Tianfang Tower and Red Building

Tianfang Tower and Red Building

Tianfang Tower and Red Building are listed as cultural heritage protection units of Suzhou City.

Tianfang Tower and Red Building are located in Tongli Town, Wujiang District, dating back to the Republican era.

Tianfang Tower and Red Building are well-known for their connection with the prominent late Qing and early Republican scholar and educator Jin Songcen, a native of Tongli. Jin Songcen, originally named Maoji, also known as Tianhe or Tianyu, with the courtesy names Zhuangyou and Hexiang, and the pen names Jinyi and Master of Tianfang Tower, was born in 1874 and passed away in 1947.

In his early years, he associated with Cai Yuanpei, Zhang Taiyan, and Zou Rong, engaging in fervent discussions about revolution, funding Zou Rong's publication of The Revolutionary Army, and translating and publishing books such as Thirty-Three Years’ Dream of a Red Mansion to promote Sun Yat-sen’s revolutionary activities. Jin Songcen was a prolific writer throughout his life, producing works including Poems from Tianfang Tower, Prose Writings from Tianfang Tower, Political Discourses from the Middle Age of Crane Boat, Solitary Root Collection, and Biographies from Anhui Chronicles. The first six chapters of the famous late Qing novel Flower in a Sinful Sea were also written by him.

Tianfang Tower was the original site of the "Tongchuan Self-Government Academy" (later renamed Tongchuan Public School), founded by Jin Songcen in the early 20th century. The term “Tianfang” comes from Zhuangzi•Horse Hooves: “Unified yet not partisan, it is called Tianfang,” implying freedom in nature and an independent spirit.

Initially, Tianfang Tower was located in Wuzi Hall within the “Da Fu Mansion” on Zhangjia Bang. This Da Fu Mansion was originally the old residence of the Zhang family, purchased by Jin Songcen’s ancestors during the Kangxi reign of the Qing Dynasty. In the spring of 1902, Jin Songcen joined the Chinese Education Association initiated and organized by Cai Yuanpei, serving as the head of the Tongli branch, and subsequently founded the "Tongchuan Self-Government Academy," with its location set at Jin Songcen’s residence.

The following year, at the invitation of Cai Yuanpei, Jin Songcen went to Shanghai to teach at the Patriotic School, but soon after, due to the Su Bao Case, the school was shut down and he returned to Tongli. Upon his return, he made significant adjustments to the academy’s academic system and curriculum based on the model of the Patriotic School, adding courses in physics, chemistry, music, and military studies. He also established training programs in physics, chemistry, and music. As the original premises could no longer accommodate these changes, the academy was relocated to the former site of Tongchuan Academy.

In the northeast corner of the academy stood a wooden building where the plaque of “Tianfang Tower” was hung. During the Anti-Japanese War, the school was occupied by Japanese and puppet troops as barracks, and the campus suffered severe damage. Tianfang Tower was reduced to rubble. After the war, the school resumed classes, and an office building was rebuilt on the ruins opposite the original tower in August 1948—shortly after Jin Songcen’s passing. To commemorate him, the building was named “Tianfang Tower.”

Tianfang Tower is a three-story structure facing east with white walls and black tiles, brown doors and windows. On the left side of the main entrance, a marble plaque is inlaid, inscribed with the three large characters “Tianfang Tower,” and the signature “Inscribed respectfully in August of the 37th year of the Republic of China by disciple Jin Zuqian.”

The Red Building was constructed in 1917 as the school building for Tongchuan Public School at that time. It has five stories with north-south orientation, built with blue and red plain bricks. The corridor is fronted by five arched gateways, and the windows on both upper and lower floors are also arched. Iron railings with carved wooden hanging lattices adorn the corridor upstairs, giving the building a distinct Sino-Western architectural style. The striking red brick decoration also explains the origin of its name, the “Red Building.”

Tianfang Tower and Red Building are listed as cultural heritage protection units of Suzhou City.