Former Residence of Xu Xilin

Former Residence of Xu Xilin

The former residence of Xu Xilin is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

The former residence of Xu Xilin is located in Sunjialou, Dongpu Town. This late Qing Dynasty building faces south and has three courtyards, covering an area of 1,133 square meters. Xu Xilin lived and studied here during his youth.

Located in Sunjialou, Dongpu Town, Shaoxing City, the residence is a late Qing Dynasty structure facing south, covering a site area of 1,100 square meters with a built-up area of 575 square meters. The overall layout consists of three bays and three courtyards, comprising a gatehouse, main hall, main building, library, and Tongying Study. Constructed with brick and wood, it features white walls and black tiles, with an enclosed exterior, representing a typical residential dwelling of the Qing Dynasty in the Jiangnan region. In December 1873, Xu Xilin was born here and spent his childhood and youth here, later engaging in revolutionary activities, leaving behind many precious cultural relics and historical sites.

The former residence of Xu Xilin faces south and has three courtyards, covering an area of 1,133 square meters. Xu Xilin lived and studied here during his youth.

The entire building faces south and uses sturdy materials. Except for the gates, the surrounding walls are all triple-layered stone bases, making them very solid. The overall layout includes three bays and three courtyards, with the front and rear gates aligned along a single axis. It consists of a gatehouse, main hall, main building, library, and Tongying Study, forming an enclosed courtyard. It is a Qing Dynasty building with the distinctive character of a water town residence.

Gatehouse Upon entering through the black-painted main gate, you find yourself in the gatehouse, with a side room on each side. These were used as resting areas for helpers and musicians during weddings, funerals, and celebrations of the Xu family. The ceremonial gate inside the gatehouse consists of six bluish-grey wooden doors, above which hangs a horizontal plaque inscribed with “Former Residence of Xu Xilin,” written by Wang Kunlun, former Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference. Passing through the ceremonial gate, there is a rectangular courtyard with corridors on both sides. In the middle of the west corridor is a stone-arched door, with the characters “Mei Shu” (Plum Villa) carved above the lintel, commonly known as the “Plum Villa Gate.” Entering the stone-arched door leads to a courtyard that is long from north to south and narrow from east to west.

Main Hall Accessed via the corridors next to the side rooms of the gatehouse. This was where the martyr often met with fellow revolutionaries. The main hall is also called “Yijing Hall,” with the name derived from the line in the “Poems for Child Prodigies”: “Leaving your son a house full of gold, why not teach him a classic?” The hall door bears a plaque inscribed with “Yijing Hall,” beneath which hang large oil paintings of the three martyrs: Xu Xilin, Chen Boping, and Ma Zonghan. On both sides are commemorative couplets written by Sun Yat-sen for Xu Xilin: “A loyal heart offers the remaining flesh in sacrifice; white bones herald spring three years after death.” The surroundings of the hall and display cases exhibit the life story of the martyr, as well as related manuscripts and physical relics, recreating the martyr’s glorious deeds.

Main Building A five-bay building divided into three rooms on the east and two on the west. The two western rooms belonged to Xu Xilin’s two younger brothers. The three eastern rooms align with the main hall and gatehouse along a single axis. The second room is the front hall, arranged largely as it was in the martyr’s time. The third room was the bedroom of Xu Xilin’s mother; Xu Xilin was born in this small room with a wooden floor. The second room on the west side has a small ladder. Climbing the ladder and crossing the corridor leads to the library. Each room on the upper floor was originally divided by wooden partitions with a small corridor, allowing passage without entering the rooms. It is now displayed as a restored exhibition.

Library and Tongying Study Located to the west of the main hall, forming their own courtyard. The upper floor is the library, which houses a significant collection of books. The lower floor is the “Tongying Study.” In earlier times, the Tongying Study was the study room of Xu Xilin’s grandfather, Tongxuan Gong. When Xu Xilin was six years old, his father, Mr. Xu Fengming, converted it into a family school and personally taught his son. The desks, chairs, brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones in the study are arranged according to the layout of the Xu family school at the time.

Xu Xilin (1873–1907), styled Boshen and also known as Guanghanzi, was a native of Dongpu, Shanyin (present-day Shaoxing), Zhejiang. Born into a merchant family, he was strong-willed from a young age and admired heroes. At the age of 21, he passed the imperial examination at the county level but had no interest in an official career. He enjoyed discussing state affairs, once served as a teacher and vice-supervisor at Shaoxing Prefectural School, founded a special publishing house selling new books, and promoted anti-Qing revolutionary ideas. He founded Recheng School and served as a gymnastics instructor himself. In 1904, he joined the Restoration Society and the following year founded Datong School to train revolutionary members. Later, he accepted an official title and went to Anhui to serve as deputy director of the Army Primary School and supervisor of the Police School, conducting revolutionary activities under a legitimate guise. He prepared for the Zhejiang-Anhui Uprising. On May 26, 1907, after his plans were exposed, he hastily launched the uprising, assassinated Governor Enming, but was eventually captured and executed due to being outnumbered, dying a heroic death.

The former residence of Xu Xilin is now open to the public as an exhibition room displaying the life and deeds of Xu Xilin.

Xu Xilin (1873–1907), styled Boshen and also known as Guanghanzi, was a native of Shanyin, Zhejiang (now Shaoxing). Born into a landlord-gentry-merchant family, he studied at a private school in his youth and enjoyed mathematics and astronomy. He successively earned the titles of Linsheng (a type of scholar) and Fuju Ren (a lower-level degree candidate). Because he often promoted revolutionary ideas and was hostile to the Qing court, his father, fearing involvement, gave him part of the family property as a symbolic severance of their father-son relationship.

In 1901, Xu Xilin became a mathematics lecturer at Shaoxing Prefectural School and was highly regarded by the prefect. Later, he was promoted to vice-supervisor. In 1903, he visited Japan to attend the Osaka Exposition, where... (Note: the text is truncated here with a placeholder for more detailed information about Xu Xilin.)