After nearly two years’ maintenance, repair and renovation, the former residence of Shen Jiaben, a famous scholar and jurist in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), opened to the public on Jan 9.

The renovation program was sponsored by the Supreme People’s Court and the Beijing municipal government.

Born in East China’s Zhejiang province, Shen was in charge of the revision of the many codes, abolishing several cruel punishments such as “slow slicing” (lingchi).

The residence, located at the No.1 Jinjing Hutong, Chaoyang district of Beijing, displays a full load of precious historical materials, including objects and pictures.

The displays are presented in four categories -- Shen’s life, revision of the Qing Code, the influence of Shen’s thoughts on the modernization of China’s legal system, and research regarding Shen.

The former residence of Shen Jiaben after renovation [Photo by Guo Xuewen/People’s Court Daily]

The former residence of Shen Jiaben in renovation [Photo/People’s Court Daily]

Interior of the former residence of Shen Jiaben after renovation [Photo by Cheng Guowei/People’s Court Daily]

Another view of the residence’s interior [Photo by Cheng Guowei/People’s Court Daily]

Cultural relics at the former residence of Shen Jiaben [Photo by Cheng Guowei/People’s Court Daily]

Valuable historical material of Shen Jiaben [Photo by Cheng Guowei/People’s Court Daily]