Former Residence of the Wu Family in Longxian (Including Ancestral Temple and Clan Hall)

Former Residence of the Wu Family in Longxian (Including Ancestral Temple and Clan Hall)

The Former Residence of the Wu Family in Longxian (Including Ancestral Temple and Clan Hall) is a Zhejiang Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

Former Residence of the Wu Family in Longxian (Including Ancestral Temple and Clan Hall) (Provincial-Level Cultural Relics Protection Unit)

Era: Modern

Announcement Date: March 16, 2005

The old residence is an architectural fusion of Chinese and Western styles. It faces west and is situated to the east, with a rectangular layout consisting of two courtyards, one screen wall, and wing rooms, covering a total area of 1032 square meters. The gate tower is in an eight-character shape, and its façade features Baroque style. The main building has five bays across three floors, with a depth of thirteen rafters, while the side wing rooms each have six bays, two alleys, and are two stories high.

The ancestral temple is located to the north of the clan hall, facing west and situated to the east, with a layout of two courtyards in front and back, forming a "convex" shape, with a total area of 476 square meters. The first courtyard is five bays wide with a depth of nine rafters; the beams of the central and side bays are five-rafter beams with double steps in front and back, all featuring caisson ceilings. The second courtyard is entirely built of stone, three bays wide with a depth of nine rafters; the central bay has five-rafter beams with double steps in front and back.

The clan hall is located 100 meters north of the old residence, facing west and situated to the east, with a layout of five bays and three courtyards, and a construction area of 501 square meters. The first courtyard has a depth of nine rafters, with a stage in the central bay and a hip-and-gable roof structure. There is one wing room on each side of the courtyard. The second courtyard has a depth of eleven rafters, with the central bay featuring five-rafter beams, double steps in front and four steps in back. The third courtyard has a depth of six rafters, with the central bay having five-rafter beams and a single step in back. All the column bases of the clan hall are square and made of wood.

The old residence, ancestral temple, and clan hall are largely well-preserved. They form a cohesive group of buildings rich in type, architectural form, and cultural significance.

Source: Zhejiang Cultural Relics Website

Further Reading:

· Fifth Batch of Zhejiang Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units