Ye Family Architectural Complex

Ye Family Architectural Complex

The Ye Family Architectural Complex is a cultural tourism attraction.

Sanmenyuan is the ancestral home of the Ye family. Due to its mountainous location and minimal exposure to disasters, the architecture of the entire village has retained almost entirely the characteristics of Jiangnan-style dwellings from the mid-to-late Qing Dynasty. The Ye Family Architectural Complex in the eastern part of the village, in particular, is highly valued by cultural heritage authorities for its exceptional architectural artistry and grand, meticulous structural design, drawing visitors for sightseeing and reverence. This complex was built in the 26th year of the Daoguang reign during the Qing Dynasty (1846) by Ye Hetian, the most prominent figure in the village who achieved the honor of being awarded an Imperial Stipend. The entire structure was built against the mountainside, facing west, and covers a construction area of 5,000 square meters. It consists of five main buildings, three of which still remain. Their gate lintels are inscribed respectively with “Orchid and Iris Enter the Room,” “Evergreen Azaleas,” and “Spring Revives the Enclosure.” They are interconnected by pathways and complemented by courtyards, gardens, and auxiliary rooms, forming an architectural ensemble that is both independently structured and intricately linked in a mutually resonant layout. “Orchid and Iris Enter the Room” serves as the central building, covering an area of 394.7 square meters, and follows a “three-courtyard, two-hall” layout. Its wooden brackets are intricately carved with figures, landscapes, pavilions, water features, and trees. The other two buildings are both three-bay structures of the “two-wing-room” style. The entire complex is grand in scale, ingeniously composed, and rigorously structured. Elements such as caisson ceilings, beams and pillars, the covered corridors (zouma lou), and window frames are all exquisitely carved and colorfully painted. Most exceptionally remarkable is the decoration of the gatehouse. The gatehouse features a double-eave structure, with stone foundations carved with reliefs of flowers, birds, animals, and mythical creatures, while the façade is built entirely with decorative brickwork. In addition to wooden-like components such as pillars, brackets, and dougong (bracket sets), there are also numerous ornamental patterns depicting themes such as the “Eight Immortals,” “Fishermen, Woodcutters, Farmers, and Scholars,” and “Music, Chess, Calligraphy, and Painting.”