Ancestral Memorial Hall of Su Dongpo

Ancestral Memorial Hall of Su Dongpo

The Ancestral Memorial Hall of Su Dongpo is located within the Cultural Park, covering an area of 14.9 mu, with a building area of 750 square meters and an exhibition wall area of 400 square meters. The memorial hall was established based on the historical fact that Luancheng was the ancestral home of the great Song Dynasty literary figure Su Dongpo, and it possesses considerable representativeness and local characteristics.

Based on historical records and rigorous academic and curatorial methods, the memorial hall comprehensively, truthfully, and objectively reflects the historical development of Chinese national humanistic culture through four sections: “The Origins of the Su Clan,” “Su Weidao and the Three Sus,” “Famous Historical Figures of the Su Clan,” and “Luancheng, the Pearl of Yan-Zhao.” It showcases the ancestral lineage of Su Xun, Su Shi, and Su Zhe in connection with Luancheng, as well as their deep nostalgia for their homeland.

Fei Xiaotong, former Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, Mu Qing, former President of Xinhua News Agency, and Shao Huaze, former Chairman of the All-China Journalists Association, respectively inscribed the hall name, pavilion name, and a long couplet. These have become a beautiful highlight of the memorial hall. Overseas leaders of the Su clan descendants, such as Su Yuezhang, Su Shiqing, and Su Shixuan, have spoken highly of the memorial hall. In 2003, they visited Luancheng to trace their roots and donated inscribed stone tablets.

Since its opening to the public in 2001, the memorial hall has received widespread praise from visitors of all walks of life. Provincial and municipal leaders have inspected the site and provided important guidance for its comprehensive development. With its profound cultural heritage, the memorial hall has also garnered extensive attention and admiration from young people. In November 2004, it was designated by the Communist Youth League Hebei Provincial Committee as one of the first “Hebei Provincial Youth Patriotic Education Bases.”

Su Shi (1037–1101), courtesy name Zizhan, art name Dongpo Jushi, was a native of Meishan in Meizhou (now part of Sichuan). His family had a strong literary tradition—his grandfather Su Xu loved reading and was skilled in poetry. His father, Su Xun, was a renowned classical prose writer who provided meticulous guidance to both Su Shi and his younger brother Su Zhe. Their mother, Lady Cheng, was knowledgeable and principled, and once told the young Su Shi the story of Fan Pang from the Book of the Later Han • Biography of Fan Pang, using the deeds of ancient virtuous individuals to inspire him to uphold his integrity. By the time Su Shi was 21 and left Sichuan for the capital, his knowledge and cultivation were already quite mature.

Su Shi was erudite and broad-minded in thought... More detailed information about Su Shi++