Former Residence of Chen Tingjing

Chen Tingjing’s Former Residence

Chen Tingjing’s Former Residence is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

Chen Tingjing’s Former Residence

Era: Ming and Qing Dynasties

Address: Huangcheng Village, Beiliu Town, Yangcheng County

Chen Tingjing’s Former Residence is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit. The residence was built between the fourth year of the Ming Xuande era (1429) and the fifty-third year of the Qing Kangxi era (1714), serving as the home of the prominent Qing Dynasty statesman Chen Tingjing and his family. It is a fortified architectural complex of ancient official residences. The site is divided into an inner city and an outer city. The inner city, constructed during the Ming Dynasty, was the family residence of the Chen clan, featuring city walls with a perimeter of 466.55 meters and covering an area of 11,565 square meters. Major structures include the city walls, Heshan Tower, troop storage caves, the Chen Clan Ancestral Hall, Shude Residence, Shide Residence, Rongshan Mansion, the Censorate Mansion, and the Qilin Courtyard. The outer city, built in the Qing Dynasty, was Chen Tingjing’s private residence. Its city walls have a perimeter of 313.75 meters and cover an area of 11,583 square meters. Main features include the Prime Minister’s Mansion, study rooms, gardens, the steward’s courtyard, inner living quarters, city walls, the Imperial Calligraphy Pavilion, and the Merit Archway.

The Tomb of Chen Tingjing is located on Jingping Mountain, about 2,000 meters north of Huangcheng Village, covering an area of 16,000 square meters. It houses well-preserved steles inscribed with mourning poems handwritten by Emperor Kangxi, as well as ten tablets engraved with imperial sacrificial texts composed by the emperor.

Chen Tingjing (1639–1712), courtesy name Ziduan, literary name Shuoyan, and later literary name Wuting, was a native of Zezhou (present-day Huangcheng Village, Beiliu Town, Yangcheng County, Jincheng City, Shanxi Province) in the Qing Dynasty. He became a Jinshi (advanced scholar) in the fifteenth year of the Shunzhi era (1658) and was appointed as a Shujishi (probationary official). Originally named Jing, he was given the additional character “Ting” by the imperial court to distinguish him from another candidate with the same name, thus becoming Chen Tingjing. Chen Tingjing held various important positions, including tutor to Emperor Kangxi, Minister of Personnel, Grand Secretary of the Wenyuan Pavilion, and chief editor of the Kangxi Dictionary. In the late 20th century, Chen Guangmei, a descendant of Chen Tingjing and a recluse from Sichuan, passed away in Leshan. His grandson, Chen Entian, lived up to the family legacy and achieved remarkable accomplishments in the field of traditional Chinese studies. He is now a contemporary interdisciplinary Chinese scholar and renowned calligrapher, known for works such as Ode to Great China, Record of Zhongnanhai, Qing Script, Leting Preface, and New Ode to Chongqing. He currently serves as the first chairman of the International Seven Three Society (ISTS) in Australia. The Chen Tingjing family has once again drawn attention both in China and abroad.

As a learned and accomplished official, Chen Tingjing authored numerous works throughout his life. His personal poetry and essay collections include Wuting Literary Compilation, River Collection, Canye Poetry Selection, Shuoyan Poetry Collection, Mountain Ritual Guide, and Wuting Farewell Collection. He also participated in the compilation of the Veritable Records of Emperor Shunzhi, served as Vice President for the Veritable Records of Emperor Taizong, and as Chief Editor for works such as Political Precepts and Strategies, Military Treatises, Comprehensive Gazetteer, Peiwen Rhyme Dictionary, and History of Ming. Notably, he oversaw the compilation of the Kangxi Dictionary. In March of the forty-ninth year of Kangxi’s reign, the emperor ordered Zhang Yushu and Chen Tingjing to lead the compilation of a major dictionary. Shortly after the work began, Zhang Yushu passed away due to illness. Chen Tingjing, then over seventy years old, took on the role of Chief Reviewer. With tireless dedication, he completed this highly significant lexicon in Chinese cultural history, leaving behind a precious intellectual legacy for future generations.

In May 2013, Chen Tingjing’s Former Residence was designated as part of the seventh group of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units.

Chen Tingjing (1639–1712), courtesy name Ziduan, literary name Shuoyan, was a native of Zezhou (now Jincheng, Shanxi) in the Qing Dynasty. He became a Jinshi in the fifteenth year of the Shunzhi era (1658) and was appointed as a Shujishi. Originally named Jing, he was given the additional character “Ting” by the imperial court to distinguish him from another candidate with the same name, thus becoming Chen Tingjing.

Chen Tingjing was an avid scholar, excelling in poetry, prose, and music. He exchanged literary ideas with the early Qing prose writer Wang Wan and exchanged poetry with the famous poet Wang Shizhen. Their exchanges were said to reach profound depths while each retaining their unique style. His poem “Jin Guo” (“The State of Jin”) begins: “The State of Jin was mighty above all under heaven, the Qin armies confined within borders…” More details about Chen Tingjing ++

Huangcheng Village: Located in Beiliu Town, Yangcheng County, Huangcheng Village was originally called Guoyu Zhongdao Zhuang. It was the home of the eminent Qing Dynasty statesman, Chief Reviewer of the Kangxi Dictionary, Grand Secretary of the Wenyuan Pavilion, and tutor to Emperor Kangxi — Chen Tingjing. The village was renamed Huangcheng Village after Emperor Kangxi visited twice. Chen Tingjing’s later literary name, Wuting, gave rise to the alternate name “Wuting Mountain Village.” The name “Huangcheng Imperial Castle” originated from tourism development.

Huangcheng Imperial Castle is a fortified ancient residential complex of official families. The castle has nine city gates, a total wall length of 1,700 meters, an average wall height of 12 meters, and 16 large courtyards... More details about Huangcheng Village ++

Further Reading:

· Fourth Batch of Shanxi Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units

· Seventh Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units