Ancient Residential Complex of Yangliu Village

Ancient Residential Complex of Yangliu Village

The Ancient Residential Complex of Yangliu Village is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

Residential Complex of Yangliu Village

Era: Qing Dynasty

Address: Located in Yangliu Village, Hushu Town, Jiangning District, Nanjing City, Jiangsu Province.

Yangliu Village is situated on the plain of the Outer Qinhuai River. The village has a population of 1,348 residents, with a landscape of mountains and water. It is backed by Machang Mountain to the north and faces Yangliu Lake in front, exuding a strong flavor of the Jiangnan water town. Yangliu Village was first established in the seventh year of the Wanli era of the Ming Dynasty (1579). The independent, self-contained courtyards of the village are also called "halls," with names such as: Yisheng Hall, Yijing Hall, Siben Hall, Shude Hall, Sicheng Hall, Lihé Hall, Zhuoya Hall, Anya Hall, Chonghou Hall, Xule Hall, Juyi Hall, Tianle Hall, Yingxue Hall, Zuyao Hall, and Wenguang Hall. Originally, all the lanes between the houses were paved with bluestone slabs and stone steps. In ancient times, there was a saying, “Bluestone-paved roads and stone gateways — walk into Yangliu and your feet stay clean,” referring to a pristine “bluestone street.”

The Ancient Residential Complex of Yangliu Village was built during the Kangxi and Qianlong eras of the Qing Dynasty. Originally consisting of 36 courtyards, 17 relatively well-preserved courtyards remain today, totaling 37 sections and 366 rooms, covering a construction area of 11,160 square meters. The gateways of these ancient buildings generally retain well-preserved carvings. Among the better-preserved 13 gateways, the inscriptions include “Legacy of Horse-Turning Restraint,” “Following the Way with Composure,” “Walking Slowly in Contemplation,” and “Practicing Benevolence and Righteousness.” All are brick carvings in regular script, surrounded by patterns of figures and flowers, with meticulous craftsmanship and exquisite designs, reflecting a rich architectural style of the Ming and Qing dynasties and showcasing the exceptional talent of ancient laborers.

The Ancient Residential Complex of Yangliu Village consists entirely of high-walled, deep-courtyard, multi-courtyard complexes that face south. Typically, they have three, four, or five courtyards, with the most elaborate, “Yisheng Hall,” having seven courtyards and eighteen thresholds, with the main hall built along the central axis including the entrance hall, sedan hall, and primary living quarters. On the left and right longitudinal axes are guest rooms, studies, secondary living spaces, and kitchens. Most of the rear living quarters are two-story structures, interconnected through the buildings. The interior of the halls and chambers is flexibly partitioned using lattice doors and screens based on different needs. The ceilings are not only fitted with “Wang Brick” panels but also feature various types of “Xuan” decorations, all exquisitely crafted and aesthetically pleasing.

The Ancient Residential Complex of Yangliu Village is simple and elegant, with uniquely ingenious architecture. It is a typical example of ancient residential buildings in the Jiangnan region, featuring distinctive Nanjing regional characteristics. While it includes brick carvings, wood carvings, and stone carvings, they are not as ostentatious as those of Huizhou-style architecture, appearing more restrained and scholarly. The curved surfaces of the roof tiles are bold, with powerful arcs. The carving themes include scenes from “The Romance of the West Chamber” and “The Meeting at the Ancient City,” as well as hidden Eight Immortals symbols, the “Four Arts” (music, chess, calligraphy, and painting), elephant heads symbolizing good fortune, phoenixes representing the rising sun and prosperity, and gatehouse carvings of writing brushes and ingots, symbolizing guaranteed success.

In Yangliu Village, Jiangning District, there is a well-preserved complex of Ming and Qing residential buildings, referred to by locals as the “Little Ninety-Nine and a Half” — the “Zhu Family Courtyard.” It is a set of ancient buildings initially constructed in the Ming Dynasty and subsequently renovated during the Kangxi and Qianlong eras of the Qing Dynasty, with remnants preserved to this day.

This “Little Ninety-Nine and a Half” is said to have been built by Zhu Houshan, the 11th-generation descendant of the founding emperor of the Ming Dynasty, and his descendants. At that time, Zhu Houshan was a renowned tycoon in Jinling, owning 18 pawnshops and 18 banks in the city, with countless assets in silver, money, and land. Zhu Houshan had three sons, and the “Zhu Family Courtyard” was initially built for them. Later, as the Zhu family grew and prospered, more and more houses were built, until the entire Yangliu Village essentially became the “Zhu Family Courtyard.”

The currently well-preserved 17 courtyards of the “Zhu Family Courtyard” are all high-walled, deep-courtyard, multi-courtyard complexes that face south. They typically have 3–5 courtyards, with the most elaborate, “Yisheng Hall,” having seven courtyards and eighteen thresholds, spanning nearly a hundred meters in length. The central axis includes the entrance hall, sedan hall, and main living quarters, while the left and right sides feature guest rooms, studies, secondary living spaces, and kitchen areas. Most of the rear living quarters are two-story structures, interconnected through the buildings, creating a maze-like layout that seems winding and perplexing to outsiders. The ancient houses are adorned with carved beams and painted rafters, with exquisitely crafted patterns. Each gateway has an inscribed plaque, and each courtyard has a hall name. The scale and layout of the houses and courtyards preserve the traditional style of Jiangnan water town residential architecture.

The Ancient Residential Complex of Yangliu Village is the largest surviving complex of Ming and Qing residential buildings in the Nanjing area. It was listed as a Jiangsu Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Unit in 2002 and as a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit in May 2013.

Further Reading:

· Fifth Batch of Jiangsu Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units

· Seventh Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units