the age of 78. The area of Shinian had particularly low terrain. When floods suddenly struck, fields and houses were submerged, and the local people suffered greatly from water disasters. Therefore, in his youth, Feng Daoli abandoned the pursuit of an official career and devoted himself to the study of hydraulic engineering, determined to bring benefits to his hometown. He humbly studied previous treatises on water management while also emphasizing practical fieldwork. He hired boats multiple times to conduct on-site surveys along the Yangtze River, Huai River, old course of the Yellow River, Baima Lake, Gaobao Lake, Hongze Lake, and the vast coastal areas east of the Fan Gong Embankment. He interviewed local farmers and fishermen, consulted relevant hydrological and hydraulic materials, and drew hundreds of hydraulic engineering diagrams. On one occasion, he spent three years conducting surveys without returning home. The local people praised him for having the “spirit of Yu the Great.” Feng Daoli was tireless in his studies and produced numerous works in his lifetime. Six of his works were published in printed form, and 36 were woodblock-printed. His specialized works on water conservancy include Illustrations and Discussions on Hydraulic Engineering in the Huaiyang Region, Treatise on Water Control in the Huaiyang Region, Measuring the Sea – My Humble Opinions, Diary of Coastal Surveys, Essays on Harnessing Water, Complete Map of Hydraulic Systems in Seven Prefectures, Map of the Eastern Ocean Estuary, Map of the Eastern Ocean Seaport, and Eight Methods for Sand Control. Illustrations and Discussions on Hydraulic Engineering in the Huaiyang Region contains seven hydraulic maps and systematically proposes specific solutions for eradicating water hazards in the Lixiahe region of northern Jiangsu, putting forward many scientific concepts. Especially notable is Measuring the Sea – My Humble Opinions, which is divided into fifty-two sections and includes Eight Methods for Sand Control at the end. It represents the culmination of decades of experience in water management and holds significant practical value.

Feng Daoli’s tomb is situated on a piece of open land west of the Shinian Town Construction Company, enclosed by brick walls on all sides and well preserved. During the Cultural Revolution, the tomb nearly met with disaster, but thanks to the protection by local farmers, this expert who dedicated his life to water conservancy for the people was not left exposed in the fields. In 1995, with the approval of the Jiangsu Provincial People's Government, the former residence of Feng Daoli (including the Wuben Hall Firefighting Association) was designated as a provincial-level cultural relics protection unit.

Feng Daoli, courtesy name Wutang, art name Xiyuan, was a native of Shinian Town, Dongtai City, Jiangsu Province. He was born in the 47th year of the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty and died in the 10th year of the Xianfeng reign (1782–1860), living to the age of 79. The Huaiyang region is an alluvial plain where, whenever the Huai River flooded, rivers and lakes overflowed, turning the area into a vast expanse of water. The harrowing scenes of the local people suffering from water disasters in his youth left a deep impression on Feng Daoli. Endowed with intelligence and a love of learning from childhood, he read extensively and harbored great ambitions to become a hydraulic engineer like Li Bing and Guo Shoujing, serving his hometown and contributing to the nation. He read many works related to water management and conducted research... More details about Feng Daoli ++