Qian Deng Gu Jian Memorial Hall

Qian Deng Gu Jian Memorial Hall

The Gu Jian Memorial Hall is situated on the west side of the turn in Qipan Street in the ancient town of Qian Deng. It is not far north of Yanfu Temple and the world’s largest jade Buddha, and is near the Qin Feng Art Gallery to the south, enjoying a very serene setting. Originally, the building was the home of Xie, the third brother-in-law of Gu Ziyu, the 12th-generation descendant of Gu Yanwu. It was constructed by Gu Ziyu in the early years of the Republic of China as a three-courtyard, four-bay brick-and-wood structure facing east and situated along the street. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, this house had served as the business office of the Qian Deng branch of the People’s Bank, a temporary distribution center of the supply and marketing cooperative, a club of the labor union, and the site of the town’s cultural station. From the winter of 2002 to 2003, nearly a year of restoration work was carried out, and now it has been transformed into a traditional courtyard complex with three courtyards, two floors, a central hallway, and a backyard garden. The exterior features whitewashed walls and black tiles, exuding an elegant and classic charm. The impressive investment of 700,000 yuan for the restoration and arrangement of this grand old courtyard to establish the Gu Jian Memorial Hall can truly be described as an extraordinary and innovative move.

Hanging above the main gate of the memorial hall is a plaque inscribed with the words “Gu Jian Memorial Hall” in gold on a red background. The calligraphy was done by Cheng Zhenlv, a calligrapher from Kunshan and tourism advisor for Qian Deng Town. The strokes are vigorous and full of emotion. On both sides of the stone-framed doorway are a pair of bamboo-carved couplets: on the right, “Harmonious sounds echo in a prosperous era,” and on the left, “Elegant music harmonizes with the tones.” On the inner walls of the corridor inside the main gate, the content of the UNESCO document issued on May 18, 2001, recognizing the first batch of “Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity” is displayed. This includes materials and photos related to Kunqu Opera. It becomes immediately clear that such a great dramatist was born in Qian Deng during the Yuan Dynasty (1271–1368). Gu Jian, an expert in southern melodies and a representative figure in the creation of the “Kunshan Tune”—the progenitor of Kunqu Opera—makes Qian Deng the birthplace of this world cultural heritage. This is the glory of Kunshan and the pride of Qian Deng.

Stepping into the memorial hall, you enter a small stone-paved courtyard. A small evergreen tree is planted on each side of the north and south, like two green-dressed ladies welcoming you. Looking back up at the entrance gate tower, you will see four prominent black characters in clerical script, “Si Yi Xiao Zhu” (“A Suitable Little Retreat”), carved into the brickwork, indicating that this is a place suitable for playing stringed instruments, listening to pingtan (a form of storytelling and ballad singing), singing Kunqu Opera, and savoring tea—a cultural leisure and tourism destination.

The downstairs rear room is a multipurpose hall with Ming and Qing characteristics, used for performances and viewing. A small stage is set against the south wall, serving as a venue for performances of Jiangnan silk and bamboo music, pingtan, and drama. The frame of the stage is decorated with wooden hanging lattices. The stage is equipped with a set of performance tables and chairs, as well as a set of pingtan tables and chairs, all covered with embroidered tablecloths for performances. The back wall features a plastic-sprayed landscape painting depicting the scenery of the Qin Feng Pagoda in Qian Deng and the nearby ancient town, presented in the style of Qing-era wooden doors and windows, with lighting installed. On both sides of the stage are a pair of pillar couplets: “Melodies played by Tao Xian with southern silk and bamboo, tunes blown by Gu Jian with Kunshan strings.” In front of the small stage in the hall, over ten clean and neatly arranged square tables and benches are placed, specially for visitors to rest, watch drama performances, enjoy silk and bamboo music, or listen to pingtan storytelling. The hall is frequented by visitors, and the melodious music creates an atmosphere that is truly moving.

After enjoying the pingtan performance, climb the wooden staircase along the north wall to reach the wax museum, which vividly introduces and recreates iconic figures in Chinese theatrical art. The eminent dramatist Gu Jian is seated in the center hall, dressed in Ming and Qing attire, with a brush in hand and his gaze lifted upward, as if he is either writing letters to colleagues for discussion or contemplating new masterpieces of Kunqu Opera. Displayed in glass cabinets along the walls are classic artistic images from Chinese theatrical performances, accompanied by concise and clear explanatory texts. These detail the historical facts of Gu Jian, the founder of the Kunshan Tune, and his colleagues creating the “Kunshan Tune”; provide brief introductions to Yuan Dynasty opera, the Four Great Tunes, Kunqu, and Kun Opera; outline the development history of Chinese theater and Kunqu; and introduce the performing arts of Chinese drama.

Address: West side of the turn in Qipan Street, Ancient Town of Qian Deng, Kunshan City, Suzhou

Type: Memorial Hall / Exhibition

Recommended visiting time: 1 hour

Phone: 0512-57472152

Opening Hours:

Summer: 8:00–17:00; Winter: 8:00–16:30

Ticket Information:

Gate Price: 60.0 RMB

Qian Deng Ancient Town Small Attractions Joint Ticket (including Yu’s Pawnshop, Yanfu Temple, Gu Jian Memorial Hall, Ancient Stage, Qian Deng Lantern Museum, Gu Yanwu’s Former Residence, and all other small attractions in the town) Adult ticket: 60 RMB; children between 1.2m and 1.4m, students, and seniors aged 60–69 from Jiangsu Province with valid ID receive half-price tickets; children under 1.2m, seniors over 70, active-duty military officers, and people with disabilities with valid ID are admitted free of charge.

Gu Jian (circa 1368), a dramatist from the late Yuan and early Ming dynasties and the progenitor of Kunqu Opera. Also known as “Fengyue Sanren” (Wind-Moon Recluse), he was a native of Qian Deng, Kunshan, a metropolitan graduate, skilled in southern lyrics and adept at composing classical poetry. The Yuan general Köke Temür, having heard of his talent in singing, repeatedly summoned him, but he refused each time. He was on friendly terms with contemporary literati such as Gu Dexuan, Yang Weizhen, and Ni Yuanzhen, and authored Ten Volumes of Tao Zhen Ye Ji and Eight Volumes of Fengyue Sanren Yue Fu, none of which have survived to this day. According to Wei Liangfu’s book Nan Ci Yin Zheng, Gu Jian lived in Kunshan for generations, “excelled in unraveling the mysteries of southern melodies, hence the term ‘Kunshan Tune’ emerged in the early years of the dynasty,” making him the founder of the Kunshan Tune. Chief Engineer of the 11th Bureau of the Ministry of Public Security... More details about Gu Jian++