Qinghui Jiaqi Tower

Qinghui Jiaqi Tower

Qinghui Jiaqi Tower is a cultural relic protection unit of Yuyao City.

Qinghui Jiaqi Tower is located at No. 82 Wushengmen Road in Yuyao Town. It was the former residence of Ni Zongzheng, who served as the Minister of Rites during the Ming Dynasty. The name is derived from Tao Yuanming’s line “The mountain air is fine day and night” and Xie Lingyun’s verse “The landscape holds the clear glow of light and shade.”

Ni Zongzheng, courtesy name Benduan and art name Xiaoye, passed the imperial examination and became a Jinshi in the 18th year of the Hongzhi reign. He was selected as a Shujishi (junior compiler) in the Hanlin Academy. He eventually rose to the position of Deputy Director of the Military Appointments Department before being transferred to serve as Prefect of Nanxiong in Guangdong. He achieved notable political accomplishments and was posthumously awarded the title of Scholar and granted the posthumous name Wen Zhong. Throughout his life, he excelled in poetry and calligraphy. Wang Yangming once praised his literary works as being close in quality to those of Tao Yuanming and Du Fu. Ni Zongzheng left behind numerous writings, including The Chronicle of Xie Wenzheng, Collected Explanations on the Book of Changes, Collection of Xiaoye, Collection of Sea Views, Collection of Taicang, and Collection of Tuwu.

Qinghui Jiaqi Tower faces south and features a flush-gable double-eave roof. It has a total width of 9 meters, divided into three bays, and a depth of 10.22 meters. The central bay uses a post-and-lintel beam frame structure supported by nine purlins and five columns. The building uses relatively small materials but retains an overall intact structure, although some components are significantly damaged or rotten. The remaining wooden plaque inscribed with “Qinghui Jiaqi Tower” is said to have been written and gifted by Wang Yangming. In the courtyard in front of the tower stands a stele engraved with: “In the third year of the Wanli era of the Ming Dynasty, this is the hometown of Ni Wenjie, Minister of Rites. Established by Li Shilì, Magistrate of Yuyao County.”

According to the “Records of Antiquities” section of the Guangxu-era Yuyao County Annals, Xie Qian, Feng Lan, and Wang Shouren once composed poems in praise of Qinghui Jiaqi Tower. Wang Shouren wrote: “Generations of virtue spread across the southern lands, the place touches Penglai near the Dipper and Ox. Your lofty spirit rivals that of the hundred-foot-tall Yuanlong, your literary prowess rivals Sima’s for a thousand autumns. Foreseeing success, you rose early in court and earned great fame; before old age, you cast aside official rank and won widespread respect. For thirty years our paths aligned, Qinghui Tower faces Ruiyun Tower.”

On March 19, 1997, Qinghui Jiaqi Tower was designated as a municipal-level cultural relic protection unit by the People’s Government of Yuyao City.