Dong Xun’s Study

Dong Xun’s Study

Dong Xun’s Study is a cultural relic protection unit of Jiangsu Province.

Dong Xun’s Study is located at No. 143, 145, and 147 South Street, Shaobo Town, Jiangdu District, Yangzhou City, and was built in the late Ming and early Qing dynasties. Dong Xun (1807–1892) was a modern poet and essayist. Originally named Chun, he later changed his name to Xun to avoid the naming taboo of Emperor Tongzhi. His courtesy name was Chenfu, and his pseudonym was Xingqing. He was from Ganquan (present-day Yangzhou), Jiangsu Province. A successful candidate in the imperial examination during the Daoguang era, he successively served in the courts of the Daoguang, Xianfeng, Tongzhi, and Guangxu emperors, eventually becoming Minister of Revenue. He once served as head of the Zongli Yamen (Office for General Management of the Affairs of All Nations) and was appointed as a plenipotentiary minister to sign commercial treaties with countries such as Belgium, Britain, Russia, and the United States. Dong Xun loved reading throughout his life and was the first person in China to translate English poetry into Chinese. After retiring, he stayed in the capital and named his study “Huan Du Wo Shu” (Reading My Books Again). He authored nearly a hundred volumes of works, including the Collection of Poetry and Prose from the Difen Study. The site of Dong Xun’s Study was originally built by the Qi family, who ran an oil mill. Later, the Qi family became related to Dong Xun through the marriage of their children. When Dong Xun returned home for his filial mourning period, he studied here and wrote the Gazetteer of Gantang.

Dong Xun’s Study faces east and is arranged along two north-south axes. It covers an area of 500 square meters with a construction area of 320 square meters. It features a shop in the front and a residence in the back. Along the canal is the study building, and there used to be a garden in the southwest corner. The northern axis consists of four sections: the first and second sections are shop buildings, while the third and fourth are halls and the main house. The hall has three bays in width and seven rafters in depth. The main house appears to have three bays but actually has four, with two wing rooms, wooden ceiling boards, and wooden flooring—commonly known as the Yang Hall. The southern axis has three sections: the first and second are also shop buildings, while the third is a large hall with three bays, of which two remain today—commonly referred to as the Yin Hall. Behind the hall is an ancient well with a round, firestone well curb. To the north of the northern axis is a passage with a brick-carved ceremonial gate, featuring carvings of auspicious symbols such as qilins and magpies on plum blossoms. The carving techniques include relief, openwork, and shallow engraving. Between the second and third sections of the northern axis is a gate leading to the passage, along with a screen wall, which is now damaged. This building employs traditional architectural methods, featuring carved lotus leaf brackets on the beam frame, curling wave patterns on the beam ends, lotus leaf-shaped column pedestals, mountain mist cloud designs on the ridge beam, use of bracket arms and substitute beams, and circular stone bases under the columns. It holds significant artistic and architectural value.

On December 19, 2011, the People’s Government of Jiangsu Province designated it as part of the seventh batch of provincial-level cultural relic protection units.

Gantang Community: Gantang Community was formed on the basis of the former communities of Nanjiao, Qingyun, Miaoxiang, Gantang, Baxiang, Dongjiao, as well as the Xiaojie, Nange, and Beige groups of Highway Village. The area under its jurisdiction extends north to the Gantang Road route, south to the Nan Tang River up to the Poultry Research Institute, east to Shaobo Bridge, and west to Shaobo Lake. The region spans 1.68 square kilometers and has over 3,000 households, with a total population of about 10,000. … More information about Gantang Community++

Further Reading:

· Seventh Batch of Jiangsu Provincial Cultural Relic Protection Units