Former Residence of Zuo Zongtang in Xiangyin — Liuzhuang

Former Residence of Zuo Zongtang in Xiangyin — Liuzhuang

The former residence of Zuo Zongtang in Xiangyin — Liuzhuang is a national AAA-level tourist attraction.

The former residence of Zuo Zongtang is named Liuzhuang because it was built in Liujia Chong, Dongxiang, Xiangyin. Liuzhuang features grey-tiled walls, a courtyard-style structure, lush trees, weeping willows, birdsong, floral fragrance, and evening frog croaks. In the 23rd year of the Daoguang reign (1843), Zuo Zongtang used the silver he earned from teaching in his lifetime to purchase 70 mu of paddy fields and 80 mu of mountain land in Liujia Chong, Dongxiang, Xiangyin (now Xunshan Village, Zhangshu Town). Following the terrain, he built a residence and personally inscribed the two characters “Liuzhuang” (Willow Village) above the gate. In the 24th year of the Daoguang reign, Zuo Zongtang’s entire family moved from Xiangtan to Liuzhuang. The Liuzhuang we see today was reconstructed in 2004 by the county government following the Xiangyin 11th Five-Year Tourism Plan, with an investment of nearly two million yuan. It was rebuilt on the original site and in the original style, with its floor plan and architectural style largely consistent with the original. The entire manor faces east and consists of 48 rooms of various sizes, built in the style of late Qing dynasty residential architecture.

Zuo Zongtang, a renowned statesman of the late Qing dynasty’s “revitalization era,” was born in Zuojia Duan, Xinguang Village, Jietoupu Town, present-day Xiangyin. He once served as Governor-General of Min-Zhe, Shaan-Gan, and Liangjiang. He made great contributions to defending China’s northwestern borders and ensuring Xinjiang’s incorporation into the national map, making him a historical figure of patriotism. He was posthumously granted the title of “Kejing Marquis” by the imperial court. During his lifetime, Zuo personally donated funds to establish “Liuing School.” In the 3rd year of the Xuantong reign (1911), the Zuo family built a ancestral hall called “Taifu Temple.” The temple had two courtyards and two side wings, and was built with earthen materials. The front hall housed the Taifu Temple, which featured a couplet personally composed by Zuo Zongtang: “Even if you’ve read thousands of extraordinary books, without putting knowledge into practice, you’re not truly literate; if you wish to preserve a six-hundred-year family legacy, the best strategy is still to farm.” The rear hall was dedicated to Confucius. The front and rear halls covered an area of 4,000 square meters but were later destroyed. Renovations were carried out in 1983 with allocated funds.

In Bajia, Wenxing Town, there is also the “Zuo Wengong Temple” (also known as Xiangguo Temple or Zuo Gong Temple). After Zuo’s death in the 11th year of the Guangxu reign (1885), the Qing court granted him generous posthumous honors, bestowing great mourning rites upon him. In addition to being enshrined in the Xianliang and Zhaozhong temples in the capital, special temples were built in his birthplace and the provinces where he rendered meritorious service to commemorate his achievements. In the 13th year of the Guangxu reign (1887), Hunan Governor Wu Dacheng was ordered by the emperor to build this temple. Inside, there is a statue of Zuo, along with introductions to his achievements and poetic elegiac couplets and portraits in praise of him written by his friends and subordinates during his lifetime.

Liuzhuang is located in Liujia Chong, Xunshan Village, Zhangshu Town, now part of present-day Zhangshu Town. It was where Zuo Zongtang, before rising to prominence at the age of 36, worked as a farmer. At that time, he called himself the “Farmer of Xiang” and farmed the land for eight years. Including the times he returned to Hunan for family visits and ancestor worship after entering officialdom, he lived here for a total of 18 years. The main house of the estate had a gate with the two characters “Liuzhuang” personally inscribed by him. The tea garden seen today was planted by Zuo himself using “new methods” to cultivate Anhua tea, and the tea garden remains thriving to this day. During his seclusion, Zuo Zongtang, in moments of “leisure and tranquility,” aside from farming, providing relief, and establishing charitable schools, placed special emphasis on reading and writing, leaving behind enduring works such as “Pucun Cottage Agricultural Book.” During this period, he systematically studied the geography and terrain of the nation, laying a solid foundation for his later roles in the Luo clique, establishing the Chu Army, governing multiple provinces, and reclaiming Xinjiang. As a result, Liuzhuang has also become a cultural heritage site for studying this historical figure.

Zuo Zongtang, styled Jigao, was a native of Xiangyin, Hunan. He was born in the 17th year of the Jiaqing reign (1812). In the 12th year of the Daoguang reign (1832), he passed the imperial examination at the prefectural level but failed the metropolitan examination three times. He then abandoned the pursuit of official examination success, turned his attention to agriculture, and studied geography and military strategy.

In the 2nd year of the Xianfeng reign (1852), when the Taiping Army entered Hunan, Zuo Zongtang was invited to serve in the advisory councils of Zhang Liangji and Luo Bingzhang, governors of Hunan, contributing strategies to suppress the Taiping Army. In the 10th year of the Xianfeng reign (1860), recommended by Zeng Guofan, he was appointed as an imperial official of the fourth rank to assist in military affairs in southern Anhui. Zuo Zongtang gathered the remnants of Wang Xinzhi’s “Old Xiang Army”... More detailed information about Zuo Zongtang ++

Liuzhuang Village: Liuzhuang Village... More detailed information about Liuzhuang Village ++