Ruan Yuan’s Ancestral Temple

Ruan Yuan’s Ancestral Temple

Ruan Yuan’s Ancestral Temple is a cultural tourism attraction.

Ruan Yuan’s Ancestral Temple covers a total area of 7,492 square meters, with a built-up area of 4,782 square meters.

The architecture features a clear central axis and an imposing presence, and was first built during the Jiaqing era of the Qing Dynasty. The housing complex is divided into three sections: the Eastern Residence of the Ruan Family, Ruan Yuan’s Ancestral Temple, and the Western Residence of the Ruan Family. The ancestral temple is situated between the eastern and western residences.

Originally, there were five rows of rooms in front of and behind the ancestral temple, built according to the specifications recorded in the “Collected Statutes of the Qing Dynasty,” which state that “for officials of the first, second, and third ranks, the temple should have five bays, two chambers, five steps, two side halls, and three gates.” Within the temple, Ruan family ancestors from four generations—great-great-grandfather, great-grandfather, grandfather, and father—were enshrined, while those further back were stored in side chambers. The main hall had three ancestral shrines, each side chamber had one, and each side hall also had two shrines. The wooden spirit tablets of the four generations were placed in the three main shrines, while the tablets of Ruan Yuan’s descendants—grandchildren and great-grandchildren—were arranged from north to south in the side halls according to branch lineage: the First Branch (Changsheng), Seventh Branch (Hu), Fifth Branch (Fu), and Eighth Branch (Konghou).

Between the ancestral temple and the eastern hall is the Archery Alley, used by descendants and students for archery and martial arts practice in their leisure time. The “Eastern Residence of the Ruan Family” originally had an east-facing layout from south to north: the Sedan Chair Room, the Reception Hall, the Main Hall, the Second Row, the Third Row, the Fourth Row, and the Feng’en Tower. Opposite the main gate was a screen wall with brick carvings of six characters: “Imperially Bestowed” and “Happiness Upon Leaving Home,” which were covered with lime during the Cultural Revolution. The first and second rows once had golden clerical-script plaques inscribed with “Bearing the Burden of Our Lineage” and golden seal-script plaques reading “Contentment in the Forests and Springs, Peace through Quiet Cultivation,” respectively. The third row once held a wooden couplet gifted to Xiangpu Gong, none of which remain today. Only the west gable wall of the first-row side room contains four stone carvings related to Prince Cheng Yong?.

Ruan Yuan’s Ancestral Temple is a protected cultural heritage site of Jiangsu Province and was among the first batch of key projects for the rescue and preservation of historical residences in the province. The comprehensive restoration of Ruan Yuan’s Ancestral Temple was listed as a major project in the city’s Museum City construction initiative and was carried out by the City Historic City Company. By the end of 2008, the relocation of units and residents within the temple complex was completed. In October 2009, the restoration of the main structures—including the ancestral temple, the Hall of Worship, the Sleeping Hall, the Feng’en Tower, and the Eastern Residence—was finished. By June 2010, the environmental improvement project on the north side of the Ruan Family Ancestral Hall was completed. The repair and preservation work combined traditional craftsmanship with modern materials. While adhering to the principle of not altering the original condition of the cultural relics, the original architectural forms and styles were preserved, potential safety hazards were eliminated, and the protection and utilization of the relics were facilitated.

After restoration, the Feng’en Tower in the northeast has been opened to visitors as the Ruan Yuan Life Exhibition Hall, which provides a detailed introduction to Ruan Yuan’s life and achievements. The Suiwen Selection Tower, located at the northwest corner of the ancestral temple, is one of the important buildings of Ruan Yuan’s Ancestral Temple and was once a place where Ruan Yuan collected books and conducted scholarship. After the reconstruction of the Wenxuan Tower, it was transformed into the Yangzhou School Memorial Hall, showcasing the origin and development of the Yangzhou School. As a research center for the Yangzhou School, it is open to both tourists and local residents.