Xing Tong Memorial Hall

Xing Tong Memorial Hall

Xing Tong Memorial Hall is a national AA-level tourist attraction.

The Xing Tong Memorial Hall was first built in 1986 to commemorate Xing Ziyuan, a renowned calligrapher and litterateur of the Ming Dynasty in China. Located northeast of Linyi County and at the center of Xing Tong Park, the memorial hall features an architectural style modeled after Ming Dynasty brick-and-wood structures. It boasts blue bricks, gray tiles, painted beams, and colorful columns. The main ridge is adorned with chiwei (mythical animal ornaments) at both ends, while the hips and ridges are lined with vertical beasts. The eaves are fitted with round roof tiles, and beneath them, golden dragons crouch under the beams, while jade beasts squat beside the doors. The main hall consists of five bays, the east and west wing rooms each have three bays, and the entrance hall has three bays. Twenty-six corridors connect the entrance hall, wing rooms, and main hall, forming a seamless and naturally integrated design reminiscent of a string of beads.

In 2000, the Linyi County Committee invested nearly one million yuan to hire Dalian Ancient Architecture and Gardens Company to carry out large-scale renovations on the Xing Tong Memorial Hall. All the blue tiles and ridge ornaments were replaced, all the roof boards were removed and replaced with new Korean pine wood planks, and waterproofing treatment using four layers of oil and three layers of adhesive was applied. All carved beams and painted columns were repainted, giving the Xing Tong Memorial Hall a completely renewed appearance.

The plaque above the main hall’s lintel bears the five gilded characters “Xing Tong Memorial Hall,” inscribed by Mr. Qi Gong. On the pillars on either side of the entrance hall are couplets written in seal script by Mr. Zhang Heyun, quoting the praise of Mo Shuchun, the Linyi County magistrate of the Qing Dynasty: “Reviving literature that had declined for eight generations, his achievements match those of Han Yu; shouldering the weight of commendation from four recommendations, his influence transformed the south of the Yangtze.” Facing you in the main hall is a half-length bronze statue of Mr. Xing Ziyuan, and on the walls hang the four gold-plated characters “Confucian Exemplar,” inscribed by Mr. Wei Qihou.

The exhibits in the main hall are divided into four parts: stone carvings of the *Laiqin Pavilion Collection* primarily engraved by Xing Tong; wooden engravings of the *Zhi Shi Ji Collection* mainly engraved by Xing Cijing; rubbings of the *True Traces of the Laiqin Pavilion* and other engravings from the Ming and Qing Dynasties, mainly engraved by Wang Qia; as well as other stone carvings. The *Laiqin Pavilion Collection* consists of eight sets and nineteen stone tablets, including *Double-Hook Copy of the Seventeen Classics*, *Chengqing Hall Collection*, three versions of the *Orchid Pavilion Preface*, *Ode to the Expedition*, *Yellow Court Scripture*, *Record of the Elegant Gathering in the Western Garden*, *Ink Bamboo Painting*, and *Zhi Shi Ji Collection*. The latter includes seven pear wood engravings with both double-sided and single-sided inscriptions, covering *Orchid Pavilion Preface in Zhilan Chamber*, *Non-Non Grass in Zhilan Chamber*, and *True Traces of the Laiqin Pavilion in Zhilan Chamber*. Other engravings include *Eulogy on the Portrait of Xing Zhuanghui*, *Twenty-Two-Character Running Script Stone Carving*, and *Four Chapters of Scenery at the Laiqin Pavilion*. All stone and wood carvings are inlaid with high-quality General Red marble. Above the carvings, carefully produced rubbings are displayed for visitors to trace and view, and the carvings are protected by high-end glass. The main wall features four large photos: the Laiqin Pavilion, Xing Tong’s Tomb, Xing Tong’s Birthplace, and the Soapberry Tree Planted by Xing Tong. The west wall displays a framed rubbing titled *Rui Lu Pavilion’s True Traces of the Laiqin Pavilion*. Twelve glass display cases showcase printed and copied versions of Xing Tong’s calligraphy, collected from across the country.

The east wing room is an exhibition space for calligraphy and paintings by famous individuals, housing over 400 contemporary works. The two wing rooms serve as VIP reception areas, having welcomed tens of thousands of scholars and celebrities from across the nation.

The twenty-six painted corridors are adorned with twenty-two paintings, including *National Beauty and Heavenly Fragrance*, *Boisterous Spring*, *Lotus Flowers*, and *Double Butterflies*. The surrounding walls feature murals of the “Twenty-Six Scenes of the Garden” and twenty-two landscape paintings. Above the front gate and main hall hangs a plaque inscribed with “Xing Tong Memorial Hall” by former County Party Secretary Xie Hua and another plaque inscribed with “Laiqin Pavilion Poetry Society” by former County Party Secretary Wang Wensheng. Above the lintel is a large landscape painting titled *Autumn River Returning Sails*. On the east side of the entrance hall is preserved the *Eulogy Stele on Dongfang Shuo’s Painting*, measuring 2.3 meters in height, 1 meter in width, and 0.2 meters in thickness. On the west side stands an information plaque about the Xing Tong Memorial Hall.

Inside the Xing Tong Memorial Hall, green bamboo thrives, fragrant flowers bloom, and the interplay of locust trees and dragon cypresses creates a lush contrast. Blossoms and boxwoods vie in beauty, while century-old pomegranate flowers bud with crimson vibrancy, exuding a touch of spirit. Bright roses bloom in the wind, appearing especially enchanting. Lush honeysuckle reveals its golden and silver stamens, releasing fragrance with the breeze. In front of the memorial hall lies a gracefully shaped crescent-shaped lotus pond, with half of the pool filled with clear water, green lotuses, and white blossoms. A group of red fish playing in the water appear and disappear among the green lotus leaves. Each lotus leaf stands elegantly upright, its dewdrops crystal clear, resembling golden pearls rolling with the wind. July is the blooming season for lotuses, with pink and white buds waiting to open, some flourishing in the wind, their golden stamens enclosing tender green fruits where lotus seeds are in the midst of life.

Not far directly south of the memorial hall lies a white marble five-arch bridge, resembling a jade belt seamlessly integrated into the landscape. The Pear King Pavilion, Moon Reflection Pavilion, Evening Beauty Pavilion, and Moon Attainment Pavilion surrounding the Xing Tong Memorial Hall are like stars surrounding the moon, placing the memorial hall at the center. The zigzag bridge to the west faces the Mandarin Duck Bridge to the north across the water, echoing each other and adding rich cultural charm to the Xing Tong Memorial Hall. The Xing Tong Memorial Hall is a jewel of Linyi in the tide of reform and opening-up, showcasing the charm of Linyi to the world.

Introduction to the Xing Tong Stele Corridor

The Xing Tong Stele Corridor commenced construction in April 2002 and was completed in August 2003, with a total investment of 1.2 million yuan. It was planned and designed by the Jinan Landscape Architecture Design Institute. The newly expanded stele corridor covers a land area of 380 square meters and a building area of 220 square meters. It includes four new offices, three warehouses, a three-bay entrance hall, thirty-eight corridors, and two stele pavilions, all designed in the architectural style of Suzhou-style gardens. The structure features blue walls, gray tiles, painted beams, and colorful columns. The thirty-eight corridors are adorned with over a hundred colorful paintings, such as *A Shepherd Boy Riding a Cow*, *Lushan Waterfall*, *Jiang Taigong Fishing*, and *Magpies on Branches*. The walls are inlaid with eighty-eight stone carvings, divided into three sections: calligraphy works by siblings Xing Tong and Xing Cijing, as well as pieces by contemporary master calligraphers such as Shen Peng, Wang Xuezhong, Tong Wei, Gao Xiaoyan, Jiang Weisong, Wei Qihou, Song Yugui, Liu Xilin, and Xi Wentian.

In the courtyard of the stele corridor, to the east, lies a beautifully shaped lotus pond. A small white marble bridge spans the pond, connecting seamlessly with the two stele corridor rooms at the center. To the west of the courtyard, green grass and dragon cypresses complement each other, while bamboos and pines echo one another. The ground is framed with bluestone, inlaid with earth-toned rain flower stones, creating a delightful stroll through the garden that captivates visitors.

Source: Office of Linyi County Chronicles