Dilai Liangbi, Former Residence of Zhang Juzheng.

The Former Residence of Zhang Juzheng is located inside the east gate of the ancient city of Jingzhou. In 1577, the fifth year of the Wanli period of the Ming dynasty, the Ming Shenzong Emperor issued a special edict to grant 1,000 taels of silver to the Zhang family to build a mansion inside the east gate of Jingzhou. Originally named "Zhang Daxueshi Mansion," it was renamed "Zhang Wenzhong Ancestral Hall" in the late Ming dynasty and "Zhang Xiang Old Mansion" in the early Qing dynasty. It was destroyed in the late Qing dynasty after several wars and restorations. It was rebuilt on June 6, 2007, and completed on May 27, 2008.
In front of the mansion is a tall and majestic stone archway. In the middle of the archway are the four characters "Dilai Liangbi," which means that the emperor rewards virtuous ministers. On both sides of the archway is a couplet written by the emperor himself: "Zhi Bing Chun Zhong, Zheng Qi Chui Zhi Wan Shi; Gong Zhao Peng Ri, Xiu Guang Bo Yu Wan Nian."
The four characters "Dilai Zhongliang" were engraved on a silver seal given to Zhang Juzheng by the Wanli Emperor.
The "Former Residence of Zhang Juzheng" is a replica of a Ming dynasty-style courtyard with five entrances and four courtyards, with buildings in the east and gardens in the west. It covers an area of more than 7,000 square meters, with a building area of 8,478 square meters, including the South Square, South Gate Hall, Front Courtyard, Taishi Residence, Middle Courtyard, Chunzong Hall, Pengri Building, Zhang Wenzhong Ancestral Hall, Wenchang Pavilion, Shen Gui Pool, North Courtyard, North Gate Hall, Lezhi Garden, and other buildings.
The main buildings in the courtyard are symmetrically aligned along the central axis, with garden landscapes such as small bridges, flowing water, rockeries, and flowers and trees arranged in a compact layout.

Post by KARA PEARSON | Oct 24, 2024