Former Residence of Liang Shiqiu

　　The former residence of Liang Shiqiu (Ya She) is located in Beibei District, Chongqing. During the War of Resistance against Japan, Liang Shiqiu settled in Beibei. In 1940, he and Wu Jingchao jointly purchased a bungalow on the mountainside of Zhǔwān. They named it “Ya She” (Elegant Abode) after Gong Yeyǎ, the wife of Wu Jingchao. “Ya” (雅), associated with the element of wood in the Five Elements theory, is pronounced with the radical “zhui” and the sound “ya,” symbolizing how fine birds choose fine trees — an auspicious sign of elegance and nobility. It conveys meanings such as refined, noble, and beautiful, as seen in terms like “tastefully clean,” “elegantly simple,” “upright and refined,” and “the refined path.” “She” (舍) means house or dwelling, and also carries the sense of relief or ease. As noted in *Records of the Grand Historian · Book of Rhythms*: “She is where one finds relief.”

　　This building features a brick-pillar wooden frame with a tiled roof and partitioned walls, consisting of six rooms spread across two levels — higher and lower. Liang Shiqiu lived in a single room with a living area. It was a typical “humble abode,” yet once Liang moved in, it became a hub of activity. A circle of literati and artists frequently gathered here to compose poetry, paint, play music, and play chess, creating a lively atmosphere. Liang Shiqiu resided in Ya She for seven years, during which he wrote 20 essays for *Essays from Ya She*, which received widespread acclaim and caused a sensation at the time. After moving to Taiwan, he compiled these essays into a standalone collection, which has been reprinted over 300 times. Wherever there are Chinese people in the world, *Essays from Ya She* can be found. Thus, the name “Ya She” also gained fame, becoming well-known alongside this celebrated literary work.

　　Liang Shiqiu (1903~1987)　　Liang Shiqiu (January 6, 1903 – November 3, 1987) His formal name was Ye Hua, his courtesy name was Shiqiu, and his pen name was Qiulang. Originally from Yuhang, Zhejiang, he was born in Beijing. He was a writer, translator, and literary critic. In the autumn of 1915, he entered Tsinghua College, where he organized the “Fiction Research Society,” later expanding it with Wen Yiduo and others into the “Tsinghua Literature Society.” He graduated in 1923 and went to the United States the same year to study. He first attended the Department of English at the University of Colorado, then in 1924 enrolled in the Graduate School of Harvard University to pursue a master’s degree, where he was deeply influenced by the humanist ideas of conservative literary critic Irving Babbitt. In 1925, he continued his studies at Columbia University’s Graduate School... Details+