Zhang Qinglin’s Former Residence

Zhang Qinglin’s Former Residence

Zhang Qinglin’s Former Residence is a cultural relic protection unit of Gansu Province.

Zhang Qinglin’s Former Residence is located within the compound at Chengyuan Lane (Nos. 21, 23, and 42), Qincheng District, Tianshui City. The three courtyards are all architectural structures from the Ming and Qing dynasties.

The entrance of No. 21 courtyard faces north, featuring a double wooden door with ridge ornaments of dragon heads. There are screen walls on the west and south sides, and horse-tying stones beside the gate. A tiger-seat gate in the middle courtyard separates the front and rear sections. The front courtyard has three reverse-facing rooms and two side rooms. The rear courtyard has three main rooms and two wing rooms. No. 23 courtyard faces south. Its gate has two entries, with the inner gate facing west as a decorative screen gate, featuring bracket arms under the eaves shaped like elephant trunks with double cloud motifs. The main room has a flush gable roof with single-slope drainage, large decorative brackets shaped like elephant trunks, and single cloud motifs. There is a tiger-seat gate in the courtyard, with five wing rooms each on the east and west sides, all featuring flush gable roofs with single-slope drainage. The reverse-facing rooms also have a flush gable roof with double-slope drainage. No. 42 courtyard has one entry with an inner gate that is a decorative screen gate. The main hall is a two-story wooden structure with three and a half rooms (the half room is for the staircase), featuring a hanging gable roof with double-slope drainage. Each of the east and west wing rooms has three rooms, with a hanging gable roof and single-slope drainage, and straight lattice doors. The reverse-facing section has five rooms, featuring a hanging gable roof, straight lattice doors, and lattice windows. The interior includes two folding screens.

Zhang Qinglin (1817–1868), courtesy name Yunqing, art name Xiaofeng, was a modern calligrapher. He became a Jinshi (advanced scholar) during the Tongzhi era of the Qing Dynasty and once served as a county magistrate. Known for his integrity in office and skill in calligraphy, he is considered the founder of the Tianshui Zhang school of calligraphy. His descendant, Zhang Bangyan, was a member of the Gansu Provincial Committee on Culture and History and a well-known calligrapher.

Further Reading:

· Sixth Batch of Provincial-Level Cultural Relic Protection Units in Gansu Province