Zhu Shunshui Memorial Hall

Zhu Shunshui Memorial Hall

Zhu Shunshui Memorial Hall is a cultural relic protection unit of Yuyao City.

Zhu Shunshui Memorial Hall is located at the southern foot of Longquan Mountain, built along the slope of the hill. Originally the ancestral hall of the “Third Branch” of the Yao family, it is a structure from the Qing Dynasty. Mr. Zhu Shunshui was a descendant of this branch. The front gate faces west, with a plaque reading “Zhu Shunshui Memorial Hall” hanging above it. Inside are three sections of buildings in sequence: the entrance hall, the main hall, and the rear hall, all facing south and built along the mountain slope, rising step by step. The entrance hall is a two-story, five-bay building. The central bay on the first floor serves as the main gate, above which hangs a plaque inscribed with “Chongxiao Ancestral Hall,” the original name of the Yao family’s Third Branch ancestral hall.

Passing through the entrance hall and climbing a steep flight of stone steps, you will reach the second section — the main hall. The main hall is a five-bay single-story building. As you look up, you’ll see a large plaque inscribed with the four characters “Shengguo Binshi” (Guest Teacher of a Fallen Dynasty), an honorary title bestowed upon Mr. Zhu Shunshui by Japanese scholars. This area was originally the main ancestral worship hall and has now been converted into an exhibition space showcasing historical materials related to Zhu Shunshui. It displays a wealth of documents, maps, and photos of his heritage sites in both Yuyao and Japan, as well as cultural relics such as portraits, calligraphy, and books gifted by Japanese friends in tribute to him. The rear hall, originally called “Fengxian Lou” (Ancestral Worship Tower), was used to enshrine ancestral tablets.

The entire ancestral hall features a simple yet orderly structure and exudes a grand presence, exemplifying the typical architectural style of ancestral halls in eastern Zhejiang during the Qing Dynasty.

Zhu Shunshui (1600–1682), whose given name was Zhiyu, courtesy name Luyu, and alias Shunshui, was born in Yuyao city. He was a renowned scholar, a pioneer in cultural exchanges between China and Japan, and honored as the “Confucius of Japan.” Seeing no hope in resisting the Qing and restoring the Ming, and unwilling to submit to Qing rule, Zhu Shunshui spent over twenty years in Japan, where he lectured until his death. His virtue and scholarship earned him great respect from Japanese scholars, who revered him as the “Guest Teacher of a Fallen Dynasty.” He not only spread traditional Chinese culture but also introduced China’s advanced architecture, agriculture, and craftsmanship to Japan. The “Kōshū School,” based on “Shunshui Studies,” greatly influenced the Meiji Restoration and made significant contributions to Japan’s social progress and prosperity.

Zhu Shunshui Memorial Hall was designated as a municipal-level cultural relic protection unit by the People’s Government of Yuyao City on March 19, 1997.