Xu Yizhuang Ancestral Hall (Gelaotang Hall)

Xu Yizhuang Ancestral Hall (Gelaotang Hall)

Xu Yizhuang Ancestral Hall (Gelaotang Hall) is a Jiangsu Provincial cultural relics protection unit.

Xu Yizhuang Ancestral Hall (Gelaotang Hall) is located in Chadong New Village, Yicheng Town, Yixing City. In January 1985, it was designated as a county-level cultural relics protection unit by the People’s Government of Yixing County. On December 19, 2011, it was announced as part of the seventh batch of provincial-level cultural relics protection units by the Jiangsu Provincial People’s Government.

Gelaotang Hall was the residence of Xu Pu, a famous historical figure from Yixing, and holds significant historical value. The stone inscriptions preserved inside the hall, such as the Ming Dynasty-carved “Chu Song Stele,” also possess exceptional artistic value. Xu Pu (1428–1499), courtesy name Shiyong, style name Qianzhai, was a native of Xiyin Village, Yixing. He passed the imperial examination in 1454 during the Jingtai era of the Ming Dynasty, ranking second in the palace examination, and was appointed as a Hanlin Academy editor. In 1487, during the Chenghua era, he was named Grand Secretary of the Wenyuan Pavilion and Minister of Rites, later serving successively as Minister of Revenue and Minister of Personnel. In 1492, during the Hongzhi era, he became the Chief Grand Secretary. Xu Pu had a long official career, serving under four emperors—Jingtai, Tianshun, Chenghua, and Hongzhi—and was known as the “Veteran Statesman of Four Reigns.”

Gelaotang Hall was built during the Hongzhi era of the Ming Dynasty as Xu Pu’s residence after his retirement. Since Xu Pu served as a grand secretary for 12 years, he was also referred to as Grand Secretary Xu, and locals called his residence Gelaotang Hall. Most of the structure was destroyed during the Xianfeng era of the Qing Dynasty but was rebuilt during the Guangxu era.

The hall faces south and is arranged along east and west axes, each with four courtyards. It is situated south of the Jingxi River and forms a relatively large-scale architectural complex from the Ming Dynasty. By the late 1990s, due to urban redevelopment, most of the buildings were demolished, leaving only the second to fourth courtyards along the eastern axis. These remaining structures span a width of 30 meters and a depth of 40.50 meters. The second courtyard features a flush gable roof, with five bays spanning 19.20 meters in width and 12 meters in depth across eight rafters. The third courtyard also has a flush gable roof, with three bays spanning 21 meters in width and 9.35 meters in depth across eight rafters. This section was originally called the Flower Hall, also known as the “White Tiger Hall” or “Baoyi Hall.” The beams and brackets in the hall were originally painted, though the paintings no longer exist. On its northern wall are embedded stone carvings, including the “Chu Song Stele” written by the Northern Song literary giant Su Dongpo, as well as inscribed stones by Southern Song Chancellor Zhou Bida, Yuan Dynasty calligrapher Zhao Mengfu, and Xu Pu himself, all commenting on the Chu Song Stele. The fourth courtyard spans nine bays, 29.50 meters in width, and 7.80 meters in depth across eight rafters.

Yicheng Subdistrict: The Yicheng Subdistrict Office is the seat of the Yixing Municipal Government and serves as the city’s political, economic, and cultural center, as well as the window for Yixing’s opening-up. Covering an area of 40 square kilometers with a population of 240,000, it governs 30 community committees and 6 administrative villages. Divided by the Wuxi-Shexian Canal, the area within the canal on the town side falls under Yicheng’s jurisdiction, while the area outside is managed by the Yixing Economic Development Zone. Communities, villages (groups), and enterprises originally belonging to Yicheng but now located outside the canal are entrusted to the development zone for management. Non-incorporated villages (groups) may establish new village committees or merge with neighboring ones... More details about Yicheng Subdistrict++

Further Reading:

· Seventh Batch of Jiangsu Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units