Rong Bao Zhai

Rong Bao Zhai

Destination Introduction

According to historical records, Rong Bao Zhai's predecessor was "Song Zhu Zhai," established in the 11th year of the Kangxi reign during the Qing Dynasty (1672 AD), and was renamed Rong Bao Zhai in the 20th year of the Guangxu reign (1894 AD). With a history of over 300 years, Rong Bao Zhai is truly a time-honored brand in Beijing.

The founder of Song Zhu Zhai was a man from Zhejiang surnamed Zhang. He initially used his official salary earned in Beijing to open a small "southern paper shop." The shop’s business mainly covered three areas: first, calligraphy and painting paper, as well as various types of fan surfaces and mounted birthday or celebratory couplets; second, various brushes, ink sticks, inkstones, ink boxes, water droppers, seal paste, paperweights, brush racks, and other stationery items; third, supply orders (so-called “supply orders” were price lists set by calligraphers and seal engravers upon recommendation by renowned figures for the sale of their works. Song Zhu Zhai handled these orders on commission and could earn a percentage. At the same time, the artists who hung their supply orders at the store also purchased paper, brushes, inkstones, and other supplies there, giving Song Zhu Zhai a considerable and stable source of income.

At that time, the most famous southern paper shop in Liulichang was undoubtedly "Song Zhu Zhai," renowned for handling official documents and folded papers. In peaceful times, high-ranking officials in the court, having little to do, would scrutinize memorials submitted by provincial officials for "incorrect characters" or discrepancies in format, as a way of demonstrating their dedication to state affairs. Generally, when submitting memorials, the calligraphy had to be in neat regular script following the Hongwu Zhengyun system, and officials had to be especially careful to avoid any taboos related to the reign titles of emperors, such as “Heavenly Emperor,” “contrary to imperial edicts,” or “submitted by a subject,” among others. Even slight negligence could be pointed out by the reviewing ministers, resulting in anything from salary deductions to demotions. Therefore, regional governors took great precautions. As a result, the selection of memorial paper had to be flawless. Liulichang’s Song Zhu Zhai understood how much these documents affected an official’s career and paid close attention to this matter. Each sheet of white paper was selected by more than ten people, and even the slightest ink smudge would relegate it to the defective pile. As a result, its prices were more than 50% higher than those of other shops. But everything sold was guaranteed flawless, ensuring peace of mind for buyers. Hence, governors across the provinces knew Song Zhu Zhai's goods were reliable, and business flourished as a result.

However, the owners of Song Zhu Zhai were from official families and were not adept at business management. Especially, the later generations of the Zhang family were not "competent," leading to poor management. Coupled with the decline in China’s socioeconomic conditions after the Opium War in 1840, Song Zhu Zhai, once bustling with customers, found itself on the verge of bankruptcy and in an unsustainable situation. To keep this reputable old shop alive, the owner hired Zhuang Huchen, who had extensive connections with prominent scholars in Beijing, as the manager, determined to reform and renew the shop’s image. In the 20th year of the Guangxu reign (1894 AD), the shop was renamed "Rong Bao Zhai," meaning "gathering friends through culture, and cherishing reputation as a treasure." The name was inscribed on a large plaque by the famous calligrapher Lu Runxiang (top imperial scholar of the Tongzhi reign and former supervisor of the Imperial College).

Over time, as its business expanded, Rong Bao Zhai also became world-renowned for its unique skill—“woodblock watermarks.” Woodblock watermarking is a traditional Chinese manual printing technique. Prints made using this method closely resemble the original paintings, achieving a level of fidelity that can be described as “deceptive realism,” unmatched by any modern printing methods. Works produced by Rong Bao Zhai using woodblock watermarking, such as the "Seventy-Two Seasonal Poem Sheets" and "Twenty-Four Solar Term Envelopes," were praised by Mr. Lu Xun and Mr. Zheng Zhenduo as the “outstanding among peers” (i.e., the best among similar shops—Editor’s note) among the many paper shops in Liulichang.

Rong Bao Zhai’s woodblock watermarking craftsmanship has long been famous both domestically and abroad. The artisans in its production workshops are all leading masters in the art world. Today, Rong Bao Zhai and its retail outlets continue to operate and develop various businesses, including selling authentic works or woodblock watermark reproductions by ancient and modern artists, supplying the four treasures of the study (writing brush, ink stick, paper, and inkstone), and offering mounting, restoration, and other services. Its subsidiaries, including Rong Bao Zhai Publishing House, Rong Bao Art Auction Company, Rong Bao Foreign Trade Company, and Service Company, also contribute to the creation and flourishing of calligraphy and painting arts, as well as the promotion of international cultural exchanges.

For centuries, this old shop has weathered many changes. Initially specializing in the four treasures of the study, it later began printing its own letter paper and poetry paper, dealing in celebrity calligraphy and paintings, antiques, and curios. The "Jinshen" (official directory), "Twenty-Four Season Paper," and "Seventy-Two Seasonal Paper" published in the late Qing Dynasty were once highly prestigious in Beijing. After the founding of New China, transitioning from private ownership to a cooperative and then to state ownership, Rong Bao Zhai has endured and become a renowned shop both in China and abroad. While focusing on researching, developing, and perfecting traditional techniques, it also collects scattered calligraphy and painting artifacts, making it an important hub for promoting traditional Chinese culture and enhancing internal and external exchanges.

Today, on Liulichang Cultural Street, known for its poetic charm where “horse carriages stop frequently amid the fragrance of paintings, and the city’s elite compete for fine scrolls,” Rong Bao Zhai remains elegant and serene. What has changed is that the cultural ambiance of modern society is adding even more allure to its charm.

Rong Bao Zhai’s current plaque was inscribed by the famous Chinese calligrapher Guo Moruo. Rong Bao Zhai’s address: No. 19, West Liulichang Street, Xuanwu District.

Scenic Spot Location

No. 19-1, West Liulichang Street, Xicheng District, Beijing