Former Residence of Weng Xincun

The former residence of Weng Xincun is located at No. 2, Wengjiaxiangmen, in the urban area. Originally a residence of the Sang family during the Hongzhi and Zhengde eras of the Ming Dynasty, it changed hands several times over the years. In the 13th year of the Daoguang reign (1833), Weng Xincun, father of Weng Tonghe and Grand Secretary of the Tiren Hall, purchased the property to provide for his mother, naming it “Yiyi Hall.” After subsequent renovations and expansions, it was developed into an official’s residence with architectural features characteristic of the Jiangnan region...

Former Residence of Weng Xincun

The former residence of Weng Xincun

Located at No. 2, Wengjiaxiangmen, in the urban area. Originally a residence of the Sang family during the Hongzhi and Zhengde eras of the Ming Dynasty, it changed hands several times over the years. In the 13th year of the Daoguang reign (1833), Weng Xincun, father of Weng Tonghe and Grand Secretary of the Tiren Hall, purchased the property to provide for his mother, naming it “Yiyi Hall.” After subsequent renovations and expansions, it was developed into an official’s residence with architectural features characteristic of the Jiangnan region. The building is divided into three main sections—east, central, and west—and consists of seven courtyards along a central axis, with the main hall “Yiyi Hall” being the third courtyard. There are approximately a hundred rooms of various sizes, covering a total construction area of about 4,000 square meters. In November 1991, the “Weng Tonghe Memorial Hall” was established around Yiyi Hall and opened to the public. It was designated as a cultural relic protection unit of Changshu City in November 1982.

Weng Xincun (1791–1862) was a late Qing Dynasty official. His courtesy name was Erming, and his pseudonym was Suian. He was from Changshu, Jiangsu Province. His father, Weng Xianfeng, served as an education intendant in Haizhou. Tang Zhongmian, the prefect, recognized Weng Xincun’s exceptional talent and took him under his wing for education. In the 2nd year of the Daoguang reign, he passed the imperial examination and became a presented scholar, later appointed as a compiler and then as an educational commissioner in Guangdong. In the 1st year of the Xianfeng reign, he was promoted to Minister of Works. In the 4th year, he was reinstated as Vice Minister of Personnel, then transferred to the Ministry of Revenue, promoted to Minister of War, and eventually became an Associate Grand Secretary. In the 8th year, he served as the Chief Instructor of the Imperial Study and rose to the rank of Grand Secretary of the Tiren Hall. He requested retirement due to illness but was later reinstated, continuing to oversee the Ministry of Works with the honorary title of Grand Secretary. He was posthumously honored as Grand Guardian of the Heir Apparent and given the posthumous name “Wenduan,” and was enshrined in the Temple of Eminent Statesmen... More details about Weng Xincun ++