Former Residence of Cheng Xianjia

Former Residence of Cheng Xianjia

The former residence of Cheng Xianjia is a cultural tourism attraction.

Former Residence of Cheng Xianjia

The former residence of Cheng Xianjia is located at No. 11, Dabaihua Lane, west of Zhonghua Gate. The residence extends seven courtyards in depth, with its central axis perpendicular to the street, presenting at first glance the quaint and elegant charm of a late Qing dynasty residential building.

This house was originally a grand residence of the prestigious Huang family during the Guangxu era. In the Xuantong period, it was bought by Cheng Xianjia as his private residence. The first courtyard served as the entrance hall, with space on both sides for parking horse carriages and resting for the carriage drivers. The second courtyard housed the main hall, beneath whose window frames were carved the “Twenty-Four Filial Exemplars,” still faintly visible today. A small study, also used for receiving guests, was situated on the west side. The third courtyard was where Cheng Xianjia lived — the main room — which is now inhabited by his youngest son, Cheng Demo, his spouse, and their descendants. The fourth courtyard was the library, known as his beloved study — the “Qianyi Studio.” Its name carries the meaning: “Even the wise may err once in a thousand thoughts; even the foolish may get something right once in a thousand thoughts.” The fifth courtyard was also a building, used as housing for the Cheng family. The sixth courtyard contained the kitchen, where a well is still preserved in the courtyard. The seventh courtyard was where servants lived. Today, although all seven courtyards are occupied by residents from the southern part of the city, the architectural framework, the scattered stone drums and slabs in the courtyards, and the strong local dialect among the residents still reflect a vivid picture of late Qing residential life in the ancient city of Jinling. For visitors from afar, the place exudes an even richer sense of antique charm.

Cheng Xianjia (1872–1932), courtesy name Dingcheng, also known as Yikui, was a native of Jiangning. Because he lived on Dabaihua Lane, he playfully referred to himself by the pen name “Fairy of the Hundred Flowers.” In the 17th year of the Guangxu reign...

(1891), he passed the provincial imperial examination and earned the title of Juren (successful candidate in the imperial examinations at the provincial level). In the 29th year of the Guangxu reign (1903), when the national Specialized Economic Examination was held and only 27 candidates were selected, Cheng Xianjia was chosen for his broad knowledge and talent. In the late Qing dynasty, he served as a professor at the Jiangnan Advanced School and as the head (i.e., principal) of the Simplified Characters School. He conducted in-depth research in philology and phonology. During the late Qing’s language reform movement, especially in the field of Chinese phonetic alphabets, he was a pioneer in southern China. After the establishment of the Republic of China, he worked in Jiangsu, Gansu, Inner Mongolia, and Hubei, always accompanied by books and accumulating chests full of manuscripts.

In his fifties, he returned to his hometown and continued to devote himself to writing. He also co-founded the Xiaye Literary Society with friends and was elected its president. The society held monthly gatherings for poetry writing and mutual critique, adding a unique cultural and artistic flavor to the “Qianyi Studio” library.

Throughout his life, Cheng Xianjia authored over 40 books, totaling more than 100 volumes, collectively known as the Complete Works of Qianyi Studio. Some of these works have been included in the State Council’s plan for the collation and publication of ancient texts. His hardworking life earned him respect and admiration. His enduring masterpiece, “Ode to Jinling,” is especially celebrated and widely recited. Unfortunately, most of the books he collected in the “Qianyi Studio” were destroyed during the Japanese invasion and subsequent turmoil, which is deeply regrettable.

Cheng Xianjia (1871–1932), pen name “Fairy of the Hundred Flowers,” was an active advocate of the late Qing dynasty’s language reform movement. He excelled in literary prose, poetry, and lyrics, and made contributions to local education, academic research, and literary creation.

He passed the Juren examination at the age of twenty and composed the monumental work “Ode to Jinling” at the age of twenty-one. This ode remains an important document for the study of Nanjing’s folklore to this day. In 1898, he served as a professor at the Jiangnan Advanced School. In 1905, after the abolition of the imperial examination system and the rise of modern education, he was elected as a council member of the Jiangsu Education Association, vice president of the Jiangning Society, and involved in educational administration across Liangjiang... More details about Cheng Xianjia ++