Former Residence of Qin Dasheng

Former Residence of Qin Dasheng

The Former Residence of Qin Dasheng is a cultural tourism attraction.

Former Residence of Qin Dasheng

Qin Dasheng (1715–1777), styled Lu Yi and also known as Jian Quan, was one of the two top imperial examination scholars (zhuangyuan) in Nanjing during the 17th year of the Qianlong Emperor’s reign (the other being Huang Siyong). Qin Jian Quan was exceptionally bright from childhood, capable of composing eight-legged essays by the age of 10. In his youth, he studied calligraphy under Ouyang Xun and Liu Gongquan, quickly gaining some renown.

He had always been indifferent to fame and wealth, dedicating himself to scholarship. He eventually rose to the position of Attendant Reader Scholar and Director of the Jingshan Imperial School. Historical records praised him as “a renowned Confucian scholar of great virtue, held in high esteem in his time.” In the 28th year of Qianlong’s reign, Qin Jian Quan retired to his home, where he planted four types of trees—cypress, catalpa, tung, and paulownia—in the backyard garden of his residence on Changle Road, symbolizing “a hundred children living together” and representing the continuation of scholarly tradition through generations.

The Former Residence of Qin Dasheng was originally the mansion of Grand Secretary He Ruchong, later becoming the residence of a zhuangyuan (top imperial scholar), and stands as a representative example of Ming and Qing dynasty residential architecture in Nanjing, rarely seen elsewhere. It originally had nine courtyards along with a library building. The buildings featured tall, airy structures with spacious rooms. The main hall at No. 59 Changle Road in Nanjing is the largest surviving ancient residential hall in the city, with wooden pillars as thick as 40 centimeters, making it extremely grand. Due to the changes of time, only two courtyards remain at the current site at No. 59 Changle Road, while No. 61 Changle Road still retains auxiliary buildings. On the eastern side of the residence, poetry inscribed by Qin the zhuangyuan in regular, cursive, clerical, and seal scripts is preserved. Qin was famed for his “poetry, calligraphy, and painting,” recognized as exceptional in all three. He was listed as a “capable artist” in the classical art critique "Yi Zhou Shuang Ji."

The Former Residence of Qin Dasheng is located at Nos. 57, 59, and 61 Changle Road today. Chen Zuolin, a local historian of Nanjing, recorded in his work "Dongcheng Zhi Lüe" that east of Wuding Bridge lies Tangzi Lane (with Da Fu Di, or the “Official Mansion,” to the east of Tangzi Lane). It was the granted residence of Ming Dynasty’s Grand Secretary He Wen Duan Ruchong, a native of Xiangcheng who served as Grand Secretary during the Chongzhen era. By the time of the Jiaqing reign in the Qing Dynasty, Qin Dasheng retired here. It has since been meticulously renovated and turned into the Qin Dasheng Memorial Hall, now a protected cultural heritage site of Jiangsu Province.

Qin Dasheng (1715–1777), styled Lu Yi and also known as Jian Quan, was the zhuangyuan (top imperial scholar) in the 17th year of the Qianlong reign (1752). He served as Attendant Lecturer Scholar and, after retiring from office, lived here. His son Qin Cheng’en rose to become Governor-General of Zhili, and Qin Chengye was honored with the title of Minister of Rites as an imperial tutor. As a result, people referred to his residence as “Da Fu Di” (Official Mansion). The estate was quite expansive, with multiple sections and many rooms, reputed to have “ninety-nine and a half rooms.” The halls were located in the front, residences in the back, with a garden on the side and study rooms nearby. The layout was logical and well arranged.

Qin Dasheng styled himself “Old Man Qiutian,” hence the hall was named “Qiutian Tang” (Autumn Field Hall). After retiring and moving into the Da Fu Di, Qin Dasheng planted cypress, catalpa, tung, and paulownia trees in the garden, symbolizing “a hundred children living together,” and named the garden “Zhan Yuan” (Gazing Garden), representing the continuation of scholarly tradition. “Dongshan Lou” (East Mountain Tower) was the original name of a section of Qin Dasheng’s former residence, now displaying exhibits about his legendary life experiences and achievements in government service. “Jian Quan Lou” (Jian Quan Tower) was named after Qin Dasheng’s other style name, Jian Quan, and mainly housed his bedroom and study. In 1958, during the widening of Changle Road, the residence’s entrance gate was demolished. Five sets of brick carvings that remain, including those featuring deer patterns, qilin patterns, entwined floral designs, and hunting scenes, vividly demonstrate the owner’s prestigious status and the exceptional craftsmanship of the brickwork.

The existing structures consist of three sections across ten courtyards, covering an area of 2,500 square meters. The western section has four courtyards, with the entrance hall spanning three bays (10.1 meters wide), 8 meters deep, and 6 meters high. The following three courtyards are residential buildings, with the side and rear garden named “Zhan Yuan,” inspired by the Song Dynasty poet Ouyang Xiu’s phrase “gazing at the jade hall as if in the heavens.” The central section has two courtyards, with the main hall serving as the focal structure of the complex. It spans three bays (12 meters wide), 8 meters deep, and 8.2 meters high. The hall features thick beams and columns, and exquisitely carved window and door partitions, showcasing distinct early Qing architectural style. The eastern section has three courtyard buildings. Bricks within the walls of the wing room at No. 57 contain several stone tablets. A well dating back to ancient times still remains in the courtyard of No. 61, with clear water that never dries up throughout the year.

　Qin Dasheng (1715–1777) was a zhuangyuan (top imperial scholar) during the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty. In his later years, he took pleasure in painting, especially skilled at depicting bamboo, and occasionally created freehand flower paintings with strong scholarly flair. He authored the “Penglai Shan Qiao Ji” (Collection of the Penglai Mountain Woodcutter). He passed away at the age of 63. (Sources: “Mo Xiang Ju Hua Shi,” “Zhi Ting Shi Gao,” “Hua Chuan Bian Yun”) Qin Dasheng’s poetry, calligraphy, and painting were known as the “Three Perfections.” His ancestral home was in Dangtu, Anhui. At the end of the Chongzhen era of the Ming Dynasty, Qin Dasheng’s great-grandfather Qin Yinghu fled from Dangtu to Nanjing to escape turmoil, residing in a lane inside Jubao Gate. His father, Qin Youlun, had seven sons, with Qin Dasheng being the second. He was intelligent and studious from a young age, capable of writing poetry and essays by the age of 10... More detailed information on Qin Dasheng ++