Weng’s Secondary Residence

Weng’s Secondary Residence

Weng’s Secondary Residence is a cultural tourism attraction.

Situated at Xiejia Bang at the foot of Boguge Peak of Yushan Mountain, outside the West Gate, it was originally the ancestral tomb chapel of the Weng family. In his later years, Weng Tonghe, who advocated for Emperor Guangxu’s enthronement and reform, was dismissed by Empress Dowager Cixi and returned to his hometown, where he lived in seclusion until his death. A “secondary residence” refers to a tomb chapel. Weng’s Secondary Residence was built during the Tongzhi era of the Qing Dynasty by Weng Tonghe and his second elder brother Weng Tongjue. Backed by Yushan Mountain and facing Shanghu Lake, it includes houses, gardens, rockeries, ponds, thatched pavilions, trees, and has the layout of a landscape garden.

Initially simple and crude, it was gradually expanded. The secondary residence was also referred to by the Weng family as the “Vase Cottage” or “Secluded Vase Cottage,” reportedly symbolizing either keeping one’s mouth shut like a sealed vase regarding political matters or living in deep seclusion like being hidden inside a bottle.

The original main gate faced Shanqiantang Pond. Above the gate lintel was an inscription by the Weng family reading “Weng’s Secondary Residence.” Along the pondside road were three rooms on the north side; the wing room to the east was used to receive guests and was simply but elegantly furnished. To the south were five main rooms housing the court dress portrait of his father, Weng Xincun, who had served as Grand Secretary of the Tiren Pavilion. The room to the east was Weng’s living quarters, inscribed with the name “Room of Purple Fungus and White Turtle,” and the garden outside featured an ancient cypress tree and a rockery. A moon gate was cut into the eastern wall, inscribed by Weng himself with the words “Secluded Vase Cottage.”

To the west were three wing rooms, and a side gate was opened along Shanqiantang Pond. Outside the gate was a well dug by Weng after he retired to the secondary residence, named the “Dredged Well.” Legend has it that Weng feared retaliation from Empress Dowager Cixi and prepared to commit suicide by jumping into the well if necessary. He personally inscribed the words “Dredged Well” on the well curb, implying purity. Later, his nephew Yu Zhongluan cited a line from the Book of Changes, “The well is dredged but not yet used to draw water, which saddens my heart” (meaning the well has been cleaned but not yet used, causing passersby to grieve), and told Weng that naming the well “Dredged Well” could be seen as slandering the imperial court. Weng then ordered the well curb to be sunk into Shanghu Lake overnight, so today the well has no curb and is covered with a stone slab.

To the northwest stood a thatched pavilion inscribed with the name “A Thatched Hut in the Universe.” The eastern end held a pond used for raising fish and ducks. Most of Weng’s Secondary Residence was destroyed during the War of Resistance Against Japan, leaving only a few rooms standing.

After liberation, the gatehouse was rebuilt and the brick walls reinforced. It now covers an area of 3,000 square meters. The local government has included the restoration of Weng’s Secondary Residence in the “Changshu Tourism Industry Development Plan Outline.”