Former Residence of Wu Yue

　　The former residence of Wu Yue is situated on Yanling Lane, west side of the midsection of Xihou Street in downtown Tongcheng. It faces south with its back to the north. Originally covering a relatively large area, it included a front hall, rear hall, wing rooms, and a backyard. Due to years of renovation, its original appearance has changed slightly. Today, five single-story rooms remain, including his childhood study and bedroom. These rooms are 19 meters wide, with three bays in depth, each bay being 5.2 meters long, covering a total area of 187 square meters. The structure is a brick-and-timber raised-beam style with a double-sloped tiled roof. A front eaves corridor is supported by bracket arms. Each room has windows both in the front and rear — the upper ones are vertically opening windows while the lower ones are fixed horizontal windows, making the space bright and spacious. The wooden windows on the westernmost room are still the original ones. On the western gable wall inside the house hangs a photo of Wu Yue at the time of his martyrdom.

　　Wu Yue (1878–1905), also known as Mengxia or Mengxia, was a native of Tongcheng. From a young age, he was diligent and strict in his studies. In the 26th year of the Guangxu reign (1900), he entered the Baoding Advanced School, where he associated with many patriotic intellectuals and devoted himself to the democratic revolution. In the 29th year of the Guangxu reign (1903), he taught at Liangjiang Public School and helped publish the Zhili Vernacular Newspaper. In the 31st year of the Guangxu reign (1905), he traveled from Baoding to Beijing Railway Station to bomb five Qing government officials who were sent abroad for an inspection tour. He died a martyr at the age of 28. At that time, Yuan Shikai was in charge of Baoding. To avoid implication after Wu Yue’s death, Wu’s surname was changed from “Wu Yue” to “Wu Yue” — the current spelling used to this day.

　　In 1913, Wu Yue’s younger brother, Wu Chu, brought his coffin back to the south and buried him on Pingtou Mountain outside the west gate of Anqing. Dr. Sun Yat-sen personally wrote the eulogy and entrusted Sun Yuqun, the governor of Anhui, to conduct the memorial ceremony. In 1929, “Wu Yue Street” was established in Anqing. Later, a “Wu Yue Shrine” was built in his hometown in Tongcheng, the county town was renamed “Mengxia Town,” and schools such as “Mengxia Middle School” and “Mengxia Primary School” were established in his memory. In July 1986, the Anhui Provincial People's Government designated it as a provincial-level key cultural relics protection unit.

　　

　　Wu Yue (1878~1905)　　Wu Yue (1878–1905), courtesy name Mengxia or also known as Mengxia, was from Yutan Township. Wu Yue’s father, Erkang, had five sons, and Wu Yue was the fourth. His family was poor. He lost his mother at the age of 8, and with his father away seeking a livelihood, he was raised by his elder brother. As a child, Wu Yue enjoyed playing games with other village children—such as using cows as horses or engaging in water battles on wooden basins in ponds—and he always had to determine a winner before finishing. He was very intelligent in his studies, loved reciting classical literature, and had a special fondness for history. “Whenever he read the History of the Ming Dynasty, he would read it aloud with emotion, sighing uncontrollably.” Starting at the age of 12, he took part in the imperial civil service examinations for children but failed six times, after which he gave up on the path of the imperial exams. In the 26th year of the Guangxu reign (1900), Wu Yue went to Shanghai and was admitted to the Guangfangyan Institute. At that time, eight... Details+