Former Residence of Zhou Yichun

Former Residence of Zhou Yichun

The former residence of Zhou Yichun is a cultural relic protection unit of Anhui Province.

The former residence of Zhou Yichun is located in Xiuning County, Huangshan City, dating back to the late Qing Dynasty.

Zhou Yichun, courtesy name Jimei, was of Han ethnicity, originally from Xiuning, Anhui. He was born in Hankou, Hubei in December 1883. In 1904, he graduated from St. John’s University in Shanghai, then went to the United States to study education and psychology at universities such as the University of Wisconsin and Yale. He earned a master's degree in 1909 and returned to China. In 1911, he took the imperial examination for overseas students held by the Qing government (equivalent to the metropolitan examination in the imperial examination system), was awarded the title of Jinshi (successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations), and was appointed a Hanlin academician (this particular group of Hanlin scholars was referred to at the time as “foreign Hanlin”). He then served as a psychology and philosophy instructor at Fudan Public School in Shanghai. He also participated in the compilation of China’s first English-Chinese dictionary, edited by Yan Huiqing. In 1912, he became Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Nanjing Provisional Government and also served as English secretary to Dr. Sun Yat-sen.

On October 10, 1911, the Xinhai Revolution broke out. Classes were suspended starting November 9. In April 1912, the Beijing government’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs appointed Tang Guoan as the supervisor of Tsinghua College, and Zhou Yichun was hired as the academic dean. On May 1, Tsinghua College reopened. In October, in accordance with the Ministry of Education’s Provisional Measures for General Education, the term “college” was changed to “school,” and “supervisor” was changed to “principal.” Tang Guoan became the principal of Tsinghua School, while Zhou Yichun served as vice principal.

In August 1913, Tang Guoan wrote to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, recommending Zhou Yichun as his successor as principal of Tsinghua School, citing his own deteriorating health as “progressively worsening and likely terminal. The position of principal is too important to remain vacant for even a day.” He praised Zhou Yichun as “experienced and capable, with excellent knowledge and learning. Since becoming vice principal, he has worked diligently and taken on all responsibilities without complaint. Although I am ill, this vice principal has managed everything exceptionally well. If promoted to principal, he will surely be competent and successful.” After Tang Guoan passed away, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs appointed Zhou Yichun as the second principal of Tsinghua School. On October 27, Zhou Yichun assumed the office of principal, serving until his resignation in January 1918 — a tenure of four years and five months.

In 2012, the former residence of Zhou Yichun was designated as part of the seventh batch of provincial-level cultural relic protection units by the People’s Government of Anhui Province.

Protected area: 3 meters outside the wall foundation on the east, south, west, and north sides.

Construction control zone: 15 meters outside the protected area on the east, south, west, and north sides.

Zhou Yichun (1883–1958), also known as Yichun, courtesy name Jimei, was a native of Zhouchun Village in the northern part of Xiuning County. He was born in Hankou in the ninth year of the Guangxu reign (1883) during the Qing Dynasty and was an educator during the Republic of China era.

His father, Zhou Yuxiu, was engaged in the Huizhou tea trade and had established the Taichangyuan Tea House in Tianjin, which was quite sizable. He was a far-sighted national capitalist. Given the internal and external turmoil facing the nation at the time, he was determined to raise his only son to become accomplished and specially hired tutors to teach him English. Around the time of the Boxer Rebellion, Zhou Yichun was admitted to St. John’s College, founded by American missionaries in Shanghai. He excelled both academically and in conduct, earning the praise of teachers such as Yan Huiqing and the college... More details about Zhou Yichun ++