Wu Jingzi Memorial Hall

Wu Jingzi Memorial Hall

The Wu Jingzi Memorial Hall is a national AAA-level tourist attraction, a cultural heritage site of Quanjiao County, and a patriotic education base.

The Wu Jingzi Memorial Hall, a national AAA-level tourist attraction, is located in the northwest corner of Quanjiao County. It was first built in the summer of 1959, originally situated by the Lotus Pond in downtown Quanjiao. After closing in 1964, the site was repurposed. The current hall was rebuilt in October 1984, covering an area of 5,000 square meters with a building area of 1,000 square meters. It includes east and west exhibition halls and an elegant corridor, and officially opened to the public on July 1, 1986. In front of the memorial hall’s main hall stands a 4.5-meter-tall, 500-kilogram bronze statue of Wu Jingzi. The museum houses various editions of *The Scholars* and other works by Wu Jingzi, such as the earliest discovered engraved edition *Woxian Caotang Edition*, the *Zengbu Qishengtang Edition* from the Republican era, as well as *Wenmu Shanzhuang Collection* and *Wenmu Shanzhuang Poetry Discourses*. There is also a reduced-size copy of his seven-character ancient poem *Dedicated to the Painting of Ya Yu Dagong Marching Beyond the Frontier* (the original, approximately 2 meters long and 1 meter wide, is a first-class cultural relic in China, now housed in the Palace Museum in Beijing). The east and west exhibition halls also display research findings on *The Scholars* by scholars from China and abroad, as well as some relics from his former residence, stone carvings, and works by renowned domestic calligraphers and painters.

In the center of the Wu Jingzi Memorial Hall’s passageway stands a massive stone stele. The front of the stele is inscribed with a passage from Lu Xun’s *A Brief History of Chinese Fiction*: “When Wu Jingzi’s *The Scholars* appeared, it upheld impartiality, pointed out the malpractices of the time, and its sharp critique was especially directed at the literati. Its writing is concise yet profound, subtle yet satirical, marking the first truly commendable satirical work in Chinese fiction.” The back of the stele is inscribed with a biography of Wu Jingzi.

The architecture is modeled after the Ming and Qing styles, featuring three halls and two side wings, with carved beams and painted rafters, upturned eaves, and winding corridors. It embodies the elegance of southern gardens and the grandeur of northern ancient architecture. The Wu Jingzi Memorial Hall not only showcases the Wu family’s treasures but also houses calligraphy and inscriptions from scholars, celebrities, and dignitaries, making its collection remarkably rich. There are a total of 36 cultural relics classified as third grade or above at the national level. Since its establishment, the memorial hall has attracted millions of visitors from China and abroad, earning widespread praise for its warm hospitality. The county party committee and government place great importance on the hall’s development, reserving 120 acres of cultural land around the site, which demonstrates promising potential for scenic area expansion and investment attraction.

Wu Jingzi, courtesy name Minxuan, also known in his later years as the Old Man Wenmu, wrote the immortal masterpiece *The Scholars* at the age of 36. This book, hailed by Lu Xun as the progenitor of Qing dynasty satirical novels, has endured for centuries without losing its appeal. To commemorate this historical figure, the Quanjiao County government constructed an elegant, classic, and grand memorial hall on the site of his former residence, Beiji Pavilion. The architecture is styled after the Ming and Qing dynasties, with carved beams, painted rafters, and upturned eaves. Four flagpole stones in front of the gate symbolize the former glory of the Wu family. In the passageway of the hall stands a massive stone stele. The front of the stele is inscribed with a passage from Lu Xun’s *A Brief History of Chinese Fiction*: “When Wu Jingzi’s *The Scholars* appeared, it upheld impartiality, pointed out the malpractices of the time, and its sharp critique was especially directed at the literati. Its writing is concise yet profound, subtle yet satirical, marking the first truly commendable satirical work in Chinese fiction.” The back of the stele is inscribed with a biography of Wu Jingzi. A 7-meter-tall bronze statue of Wu Jingzi in the main hall corridor depicts him holding a scroll, gazing thoughtfully at life’s vast ocean, creating a vivid and lifelike impression. The main hall enshrines a seated statue of Wu Jingzi, and the museum displays various editions of *The Scholars* and *Wenmu Shanzhuang Collection*, as well as Wu family treasures such as “Garden Stone Carvings” and “Mo Yan Manuscripts.” There are also the Wu family genealogy, illustrations from *The Scholars*, a panoramic view of the Wu family residence, calligraphy and paintings by famous Chinese and foreign artists, and more. The memorial hall is surrounded by lush grass and blooming flowers. Both its architectural style and interior exhibitions offer a refreshing experience, leaving visitors reluctant to leave. Since opening to the public in 1986, it has welcomed millions of visitors, including central government leaders, and has received widespread acclaim. The current Quanjiao County government is committed to expanding the site, increasing investment, and plans to develop it into Jingzi Park, adding exhibitions on notable figures in Quanjiao’s history, as well as displays of local tourism products and images. The Quanjiao County Party Committee and government aim to establish the Wu Jingzi Memorial Hall as a research center for *The Scholars* and Wu Jingzi, commemorating the 300th anniversary of Wu Jingzi’s birth to further expand its influence and create a hub for Quanjiao’s international cultural exchange.

Such as the earliest discovered engraved edition *Woxian Caotang Edition*, the *Zengbu Qishengtang Edition* from the Republican era, as well as *Wenmu Shanzhuang Collection* and *Wenmu Shanzhuang Poetry Discourses*, and a reduced-size copy of his seven-character ancient poem *Dedicated to the Painting of Ya Yu Dagong Marching Beyond the Frontier* (the original, approximately 2 meters long and 1 meter wide, is a first-class cultural relic in China, now housed in the Palace Museum in Beijing). The east and west exhibition halls also display research findings on *The Scholars* by scholars from China and abroad, as well as some relics from his former residence, stone carvings, and works by renowned domestic calligraphers and painters.

Wu Jingzi (1701–1754), courtesy name Minxuan, art name Limin, was a Qing dynasty novelist of Han ethnicity from Quanjiao, Anhui. Born in the 40th year of the Kangxi reign (1701) during the Qing dynasty and passing away in the 19th year of the Qianlong reign (1754) at the age of 54, he was exceptionally gifted in his youth, with a remarkable memory. He excelled in *Wen Xuan* (a literary anthology), composing fu poetry with ease. Throughout his life, he produced a large body of poetry, essays, and historical research works, including the 12-volume *Wenmu Shanzhuang Poetry and Prose Collection*, of which four volumes survive. His satirical novel *The Scholars* solidified his distinguished status in the history of Chinese literature, making him one of the greatest novelists of the Qing dynasty.

Biography

… Wu Jingzi’s detailed information++

Xianghe Town: [Geographical Location] Xianghe Town is located by the Xianghe River, covering a total area of 124.6 square kilometers. It borders Shizi Township to the north, Chenqian Township to the east, Wugang Town to the south, and Cao’an Township to the west. The town government is 100 kilometers west of Hefei, 60 kilometers east of Nanjing, and 30 kilometers north of Chuzhou. The area enjoys convenient transportation, with the Beijing-Shanghai Railway nearby to the east, the soon-to-be-opened Nanjing-Xi’an Railway running through the region to the south, and the Chuzhou-Quanjiao Road leading directly to the urban area to the north. National Highway 312 (Shanghai to Yining, Xinjiang) and S206 Highway encircle the town, with stations within the area, along with the “312” Expressway… Xianghe Town detailed information++