Anyang | Two Jinshi Scholars from One Family: The Mashi Manor.

The Ma family of Anyang was a prominent bureaucratic family in northern Henan during the late Qing Dynasty. Their former residence, the Mashi Manor, is quite interesting. It is now a national key cultural relic protection unit and a national 4A scenic spot. Two Jinshi Scholars from One Family • Ma Piyao: A Jinshi scholar during the first year of the Tongzhi Emperor's reign, he rose to become the Governor of Guangdong and was posthumously awarded the title of "Grand Master of Guanglu" (a civil official title) and "General Zhenwei" (a military official title). • Ma Jizhang: The second son of Ma Piyao, he became a Jinshi scholar in the ninth year of the Guangxu Emperor's reign and served as a compiler at the Hanlin Academy, a judicial officer in Hubei, and a secretary in the Presidential Office of the Beiyang Government. Three Generations, Five Outstanding Figures • Ma Jisen: The eldest son of Ma Piyao, he founded the Guangyi Yarn Factory and the Liuhegou Coal Mine in Anyang and served as the president of the Anyang Chamber of Commerce. • Ma Qingxia: The third daughter of Ma Piyao, she was a heroine of the Xinhai Revolution and was known as the "Southern Qiu Jin, Northern Qingxia". The Ma Family Ma Piyao entered officialdom through the imperial examination system, serving as a county magistrate, prefect, provincial administrative commissioner, and finally Governor of Guangdong. He was praised by the Guangxu Emperor as a "model for all officials". During the Eight-Nation Alliance invasion, when Empress Dowager Cixi and Emperor Guangxu fled west, they stayed at the manor. The presence of inscribed plaques from several important officials of the late Qing Dynasty within the former residence is also one of the highlights. Construction of the Mashi Manor began in the sixth year of the Guangxu Emperor's reign and took nearly 50 years to complete. It is divided into a north and south courtyard. The north courtyard is the core part, where Ma Piyao and his children lived. The rooms where Cixi and Guangxu stayed during their westward flight are also located here. There are many plaques here, including the "Double Jinshi" at the entrance and many plaques inscribed by important officials (Zuo Zongtang, Zhang Zhidong, Li Hongzhang, etc.). The manor is a Central Plains residential building that blends the characteristics of Beijing courtyards and Shanxi merchant courtyards. Four interconnected courtyards are arranged in a sequence, with courtyards within courtyards. There are also some simple elements of "three carvings" (wood carving, stone carving, and brick carving). The south courtyard also has a small garden with rabbits and sheep. Transportation to the scenic spot is a bit of a headache. Self-driving is more convenient. I took the No. 106 bus from the city center to Yindu No. 1 Middle School and then took a taxi to the scenic spot. The return trip is more difficult. It's more than three kilometers to walk to the bus stop, and it's hard to get a taxi. You can negotiate a price with some local pedicabs. You can take the return No. 106 bus across the street from the Yindu No. 1 Middle School intersection. The entrance fee is 40 yuan. Those interested in this type of residential courtyard can visit. The tour takes about 1–2 hours.