Yan Yi Hall

Yan Yi Hall

Yan Yi Hall is a cultural relic protection unit designated by the Suzhou Municipal Government.

Yan Yi Hall is an ancient hall dating back to the Ming Dynasty in Suzhou, located at No. 96, Xincun, Jiandong Village, Jinting Town (formerly known as Xishan Town), Wuzhong District, Suzhou. Covering an area of 303 square meters, Yan Yi Hall consists of three individual structures: one entrance building, one main hall, and one residential building. The north-facing courtyard is built along the street and comprises three sections: the entrance building, the main hall, and the residential building. The entrance building is three bays wide, five rafters deep, and features round timber construction with through-tenon joinery. The main hall is five bays wide, with two wing rooms in front and two rear wing rooms, seven rafters deep, designed in an inner-four-bay-front-corridor style. The residential building is five bays wide with two wing rooms.

Judging from the structural style and features of the individual buildings of Yan Yi Hall, it is a residential house constructed in the late Ming Dynasty. The most breathtaking feature is the mountain-mist clouds on the main hall’s beam frame. Mountain-mist clouds refer to the wooden panels on both sides at the top of traditional hall beam frames, usually carved into designs of flowing clouds and cranes. Although not large in size, the mountain-mist clouds of Yan Yi Hall’s main hall are carved with bold and smooth lines, resembling drifting clouds and flowing streams.

A close look at the entire structure reveals a complete layout, with well-ordered beam frameworks in the main hall and the residential building. In particular, the carving on the mountain-mist clouds of the main hall is both majestic and fluid, showcasing high architectural artistry. Although the entrance building was renovated in later periods, the eastern column in the central bay still dates back to the Ming Dynasty.

In 2009, Yan Yi Hall was listed by the municipal government as part of the sixth batch of Suzhou Cultural Relics Protection Units, and in 2010, it was selected as one of the “Top Ten New Discoveries” in Suzhou during the Third National Cultural Relics Census.