Former Site of the Nanshe Correspondence Office

Former Site of the Nanshe Correspondence Office

The Former Site of the Nanshe Correspondence Office is a cultural relic protection unit of Suzhou City.

Shou'en Hall is located at No. 28 Hujing South Road in Lili Town. It was once the residence of Zhou Yuanli, who served as the Viceroy of Zhili during the Qing Dynasty. During the Republican era, it became the former site of the Nanshe Correspondence Office.

Zhou Yuanli (1705–1782), courtesy name Bingzhong, was originally from Renhe, Zhejiang. He lost his father at the age of seven and returned to his mother’s hometown in Lili with her. In the third year of the Qianlong reign (1738), he passed the imperial examination as a juren. In the eleventh year of the Qianlong reign (1746), he was appointed magistrate of Lixian County in Zhili, later transferred to serve as magistrate of Qingyuan County, prefect of Yizhou and Xuanhua, and then as judicial commissioner before being promoted to provincial administration commissioner. In the thirty-sixth year of Qianlong (1771), Zhou Yuanli assisted Minister Qiu Yuexiu and Governor Yang Tingzhang in flood control efforts, and for his meritorious service was appointed Governor of Shandong. He was later promoted to Viceroy of Zhili. In the fortieth year of Qianlong (1780), he was reassigned as Left Vice Minister of War, and further promoted to Minister of Works, overseeing civil and military affairs in Zhili, as well as Henan and Shandong. In the spring of the forty-seventh year of Qianlong (1782), he retired and returned to his hometown. He passed away that winter. Upon hearing the news, Emperor Qianlong ordered the Provincial Administration Commissioner of Jiangsu to conduct a memorial ceremony, and he was buried in Heilongdian.

Zhou’s residence faces south and consists of six courtyards in sequence: the entrance hall, sedan hall, Shou’en Hall, Yongchunhui Chamber, Tihongxian Pavilion, and auxiliary rooms. The plaque for the main hall “Shou’en Hall” was inscribed personally by Emperor Qianlong.

In September 1898, during the 24th year of the Guangxu reign, Liu Yazi moved to Lili with his parents and rented the Yongchunhui Chamber of Shou’en Hall.

In the autumn of 1909, the first year of the Xuantong reign, Liu Yazi and others founded the Nanshe literary society, and Shou’en Hall became the Correspondence Office of the Nanshe.

In 1915, the fourth year of the Republic of China, Liu Yazi and others also organized a branch of the Nanshe called the “Wine Society” here, along with the Li Society, Xiaohan Society, and Xiashu Society, and published the *Nanshe Collection*.

In September 1997, Shou’en Hall was listed as a cultural relic protection unit of Wujiang City.

In mid-July 2017, Shou’en Hall was opened to the public as the “Former Site of the Nanshe Correspondence Office.” The exhibition rooms are located on the fourth and fifth courtyards, spanning both upper and lower floors, totaling 12 rooms.

Zhou Yuanli (1706–1782), courtesy name Bingzhong, was a native of Renhe, Zhejiang (now Hangzhou), and a high-ranking official of the Qing Dynasty.

Zhou Yuanli passed the imperial examination as a juren in the third year of the Qianlong reign (1738). Eight years later, he became magistrate of Lixian County in Zhili. He subsequently held positions including prefect of Wan State and Bazhou in Guangdong, prefect of Yizhou, prefect of Xuanhua, prefect of Guangping, prefect of Baoding, judicial commissioner of Zhili, administrative commissioner of Zhili, Governor of Shandong, Viceroy of Zhili, and Minister of Works.

Early Life: Zhou Yuanli had a difficult start in his imperial examinations. He was already 32 years old when he finally passed as a juren in the third year of the Qianlong reign (1738). In the eleventh year of the Qianlong reign (174…) More detailed information about Zhou Yuanli++

Liu Yazi (1887–1958): Originally named Weigao, courtesy name Anru, later changed his name to —, courtesy name Yalu, then again to Qiji, also used the pseudonym Jianxuan, and the courtesy name Yazi. To unify his name, he eventually went by Yazi. A native of Lili Town, Wujiang, Jiangsu, he founded and led the Nanshe literary society. He served as secretary to Sun Yat-sen, a central supervisory committee member of the Kuomintang, and director of the Shanghai Chronicles Office. After the April 12th Incident, he was wanted and fled to Japan. He returned to China in 1928 and engaged in anti-Chiang activities. During the War of Resistance against Japan, he worked with Soong Ching-ling, He Xiangning, and others on anti-Japanese democratic activities, and served as a central… More detailed information about Liu Yazi++