The Old Wisteria Mansion

　　The Old Wisteria Mansion (former residence of Su Dongpo) is situated at No. 79–81 Qianbeian (Yanling West Road) and was listed as a provincial-level cultural relic protection unit in 1983. Originally part of the Sun Family Residence near Guitang Bridge, it served as the dwelling of the great Northern Song Dynasty literary master Su Dongpo (1037–1101). In the first year of the Jianzhong Jingguo era (1101) during the reign of Emperor Huizong of Song, Su Dongpo came to reside in Changzhou after being released from his exile on Hainan Island, and passed away here on the 28th day of the seventh lunar month that same year at the age of 66. The Sun Family Residence was a traditional courtyard home, in the northeast corner of which grew a wisteria vine and a crabapple tree, said to have been planted by Su Dongpo himself. Beneath the wisteria was an inkstone-washing pool originally made from white stone. It measured 196 cm in length and 109 cm in width, with a rectangular recess in the center that was 164 cm long, 77 cm wide, and 60 cm deep. There was a small hole at the bottom edge of the recess; removing the wedge would drain the water instantly, and refilling it could hold about fifteen to sixteen dan (a traditional unit of volume) of water. The pool’s water remained fresh even in the height of summer. The Qing Dynasty scholar Hong Liangji wrote in his poem “Song of the Ancient Wisteria”: “When the wisteria blooms, the inkstone pool overflows; ancient hues clash vibrantly.” This refers to this very pool. During the second southern tour of Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty, the pool was relocated to Yizhou Pavilion. The Sun Family Residence was destroyed during the wars of the Yuan Dynasty but was rebuilt on the original site by local residents in the mid-Ming Dynasty, and thus came to be known as the “Old Wisteria Mansion.” Today, seven halls remain, including a main structure of three rooms made of nanmu (a precious wood), featuring an eight-rafter post-and-lintel wooden construction. The building is 12.6 meters wide and 11.3 meters deep. The central ridge beam on the facade features painted patterns. The building has a dignified and steady outward appearance, with a gently sloped roof and upturned eaves. Under the corridor, the central bay of the main hall has six lattice wood windows, while the rear golden pillars are partitioned by six screen doors separating the front and back sections. The east and west sides have half-walls with wooden windows above. The entrance building is a single-story flat-roofed structure with six bays in depth, featuring a stone-framed door at the front. The lintel stone is engraved with a shallow relief of a geometric "Fangsheng" (victory) pattern and bears a seal-style inscription reading “Old Wisteria Mansion” in four seal script characters, reflecting the characteristics of traditional Jiangnan architecture. According to the city’s master plan, to commemorate the Song Dynasty literary giant Su Shi (also known as Su Dongpo), plans are underway to build the Su Dongpo Memorial Hall on the original site of the Old Wisteria Mansion.