Xu Family Ancestral Hall in Weihui

Xu Family Ancestral Hall in Weihui

The Xu Family Ancestral Hall in Weihui is a cultural relic protection unit of Henan Province.

Xu Shichang (1855–1939), styled Buwu and also known by the pseudonyms Juren, Shuizhucunren, Shimenshanren, and Donghaigongzhi among others, was born at No. 4 Cao Ying Street in Weihui City, where he was given the childhood name Weisheng. At the age of two, his family moved to Kaifeng, then later back to Gongyuan Street in Weihui with his mother. He lost his father at the age of seven, leading to the decline of the family’s fortune. As an adult, he worked as a clerk and private tutor in counties such as Qinyang, Taikang, and Huaining.

　In 1879, Xu Shichang met Yuan Shikai and received financial support from him. In 1882, he traveled north to take the imperial examinations and passed the provincial level. In 1886, he passed the metropolitan examination and became a Jinshi (presented scholar). In 1889, he was appointed as a compiler in the Hanlin Academy, later assisting Yuan Shikai in establishing the Beiyang Army and becoming his right-hand man. In 1990 (Note: likely 1900), recommended by Yuan, he was summoned by Empress Dowager Cixi, after which his career soared. He successively held positions such as Left Assistant Minister of Commerce, Vice Minister of War, Grand Councilor, Minister of Political Affairs, Minister of Civil Affairs, Governor-General of the Three Eastern Provinces, Minister of Posts and Communications, Grand Secretary of the Cabinet, and Co-Director Minister. In 1914, at Yuan Shikai’s invitation, he served as State Councilor. In 1915, after Yuan Shikai initiated the imperial restoration, Xu foresaw the dangers of political instability and resigned to live in seclusion in Shuizhucun. After Yuan’s death, warlords of the Beiyang clique vied for power amid factional strife. In late 1916, Xu Shichang, leveraging his status as an elder statesman of the Beiyang clique, was invited to Beijing to mediate the power struggle between “President” Li Yuanhong and “Premier” Duan Qirui. Afterward, he moved to Tianjin. In October 1918, Xu Shichang was elected the fifth president of the Beiyang government by the Anfu Parliament controlled by Duan Qirui. He was the only civilian-born president among the five presidents of the Beiyang government. Upon taking office, he styled himself as a “president of civil governance,” actively advocating for “promoting culture while emphasizing military strength.” However, he was ultimately unable to control the various warlord factions and spent nearly four years as a figurehead president, achieving little. During the May Fourth Movement, he went against the tide of the times by ordering the arrest of students, an act for which he was widely criticized. In June 1922, after the First Zhili-Fengtian War, Xu was ousted by the Zhili clique warlords and retired to Tianjin, devoting himself to writing, poetry, painting, and calligraphy. He achieved notable success in all three artistic pursuits and became a master in the fields of history, literature, and the arts, leaving a lasting cultural legacy.

　Xu Shichang built the “Xu Family Ancestral Hall” on Gongyuan Street in Weihui City. In 1917, during an auction of government-owned properties in Weihui by the Beiyang government, Xu’s cousin in Weihui purchased the former site of the Weihui Provincial Garrison Command through bidding, and renovated it into the Xu Family Ancestral Hall. Construction began in 1918 and was completed in 1921. Upon completion, Xu Shichang, along with the abdicated last emperor Puyi, specially came to Weihui to attend the inauguration ceremony of the ancestral hall. The hall is divided into four courtyards. At the front stands a tall screen wall, seven meters high and twelve point seven meters long, built of brick and stone. At the center of the screen wall are round relief carvings of the “Jiahe” (auspicious grain) pattern, each composed of five clusters of grain ears, inlaid both in the front and back. These symbolize the “Five Nationalities Under One Union” (referring to Han, Manchu, Mongol, Hui, and Tibetan peoples) and the “Abundance of Five Grains.” The ancestral hall adopts the traditional Chinese architectural layout of enclosed four sides, fully reflecting the cohesive spirit of families in feudal times. The entire structure is grand in scale, majestic in momentum, rigorous in layout, neat in masonry, and unique in style. It embodies the traditional architectural style of the Qing Dynasty while introducing creative elements, making it a representative and outstanding building of the modern era, rich in historical and cultural heritage value.

Further Reading:

· Third Batch of Cultural Relic Protection Units in Henan Province