One Belly, Three Hanlin Academies

One Belly, Three Hanlin Academies

The Tongyi Dafu Mansion is located beside the government office of Baihou Town, Dabu County, approximately

12 kilometers from the county seat. Built around the year 1750 during the Qing Dynasty's Qianlong reign—over 250 years ago—it faces south and is constructed from brick, wood, and earth. It is a classic example of Hakka official-style architecture, featuring a standard three-courtyard, four-wing, nine-hall, and eighteen-court layout. The mansion houses nine halls and 18 courtyards, showcasing exquisite craftsmanship with carved beams and painted rafters. A white plaster relief with black characters reading “Tongyi Dafu Mansion” adorns the top of the main gate.

“Tongyi Dafu Mansion,” commonly known as “One Belly, Three Hanlin Academies,” refers to the fact that the home’s owner, Yang Zuoxu, along with his brothers Yang Fushi and Yang Yanshi, successively passed the imperial examination and became Jinshi (advanced scholars) during the Kangxi, Yongzheng, and Qianlong reigns of the Qing Dynasty. All three went on to serve as Hanlin academicians. Because this was such a rare feat, a folk legend arose with the saying: “What’s the use of having two prime ministers across the river, or nine top imperial examinees within ten li? None can compare to my one belly, three Hanlin academies.”

One Belly, Three Hanlin Academies

Legend has it that in a certain county in Jiangxi, there were two prime ministers born on opposite sides of a river, and within a straight-line distance of ten li (approximately five kilometers), nine top imperial scholars emerged. The emperor honored the place with a stone tablet inscribed: “Civil officials dismount, military officers dismount,” which was erected by the roadside. When Yang Zuoxu served as an inspector in Shaanxi, his mother, Lady Rao, once visited him and passed through that area. The sedan bearers asked her to get out of the sedan chair. When she asked why, they explained the local custom. Lady Rao said they should proceed without worry. When the locals stopped the sedan and questioned them, she calmly patted her belly and replied: “Your place may be noble, but whether just across the river or ten li away, how could it compare to my little belly—‘One Belly, Three Hanlin Academies’?” Hearing this, the locals felt ashamed and stepped aside to let them pass. There is also a magical tale about Lady Rao, Yang Zuoxu’s mother. It is said that Yang Zuoxu’s father, Yang Zhixu, once visited Chayang to see a friend and passed by a house where he saw a straw mat drying in front of the door, on which three faint dragon shapes were visible—an odd sight. He knocked on the door to inquire and learned that the homeowner had an 18-year-old daughter who had suffered from bedwetting since childhood, and had rough skin with scales. He immediately proposed marriage, and the offer was accepted. On the chosen wedding day, a violent rainstorm struck, and the Chayang River swelled dramatically. People said it was the “Dragon Girl’s Wedding.” Later, Lady Rao gave birth to seven sons, three of whom passed the imperial examination and were appointed Hanlin academicians.

‘One womb bore three Hanlin scholars.’ Hearing these words, the locals, feeling ashamed, stepped aside to make way. There is also a magical legend about Yang Zuoxu’s mother, Lady Rao. It is said that one day, Yang Zuoxu’s father, Yang Zhixu, went to Chayang to visit a friend and passed by a house. He noticed a straw mat drying in front of the door, on which three faint dragon shapes could be seen—an unusual sight. He knocked on the door to inquire and learned that the homeowner had an eighteen-year-old daughter who had suffered from bedwetting since childhood and had rough skin with scales. He immediately proposed marriage, and the offer was readily accepted. On the chosen auspicious day for the wedding, a torrential rain poured down, and the Chayang River swelled rapidly. People said it was the ‘wedding procession of a dragon girl.’ Later, Lady Rao gave birth to seven sons, three of whom passed the imperial examinations and were appointed as Hanlin academicians by the emperor.

Yang Zuoxu

The original owner of the mansion, Yang Zuoxu, styled Shiguang, also known as Jie’an, was born in the leap third month of the Dingchou year (

1697) during the Kangxi reign. In 1721, the 60th year of the Kangxi era, he passed the imperial examination and was selected as a Shujishi (a compiled scholar), later appointed as an external member of the Ministry of Personnel. He was promoted to regional inspector of Shanxi Province, and eventually rose to the position of provincial administration commissioner of Shaanxi. As an official, he was upright, resolute, and courageous. He once defied Prince Zhuang in the case of Jiao Hongxun, upholding justice impartially without yielding or flattery, causing a stir in the capital and earning widespread fame. He retired in 1814 during the 24th year of the Qianlong reign. His wife was bestowed the imperial golden plaque inscribed with “Seven Generations of Prosperity” for serving her husband’s grandmother above and her great-grandson below—an honor still hung in the central hall today.