Jiangning Weaving Mansion

Jiangning Weaving Mansion

The Jiangning Weaving Mansion in Nanjing is the historical site of the family of Cao Xueqin, one of China’s greatest literary figures. His great-grandfather, grandfather, uncle, and father successively held the prestigious position of Jiangning Weaving Commissioner in Jinling (Nanjing) for a total of 59 years. As the position of Jiangning Weaving Commissioner was typically held by trusted Manchu officials from the Imperial Household Department, the office was also known as the “Jiangning Weaving Ministry.” It ranked only second to the Viceroy of Liangjiang, enjoyed even greater imperial trust, and had the authority to directly provide the Qing government with various types of intelligence from the Jiangnan region, thus wielding considerable power.

The Jiangning Weaving Mansion is located in today’s downtown Nanjing, in the Daxinggong area. During the Qing Dynasty, Emperor Kangxi visited the south of the Yangtze River six times, staying at the Jiangning Weaving Mansion on five of those occasions. The place name “Daxinggong” (Grand Palace) originates from these imperial stays by both Emperor Kangxi and Emperor Qianlong. Historical records indicate that Cao Xueqin was born within the Jiangning Weaving Mansion in the 50th year of Kangxi’s reign, 1711 AD.

The reconstructed Jiangning Weaving Mansion will restore the original appearance of the site and will feature the birthplace of Cao Xueqin, an exhibition hall of Cao Xueqin’s former residence, and a live cloud brocade weaving museum. A Literature Museum dedicated to the study of the classic novel Dream of the Red Chamber will also be housed there.

During the Qing Dynasty, Nanjing had a long and distinguished tradition of silk weaving. At that time, the urban area of Nanjing alone had over 30,000 looms, employed around 50,000 workers of both genders, and supported a population of more than 200,000 residents who relied on the silk industry for their livelihoods, with an annual output value reaching 12 million taels of silver. The silk products from the Jiangning Weaving Mansion were reserved exclusively for the emperor, princes, and high-ranking officials.

Location

No. 39-1, Taiping North Road, Xuanwu District, Nanjing