Former Residence of Hua Shikui

Former Residence of Hua Shikui

The former residence of Hua Shikui is situated at No. 3 Beian Road, Hebei District. Constructed in the late Qing Dynasty and early Republican era, it was originally within the Italian Concession, with a total floor area of 448.16 square meters. The building is a two-story house with a basement, built from brick and wood, featuring a pitched tiled roof with dormers and skylights. It was one of the 16 peaked-roof structures in the former Italian Concession, characterized by its corrugated metal roofing and an imposing architectural presence. Currently, the exterior of the building remains largely intact. Plans are underway to restore and develop the site through a step-by-step application and project approval process, combining government funding with public fundraising. This former residence has been listed as an immovable cultural relic in Tianjin that has not yet been officially designated as a protected historical site.

Hua Shikui (1863–1942) was a renowned calligrapher in modern Tianjin. His courtesy name was Qichen, and his art names were Bichen and Si?. Originally from Wuxi, Jiangsu Province, he later moved to Tianjin. Born in 1864 in the Dongmenli area of the old walled city of Tianjin, he was of Han ethnicity and was considered one of the “Eight Great Families” of Tianjin. Thanks to his wealthy family background, his home often hosted gatherings of scholars and literati for poetry recitals and literary discussions.

He passed the imperial examination for xiucai (a scholar) at the age of 16, and became a juren (a presented scholar) at 19. After passing the examination for a position in the Grand Secretariat, he was recommended for promotion to the Grand Council (Junji Chu), eventually rising to the rank of leading zhangjing. After the fall of the Qing Dynasty in 1911, he served in various official capacities for many years. While managing civil affairs, he held significant influence. “One of the Eight Calligraphers of Tianjin” — More details about Hua Shikui ++