The Zheng Banqiao Memorial Hall is a professional museum commemorating Zheng Banqiao, a representative figure of the "Eight Eccentrics of Yangzhou" in the Qing Dynasty. It was established in November 1983 to commemorate Zheng Banqiao, a calligrapher, painter and writer in the Qing Dynasty. Located in Zhaoyang Town, Xinghua City, Jiangsu Province. The basic display of the museum is "Zheng Banqiao's Life and Artistic Achievements".
In the 32nd year of Kangxi (1693), Zheng Banqiao was born in Gubanqiao, Dongmenwai, Xinghua County, Jiangsu Province. At that time, Hua Yan was 12 years old, Gao Fenghan was 11 years old, Bian Shoumin was 10 years old, Wang Shishen was 8 years old, Li Wei was 8 years old, Jin Nong was 7 years old, and Huang Shen was 7 years old. These future "Eight Eccentrics of Yangzhou" are like chess pieces scattered on their respective soils during the prosperous days of Kangxi and Qianlong. Gu Banqiao is a plank bridge on the moat outside the east gate of Xinghua Ancient City. The alley where Zheng Banqiao's former residence is located is called Zhuxiang. Banqiao once said: "Yu's family has two thatched huts, and bamboos are planted in the south..." This hut where bamboo was once grown was renovated and renovated by the Xinghua Municipal Government in 1983. To the south of the former residence is the side house, and to the north is the main house, commonly known as the "Zheng Family Lobby House". Two masters, Zhao Puchu and Liu Haisu, inscribed the plaques "Zheng Banqiao's Former Residence" and "Banqiao's Former Residence" respectively in the foyer of their former residence. Entering from the foyer, you will see a screen wall, turn left and suddenly enter the courtyard. The courtyard is lush, with old bamboos and new bamboos. It exudes a refreshing fragrance, is dotted with potted orchids and plantains, and is covered with moss, hinting at the long history of the former residence.
In 1993, the Xinghua Municipal Government expanded the Zheng Banqiao Memorial Hall into the Xinghua Municipal Museum. Two forefathers, Shu Tong and Qigong, successively wrote the name of the museum. The new museum is connected with the historical sites Si Pailou and Li Garden, forming a new cultural village in the ancient city of Xinghua. Zheng Banqiao Memorial Hall, also known as Xinghua City Museum, is located in the center of the city, covering an area of ??more than 6,000 square meters. It is a three-story antique building with white walls and black tiles, surrounded by winding corridors. In the courtyard of the museum, there is a statue of Banqiao, which is supplemented by strange rocks and bamboos. There is a pool with stones inlaid on the edge of the pool. The canine teeth are interdependent and uneven. In summer, the water lilies in the pool are in full bloom and red carps shuttle among them, which is very interesting. The museum mainly contains exhibitions such as "Zheng Banqiao's Life and Artistic Achievements", "Xinghua Celebrities of the Past", "Shi Naian Cultural Relics and Historical Materials Display". There are 47 plaques hanging on the four archways in the south, recording the deeds of 74 sages in the history of Xinghua, which are admired by future generations. The inscriptions on the plaques are all written by famous contemporary calligraphers and have high artistic appreciation value. There is a lacquer painting hanging in the north room of the former residence. The couplets on both sides of the lacquer painting were made by Zheng Banqiao when he was in Fan County: "Autumn comes in from the sound of summer rain, and spring is found in the cold plum blossoms." The original orchid stone pictures and ink paintings on the east and west sides The bamboo pictures are all original from the Qing Dynasty and have been collected now.
Zheng Banqiao’s bedroom is on the east side of the main room. Cabinets, suitcases, lampstands, etc. are all old things he used. Later generations will display other imitations that are “rare and confusing”. To the west of the main room is the room of Zheng Banqiao's wet nurse Fei. The room displays a chronology of Zheng Banqiao's major events, as well as various works and papers on Zheng Banqiao.
On the east side of the yard is the kitchen, which contains a wood-cut couplet: "Cooked cabbage, green salt and indica rice, earthenware pot of Tianshui chrysanthemum tea", written by Zheng Banqiao to his cousin Yuan Anshi. On the lintel of the south side of the former residence, there is a brick carving with the words "Talk about taking shelter from the wind and rain", and a new bamboo tree stands proudly under it, like the shadow of the old man Banqiao who "cut out the complex and simplified it". The museum has a collection of 1,181 pieces, including 33 calligraphy and painting pieces by Zheng Banqiao, 348 pieces of calligraphy and painting by Jin Nong, Min Zhen, Zheng Luan, Liu Xizai and others, and 833 pieces of calligraphy and painting by contemporary celebrities in memory of Zheng Banqiao and Shi Naian.
The basic display of the museum is "Zheng Banqiao's Life and Artistic Achievements". It displays the "Zheng Family Tree of Zhaoyang", the relics of the old man Banqiao, 7 versions of "Zheng Banqiao Collection", replicas and photos of Banqiao's inkwriting, as well as related research treatises, materials and scripts, epigraphs, legends and stories, etc. The former residence of Zheng Banqiao under the jurisdiction of the memorial hall is a Qing Dynasty residential building with 8 rooms in the north and south. With pink walls and black tiles, sparse orchids and bamboos, it maintains the original appearance of "there is no need for a large room to be elegant, and the fragrance of flowers is not too much". Small calligraphy and painting exhibitions are held from time to time in the former residence to promote Zheng Banqiao's artistic achievements.