Hua Shikui's Former Residence

　　The former residence of Hua Shikui is located at No. 3 Beian Road, Hebei District. Built in the late Qing Dynasty and early Republican period, it was originally part of the Italian Concession, with a total area of 448.16 square meters. The building is a two-story structure with a basement, made of brick and wood, featuring a sloped tiled roof with dormer windows and skylights. It is one of the 16 pointed-roof buildings in the former Italian Concession, with a corrugated tile roof that presents a majestic appearance. Currently, the exterior of the building is largely intact. Plans are underway to restore and develop the site through a step-by-step application and project approval process, combining government funding and social fundraising. The residence has been listed as an immovable cultural relic in Tianjin that has not yet been officially designated as a protected historical site.

　　Hua Shikui (1863~1942)　　Hua Shikui (1863–1942) was a renowned calligrapher in modern Tianjin. His courtesy names were Qichen and Bichen, and his art name was Sifen. Originally from Wuxi, Jiangsu Province, he later moved to Tianjin. Born in 1864 in the Dongmenli area of the old city of Tianjin, he was of Han ethnicity and was considered one of Tianjin’s “Eight Great Families.” Thanks to his wealthy background, his home often hosted gatherings of scholars and poets for literary discussions. At the age of 16, he passed the imperial examination to become a Xiucai (a lower-level degree), and at 19, he became a Juren (a higher-level degree). He entered the Grand Council after passing the exam for the Neige Zhongshu (Inner Cabinet Secretariat) and was later promoted to the position of Langzhong, eventually becoming the head of the officials. After the fall of the Qing Dynasty in 1911, he served in various official roles for many years. During the time when Yuan Shikai held power, he remained in office for over a decade. After the establishment of the Republic of China, he resolutely returned to Tianjin and devoted himself to calligraphy... More+