The Xu and Yu Clan Ancestral Halls in Jianfeng

The Xu and Yu Clan Ancestral Halls in Jianfeng

The Xu and Yu Clan Ancestral Halls in Jianfeng are protected as provincial-level cultural heritage sites in Zhejiang Province.

The Xu and Yu Clan Ancestral Halls in Jianfeng are located in Jianfeng Village, Lianhua Town, Qujiang District, and were designated as provincial-level cultural heritage protection units in January 2017. The Xu Clan Ancestral Hall was initially constructed in the late Ming and early Qing dynasties (1573–1722), facing south and laid out in a rectangle. It covers a land area of 584.6 square meters and a building area of 527.4 square meters. Along the central axis are the front hall, middle hall, and rear hall, most of which still retain their traditional brickwork. The entrance features a hip-and-gable roof gate tower, with a stage in the entrance hall. The central bay of the front hall uses a post-and-lintel structure with a rear double-step and front single-step configuration, and its column capitals are adorned with bracket sets. The side bays use a through-tenon structure. The central hall’s main bay uses a post-and-lintel structure with a front double-step and rear single-step, while the side bays are through-tenon. The rear hall’s main bay features a post-and-lintel design with a front double-step and rear single-step. Two courtyards connect the front, middle, and rear halls. The Xu Clan Ancestral Hall uses high-quality materials and features simple but refined carvings. Despite multiple renovations over time, it retains the architectural style of Ming dynasty ancestral halls.

The Yu Clan Ancestral Hall was built in the late Qing dynasty (1821–1911). It also faces south and is rectangular in shape, covering a land area of 483.6 square meters and a construction area of 252 square meters. Along the central axis are the front hall, courtyard, and rear hall. The main gate adopts a memorial archway-like structure, exquisitely crafted, with small arched side doors that have since been fully enclosed, altering the original appearance. The front hall’s central bay uses a mixed post-and-lintel and double-step structure, while the side bays are through-tenon. The rear hall’s main bay combines post-and-lintel with front and rear double-step elements, and the side bays are through-tenon. All spandrels and brackets are carved with figures and floral patterns, though some human figures were defaced during the Cultural Revolution. The gate tower features a unique construction method and holds certain cultural heritage value. The villages surrounding the Xu and Yu Clan Ancestral Halls in Jianfeng are key provincial-level historic and cultural villages under special protection and utilization, rich in cultural heritage and blessed with beautiful ecological surroundings. Both ancestral halls hold significant cultural value and are representative of ancestral hall architecture in Qujiang District, providing important insights into the region’s economic, cultural, and social development.

Jianfeng Village: Located in the northern part of Lianhua Town, Jianfeng Village was formed in May 2010 through the administrative consolidation of the former Jianfeng Village, Dongjia Village, and Dadun Village. It borders Donghufan Village to the east, Xiachuan Town to the north, Yueshan Village to the west, and Wutan Village to the south. It is 35 kilometers from downtown Quzhou City and 3.5 kilometers from the Lianhua Town government seat. The village covers an area of 4.1 square kilometers, including 2,976 mu of arable land, 1,436 mu of mountainous land, and 254 mu of dryland, with per capita arable land of 1.107 mu. The village has a total of 794 households and 2,689 residents, including 507 households and 1,7… [More detailed information about Jianfeng Village++]

Further Reading:

· Seventh Batch of Zhejiang Provincial Cultural Heritage Protection Units