Xu Hai Dao Office

Xu Hai Dao Office

Xu Hai Dao Office is a cultural relic protection unit of Jiangsu Province.

Also known as the Daotai Yamen, Xu Hai Dao Office was first built in the 11th year of the Hongwu reign during the Ming Dynasty (1378) as the Dongchayuan. In the 6th year of the Zhengde reign (1511), it was converted into a Dao Office. It was later destroyed by flooding. In the 3rd year of the Chongzhen reign (1630), Tang Huan, the Xuzhou Military Defense Commissioner, rebuilt it on the original site. In the 6th year of the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty (1741), large-scale additions and expansions were carried out, featuring over 30 courtyards of various sizes. The architectural complex faces south and is arranged along three routes with three courtyards each, consisting of the main gate, ceremonial gate, main hall, second hall, and rear building. It was renovated in the 11th year of the Guangxu reign. The existing structures from the Qing Dynasty include a screen wall and the second hall. The second hall has a hip-and-gable roof, with bracket sets extending outwards and intact dragon-head colored brackets. The original “straight-line” large screen wall in front of the Daotai Yamen was 30 meters long and 5.6 meters high, majestic and spectacular, and was the largest screen wall in the Xuzhou area. It was repaired in 1999. The former site of Xu Hai Dao Office was approved as a Jiangsu Provincial-level Cultural Relic Protection Unit. The Daotai Yamen served as the highest administrative office in the Xuzhou region during the Ming and Qing dynasties, and during the Republican era, it was the office of the Xu Hai Dao. The Xu Hai Dao was established during the Republican period, under the jurisdiction of Jiangsu Province, with its seat in Tongshan County, governing twelve counties: Tongshan, Feng, Pei, Xiao, Dangshan, Pi, Suqian, Suining, Donghai, Guanyun, Shuyang, and Ganyu. After the outbreak of the Xinhai Revolution, Zhang Xun, a Qing general who retreated to Xuzhou after his defeat in Nanjing, used the Daotai Yamen as his “Commander’s Mansion.” After Zhang Xun’s failure, the “Queue Army” stationed in Xuzhou was disbanded. Successively, warlords such as Chen Diaoyuan of the Zhili Clique, Zhang Zongchang of the Fengtian Clique, and Chu Yupu occupied Xuzhou, using the Daotai Yamen as their office. In April 1928, Chiang Kai-shek and Feng Yuxiang formed an alliance and pledged their troops here, marking the beginning of the Second Northern Expedition. After the outbreak of the War of Resistance against Japan, this site served as the headquarters of the Fifth War Zone Command during the Battle of Taierzhuang, where Li Zongren commanded the famous battle. During the Japanese puppet regime, Xuzhou was once the capital of the puppet Huaihai Province, with the provincial government of traitor Hao Pengju located here. After the victory in the war, General Gu Zhutong stationed his troops in Xuzhou and set up the Xuzhou Pacification Headquarters in the Daotai Yamen. The Xuzhou Pacification Headquarters also established a military tribunal for trying war criminals here, where 25 major Japanese war criminals were brought to justice. In 1948, the compound became the headquarters of the Nationalist “Suppression Headquarters” in Xuzhou. After the founding of the People’s Republic of China, the headquarters of the People’s Liberation Army Armored Forces was once stationed here. In 1952, when Mao Zedong made his first inspection tour to Xuzhou, he took a short rest here.

On June 5, 2006, Xu Hai Dao Office was announced as part of the sixth batch of Jiangsu Provincial Cultural Relic Protection Units.

Further Reading:

· Sixth Batch of Jiangsu Provincial Cultural Relic Protection Units