Former Residence of Zhu Ziqing

Former Residence of Zhu Ziqing

(Photography: Li Yusong)

The Former Residence of Zhu Ziqing is a cultural relic protection unit of Wenzhou City.

Zhu Ziqing (1898–1948), originally named Zihua, with the courtesy name Qiushi and the art name Peixian, was a native of Shaoxing, Zhejiang, but born in Donghai, Jiangsu. He was a renowned poet, essayist, and patriotic scholar during China’s New Democratic Revolution period.

In February 1923, at the suggestion of the head of the Research Department and Director of the Library at Zhejiang Provincial No. 10 Middle School (now Wenzhou High School)—the distinguished educator Jin Rongxuan—Zhu Ziqing was invited to teach at the school. That year, Zhu moved to Wenzhou with his family, initially renting a place near No. 10 Middle School at Dashimen. Later, due to a fire at Dashimen, they relocated to the east wing of No. 34, Siyingtang Lane, Shuomen, Wenzhou.

During his time at Zhejiang Provincial No. 10 Middle School, in addition to teaching Chinese at the Cangqiao Middle School section, Zhu also taught civics and an introduction to science at the Daosiqian Normal School section. He was very dedicated to his teaching, striving to impart new ideas, knowledge, and culture to his students in class. He paid attention to educational methods and teaching effectiveness, earning widespread popularity among students. Amid his busy teaching schedule, he also wrote numerous essays and left behind many calligraphic works. In 1925, recommended by Yu Pingbo, Zhu was appointed as a professor and head of the Department of Chinese at Tsinghua University. He passed away on August 12, 1948.

The Former Residence of Zhu Ziqing is located at No. 34, Siyingtang Lane, Lucheng District, Wenzhou City, and was built in the late Qing Dynasty. The residence faces north and is a three-courtyard, five-bay wooden structure with a total width of 14 meters and depth of 24 meters. Currently, the first and second courtyards remain. The building features a post-and-lintel and pier-and-lintel hybrid timber frame structure, with a flush-gable roof, showcasing distinctive southern Chinese architectural characteristics. Inside, there are displays illustrating Zhu Ziqing’s life through six periods: childhood and adolescence, university years, teaching in the south, teaching at Tsinghua, life in the southwest, and return to Beiping.

The Former Residence of Zhu Ziqing is a cultural relic protection unit of Wenzhou City.

Source: Party History Research Office of the Wenzhou Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China