Former Residence of Wu Changshuo

Former Residence of Wu Changshuo

The former residence of Wu Changshuo is a cultural relic protection unit of Zhejiang Province.

The former residence of Wu Changshuo is located in Zhangwu Village, Anji County. Wu Changshuo was originally named Jun, Junqing, or Xiangbu, and used the courtesy name Changshuo. He was born on the first day of the eighth lunar month in the 24th year of the Daoguang reign during the Qing Dynasty (1844). His grandfather, Wu Yuan, served as an educational officer in Haiyan County, Jiaxing Prefecture, and as the head of Guta Academy in Xiaofeng during the Gengwu year of the Jiaqing reign (1810) in the Qing Dynasty. He was a well-respected educator. His great-uncle, Wu Yingqi, was erudite and skilled in literature, and was known in the capital as the “Four-Legged Bookcase.” His father, Xinjia, was good at poetry and particularly excelled in seal carving. The Wu family had a profound influence on Wu Changshuo during his youth. From childhood, Wu Changshuo had a deep love for poetry, calligraphy, and seal carving, and spent his teenage years farming and studying in his hometown.

The former residence is located in the center of Zhangwu Village. It is a brick-and-tile structure built over 200 years ago, facing southwest. The “Xidi Jing Shi” (Secluded Study by the Stream) was where he read, painted, and carved seals. After renovation in 1987, it retains its original appearance, reproducing the architectural style of the mid-Qing Dynasty, and showcases high artistic value. The residence displays a series of authentic cultural relics from Wu Changshuo’s youth.

To commemorate this master of art, Anji County built the Wu Changshuo Memorial Hall on the eastern side of Dibu Town. The hall is a three-story antique-style building covered with blue-green glazed tiles, covering a construction area of 872 square meters. It is divided into three exhibition halls: the first introduces his life story; the second displays historical sites of Anji; the third houses Wu Changshuo’s paintings and calligraphy works from different periods of his career, showcasing early, middle, and late styles. These include ink washes, colorful freehand flowers, figures, stone drum scripts, seal scripts, running scripts, couplets, fan paintings, as well as poetry drafts and letters. There are also Wu Changshuo’s personal belongings, the Four Treasures of the Study, carving knives, brush pots, paperweights, and other original items. The third floor also features a display room for the works of his disciple “Zhu Lesan.” The museum also holds works by modern and contemporary painting and calligraphy masters such as Wang Yiting,

Shen Yinmo, Chen Banding, Wang Ge, Sha Menghai, Lu Weizhao, Lu Yanshao, Qian Juntao, Pan Tianshou, and Fang Zhenfu.

The memorial hall was completed in September 1986 and opened to the public.

Admission Fee

The admission fee is 15 RMB.

Location of the Attraction

Zhangwu Town, Anji County, Huzhou City, Zhejiang Province

Wu Changshuo (August 1, 1844 – November 29, 1927), originally named Jun, also known as Junqing, with the courtesy name Changshuo, also signed as Cangshi or Cangshi. He had many aliases, commonly known as Cangshuo, Laocang, Laofou, Kutie, Dalong, Fadaoren, and Shizunzhe, among others. He was from Zhangwu Village, Xiaofeng County, Zhejiang Province (now Anji County, Huzhou City). A renowned traditional Chinese painter, calligrapher, and seal carver during the late Qing and early Republican period, he was a representative of the “Later Haipai” school and the first president of the Xiling Seal Art Society in Hangzhou. Together with Ren Bonian, Pu Hua, and Xugu, he is known as one of the “Four Great Masters of Haipai in the Late Qing Dynasty.” He integrated the “four arts of poetry, calligraphy, painting, and seal carving,” blending epigraphy, painting, and calligraphy... More details about Wu Changshuo ++

Zhangwu Village: Zhangwu Village is the hometown of the modern art master Wu Changshuo. Located in the core area of the Changshuo Hometown Premium Tourism Corridor, the village features a scattering of classical Huizhou-style buildings with white walls and black tiles, represented by the former residence of Changshuo, the Xiupu Grand House, and the Shuang Jinshi Gate. New attractions such as the Eight Mansions, Nine Lanes, and Twelve Alleys are spread throughout the village. The winding alleys run through the village, and the small stream that traverses the village is paved with stone embankments, quietly flowing past homes, adding charm to the ancient village. In recent years, the village has also established a 400-square-meter space integrating visits and experiences for its fan culture... More details about Zhangwu Village ++

Further Reading:

· Sixth Batch of Cultural Relic Protection Units in Zhejiang Province