A historian of the Republic of China said, "we can't write the history of the Republic of China without Jiangsu, and we can't write Jiangsu without Han Guojun."

    Han Guojun (1857-1942), Zishi, was born in Hai'an town (now Hai'an County), Tai county, Jiangsu Province. He was elected in the late Qing Dynasty. He successively served as the county magistrate of Zhenping, Xiangfu, Wuzhi, Yongcheng and Jun counties in Henan Province, the general office of Hebei Mining Bureau, the meeting office of negotiation Bureau, the director of Fengtian negotiation Bureau and port opening Bureau, the counsellor of Guangdong provincial governor's office and the general office of military readiness Office, the Department of Fengtian negotiation and the supervisor of Huludao commercial port, the Department of civil affairs of Jilin Province Vice president of Jilin Security Association. During his term of office, he was loyal to the monarch, dutiful, safeguarding sovereignty and good governance of people's livelihood. He was a famous virtuous minister in the late Qing Dynasty.

    After the revolution of 1911, Han Guojun successively served as the chief of civil affairs of Jiangsu Province, the chief of civil affairs of Anhui Province and the patrol envoy of Anhui Province. Later, he resigned as the patrol envoy of Hunan and returned home. In May of the 11th year of the Republic of China (1922), he served as governor of Jiangsu Province. In December of the 13th year of the Republic of China (1924), he served as governor of Jiangsu Province and returned home to devote himself to salt reclamation and canal water conservancy projects. During this period, he took rescuing the people's suffering as his own responsibility and dealt with the turbulent and chaotic years. He was a witness to modern Chinese history.

    After the outbreak of the war of resistance against Japan, Han Guojun accepted the Communist Party of China's proposition of uniting against Japan, ran around to appeal for contacting patriots from all walks of life in Northern Jiangsu to resist Japan, and twice presided over the consultative meeting on stopping civil war and unanimously resisting Japan in Northern Jiangsu in his hometown. In the thirtieth year of the Republic of China (1941), when Hai'an fell, Han Guojun avoided living in the countryside, and the Japanese puppets repeatedly forced him to become the governor of the puppet Jiangsu Province, which was severely rejected. In the 31st year of the Republic of China (1942), Han Guojun died of anger under the surveillance of the Japanese puppets. His lofty national integrity and patriotism were praised by Chen Yi, acting commander of the New Fourth Army, as "a model for the national war of resistance against Japan".

    In memory of Mr. Han Guojun, the people's Government of Hai'an County allocated funds to build his former residence in 1987. In the same year, the Culture Bureau of Hai'an County sent a letter to collect ink treasures from well-known calligraphers and painters in China to praise Han Guojun's noble patriotic feelings. In less than a year, more than 750 excellent works were donated.

    This exhibition is part of it. From these works, we really feel that calligraphers and painters are full of admiration for Mr. Han Guojun and incomparable love for the great rivers and mountains of the motherland. At the same time, we are also deeply moved by the passionate creation and selfless dedication of calligraphers and painters. Here, I would like to pay high tribute to them.

    The exhibition is open to citizens free of charge. Citizens and friends are welcome to visit.

    Exhibition time: August 30, 2016 - September 30, 2016
    Venue: Hai'an County Museum