The western line is where Yansheng Duke learned poems and practised etiquette, so it is called West School, including Hong’e Veranda, Zhongshu Hall and Anhuai Hall. There are 7 courtyards connected with winding corridors. In the courtyards there are luxuriant trees and slender bamboos, forming beautiful scenery and serene environment all through the year.
The central line is the main body of the Confucian Mansion, which is arranged just like the past. The front part is government offices, which are divided into 3 courts and 6 halls, governing 4 offices and taking charge of etiquette rites. The main court and the second court are where Yansheng Duke received government officials and dealt with government affairs. In the center of the main court are exhibited government stamps, the four treasures of the study, flags and arrows used as tokens of authority, etc. On the two sides are guard of honor used for Yansheng Duke when he went out and tablets for official titles. There are over 100 pieces in total here. The 6 halls are on the two sides of the main court. On the eastern side, there are Stamp Hall for keeping stamps of Confucian Mansion, Book Hall for storing books, writings bestowed by emperors, and Management Hall that arrange silver and grain renting and sacrifices offering. On the western side, there are Transaction Hall where official documents were dealt with, Music Hall, which manages music and dance used for offering sacrifices, and Labor force Hall, which is in charge of the labor forces of Confucian Mansion.
The back part is private residences, including Front House, Front Building, Back Building, Back Five Rooms and so on. The buildings of the private residences have upturned eaves, ridges, carved columns and colorful rails. The Front House is where Yansheng Duke’ family received their relatives and held grand feasts, weddings and funerals. In the house are exhibited tableware of the Confucian Mansion and other things bestowed by Emperor Qianlong. In the four corners of the yard, there are four stone drums used for drama performances. The Back Building is where Yansheng Duke’ elder generations lived. In 1937, the 77th- generation Yansheng Duke Kong Decheng held his wedding ceremony here. In the dinning room are exhibited the presents given by Kuomintang officials.
In the two East Rooms there are a lot of precious furniture, pearls, gold wares, silk and paintings. On the wall hang the peony drawings by Mei Lanfang, Kong Decheng’s wedding photo and family photo. At the end of the private residences is the garden, which was built in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and rebuilt in the Jiaqing reign of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). It is also called Iron Hill Garden because of an iron hill in the garden. In the garden there are flowers, vines, pools, hills that are of peculiar design and elegant taste. There are also 5 Gentleman Cypresses, each with 5 branches. The 5 cypresses encircle a Japanese pagoda tree. This is a wonder of over 400 years.
The Confucian Mansion treasures up many books and documents from the 13th year (1534) of the Jiaqing reign of the Qing Dynasty to 1948. From 1949 to today, over 9000 volumes (over 300,000 pieces) have been arranged. These files reflect the political, economic and cultural condition of Ming, Qing dynasties and the Republic of China from different angles. Therefore, they are important materials for the research into China’s feudal system in the later period. Moreover, in the Confucian Mansion there are over 10,000 jewelries and clothes bestowed by emperors of Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties. Among them one crown of the Yuan Dynasty is especially precious because it is the only one in China today.
(Source: chinaculture.org)
