Wenyoutai

Wenyoutai

Wenyoutai is a national AAA-level tourist attraction and a cultural relics protection unit of Jiangsu Province.

Wenyoutai is located at No. 507 Renmin Road, Gaoyou City. The overall structure faces south, and it was first built during the Taiping Xingguo era of the Northern Song Dynasty (976 AD). Originally a Dongyue Temple, it was later named Wenyoutai because Su Shi visited Gaoyou and gathered here with local scholars such as Sun Jue, Qin Guan, and the visiting scholar Wang Gong to drink wine and discuss literature. Since the Song Dynasty, this scenic spot has continuously attracted scholars and literati from all over to explore history and pay homage to the sages. After many cycles of flourishing and decline, the existing structures were rebuilt during the Qing Dynasty. The Wenyoutai Cultural Relics Scenic Area now houses a number of valuable historical buildings, including the main Wenyoutai building, Hezhan Hall, Qin Guan’s Reading Terrace, and the Four Sages Shrine. Notably, the Qinyou Tie calligraphy collection inside Hezhan Hall is extremely precious and considered a masterpiece. The Wenyoutai Scenic Area is now one of the Eight Scenic Spots of Qinyou, a cultural heritage landmark in Huai’an, and a Jiangsu Provincial cultural relics protection unit.

Jiangsu Gaoyou's Wenyoutai was first built during the Taiping Xingguo era of the Northern Song Dynasty (976 AD) and originally served as a Dongyue Temple. Some records suggest it was first built during the Yuanyou era of the Northern Song Dynasty, but most of the existing structures were reconstructed in the 19th year of the Jiaqing reign. According to the "Gaoyou Prefecture Records": "In the Song Dynasty, Su Shi visited Gaoyou and, together with the visiting scholar Wang Gong and locals Sun Jue and Qin Guan, drank wine and discussed literature here. At the time, the prefect, seeing that so many esteemed individuals had gathered, named the place Wenyoutai." Since the Song Dynasty, this scenic site has continuously attracted scholars and literati from all directions to explore the past and honor the wise. The Song Dynasty poet Zeng Ji wrote in his poem "Wenyoutai": "Recalling how the immortal poet Su once roamed here, where all the figures of the time were full of charm. Perfumed water shield and purple crabs were served for drinking, while brilliant brushstrokes and silver hooks inspired poetic exchanges."

Historically, Wenyoutai has undergone multiple cycles of construction and ruin. During the Southern Song Dynasty, Wang [name unclear] in the Chunxi era, Wu Zhu in the Jiatai era, and Zhang Ge in the Kaixi era, as well as Hu Yao Yuan in the Zhengde era of the Ming Dynasty, Wu Zhi Jun in the Shunzhi era of the Qing Dynasty, Zeng Mao Wei in the Kangxi era, Shi Liang Cai in the Jiaqing era, Hong Pan in the Guangxu era, and Wang Yi Zhong in the Republican era, all took charge of the restoration of Wenyoutai and the Hezhan Hall in front of it. Since 1980, the ancient structures of Wenyoutai, Hezhan Hall, the Four Sages Shrine, and Qin Guan’s Reading Terrace have been gradually rescued and restored year by year. Additionally, antique-style buildings such as the Chongguang Pavilion, Yingcui Garden, entrance hall, memorial archway, exhibition halls, and stele corridors have been constructed, gradually forming the Wenyoutai Scenic Area.

The existing structures were rebuilt during the Qing Dynasty. From 1979 to 1984, the foundation behind Wenyoutai was reinforced, and Hezhan Hall, the Four Sages Shrine, and Qin Guan’s Reading Terrace were restored, along with the reconstruction of the Chongguang Pavilion and Yingcui Garden. In 1991, the entrance memorial archway, stone arch bridge, and entrance hall were built. In 1993, museum exhibition halls and a stele corridor were constructed in the western part. Between 1996 and 1997, the main building of Wenyoutai underwent a major restoration, during which a 20-meter-long, nearly 1-meter-wide, and up to 3.5-meter-high wall from the Song Dynasty, as well as several drainage holes, were discovered, confirming the historical fact that Wenyoutai was built during the Northern Song Dynasty.

It currently covers an area of 37,000 square meters, with a building area of 3,200 square meters, surrounded by moats on all sides. The entrance memorial archway, entrance hall, Qin Guan statue, Hezhan Hall, and Wenyoutai are aligned along a central axis. On both sides of the exhibition hall are courtyard walls, with the Taishan Beidou Entrance Hall, Four Sages Shrine, and Qin Guan’s Reading Terrace located slightly northwest of the western courtyard. Hezhan Hall features a single-eave hip-and-gable roof, with a rolled-canopy corridor in front, five bays in width and three in depth, covering a building area of 193 square meters. Inside the hall, 25 stone-carved tablets of the "Qinyou Stele Collection" are embedded on the east, west, and north walls, along with three painted portraits: "Portrait of Su Dongpo," "Celebrating Su Dongpo’s Birthday," and "Spring Purification Ceremony." Wenyoutai is a two-story hip-and-gable roof structure with a building area of 420 square meters. The lower level has five bays in width and four in depth. Stone carvings of the upper and lower volumes of the "Qinyou Sequel Collection," featuring the calligraphy of Su Shi and Qin Guan, are embedded in the east and west gable walls; there are 12 tablets in total. The upper level has three bays in width and depth. The Four Sages Shrine is a Ming-style structure dedicated to the worship of Su Shi, Sun Jue, Qin Guan, and Wang Gong. The shrine is three bays wide and deep, with a building area of 72.5 square meters.

The historic site of Wenyoutai is one of the ancient Eight Scenic Spots of Qinyou and is now a cultural relics protection unit of Jiangsu Province.

Further Reading:

· Fourth Batch of Jiangsu Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units