Former Residence of Cheng Dawei

Former Residence of Cheng Dawei

The former residence of Cheng Dawei is a national key cultural relics protection unit.

The former residence of Cheng Dawei is located in Qianyuan Village in the city. Originally built during the Hongzhi era of the Ming Dynasty, it has a history of 490 years. After several restorations to preserve its original structure, it has been opened as a tourist attraction and is now a provincial-level cultural heritage site. Cheng Dawei (1533–1606), courtesy name Ruen, also known as Binqu, was a native of Qianyuan Village, Tunghuang Town, Tunxi District. He was a famous mathematician and the inventor of the abacus in the Ming Dynasty. The residence is situated in Shukou Qudong, Tunxi District, covering an area of 540 square meters, and was built during the Zhengde era of the Ming Dynasty. The main building of the residence faces south and features three bays with two courtyards (commonly referred to as “one ridge, two halls”), is two stories high, and constructed with brick and wood. The entrance gate has overhanging eaves both inside and out, with curved beams, bracket sets, and horse-head shaped gables. To the west is the Bazu Building, consisting of five bays, built adjacent to the main residence. At the entrance, a garden called “Bin Garden” was created following the terrain, featuring classical-style corridors, lawns, and flower beds. Originally, there was an artificial water channel near Bin Garden, which local descendants of the Cheng family referred to as the “Bin Public Channel.” The courtesy name “Binqu” is derived from this.

The residence is two stories high, with one ridge, two sections, and three bays, flanked by east and west wing rooms, covering a construction area of over 500 square meters. The front hall serves as a sitting room, displaying a portrait of Cheng Dawei and hanging hexagonal palace lanterns. A plaque inscribed with the name of Cheng Dawei’s Former Residence, hanging from the beam, was inscribed by the renowned mathematician Professor Su Buqing. The side rooms were used as living quarters for Cheng Dawei and his family. The upstairs hall displays various types of abacuses from ancient to modern times, both domestic and foreign, along with Cheng Dawei’s works, the genealogy of the Cheng family, and various materials and images related to bead arithmetic. Among the many exhibits, the most eye-catching are the abacuses of diverse shapes, the largest having 81 rods and measuring 1.75 meters in length, while the smallest is a ring-sized abacus just 2 centimeters long. These pieces hold significant ornamental and cultural value. To the west of the residence is Bin Garden, named after Cheng Dawei’s courtesy name Binqu. The garden features classical-style corridors, small streams, plants, and rocks, creating an elegant and tranquil scenery. The walls and windows are adorned with abacus patterns, which are distinctive and reflect the identity of the residence's owner as the master of bead arithmetic. The design is ingeniously conceived.

In 1986, to commemorate the 380th anniversary of Cheng Dawei’s death, the residence underwent comprehensive renovations. The China Abacus Association held commemorative events and academic seminars here. It also hosted a 19-member delegation from the Japanese Abacus History Research Society, known as the “Cheng Dawei 380th Death Anniversary Sino-Japanese Friendship Hometown Visit Group.” The ground floor of the residence houses a memorial hall, with the west room of the front hall serving as the original living quarters of Cheng Dawei, furnished with wooden beds, tables, chairs, mosquito nets, and bedding. On the table in the hall stands a lacquered carving of Cheng Dawei, while the walls on either side display ten paintings depicting scenes from his life, such as “Teacher and Student Dialogue,” “Travels Through Wu and Chu,” “Measuring with a Step Chariot,” and “Strategizing at Shukou.” The back hall contains photos and inscriptions from notable individuals. The central room on the upper floor displays Cheng Dawei’s influential work, "The Comprehensive Compendium of Algorithms," along with related classics and examples of various Chinese abacuses. The residence is now a key cultural heritage site of Anhui Province.

Protected Area: One meter outside the surrounding wall of the residence on the east, south, west, and north sides (including the entire complex of the Former Residence of Cheng Dawei, the Ancestral Worship Building, and Bin Garden).

Construction Control Zone: Extending 15 meters east, 40 meters south, to the west bank of Bin Channel on the west, and 15 meters north of the protected area.

Cheng Dawei (1533–1606), courtesy name Rusi, also known as Binqu, was a native of Shukou, Xiuning. Born into a merchant family, he developed a love for learning in his youth, reading extensively and showing a strong interest in calligraphy and mathematics. Starting at the age of twenty, he engaged in business in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, traveling through Wu and Chu. Due to the need for calculations in commerce, he paid close attention to mathematics and sought out renowned mathematicians and folk abacus experts. He also collected numerous books and studied them diligently, gaining insights along the way. Around the age of forty, he returned to his hometown of Shukou, where he dedicated himself to research. Combining the theories of various schools with his own insights, he completed his masterpiece, "The Direct Guide to the Comprehensive Compendium of Algorithms," at the age of sixty. … More details about Cheng Dawei ++

Tunghuang Town: Tunghuang Town is located at the eastern gateway of Huangshan City’s urban center, Tunxi. It governs 17 village committees, with a current population of 18,000 and covers an area of 42 square kilometers. The municipal Party committee and government buildings, the city’s long-distance bus station, and the train station are all located within the town. National Highway 205, the Wan-Gan Railway, and the scenic Xin’an River run through the town. Dominating the town are Huangshan City’s largest modern leisure plaza – Century Plaza, the most advanced sports facilities – the Municipal Stadium, and modern broadcasting and television facilities – the Municipal Radio and Television Center. Together with Gufen Avenue, they form the magnificent urban development landscape of Huangshan City in recent years.

… More details about Tunghuang Town ++

Further Reading:

· Seventh Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units