The Pan Shien Residence

The Pan Shien Residence

The Pan Shien Residence is a Jiangsu Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

The Pan Shien Residence is located on Niujia Lane, Lindun Road in the urban area. Originally named Liuyutang and also known as Taifu Mansion, it was designated as a Jiangsu Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Unit in 2006.

The Pan Shien Residence originally had three courtyards and six sections of buildings, with the rear garden still known as Fengchi Garden. Today, the garden has been destroyed, but three courtyards and four sections of the residential buildings remain, covering an area of 2,135 square meters, with a construction area of 1,484 square meters.

Historical Background:

Pan Shien served through the reigns of Qianlong, Jiaqing, Daoguang, and Xianfeng, holding office for over fifty years and rising to the rank of one of the Three Dukes — an extremely rare achievement among Han officials in the Qing Dynasty. The Pan family produced many high-ranking officials and was the most prominent family in Suzhou during the Qing era, known as the “Noble Pans,” earning the reputation of being “a family of imperial scholars across generations, including grandfathers, fathers, sons, uncles, nephews, and brothers.” Pan Shien held the highest official rank and served the longest among them. As his former residence, Liuyutang holds certain historical value.

Pan Shien (1769–1854), styled Huaitemple and also known as Zhixuan, was a native of Wuxian (now Suzhou) in the Qing Dynasty. In the 58th year of Qianlong’s reign (1793), he achieved the top honors in the imperial examination (Jinshi) in the Guichou year and successively served as Minister of Works, Minister of Revenue, and Minister of Personnel. He rose to the positions of Grand Secretary of the Wuying Hall and a member of the Grand Council, was conferred the title of Grand Guardian of the Heir Apparent, and later promoted to Grand Tutor. He passed away in the 4th year of Xianfeng’s reign and was posthumously honored with the title Wen Gong. In the 14th year of Jiaqing’s reign (1809), to support his father Pan Yiji, Pan Shien purchased the western part of the Fengchi Garden belonging to the Gu family on Niujia Lane and renovated it into a residence. His son, Pan Zengyi, painted a work titled “Picture of the New Residence in Lindun.” In the 19th year, after returning to Suzhou for his mother’s mourning period, and later to care for his aging father, he lived here for thirteen years, devoting himself to scholarship and authoring one volume of Zhengxue Bian (Orthodox Learning Compilation) and thirty-two volumes of Dushi Jinggu Bian (Reading History and Reflecting on Antiquity Compilation). During the Taiping Rebellion, the Taiping King Chen Yucheng stayed here for several days when he came to Suzhou to meet the Loyal King Li Xiucheng.

Current Condition:

The residence underwent two renovations, in 1982 and 2003.

The main courtyard originally had three brick-carved gate towers inscribed with the Qing dynasty “Kangxi” reign mark, all finely crafted, but they were destroyed in 1966. The current gate tower was repaired in 1982 and no longer retains its original appearance.

On June 5, 2006, the Pan Shien Residence was announced as part of the sixth batch of Jiangsu Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units.

Further Reading:

· Sixth Batch of Jiangsu Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units