Xiyang Hall

Xiyang Hall

Xiyang Hall is a Zhejiang Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Unit and a patriotic education base.

Also known as "Songyuan Hall" or "Wu Pianfu Hall," Xiyang Hall is located by the Songyuan Stream in Xiyang Village, Wubaobao Township. It is a commemorative structure built by ancient mushroom growers to honor Wu Sangong, the father of shiitake mushrooms.

Originally built in the first year of the Xianchun era of the Song Dynasty (1265), it underwent several changes before being rebuilt in the first year of the Guangxu era of the Qing Dynasty (1875) through funds raised by mushroom farmers from Qingyuan, Longquan, and Jingning counties. It was designated as part of the fourth batch of Zhejiang Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units in 1997.

Nestled against a mountain and beside a stream, Xiyang Hall faces south with a longitudinal rectangular floor plan. It is 32 meters deep and 19.4 meters wide, covering an area of 952.35 square meters.

The hall features a traditional quadrangle-style temple layout. Along its central axis from south to north are a screen wall, mountain gate, front hall, theater stage, middle platform, and main hall. Flanking the main hall are side chambers, with the central spaces housing a bell and drum tower. Opposite the main hall is a reverse-facing structure. At the center of the main hall is a statue of Wu Sangong.

Outside the eastern side of the hall lies an ancient well known as the "Log-Conveying Well." Legend has it that the timber used to build the temple emerged from this well, a tale reminiscent of the "Log-Conveying Well" at Hangzhou's Jingci Temple.

According to the "Qingyuan County Annals · Biographies," Wu Sangong was from Longyan Village, Baishanzu Township, Qingyuan County. He was the third among his brothers, hence his name. Through years of practical experience, he invented the technique for cultivating shiitake mushrooms artificially. In the third year of the Wanli era of the Ming Dynasty, he and his father were conferred the title of "Pianfu Xianggong" by Emperor Shenzong of the Ming. Another account suggests that “his ancestral home is in Longyan, but he grew up in Xiyang.”

Nestled against a mountain and beside a stream, Xiyang Hall faces south with a longitudinal rectangular floor plan. It is 32 meters deep and 19.4 meters wide, covering an area of 952.35 square meters. The hall features a traditional quadrangle-style temple layout. Along its central axis from south to north are a screen wall, mountain gate, front hall, theater stage, middle platform, and main hall. Flanking the main hall are side chambers, with the central spaces housing a bell and drum tower. Opposite the main hall is a reverse-facing structure. At the center of the main hall is a statue of Wu Sangong. Outside the eastern side of the hall lies an ancient well known as the "Log-Conveying Well." Legend has it that the timber used to build the temple emerged from this well, a tale reminiscent of the "Log-Conveying Well" at Hangzhou's Jingci Temple.

The architecture of Xiyang Hall boasts intricately carved beams and painted rafters, upturned eaves, and exquisite craftsmanship in sculpture, clay modeling, and colored painting. It masterfully integrates engineering and artistry, showcasing a distinctive architectural style in both structural function and decorative techniques. It holds significant historical, artistic, and scientific value. Over the centuries, mushroom farmers have designated the 17th day of the third lunar month (Wu Sangong’s birthday) and the 16th to 19th days of the seventh lunar month as pilgrimage periods to worship the “Mushroom God.” During these times, local produce and food products gather here, with numerous stalls setting up shop, turning the site into a bustling trade hub. Additionally, theatrical performances are held to promote the culture of the mushroom-growing region. In recent years, with the growing popularity of mushroom culture, visitors from all over come to pay homage. Today, Xiyang Hall stands as a symbol of the “origin of shiitake mushrooms,” shining uniquely among the many cultural landmarks of Qingyuan.

Address: Entrance of Xiyang Village, Wubaobao Township, Qingyuan County, Lishui City, Zhejiang Province

Type: Historical Site

Further Reading:

· Seventh Batch of Major National Historical and Cultural Sites