Xia Mansion

Xia Mansion

Xia Mansion, located adjacent to Yuncheng County No. 1 Middle School, was the residence of Xia Xinyou and Xia Pushai. Originally dilapidated and abandoned, it has been restored and renovated under the leadership of the Yuncheng County Government, which also collected a number of Buddhist scriptures and other exhibits.

Xia Xinyou (1843–1908), courtesy names Shaogxiang and Gengtang, was a native of Xiazhuang in Yuncheng County. In the seventh year of the Tongzhi era (1868) of the Qing Dynasty, he enlisted in the army under Zuo Zongtang and was stationed in Shaanxi, where he distinguished himself in battle and was promoted to defender. In the thirteenth year of the Tongzhi era (1874), Tsarist Russia, aiming to invade China, deliberately incited rebellions among ethnic minorities in Xinjiang. Xia Xinyou was ordered to suppress the unrest, successively capturing cities such as Urumqi and Manas. He was recommended for promotion to garrison commander, awarded a peacock feather, and granted the right to wear a yellow mandarin jacket. In the summer of the third year of the Guangxu era (1877), he pacified southern Xinjiang. In the fourth year of the Guangxu era (1878), Liu Jintang, Governor of Xinjiang, petitioned for him to lead a spear unit and engage in battles at places like Altusheshi, achieving victory. He was again recommended for promotion to garrison commander and bestowed the first-rank official hat, along with hereditary first-rank honors for three generations. After six years of military campaigns, he quelled the unrest in Xinjiang.

In the twentieth year of the Guangxu era (1894), the First Sino-Japanese War broke out. Li Bingheng, Governor of Shandong, assigned him to defend Dengzhou and serve as the naval commander. Xia Xinyou maintained strict defenses and sank two Japanese warships during the conflict, causing the remaining Japanese forces to flee. The emperor was pleased and appointed him Commander of Yanzhou Garrison. He was soon transferred to be Commander of Dengzhou Garrison. In the twenty-sixth year of the Guangxu era (1900), when the Eight-Nation Alliance (including Britain, France, Germany, and Russia) invaded China, Xia Xinyou led troops to defend the capital. After the fall of Beijing, he returned to protect Shandong, preventing the Alliance from entering the province. Following the peace negotiations between the Alliance and the Qing government, he was promoted to Governor-General of Yunnan. Upon the recommendation of Yuan Shikai, Governor-General of Zhili, he remained in Zhili to command the standing army and assist in managing the Beiyang Viceroy’s Office. In the thirty-third year of the Guangxu era (1907), he was ordered to guard Caozhou. Later, he commanded troops stationed along the Yangtze River, overseeing the defense of seven provinces in the region and assisting in managing the Nanyang Viceroy’s Office. Before taking up the post, he fell ill and died at his camp in Juye. The emperor granted 1,000 taels of silver for his funeral, and his remains were transported back to Yuncheng.

Xia Jiquan, courtesy name Pushai, art name Quyuan, also used the name Xia Quan while in Japan but later changed his name to Lianju and adopted the art name Yiweng. A native of Yuncheng, Shandong, he was the eldest son of Xia Xinyou, who was posthumously honored as the “Zhuangwu Duke” and served as Governor-General of Yunnan during the late Qing Dynasty. Born on March 20, 1884 (the 23rd day of the second month in the year of Jiashen), in Yutian (now known as Yutian), Xinjiang, he spent his later years in Beijing. He passed away peacefully on December 14, 1965 (the 22nd day of the 11th month in the year of Yisi) at the age of 82 without any illness.

He held official positions including Prefect of Zhili, Magistrate of Jinghai, Prefect of Jiangsu, and Deputy Commander of the Shandong Militia. During the Xinhai Revolution, he was elected as President of the Shandong Federation of All Circles, declaring Shandong’s independence. After the establishment of the Republic of China, he was appointed as Supreme Advisor to the Shandong Military Government, as well as Secretary-General and Chief of Staff. In 1916, he was appointed as an imperial secretary. In 1918, he was elected as a member of the National Assembly and served as Supervisor of the Qilu Gold, Stone, Calligraphy, and Painting Museum, as well as Director of the Shandong Buddhist Laymen’s Forest. In 1920, he became Salt Transport Commissioner of Shandong, completely eradicating years of malpractice in the salt administration, earning widespread praise from the public. In 1921, he resigned to prepare for the founding of Qufu University and concurrently served as Principal of Donglu School. In 1925, in Jinan, Xia Lianju met the Japanese Buddhist Kenji Kanda, and followed him to Japan to study Buddhism intensively. By the end of 1938, Xia Lianju, together with the 9th Panchen Lama, Minister of the Interior Wang Zhitan, and Monk Xianming, co-initiated the Buddhist Common Aspiration Association, aiming to unite different Buddhist sects in shared aspirations and prayers to eliminate karmic obstacles, invoke harmony, and prevent war. In 1939, initiated by Xia Lianju and co-founded with Retired Monk Xianming of Guangji Temple and lay Buddhist Jin Yunpeng, the Pure Land Sect Society was established, with the birthday of Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva designated as its founding anniversary. The organization operated as an equal, voluntary group of monastics and laypeople without formal institutions, conducting study and practice activities under the principles of popularizing Buddhism, spiritualizing faith, and integrating Buddhist teachings into daily life. Later, to express his patriotism, he donated over 300 pieces of precious historical artifacts, meticulously collected and preserved through frugal living, to the Palace Museum, Shandong Museum, and Yuncheng County. These donations were reported in newspapers such as Guangming Daily and Masses Daily. Beyond scholarship, he was also skilled in epigraphy, calligraphy, painting, cultural relics archaeology, and possessed an extensive collection with refined connoisseurship. His understanding of the historical and artistic value of cultural relics transcended ordinary commercial perspectives, thus exerting considerable influence in the field of cultural relics.

Xia Xinyou (1843–1908), courtesy names Shaogxiang and Gengtang, was a native of Xiazhuang in Yuncheng County. In the early years of the Tongzhi era, he joined Senggelinqin in suppressing the Nian Rebellion. In 1868 (the seventh year of Tongzhi), he enlisted under Zuo Zongtang, was stationed in Shaanxi, and was promoted to defender for his military achievements. In 1874 (the thirteenth year of Tongzhi), Tsarist Russia, seeking to undermine China, instigated unrest among separatist elements among Xinjiang's ethnic minorities. Xia Xinyou was ordered to suppress the rebellion, successively capturing cities such as Urumqi. For his role in pacifying Xinjiang, he was promoted to provisional garrison commander, awarded the first-rank official hat, and granted hereditary first-rank honors for three generations, as well as the right to wear a yellow mandarin jacket. In 1894 (the twenty... More details about Xia Xinyou ++

Xia Jiquan, courtesy name Pushai, art name Quyuan, also used the name Xia Quan while in Japan but later changed his name to Lianju and adopted the art name Yiweng. A native of Yuncheng, Shandong, he was the eldest son of Xia Xinyou, who was posthumously honored as the “Zhuangwu Duke” and served as Governor-General of Yunnan during the late Qing Dynasty. Born on March 20, 1884 (the 23rd day of the second month in the year of Jiashen), in Yutian (now known as Yutian), Xinjiang, he spent his later years in Beijing. He passed away peacefully on December 14, 1965 (the 22nd day of the 11th month in the year of Yisi) at the age of 82.

He held official positions including Prefect of Zhili, Magistrate of Jinghai, Prefect of Jiangsu, and Deputy Commander of the Shandong Militia. During the Xinhai Revolution, he was elected as President of the Shandong Federation of All Circles, and... More details about Xia Jiquan ++