Ni Zan Memorial Hall (Ni Zan Cemetery)

Ni Zan Memorial Hall (Ni Zan Cemetery)

The Ni Zan Memorial Hall (Ni Zan Cemetery) is a cultural heritage site under the protection of Jiangsu Province.

The Ni Zan Memorial Hall is located at the foot of Furong Mountain in Dongbeitang Town, Xishan District, Jiangsu Province. The entire area includes the Ni Zan Cemetery and the Ni Zan Memorial Hall. In April 2007, Xishan District and Dongbeitang Town established a preparatory working group for the restoration of Ni Zan’s tomb and the construction of the memorial hall. The foundation-laying ceremony for the Ni Zan Memorial Hall was held in July. After nearly nine months of effort, the restoration of the cemetery and the construction of the memorial hall were fully completed.

The Ni Zan Cemetery mainly focused on restoring the existing burial site, reinstating the original layout of Ni Zan’s tomb, and adding a stele pavilion structure. The Ni Zan Memorial Hall serves as a commemorative space to honor Ni Zan, introduce his artistic achievements to visitors, and promote traditional calligraphy and painting. The entire project covers an area of 4,800 square meters, including 600 square meters of built-up space, with a total investment of about 6 million yuan. It strives to showcase the artistic legacy of this master painter and calligrapher through historical research, and to recreate the historical ambiance of the former Yunlin Hall.

The restored Ni Zan Tomb area is three times larger than the original site, featuring an extended pathway and a gradual reconstruction of the former layout of the “Yunlin Hall” based on historical records. It also includes the addition of a stele pavilion and a screen wall. It is understood that most authentic works of Ni Zan’s paintings are currently housed in institutions such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art in the U.S., the National Palace Museum in Taipei, the Palace Museum in Beijing, and the Shanghai Museum. The memorial hall displays over 40 replicas of Ni Zan’s works. Additionally, the memorial hall has collected and organized a number of interesting anecdotes about Ni Zan’s life as recorded in diaries and historical materials by notable figures.

Ni Zan (1301–1374) was a painter of the Yuan Dynasty and one of the “Four Masters of the Yuan Dynasty.” His courtesy name was Yuanzhen, and his pseudonym was Yunlin. He also went by other names such as Youxiasheng, Jingmanmin, and Xiyuanlang. He was born in Zhitu Village, Meili, Wuxi, Changzhou (now Wuxi City, Jiangsu Province). Ni Zan’s calligraphy was naturally simple and understated, drawing influence from clerical and seal scripts, reflecting the style of the Wei and Jin periods. He excelled in painting landscapes, withered trees, bamboo, and rocks, mostly in ink wash, occasionally with color. His landscape paintings were initially influenced by Dong Yuan, and later incorporated elements from Jing Hao and Guan Tong, while his depiction of mountains, rocks, and trees also drew inspiration from Li Cheng. He advocated for a minimalist painting style, finding charm in simplicity and subtlety, breaking away from traditional methods to create a unique approach. Most of his works were inspired by the scenery around Taihu Lake, … More details about Ni Zan ++

Further Reading:

· Fourth Batch of Cultural Heritage Sites Protected by Jiangsu Province