Former Residence of Liang Shiqiu

Former Residence of Liang Shiqiu

The former residence of Liang Shiqiu (Ya She) is located in Beibei District, Chongqing. During the War of Resistance against Japan, Liang Shiqiu settled in Beibei. In 1940, he and Wu Jingchao jointly purchased a bungalow on the mountainside of Zhǔwān, naming it “Ya She” (Elegant Abode) after Wu Jingchao’s wife, Gong Yeya. “Ya” (雅), associated with the wood element in the Five Elements theory, is a character that combines the radical for bird (隹) and the sound component ya (牙). It symbolizes a fine bird choosing a good tree—a sign of good fortune and elegance. It conveys meanings such as correct, noble, and beautiful—like refined and clean, elegant and simple, proper, or the right path. “She” (舍) means house, and also has the sense of ease or relief. As noted in *Records of the Grand Historian · Book of Rhythms*: “She is where one finds relief.”

The building features brick pillars and a wooden frame, with a tiled roof and partition walls. It has six rooms, divided into upper and lower levels. Liang Shiqiu lived in a single room with a living area. It was a typical “humble abode,” yet once Liang moved in, guests came in an endless stream. A group of literati and artists frequently gathered here to compose poetry, paint, play music, and play chess, creating a lively atmosphere. Liang Shiqiu resided at Ya She for seven years and wrote 20 essays for *Essays from the Elegant Abode*, which received widespread acclaim and caused a sensation at the time. After moving to Taiwan, he compiled the essays into a standalone collection, which was reprinted over 300 times. Wherever there were Chinese people around the world, the *Essays from the Elegant Abode* could be found. Thus, the name “Ya She” spread far and wide, gaining fame alongside this collection of essays.

Liang Shiqiu (1903.1.6–1987.11.3)

His formal name was Ye Hua, courtesy name Shiqiu, and pen name Qiulang. Originally from Yuhang, Zhejiang, he was born in Beijing. He was a writer, translator, and literary critic.

In the autumn of 1915, he entered Tsinghua College. During his time there, he organized the “Fiction Research Society,” which he later expanded into the “Tsinghua Literature Society” together with Wen Yiduo and others. He graduated in 1923 and went to the United States the same year to study. He first attended the Department of English at the University of Colorado, then in 1924 enrolled in the Graduate School of Harvard University to pursue a master’s degree. He was deeply influenced by the humanistic ideas of the conservative literary critic Irving Babbitt... More details about Liang Shiqiu ++