On the south bank of West Lake, beside the great mountain in the deep
of forest, at the east side of Zhang Cangshui's tomb, sleeps Zhang
Taiyan, a revolutionary hero of China Democratic Revolution in modern
times and a great scholar of Chinese culture.
Zhang Taiyan (1869-1036) was born in Yuhang, Zhejiang. His teacher
was Yu Yue (Quyuan), and he once was the teacher of Lu Xun, one of
the greatest literary men in 20th-century China.
Zhang's knowledge was encyclopedic. In the beginning of the 20th century
when China was undergoing a fierce revolution, Zhang clearly understood
the chaos of the times and grasped the historical trend. He worked
hard to overthrow the rule of Qing Government.
Zhang Taiyan fiercely condemned the royalist ideas championed by Kang
Youwei, and fiercely decried against the autocratic monarchy of Yuan
Shikai. In his old age, Zhang loudly called the public for standing
up to oppose Japan's aggression.
Mr. Zhang Taiyan highly admired Zhang Cangshui, a national scholar-hero
against the Qing Dynasty. Zhang Taiyan once remarked, "I can't
have the same birthday with Zhang Cangshui, I hope I can be his neighbor
after my death."
Zhang's dream came true after his death. He is now the neighbor of
Hero Zhang Cangshui. In 1988, the Zhang Taiyan Memorial was built
in front of Zhang Taiyan's tomb.
Zhang Taiyan Memorial is in the style of the folk architectural style
at the south of Yangtze River. The memorial has spacious and gracious
rooms and surrounded by flowers and trees. The exhibits on display
show all grave contents and in unique styles. The memorial boasts
of more than 1,000 precious historical relics and over 2,000 materials
and photos. The Zhang Taiyan Memorial has the largest collection of
Zhang Taiyan's mementos and materials in China.