Huang Tingjian Memorial Hall

Huang Tingjian Memorial Hall

The Huang Tingjian Memorial Hall is one of Jiangxi Province’s Top Ten Celebrity Memorial Halls and a key cultural relics protection unit in the province. Located in the southern part of Xiushui County, it was built to commemorate Huang Tingjian. Construction began in July 1982, and the hall was completed and opened to the public in November 1985. It is a fully government-funded cultural and museum institution under the county, operating jointly with the county museum under one team and two names, with a staff of seven. All staff members hold at least an associate degree or higher, including one mid-level professional title (cultural relics and museums curator). The site of the hall, Nanshan Cliff, is a provincial-level scenic area, adjacent to the Xiushui River. The towering cliffs stand by the riverside, offering panoramic views from the hilltop and open landscapes at the base. The area is shaded by ancient trees, lush all year round, with pleasant scenery, birdsong, and floral fragrance. It was a place where Huang Tingjian studied and relaxed in his youth. It is known as the “First Mountain on the 700-Li Xiushui River.” The hall’s name was inscribed by the late Zhao Puchu, former Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, former President of the Buddhist Association of China, and renowned calligrapher. Since its establishment, the hall has been directed by Xu Zhenhua, Fu Bohua, Huang Benxiu, and Zhu Yiping. A national commemorative event and academic symposium on Huang Tingjian’s poetry and calligraphy are held every ten years, with three successful events held so far (1985, 1995, 2005).

The hall features a variety of uniquely local-style antique buildings, including a gate tower, Xishan Zizai Building, Shangu Ancestral Hall, Jiuxian Hui Lang (Nine-Turn Corridor), Chengqiu Pavilion, Shunji Pavilion, Guanyun Pavilion, and Yicui Pavilion. There are also notable historical sites such as Shimen (Stone Gate), Longcang Cave (Dragon-Hiding Cave), Lizhi Cliff (Lychee Cliff), Diaoji (Fishing Rock), and cliff inscriptions featuring the character “Fo” (Buddha).

The permanent exhibitions at the hall include stone carvings and steles of Huang Tingjian’s calligraphy, an exhibition on Huang Tingjian’s life and historical legacy, and a display of historical relics from Xiushui. The Huang Tingjian Calligraphy Stele Exhibition is housed in the “Jiuxian Hui Lang,” originally built during the Ming Dynasty and renovated in subsequent dynasties. It displays steles of Huang Tingjian’s calligraphy from various periods and in diverse styles, including notable works such as “At the Temple of Fubo,” “For Qiu Fourteen,” “Ode to Ink Bamboo,” and “Ode to Tea Banquet.” In 1959, it was listed as a key cultural relics protection unit in Jiangxi Province. The Huang Tingjian Life and Legacy Exhibition is divided into seven sections: “Child Prodigy of Shuangjing,” “Early Display of Talent,” “Diligent Governance and Compassionate Rule,” “Literary Exchanges with Su Shi,” “Storms Across the Land,” “Poetry That Opened the West River,” and “Timeless Calligraphy.” These sections provide a systematic and detailed introduction to Huang Tingjian’s life, literary and calligraphic achievements, and influence. The Xiushui Historical Relics Exhibition presents the county’s thousands of years of history—from the Shanbei Culture of the late Neolithic Age to the Republican Era—through numerous specimens and artifacts, showcasing Xiushui’s rich historical and cultural heritage.

The hall houses a rich collection of over 3,000 cultural relics and specimens (including fragments), including three national first-class relics, 12 second-class relics, 64 third-class relics, and more than 500 general relics. To strengthen the management of the site and relics, electronic surveillance facilities have been installed.

To promote and preserve historical culture, highlight the influence of celebrities, build a distinctive brand, and enhance the overall image of the Huang Tingjian Memorial Hall, the Xiushui County Party Committee and County Government have decided to invest 80 million yuan to renovate the surrounding environment, improve infrastructure, and expand the scale of the memorial hall, with the expanded site covering an area of 45.29 mu. On May 26, 2008, the County People's Congress Standing Committee reviewed and approved the new site planning scheme. The site will prominently feature “Huang Tingjian” culture and Xiushui’s historical culture, while the surrounding area will be developed into a historic and cultural district with local Xiushui characteristics, making it a base for inheriting celebrity culture, historical culture, and promoting patriotic education.

Attraction Location

Xiushui County, Jiujiang City, Jiangxi Province, China, Rural Road 295

Huang Tingjian (1045–1105) was a poet and calligrapher of the Northern Song Dynasty. His courtesy name was Ludao, and his art names were Shangu and Foweng. He was a native of Fenning in Hongzhou (present-day Xiushui, Jiangxi).

His father, Huang Shu, was a poet who specialized in studying Du Fu, and his uncle, Li Chang, was a bibliophile. Huang Tingjian was studious from a young age and widely read in the classics and various schools of thought. In the fourth year of Emperor Yingzong’s Zhiping era (1067), he passed the imperial examination and earned a jinshi degree. During the Xining era of Emperor Shenzong’s reign, Huang Tingjian successively served as a magistrate in Ye County, Ruzhou (now part of Henan), and as a professor at the Imperial College in Beijing (now Daming, Hebei). In the third year of the Yuanyou era (1080), he was appointed as the magistrate of Taihe County, Jizhou (now part of Jiangxi), where he implemented clear, simple, and lenient governance. In the seventh year, he was transferred to... More details about Huang Tingjian++

Further Reading:

· National Second-Class Museum of China