Former Residence of He Wenqing

Former Residence of He Wenqing

The Former Residence of He Wenqing is a Zhejiang Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

Former Residence of He Wenqing (Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Unit)

Era: Modern

Listed: March 11, 1963

Located in Quanfan Village No. 2, Zhaojia Town. He Wenqing (1812–1863), courtesy name Zhongzhong, was a student of the Imperial College and a native of Quanfan, Zhaojia, Zhuji. He was the leader of the Lotus Party peasant uprising in Zhuji and an important general in the later stages of the Taiping Rebellion. He Wenqing “had knowledge of surgery and martial arts, and was brave in upholding justice.” He connected with local tenant farmers in Zhuji as well as neighboring counties such as Shaoxing, Xinchang, and Shengxian, organizing the Lotus Party. Members were identified by wearing a tin lotus leaf holding a single lotus flower. In the autumn of 1861, during the 11th year of the Xianfeng reign of the Qing Dynasty, when the Taiping forces under the command of Prince Shi Li Xiuying entered Jinhua, He Wenqing led the Lotus Party in rebellion and joined the Taiping Army. They successively captured Zhuji, Pujiang, Shengxian, Shangyu, Yuyao, Cixi, and Zhenhai. He also sent his eldest son, He Songquan, to lead troops into Xinchang and capture Tiantai and other areas, making them a key force for the Taiping Army in eastern Zhejiang. For his contributions, He Wenqing was granted the title “Zhi Tian Yan” and later promoted to “Zhi Tian Yi,” and was stationed to defend Zhenhai. In the first year of the Tongzhi reign (1862), during the battle defending Cixi, he killed Frederick Townsend Ward, the leader of the Ever Victorious Army. He Wenqing passed away in 1863 while on his way to Linpu in Xiaoshan due to illness. The residence is a two-story building constructed of brick and wood. Originally, it had seven bays, but the side, end, and rear bays on the north side were destroyed in an early fire. Currently, only four bays on the ground and upper floors remain. There is an auxiliary structure on the west side, built with a post-and-lintel structure and double-eave gable and hip walls, with a flush-gable roof. The total area is 240 square meters. The building underwent two restorations in 1982 and 1985.

Source: Zhejiang Cultural Relics Website

Further Reading:

· Second Batch of Zhejiang Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units