Hu Kaiwen Memorial Hall

Hu Kaiwen Memorial Hall

Hu Kaiwen, styled Zhuchen and known as Zaifeng, was a renowned Huizhou merchant, an expert in ink production, and the founder of the "Hu Kaiwen" ink business. A master ink maker during the Qianlong era of the Qing Dynasty, he was a native of Jixi County in Huizhou. Having studied under Wang Qimao from Xiuning, Huizhou, he became a rising talent among the Xiuning school of ink craftsmen. He first opened “Hu Kaiwen Ink Shops” in Xiuning and Tunxi, and by the 1930s, the Hu Kaiwen brand had experienced rapid growth. In addition to the Hu Kaiwen Ink Shop in Xiuning and the original Hu Kaiwen Old Shop in Tunxi, branches or new stores were established successively in She County, Yangzhou, Hangzhou, Shanghai, Hankou, Changsha, Jiujiang, Anqing, Nanjing, and other locations. Its business scope covered nearly all parts of China, marking a period when the Huizhou ink industry was dominated by the Hu Kaiwen brand. Later generations continued to use this time-honored brand name.

The Hu Kaiwen Memorial Hall is located by the Shuitian Canal at the mouth of Shangzhuang Village. Covering an area of over 400 square meters, the site was originally the ancestral home of Hu Hengde, the eldest descendant of Hu Kaiwen, and is a well-preserved example of the traditional "tongzhuanlou" (pervasive corridor-style) ancient architecture. The hall houses a rich collection of exhibits. The display area features six large glass cabinets along the walls and a large glass table in the center. These displays include replicas of various famous inks originally created by the Hu Kaiwen family, such as the Li Longzhu (Pearl of the Black Dragon), Gu Yumei (Ancient Jade Mint), Qianqiu Guang (Thousand-Year Radiance), Babao Yaomo (Eight-Treasure Medicinal Ink), Longxiang Fengwu (Dragon Soaring Phoenix Dancing), Portrait of Confucius, Portrait of Maitreya, Celestial Maidens Scattering Flowers, Maiden Ma’s Image, Ten Great Immortals, Large and Small Golden Turtles, Golden Cicadas, Ink Treasure Pots, the “Sixty-Four Scenes of the Imperial Garden,” the “Thirty-Six Peaks of Huangshan,” the “West Lake Scenic Poetry Paintings,” the “Cotton Paintings,” the “Twelve Zodiac Poetry Paintings,” and the “Earth Ink” — which won the gold medal at the Panama International Exposition. Also displayed are copies of its award certificates, medals, and photographs. Additionally, there is a rare and unique complete set of the Mo Sou (Ink Compendium) in the region of Anhui — an imperial ink recipe collection by the Four Great Masters of Ink Making in the Qing Dynasty — which has been bound in thread-sewn volumes and housed in the hall. The former residence of Hu Kaiwen is located on the eastern edge of Shangzhuang Village. It was the first residence in Jixi built using reinforced concrete materials, combining both Chinese and Western architectural elements. Its structure and decoration are highly harmonious — an impressive feat at a time when highways had not yet been built, and the materials had to be transported manually or by animal power from Shanghai into the deep mountainous region. The residence consists of three bays, with the main gate facing east. The lintel is adorned with brick carvings, above which hangs a plaque. The top of the plaque is pointed, while the lower part forms a hollow circle, symbolizing “zero’s breakthrough” — piercing the firmament. Though the house appears worn, traces of its former prosperity remain.

The Hu Kaiwen Memorial Hall was established by Hu Engao, the 7th-generation direct descendant of Hu Kaiwen and an 82-year-old elder. The six large running-cursive calligraphy characters reading “Hu Kaiwen Memorial Hall” were inscribed personally by Shen Peng, Chairman of the Chinese Calligraphers Association, and delivered via intermediary by [a comrade]. The hall boasts an extremely rich collection, including famous inks originally created by Hu Kaiwen, such as the Li Longzhu, Gu Yumei, Qianqiu Guang, Longxiang Fengwu, “Sixty-Four Scenes of the Imperial Garden,” “Thirty-Six Peaks of Huangshan,” “Ancient Lake Scenic Poetry,” “Cotton Garden,” “Ten Great Immortals,” “Twelve Zodiac Poetry Garden,” and the “Earth Ink” — which won the gold medal at the Panama International Exposition — as well as copies of its award certificate, medals, and related photographs. Additionally, a rare and sole surviving complete set of the Mo Shu (Ink Collection) in Anhui (i.e., the imperial ink recipe collection by the Four Great Masters of Ink Making in the Qing Dynasty) has been reproduced in thread-sewn format and housed in the hall. Also displayed are reproductions of the Huizhou Ink Annals, Huizhou Annals, county annals of various regions, and relevant sections of the Mingjing Hu Clan Genealogy.

“Hu Kaiwen” (1742–1808), the founder of the ink business, was Hu Tianzhu, styled Zhuchen and known as Zaifeng. He was one of the Four Great Masters of Huizhou Ink during the Qing Dynasty and a native of Shangzhuang Village, Jixi, Huizhou. As a youth, he apprenticed at the ink shop of Wang Qimao in Xiuning, Huizhou. Honest, diligent, and skilled in shop management, he earned the deep trust of his employer and was promoted to a sales position. Enduring many hardships while traveling to ports and commercial hubs, he saved funds to establish his own business. Later, he married Wang Qimao’s only daughter. In the 30th year of the Qianlong reign (1765), he took over the Wang Qimao Ink Shop. To produce high-quality ink, he selected the finest old ink molds, invested heavily in premium raw materials, and hired skilled... [Hu Kaiwen detailed information++]