Former Residence of Zhang Jingjiang

　　 The former residence of Zhang Jingjiang is situated at No. 108, East Street, Nanxun Town. It was constructed in the 24th year of the Guangxu era (1898) by his father, Zhang Baoshan, and is one of the “Four Great Families” of Nanxun. In 1994, with the support of the “China Second Historical Archives” in Nanjing, the residence was jointly opened to the public. All the various materials currently on display were provided by the China Second Historical Archives in Nanjing.

　　 The architecture of the residence is a typical example of the grand and luxurious style of traditional southern Yangtze River mansions. The main hall, also known as the “Zunde Hall,” served as the Zhang family’s reception area for guests. The three characters “Zunde Hall” were inscribed by Zhang Chun from Tongzhou, and the central painting is a fine finger-painted work by Zhu Gongchen.

　　 On both sides hang a couplet written by Sun Yat-sen: “A hall full of flowers intoxicates three thousand guests; a single frost chills forty states.” The pillar couplets were inscribed by Weng Tonghe (tutor to Emperors Tongzhi and Guangxu): “For centuries, esteemed families have prospered through virtue; of all good deeds under heaven, reading is the greatest.”

　　 The side halls are double-layered structures, keeping warm in winter and cool in summer, used by the Zhang family to receive ordinary guests and servants. Several calligraphic works were inscribed by Zhang Jingjiang himself, including one that reads “With iron shoulders bear righteousness, with thorny hands write articles,” which he gifted to Chen Lifu (this piece is now housed in Chen Lifu’s private living room in Taipei). The total area of the main hall is 624.8 square meters.

　　 The second and third halls display various cultural relics related to Zhang Jingjiang’s life, such as photographs, letters, and official appointment documents, as well as photocopies and correspondence of handwritten letters from notable figures such as Sun Yat-sen, Soong Ching-ling, He Xiangning, Yu Youren, Chen Bulei, and Chiang Kai-shek.

　　 Among these, in the middle row, there is Sun Yat-sen’s appointment letter appointing Zhang Jingjiang as a consultant to the party headquarters; a letter from Sun Yat-sen asking about Zhang Jingjiang’s health condition; IOUs from Chiang Kai-shek and a letter he wrote to Zhang Jingjiang during a period of mourning for his mother (due to the high expenses); as well as Zhang Jingjiang’s signature on Sun Yat-sen’s will, among others.

　　 In the left row, there is a letter from Yu Youren, a veteran statesman of the Republic of China, urgently requesting funding from Zhang Jingjiang; a letter from He Xiangning to Zhang Jingjiang regarding the reburial of Liao Zhongkai’s tomb; as well as detailed records by Zhang Jingjiang on Sun Yat-sen’s illness and treatment process during Sun’s critical illness.

　　 In the right row are letters from veterans such as Chen Lifu and Chen Guofu addressed to Zhang Jingjiang. The surrounding photos include a joint photo of Sun Yat-sen and Zhang Jingjiang in Haining; and a photo of the Chinese character “建” (meaning “build”) on the bronze gate of the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum inscribed by Zhang Jingjiang.