Changzhou Historical Figures: Luminaries of Culture & Virtue
Changzhou has nurtured countless cultural and moral icons, whose legacies shaped local and national history. Two of its most celebrated figures embody the city’s spirit of etiquette and literature
Ji Zha (the “Model of Etiquette”)
A noble of the Wu Kingdom (c. 576–484 BC), renowned for his humility and integrity (he declined the throne multiple times to uphold tradition);
Honored as the “Model of Etiquette” in Chinese history, with memorials in Changzhou’s Yancheng Ruins.
Su Dongpo (1037–1101)
A literary giant of the Song Dynasty (poet, calligrapher, painter);
He settled in Changzhou in his later years, calling it “the place I belong”—his tomb and memorial hall are preserved in the city, drawing literature enthusiasts worldwide.