Ye Shengtao Memorial Hall

Ye Shengtao Memorial Hall Located on the southwest side of Baosheng Temple, the memorial hall stands on the former site of the “Wuxian County Fifth Higher Primary School,” where Mr. Ye Shengtao taught from 1917 to 1922. Following his passing, the site was designated as the Ye Shengtao Memorial Hall. Behind the memorial lies a garden that includes the original site of the “Shengsheng Farm,” founded by Mr. Ye during his time at the Fifth High School, as well as his burial ground. In 2019, both the former teaching site and Ye Shengtao’s tomb were inscribed on the list of Jiangsu Province’s Cultural Relics Protection Units. Today, the site also serves as a historical education base for the Central Committee of the China Association for Promoting Democracy, a moral education base for schools in Jiangsu Province, and a patriotic education base.

On the west wall of Baosheng Temple, a gateway leads directly to the Ye Shengtao Memorial Hall. The gatehouse is a single‑bay structure with a hip roof, adorned with brick carvings; above it is inscribed the words “Ye Shengtao Memorial Hall,” calligraphed by Mr. Zhao Puchu. The memorial hall stands on the former site of Wuzhi County’s Fifth Higher Primary School (commonly known as “Wugao”), which in turn traces its origins to Fuli Primary School, founded by Shen Baihan. Its earliest roots can be traced back to the Zhisun era of the Yuan dynasty, when Qian Guangbi established Fuli Academy at the former residence of Lu Guimeng. In 1907, Shen Baihan, together with other enlightened local figures, initiated Fuli Primary School, replacing the traditional private‑tutor model with a subject‑based curriculum; the school was widely regarded by the public as a “Western‑style academy.” In the fifth year of the Republic of China (1916), the advanced section of Fuli Primary School was reorganized by the Wuzhi County government into “Wugao,” with a three‑year program. In 1917, Ye Shengtao joined Wugao as a teacher, marking the beginning of his literary career.

Upon entering the memorial hall’s main gate, a path of pebbles leads directly to the exhibition hall. To the east stands the Women’s Building, a structure newly constructed in 2000. In 1919, Madam Hu Molin, wife of Mr. Ye, accepted an appointment from the “Wu Gao” school and taught there for three years as a faculty member in the women’s department. On the west side is the “Sifang Hall,” which resembles a pavilion with open passages on all four sides; it once served as the “Wu Gao” school’s reading room. Adjoining the “Sifang Hall” to the west is the “Yuanyang Hall,” the former office and communal dormitory of the “Wu Gao” school, renowned for its elegant ambiance.

  Ye Shengtao Memorial Hall Exhibition Hall The exhibition hall is a single-story building with seven bays, its entrance adorned by a plaque inscribed with the words “Ye Shengtao Memorial Hall,” calligraphed by Comrade Li Ruihuan. Upon entering, one finds the introductory hall; before a solemn, pure-white, curved screen stands a bronze bust of Mr. Ye Shengtao. Above the screen is an inscription penned by Mr. Zhao Puchu: “A Role Model for a Generation.” Flanking the introductory hall are display rooms that, through numerous photographs and written materials, trace the life of Mr. Ye Shengtao.

Mandarin Duck Hall It was the school’s central hub, serving as both the administrative office and a collective dormitory for teachers, and also stood as a vital platform where Mr. Ye Shengtao and his colleagues advanced educational reform and nurtured outstanding talents.

With a façade three bays wide—7.55 meters—and a depth of 10.1 meters, the building exudes grandeur and solemnity befitting an educational institution, while ensuring spacious, functional interiors that provide teachers with a work and living environment that is both comfortable and efficient. The name “YuanYang Hall” itself embodies ingenious design and profound symbolism: a carefully crafted wall ridge, curving in a natural, graceful arc reminiscent of a normal distribution, subtly divides the hall into two distinct sections. The southern section features square‑timber beams, columns, and purlins, whereas the northern section employs round‑timber construction. Each half possesses its own unique character, like a pair of mandarin ducks flying side by side—hence the name “YuanYang.” The northern hall, dominated by round‑timber framing, boasts smooth, rounded lines that evoke a warm, inviting domestic atmosphere. It served as the living quarters for five teachers, including Ye Shengtao, brimming with the everyday rhythms of life and the deep bonds shared among colleagues. The original dormitory layout has been faithfully reconstructed, comprising five beds along with desks and chairs; the school’s principal at the time, Wu Binruo, together with Ye Shengtao, Wang Boxiang, and others, lived and worked here. On the wall hangs a group photograph of the teachers from Luzhi’s “No. 5 High School,” taken in those days. From left to right are: Yin Kangbo, Ye Shengtao, Sun Jianping, Wang Boxiang, Zhu Yunshi, Wu Binruo, Shen Junyi, Xu Yucai, Dong Zhiyao, and Chen Yongni (Ye Shengtao is second from the left in the second row). Wardrobes, washbasin stands, trunks beneath the beds, a kettle on the table, and various other furnishings have all been meticulously recreated based on historical records, bringing the scene back to life. By contrast, the southern hall exudes a beauty of rigor and order. Its beams, columns, and rafters are fashioned from squared timber, their lines crisp and resolute. This space once functioned as an office where teachers debated scholarship and exchanged ideas, and it was also the site where they drafted the manifesto calling for a strike in solidarity with the May Fourth Movement. Here, Mr. Ye Shengtao and his colleagues deliberated on far-reaching plans for educational reform, boldly breaking free from the constraints of the feudal education system and launching a series of unprecedented pedagogical experiments that paved the way for modern education in China.

Exhibition Hall (Four-Sided Hall) Outside the four-sided hall stands a square pavilion, with round columns and low walls, open on all sides. Its platform is square, and the interior is divided by doors and partitions, creating a small chamber. In those days, this space served as the “Five Highs” exhibition room, where renowned Chinese and foreign works, along with progressive periodicals, were regularly kept for students to read.

Women's Building Originally a two-story building with four bays running north–south, it comprised four rooms in total: the upper floor housed classrooms and offices, while the lower floor served as an auditorium and a music room. Ye Shengtao’s wife, Hu Molin, once taught here as a faculty member in the girls’ department, and Mr. Ye himself occasionally stood in for her. Some of the stories in Ye Shengtao’s children’s collection, “The Scarecrow,” were first shared with their earliest readers right here. Today, the ground floor of the Girls’ Building has been transformed into an exhibition on family traditions, complete with a faithfully restored girls’ classroom, while the upper floor is dedicated to the Wuzhong CPPCC’s cultural and historical exhibit.