Former Residence of the First Imperial Examination Top Scorer in Changtai

Former Residence of the First Imperial Examination Top Scorer in Changtai

The former residence of the first imperial examination top scorer in Changtai is a cultural tourism attraction.

The former residence of the first imperial examination top scorer in Changtai is located in Xicuo Community, Xuemei Village, Chenxiang Town. Originally built during the Northern Song Dynasty, it faces east and covers a construction area of approximately 400 square meters. It features a single-eave flush-gable roof, and is constructed with stone, brick, and wood. The structure consists of an entrance hall, a central courtyard, side corridors, and a main hall. The beams of the entrance hall are inlaid with carved wooden lion reliefs. According to the *Changtai County Annals*: “Yang Lingwen was the top scorer (first class, first place) in the 992 imperial examination under the Sun He list during the third year of the Chunhua era of the Song Dynasty, and also the first person from our county to achieve such success in the imperial examinations. After passing the exam, he served as Vice Director of the Bureau of Military Affairs. During the Xianping and Jingde eras of Emperor Zhenzong’s reign, when northern invaders threatened the borders, he was appointed as a Defense Commissioner and was honored with three imperial edicts of praise. In the early years of Emperor Renzong’s Tian Sheng era, he was demoted to live in Zhang by imperial decree and settled in Taotangyang (Xuemei Village), where he built this residence.” This former residence has remained largely intact to this day and was designated as the fourth batch of county-level cultural relics protection units in our county in July 1996.