Zhong Futang, located on the east side of Shipi Alley in the ancient town, was built during the Shunzhi-Kangxi period of the Qing Dynasty and is a private residence of the Wang family. The Wang family traces its origins back to Wang Yuan, who was a commander in the imperial army during the Song Dynasty. It is said that after Wang Yuan escorted Emperor Gaozong of Song, Zhao Gou, to the south and survived the Ming Shou Incident, his descendants hid in the Hang-Jia-Hu area. During the Shunzhi-Kangxi period, one branch of the descendants moved to Xitang and built this mansion.
Zhong Futang is a seven-progress courtyard house, connected by a long alleyway that runs from front to back, comprising over seventy rooms, halls, and buildings, and is a typical example of Ming and Qing residential architecture. The main gate is indistinguishable from the adjacent houses, but beneath this unassuming facade lies a hidden, deep mansion. Some say this reflects the reserved cultural characteristics of the Jiangnan people, while others argue it is an embodiment of the ‘initial restraint followed by grandeur’ architectural style. It is also said that due to the frequent presence of bandits in the Taihu Lake area, the plain facade served as a protective disguise. Upon entering through the main gate, the first progression is the ‘front hall’, followed by a small courtyard; the second progression is the ‘palanquin hall’, a spacious area where wealthy families used to park their sedan chairs, and the walls here are quite thick to deter bandits; the third progression is the main hall, ‘Zhong Futang’, where the plaque is said to have been inscribed by Chen Bangyan, a Hanlin academician during the Kangxi period, as a reminder to future generations to ‘perform good deeds and accumulate virtue in daily life, ensuring the well-being of future generations’. An interesting feature here is that not only is the ground floor paved with tiles, but the upper floor’s wooden surface is also covered with square bricks. For visiting tips, Zhong Futang is currently open to the public for the first three progressions; the remaining four include the kitchen, residential areas, and one section is a garden. The opening hours and specific business status are subject to the daily opening conditions.Zhong Futang: A Qing Dynasty Mansion
Zhong Futang, located on the east side of Shipi Alley in the ancient town, was built during the Shun[...]
