The residence of the famous Prime Minister Chen Tingjing - Imperial City Prime Minister's Mansion

I have traveled almost all over Shanxi from north to south, from east to west, and visited many places of interest and natural scenery in Shanxi, but I have never been to the Imperial Palace in Jincheng. I have heard about the Imperial City Prime Minister's Office for a long time. In the past few years, there were advertisements about the Imperial City Prime Minister's Office everywhere in Beijing's subway stations. I also know that the Imperial City Prime Minister's Office was the teacher of Emperor Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty and the head of the famous Prime Minister Chen Tingjing. hometown.

Moreover, Jincheng is very close to Jiaozuo, Henan. From Jiaozuo, you can reach Jincheng by crossing the Taihang Mountains. I went to Jiaozuo almost every year in the past few years. I wanted to visit the Imperial City Prime Minister's Mansion from Jiaozuo several times, but there were always reasons. Didn't happen. After the journey to the west of Hubei, we returned to Jiaozuo from Xiangyang. After resting for two days at the home of Si Mei and Wu Mei, Xianrong and I hit the road again. First of all, I chose to visit the Imperial City Prime Minister’s Mansion in Jincheng, Shanxi.

On the morning of November 9, I said goodbye to my sister and brothers-in-law and set off for Jincheng. The entire expressway from Jiaozuo to the Imperial City Xiangfu passes through three expressways: Jinxin, Jinjiao and Jinyang, and passes through the Taihang Mountains.

The expressway from Henan to Shanxi has a heavy traffic volume and passes through many long tunnels. The speed limit is 60 kilometers on many sections. The 100 kilometers journey took nearly 2 hours. At 10:30 in the morning, we arrived at the Imperial City Prime Minister’s Mansion, the residence of the famous Prime Minister Chen Tingjing.

Introduction to the Imperial City Prime Minister's Office

The Imperial City Prime Minister's Office was a bachelor of Wenyuan Pavilion and Minister of the Ministry of Personnel in the Kangxi Dynasty of the Qing Dynasty. He was the teacher of Emperor Kangxi and the chief reader of the "Kangxi Dictionary". The residence of Chen Tingjing, a famous prime minister who supported Emperor Kangxi for half a century.

The Imperial City Prime Minister’s Mansion is located in Beiliu Town, Yangcheng County, Jincheng City. It covers an area of ​​about 100,000 square meters and is divided into an inner city and an outer city. The inner city was built during the Chongzhen period of the Ming Dynasty, and the outer city was built during the Kangxi period of the Qing Dynasty. During the 19th century, its buildings followed the mountain and changed with the shape. The buildings were stacked on top of each other in a well-proportioned manner. It is an ancient castle complex integrating official residences, former residences of literati and local residences. It was the residence of the first cultural giant in northern China during the Qing Dynasty. .

During the Ming and Qing dynasties, the Chen family produced 41 Gongsheng students, 19 candidates, 38 officials, 9 of them were Jinshi, and 6 were admitted to the Imperial Academy. Emperor Kangxi once highly praised Chen Tingjing as "Fang Yao is as good at rhyme as Li Du is a great poet". He also wrote a couplet written by his family: "Nine Jinshi in one discipline by virtue, Enrong in three generations and six Hanlins".

The Imperial City Prime Minister’s Mansion is a castle-style complex of ancient official residences. It consists of an inner city and an outer city. It was built in the Ming and Qing dynasties respectively and covers an area of ​​about 23,000 square meters. The construction area reaches 36,000 square meters, with 16 large courtyards and 640 various houses. The total length of the inner and outer city walls is more than 780 meters, with an average height of about 12 meters and a width of about 2.5 to 3 meters.

We entered the main entrance of the Prime Minister's Mansion from the Imperial Library, where the inscription "Wuting Mountain Village" written by Emperor Kangxi hung high in the middle of the tower, and walked into the Prime Minister's Mansion in the Imperial City.

First of all, I saw a stone tablet "Chen Tingjing's Former Residence" standing on the north side of the main entrance. There are two stone archways, one large and one small, directly in front. The four characters "Tsukazai Zongxian" are engraved directly on the top of the stone archway, and the eight characters "Yimen Yanze" and "Fifth Generation Chengen" are engraved on the side doors on both sides of the stone archway, which refers to the fact that the Chen family has been influenced by the people for five generations. The emperor's gift.

Below the large characters are detailed records of the official positions awarded to Chen Tingjing's eight brothers and his three sons. The Chen family was famous throughout the Three Jin Dynasties with the reputation of "Father is a Hanlin, son is a Hanlin, father and son are a Hanlin; brother is a Hanlin, brother is a Hanlin, brother is a Hanlin", and is known to both the government and the public. Engraved above the small stone archway is "Imperial Edict".

We started our tour from the outer city. The outer city building complex is centered on Tsukasaidi, and the main buildings and various courtyards face north and south. First, go along the east side of the outer city to visit the Prime Minister's Mansion, Dianhan Hall, East Academy, Catering Department, Inner Palace, etc. from south to north, then go to the west side of the outer city to visit the Lady's Courtyard, then go to the West Garden, and circle along the rockery in the West Garden. Climb up the stone steps to the River View Pavilion on the west city wall.

Standing on the west wall of the outer city, I saw that the imperial city is backed by Fanshan Mountain in the east and Fanxi River in the west. On the opposite side, there is the Xishan Ridge as a natural screen wall. It is surrounded by mountains and water, and the shape is complete. For the main purpose, sit firmly and face the sky, hide the wind and gather energy, and form a magnificent castle with rows of sticks.

Walk north along the west city wall to the northwest corner tower. Looking northwest, you can see a Taoist temple with red walls and blue tiles built on the west mountain ridge halfway up the mountain, hidden among the greenery. The building complex is Xishan Courtyard.

Turn north from the turret to the north city wall. The north city wall is a line connecting the outer city and the inner city, but the inner city wall protrudes to the north.

Make four right-angled turns along the city wall and gradually go higher and higher until you reach the Chunqiu Pavilion in the northeast corner, also known as the "Guandi Pavilion". Inside is a statue of Emperor Guan reading "Spring and Autumn" at night, so it is called the Chunqiu Pavilion. This is the commanding heights of the walls of the Imperial City and Prime Minister's Mansion.

Then turn to the east wall of the inner city, pass two battlements, and reach the southeast corner tower. It is called "Wenchang Pavilion" because there is a statue of Emperor Wenchang in the building, which is the same height as Chunqiu Pavilion. Walk west along the south wall of the inner city, gradually getting lower and lower.

We kept walking west. When we passed the west wall of the inner city, which is also the east wall of the outer city, we did not go north, but went straight to the gate tower of the "Zhongdaozhuang", the main entrance of the outer city, and continued along the west wall of the outer city. Go north to Wanghe Pavilion, then go down the city wall along the stone ledge of the rockery in the West Garden and enter the outer city.

After walking along the walls surrounding the Imperial City and the Prime Minister’s Mansion, we had a panoramic view of the magnificent ancient city. The Imperial City Prime Minister's Mansion is uniquely located near mountains and rivers. The inner city and the outer city echo each other from a distance, making it a spectacular sight.

After descending the city wall, exit the outer city along the west side through the Guanjia Courtyard, and then enter the inner city through the main gate of the inner city. The courtyards of the inner city all face east to west. First, we visited the Chen Clan Ancestral Hall, Yushi Mansion and other courtyards, walked through the cloister to Shanhe Tower, left the inner city from Shanhe Tower, and went to Ninghui Hall to visit the Chen Tingjing Exhibition Hall.

Imperial City Prime Minister’s Mansion: the official residence is majestic and row upon row of houses; the two cities merge into one, the castle is simple and mysterious; the mountain village is exquisite and beautiful, and the ancient architecture unites nature and man; the mansion of China’s giant family is a masterpiece of luxury handed down from generation to generation.

During the visit to the Imperial City, I took a lot of photos with my mobile phone and selected some scenic spots to give a brief introduction.

With two stone archways, Chen's fame is well-known.

The stone archway photographed while standing on the city wall

The doorway of "Zhongdaozhuang"

The Great Scholar's Mansion

The seated statue of Chen Tingjing, a famous minister of the generation

Portrait of Kangxi, the First Emperor Through the Ages

Kangxi inscribed a plaque for Chen Tingjing’s residence

I checked and found that Emperor Kangxi bestowed upon Chen Tingjing and his son 21 poems and 3 inscriptions. articles.

Chen Tingjing and Emperor Kangxi: one elder and one younger, one master and one apprentice, one Han and one Manchu, one minister and one king. They were respectively recorded in the annals of history as a generation of famous ministers and an emperor through the ages, and passed down to future generations.

The outline is long and deep, and the doors are layered.

Exquisite brick carvings

Beautiful wood carvings

Miss Courtyard

Chongxing Pavilion

West Garden< /p>

East Garden

Northeast Corner Tower - Chunqiu Pavilion

Wenfeng Tower

Standing on the north wall and looking around,

The sun shines on Shanhe Tower,

The distant tower stands in the mirror.

Standing on the east city wall, you can see the west mountains in the distance.

The imperial city is seen in one corner, with a pentaprism in the middle.

Taoist temple complex - Xishanyuan

There are two battlements on the east wall, and there is a cave for soldiers under the wall.

Based on the mountains, the high and low are stacked.

The Wenchang Pavilion is dedicated to the God of Wen and Music,

The Wenfeng Pagoda stands up to Fan Feng.

The high-walled and deep courtyard is homely and well-proportioned.

Chen's Ancestral Hall: Deji has nine Jinshi in one discipline, and Enrong has three generations and six Ci Lin.

Buy a copy of "Kangxi Dictionary" and study traditional Chinese characters.

Shanhe Tower: three square rooms, 11.3 meters wide, 8 meters deep, 33.3 meters high, with 7 floors. It is the most distinctive fortification in ancient China. You can garrison troops, hide people, and attack the enemy, but the enemy cannot enter.

Taking photos of the Imperial City Prime Minister's Mansion

After more than two hours of visiting, I walked out of the Imperial City Prime Minister's Mansion with many feelings.

I have visited many courtyards in Shanxi, such as the Wang Family Courtyard in Lingshi, many merchant houses in Pingyao Ancient City, etc. These ancient courtyards and houses all show the wealth and luxury of Shanxi merchants or officials. Although Each has its own merits, but in terms of popularity and momentum, it cannot be compared with the Imperial City Prime Minister's Palace.

After seeing the Prime Minister’s Mansion in the Imperial City, I thought of Prince Gong’s Mansion in Beijing, which I have visited twice. I feel that this is the best discovered and protected palace in our country. It is the two highest-level palaces that are related to the royal family and have the highest status. A first-class official residence. The predecessor of Prince Gong's Mansion was "He Di", which was the residence of He Shen, an important minister during the Qianlong Dynasty. He was very popular in front of Emperor Qianlong.

He Shen relied on flattery and every possible means to please Qianlong, winning the emperor's favor and becoming a powerful minister.

He gentry had monopolized power, was greedy for profit, amassed money, and used the collected gold and silver from the people to build a government mansion that occupied all the geomantic treasures of Beijing.

As a result, after Qianlong's death, the geomantic treasure land did not bring shelter to Heshen. Heshen was dismissed from his post and imprisoned by Emperor Jiaqing's decree. He was ordered to commit suicide. He built the most magnificent house in the capital and became the property of the princes. paradise. He Shen became a negative teacher for corruption and bending the law and was notorious for ever.

Chen Tingjing, the owner of the Imperial City Prime Minister's Office, was the imperial advisor and important minister of the Kangxi Dynasty of Grandpa Qianlong, and was highly regarded and loved by Emperor Kangxi. Chen Tingjing was an upright and honest official. He advocated simplicity of swordsmanship, abided by the law, and was strict in self-discipline. He was famous for his noble tolerance and strict management of officials at that time, and his reputation was passed down to future generations.

He died of illness in his position, and Emperor Kangxi personally composed the "One Peng Three Sacrificial Inscriptions", becoming a model for high-ranking feudal officials who "know the Lord to know the pure virtues, and the Emperor to know the Perfect Man". The Prime Minister's Mansion in the Imperial City has been preserved, so that future generations can not only appreciate the magnificent architecture of the Ming and Qing Dynasties, but also learn from the excellent character and family tradition of the Chen family.

Producer: Hou Zhong (Yi Weng)

Editor: Mao Mi "White Waves"