Dadao Altar and Ancestral Hall Ancient Architectural Complex

Dadao Altar and Ancestral Hall Ancient Architectural Complex

Dadao Altar and Ancestral Hall Ancient Architectural Complex is a cultural tourism attraction.

It is said that Dadao Altar was once the residence of Qian Shuoyou, a minister of the Southern Song Dynasty, but the grand official mansion was destroyed seven hundred years ago during a catastrophe. Now, it is a large “square,” and due to its size, it has become the site for funeral ceremonies in Xingwang Village. The well-preserved structures around Dadao Altar are mainly ancient buildings from the Ming and Qing dynasties, most of which were owned by wealthy landlords in the village, so they were targeted after the liberation. Today, inscriptions from that era can still be clearly seen on the stone plaques above their grand gates, such as “Glory in Labor,” “Wholeheartedly for the Public,” and “Recall Hardship, Appreciate Sweetness.” Fortunately, the wood carvings inside the old houses have been well preserved.

Above Dadao Altar, near Shuitangtou, there used to be a brick-and-stone memorial archway adorned with auspicious carvings such as carp, peonies, bats, peaches, and books. Although weathered by time, the brick and stone carvings remain vividly beautiful, especially the black glazed tiles covering them.

The Wang Family Ancestral Hall in Xingwang Village, built in the 1st year of the Jiaqing reign of the Qing Dynasty (1796), covers the largest area in Jinyun County, totaling over 1,000 square meters. The ancestral hall has four courtyards and four halls, with the main hall (the third hall) supported by stone pillars. In ancient times, it displayed plaques such as “Scholar Laureate,” “Martial Laureate,” “Imperial Appointment – Grand Magistrate of Linhuai,” and “Miraculous Healer.” Below, there is the ancestral shrine of the Wang family, housing memorial tablets of generations, and the upper floor once held a stage for the Zhangshan Fortress Festival. It now serves as the office of the dual committees of Xingwang Village. Aside from the re-engraved plaque “Wang Family Ancestral Hall” after the Cultural Revolution, only the exquisitely carved wooden bracket arms remain, though many have been stolen due to inadequate protection. What can still be considered art are the replacements made by the village committee. After a century of weathering, the wooden structure of the ancestral hall faces increasing risks of collapse and fire.

The existing building of the Li Family Ancestral Hall was constructed in 1944, at the end of the Republican era. Compared to the Wang Family Ancestral Hall, it has a shorter history and a smaller area (nearly 900 square meters), but overall, it is more exquisite than the Wang Family Ancestral Hall. Whether in terms of wood carving, brick carving, stone carving, painting, calligraphy, or layout, it is a rare Huizhou-style masterpiece from modern times. It currently serves as the venue for the elderly association of Xingwang Village and is better preserved than the Wang Family Ancestral Hall.

Xingwang Village: Xingwang Village has a long history, with people gathering here as early as the Song Dynasty. By the Wanli era of the Ming Dynasty (1578), Wang Renqi, the seventh-generation descendant of the Sanhuai Hall and a grandson of Wang Chengxun, led his wife and children from Sanbu at the Dashulinzhangshuqiao in Xianju to settle at the foot of Yuping Mountain. Since then, this land has flourished, with descendants thriving continuously. Later, the Li family also migrated here from Baotang in Fujian.

Xingwang Village was historically known as Zhenxi Tangtou, a name derived from its location by the banks of Zhenxi Stream. To this day, the place name “Shuitangtou” remains in the village. As the majority of the villagers have the surname Wang and the village is situated above Shuhong Township, ... More details about Xingwang Village ++