Former Residence of Lin Fengmian in Xiyang

Former Residence of Lin Fengmian in Xiyang

The former residence of Lin Fengmian in Xiyang is a cultural heritage site protected at the provincial level in Guangdong Province.

Lin Fengmian was one of the founding figures of modern art education in China. Born in 1900 in Meixian, Guangdong Province, he began studying painting at the age of six and went to France for further studies after graduating from middle school. In 1928, he founded the National Academy of Art (the predecessor of today’s China Academy of Art) and passed away in 1991.

The former residence of Lin Fengmian, named Dunyuju, is situated in Gegongling Village, Xiyang Town, Meijiang District. Built during the Qing Dynasty, it faces south and covers a land area of 1,155 square meters, with approximately 700 square meters of floor space still preserved today. The house sits facing a pond in the front and a mountain ridge at the back. Constructed on a high platform according to the terrain, the main structure is a traditional Hakka-style residential building with a suspended gable roof and a quadrangle layout. The floor plan follows a dual-axis design, with the main axis running from north to south. The front gate is located at the northern end of this axis, while a small side gate serving as the backyard entrance is found on the right side at the southern end. On the western end of the east-west axis is the main hall, behind which two small doors symmetrically open into the adjacent wing rooms. The lintel of the main gate is inscribed with the name “Dunyuju,” handwritten in semi-cursive script by Lin Fengmian’s paternal ancestor, the 20th-generation forebear Bo’en Gong. Though faded, the black calligraphy can still be faintly discerned. The couplet on the gate reads: “Uphold rites and righteousness; Nurture descendants with abundance.”

Dunyuju is a single-story earthen and timber structure with a tiled roof, notable for its use of a large number of river pebbles in the construction of the platform base and courtyard flooring, giving it a rustic and timeless appearance. The layout is simple, highlighting a spacious central courtyard that allows ample natural light. Each side room features a door and window along the facade, arranged in an orderly fashion and adorned with wooden lattice windows. The rearmost room on the eastern side wing was where Lin Fengmian lived during his stays at home.

In 2012, the People’s Government of Guangdong Province designated it as part of the seventh batch of provincial-level cultural heritage sites.

Lin Fengmian was a master painter who blended Eastern and Western artistic techniques, though he pursued an artistic path distinct from that of Xu Beihong.

Lin Fengmian (1900–1991) was born into a farming family in Meixian, Guangdong Province. His grandfather was a carpenter, and as a child, Lin Fengmian assisted him while learning calligraphy and traditional Chinese painting. At the age of 18, he traveled to France for work-study programs and began studying oil painting. Later, he went to Germany, where he held great admiration for European classical masters, while also developing a strong interest in Post-Impressionism and various modern art movements. In 1925, Lin Fengmian... More details about Lin Fengmian++

Gegongling Village: Gegongling Village... More details about Gegongling Village++