Liuyang Former Residence of Tan Sitong

Address: Beizheng South Road, Liuyang City, Hunan Province

Protection unit level: National level

This is where Tan Sitong lived from 15 to 17 years old. Most of Tan Sitong's ancestors made a living by teaching and reading. His grandfather Tan Xueqin once served as a county official and had four sons. Tan Sitong's father Tan Jixun ranked third. He passed the Jinshi examination in the ninth year of Xianfeng (1859) and became an official in Beijing. Due to his personality preference, he bought the ancestral hall that originally belonged to the Zhou family as a private residence. After several constructions, it became the existing courtyard-style residential building. This building was built in the late Ming Dynasty. When Tan Sitong's father, Tan Jixun, was the governor of Hubei, because of his prominent official position, he was pardoned and named the "Da Fu Di Official Residence" by the emperor's decree, abbreviated to "Da Fu Di".

"Dafudi" not only attracts many tourists because of its exquisite decoration and grandeur, but also because it was the former residence of Tan Sitong, one of the "Six Gentlemen of 1898" in modern Chinese history. Tan Sitong was born on March 10, 1865 (the 4th year of Tongzhi in the Qing Dynasty) in Lanmian Hutong outside Xuanwumen, Beijing. He followed his father since he was a child and studied under his master. When he was 13 years old (1877), he returned to Liuyang, his ancestral home for the first time, and lived in the "Da Fu Di". Although it didn't last long, many intriguing stories were left behind: Tan's father had a side wife, the Lu family, who relied on her husband's favor, Tan Sitong was discriminated against and abused in every possible way. On the night of New Year's Eve, Tan's family gathered around the fire to enjoy family happiness. At this time, Lu provoked Tan's father and said: "Seventh Young Master is really making progress in studying. How can he argue with you about knowledge?" " This provoked Tan Jixun to accuse Tan Sitong, but his father was overjoyed and thought his son was good. He dared to argue with the teacher and showed Tan Sitong the first couplet on the spot: "On New Year's Eve, there is no light, so light a lamp to add color to the world." The next morning, Tan Sitong rushed to the ancestral hall and hit the three links with "dong dong dong" on the drum hanging in the east corridor. When his father was awakened and asked about the couplet, Tan Sitong said: "In the early spring, before the thunder has moved, the three-tone drum will help the world to show its power." It can be seen that Tan Sitong has been diligent in learning and asking questions since he was a child, and he has extraordinary intelligence. The former residence displays Tan Sitong's bedroom and study room as well as the poems and articles that Tan Sitong read. In 1879 (the fifth year of Guangxu), Tan Sitong returned to Liuyang from Gansu. During the three years he lived in Liuyang, he studied under Tu Qixian, studied classics and history, read a lot of books, and danced sticks and swords in the "Da Fu Di" (he once studied under Tu Qixian). Big Sword King 5). Once, his good friend Tang Caichang and his cousin saw him practicing martial arts in the garden. They wanted to try his kung fu and said, "I heard that your braiding skills are very powerful. Let's have a look." Tan asked Tang Caichang to hold his braid, and sure enough, From then on, Tang Cai often followed his classmate Tan Si to practice swordsmanship and martial arts, and developed into a like-minded acquaintance. In 1881, there were two parasol trees supporting the sky in the courtyard of "Da Fu Di". One of them was knocked down by lightning. Tan Sitong used the remaining branches of the ancient tree to make two lyres named "Lei Can" (Lost) and "Beng". Ting" (now in the Provincial Museum). The "Beng Ting" qin has an inscription in regular script in clay and gold, and its sound is pure and melodious. Tan Sitong especially cherished it. Whenever the people were quiet at night, he would either play the "Beng Ting" qin or dance the "Feng Jie" sword. It can be seen that Tan Sitong played chess on the qin. Proficient in all aspects of calligraphy and painting, he is actually an all-rounder in both civil and military affairs.

From 1890 to 1897, Tan Sitong returned to Liuyang many times and lived in the "Da Fu Di" to discuss patriotic strategies with fellow members and explore ways to save the country. Here he received many Influenced by patriotism, he developed a strong interest in physics, astronomy, geology, and mathematics. He believed that eight-part essays could not save the country, but only science could rejuvenate the country, so he formed his primary theoretical thoughts advocating reform and reform. In 1896, Liuyang suffered from a drought. The land was bare and the people were in dire straits. He actively organized disaster relief and won the trust of the local bureaucrats and gentry. Therefore, in the second year after the Tainan Academy closed the Arithmetic Society, he, Tang Cichang and Ouyang Zhonghu worked together at Kuiwen University. Ge successfully founded the first scientific and technological group institution in China's modern history - the New Mathematical School (in the territory of No. 1 Middle School) to promote new learning and advocate science.

On September 28, 1898, Tan Sitong was killed in Caishikou, Beijing because of his participation in the reform movement. When Tan Sitong was martyred, his father Tan Jixun happened to be laid off officials by the imperial court and was awaiting orders at home. At this time, the Reform Movement of 1898 failed and he was implicated, so he had to return to his hometown and rest in the "Da Fu Di". After marrying Tan Sitong, his wife Li Run actively supported her husband's reform cause and donated money to the Anti-Foot Binding Association. When she learned that Tan Sitong had died, she was very sad and often cried bitterly at night. Once, her father-in-law Tan Jixun came to the window and comforted him: "Sister-in-law Qi, there is no resurrection. His reputation will probably be higher than mine in the future. You should also feel relieved."

"So Li Run turned his grief into strength and changed his name to Jisheng. In 1912, he founded the first girls' school in Liuyang. Because of his old age, he was appointed as the honorary principal. She was enthusiastic about running schools and establishing a nursery bureau and other public welfare undertakings. Li Run was sixty years old At that time, Kang Youwei and Liang Qichao jointly presented a horizontal plaque reading "The Perfect Woman" and hung it in the second hall of the former residence of "Da Fu Di". Unfortunately, it was destroyed during the "Cultural Revolution". She has been living mainly in "Da Fu Di". He spent his later years here.

After the death of Martyr Tan, the Tan family began to decline slowly, and the area of ??"Da Fu Di" gradually shrank. In the 25th year of the Republic of China, the front gatehouse was converted into a shop, and the existing building area was reduced. 762 square meters, it has experienced more than 300 years of ups and downs. In 1944, when the Japanese army entered Liuyang, the descendants of the Tan family opened a "Garden Hotel" here to protect their houses. Therefore, the former residence was not looted or attacked. After liberation, 12 households remained here. It was not officially relocated until November 1996 when it was announced as a national cultural relics protection unit. At present, with the support of the State Administration of Cultural Heritage, provincial and municipal leaders and relevant departments, "Da Fu Di" has been renovated. It has been fully repaired.

The carving of the windows of the former residence is double-sided, which means that the front and back sides are the same, and the middle is carved and hollowed out. It is closed, but there are two exceptions. Which two are? One is that when important guests come to the home, the screen door is opened and the middle door is opened to welcome the guests instead of letting the guests go through the side door. That is One is a very high etiquette; the other is that if there is a wedding or funeral at home, not only the screen door must be opened, but also the Deshan door in the front, so that pedestrians can enter and exit very conveniently. The small movable wooden board is similar to the cat's eye on the security door at home today, but our cat's eye is mainly for opening the door for warning; while this small movable wooden board is for the convenience of ladies. As we all know, the status of women in the old days was very low. , and she doesn’t have to leave the house. If there are guests at home, she also wants to share the lively scene outside, so what should she do? Just lift up the small wooden board to see secretly. The situation outside. ?

The bedroom of Tan Sitong's father, Tan Jixun. Tan Jixun was from Liuyang and entered the official career through the imperial examination. His official position was ZUOSHA. When he became the governor of Hubei, he Due to his prominent official position, his private residence was named "Dafudi Official Residence", referred to as "Dafudi". Tan Jixun was an upright and honest official, and he was also strict and cautious. In 1898, he was implicated in the coup and was dismissed. Later, he returned. Tan Jixun was a very prophetic old man. When he learned that his son was executed by the imperial court in Beijing, he wrote a poem. An elegiac couplet reads, "Rumors spread throughout the country and are nothing more than scolding; Zhaoxue will last forever, and it is unknown!"

The former residence retains Tan Sitong's bedroom and study room. The architecture of Tan Sitong's former residence has one characteristic, except for the hall and hall. The corridors are paved with blue bricks and pebbles, and all rooms are paved with wooden floors. The colors of the wooden floors in the bedrooms are inconsistent. Because when Tan Sitong's former residence was being repaired, the floors in all the rooms no longer existed, except for the floors in Tan Sitong's bedroom and study room. Due to the age, some places collapsed. During the restoration, there was no artificial replacement of all parts. Instead, partial repairs were carried out in places where the collapse was particularly severe. The floor we are walking on now is the original one.

The former residence retains Li Run’s bedroom. The Tan family is a well-known family, and his wife is the same age as Tan Sitong. From the time they got married to Tan Sitong at the age of 19 to his death at the age of 33, they spent 15 years together less and apart more often. His wife understood her husband very well. Because of their particularly deep relationship, she died at the age of 33. Later, his wife burst into tears. Later, with the persuasion of her family, she changed her environment and moved from the back building to this room. He originally had a child, but his son died before he was one year old, so he left no direct descendants. His wife passed away in 1925 at the age of 60. Their graves were less than 200 meters apart and they were buried in Lishui Village in Liuyang. In March 2009, the parking lot of Liuyang River Hotel "trespassed" without authorization into the protection scope of Tan Sitong's former residence, a national key protected cultural relic. The Changsha Municipal Cultural Relics Bureau punished him in accordance with the law, but the hotel sued the court for exceeding its authority. In the following two years, the Changsha Municipal Cultural Relics Administration Department lost the case twice after trials at two levels of courts in Changsha. This case has attracted close attention from legal experts, cultural protection experts and other parties across the country.

On May 30, 2012, the scene at Tan Sitong’s former residence in Liuyang was still the same as three years ago. The parking lot on the south side of the former residence was full of cars, and the bronze statue of Tan Sitong was surrounded by cars. The parking apron is only 1.3 meters away from the southern wall of the former residence. The explanatory monument next to the gate of Tan Sitong's former residence points out that the protection range of Tan Sitong's former residence is 30 meters in all directions, and the parking apron is obviously located within it. According to the staff of the former residence, whenever the hotel’s business peaks, the parking apron is filled with cars. Because there are so many cars coming in and out, the parking apron floor tiles are crushed.

According to the person in charge of the Liuyang Municipal Cultural Relics Bureau, the "Cultural Relics Protection Law" stipulates that other engineering construction or blasting, drilling, excavation and other operations are not allowed within the protection scope of cultural relics protection units. However, in early 2009, the Liuyang River Hotel built a parking pad in the Tan Sitong Bronze Statue Square south of Tan Sitong's former residence without authorization. After receiving the report, the Liuyang Municipal Cultural Relics Bureau immediately issued a suspension notice to the hotel. Unexpectedly, the hotel replied to the letter the next day and stated that the parking lot land currently being built by the hotel was purchased by it for 2 million yuan. The hotel’s normal greening and lighting in the garden of the unit was approved by the government, and this was This kind of lighting and greening is to protect Tan Sitong’s former residence.

On March 23, 2009, the Provincial Cultural Relics Appraisal Committee went to Dafudi to conduct an on-site inspection and issued a cultural relics appraisal certificate. It was deemed that the parking lot was built in the core protection zone of the former residence and was only 1.3 meters away from the wall foundation of the former residence. It was safe. The hidden danger is serious. Based on the above appraisal conclusion, the Municipal Cultural Relics Bureau, with the consent of the Provincial Cultural Relics Bureau, imposed an administrative penalty of demolishing the parking lot and restoring the green space to the original appearance of the Liuyang River Hotel, and a fine of 300,000 yuan, and served it with a lien on April 14. An administrative penalty notice was served to Liuyang River Hotel.

Liuyang River Hotel was dissatisfied and submitted an administrative reconsideration to the Changsha Municipal Government. In April 2009, the municipal government reconsidered and upheld the punishment decision of the Municipal Cultural Relics Bureau. Despite this, Liuyang River Hotel still insisted on building a parking pad. Zhao You, director of the Liuyang Municipal Cultural Relics Bureau, said that they are working with the planning department to put forward ideas for the protection and development of Tan Sitong's former residence and its surrounding environment. "If the ideas can be implemented, Tan Sitong's former residence will be restored to its original appearance." According to this idea, unsuitable buildings in the surrounding area will be demolished. According to Jin Xianlin, deputy director of the Liuyang Municipal Planning Bureau, there are no policy obstacles to restoring the original appearance. According to relevant laws and regulations, no buildings can be built within 30 meters of national cultural relics protection units. "The main difficulty is the lack of funds."

After learning that the relevant departments wanted to restore Tan Sitong’s former residence to its original appearance, Tan Zhihong, Tan Sitong’s fourth-generation grandson and chairman of Hunan Zhuzhou Hailian Industrial Development Corporation, was very pleased: “Next year is the 110th anniversary of Tan Sitong’s martyrdom. Future generations are also planning to do some things, such as asking professors from the Central Academy of Fine Arts to carve a bronze statue and stand it next to the former residence. "

Now is the best time to implement it. "In recent years, the protection of historical buildings has been promoted. There is a good public opinion atmosphere; secondly, most of the properties to be demolished and occupied to restore the former residence and build the square are owned by government departments, and the demolition is not complicated.”