Nanxi River Ancestral Hall Complex

Nanxi River Ancestral Hall Complex

The Nanxi River Ancestral Hall Complex is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

Era: Ming to Qing Dynasties

Address: Bilian Town, Huatan Township, Panjing Township, Wu Gong Township, Donggao Township, Qukou Township, and Daruoyan Town, Yongjia County, Wenzhou City, Zhejiang Province.

Highlights: The architecture features simple and traditional designs, preserving some northern wooden construction techniques while also incorporating local stylistic elements. It serves as valuable historical material for studying the exchange and evolution of architectural styles between northern and southern China during the Ming Dynasty.

The complex consists of eight ancestral halls: Yongjia County Ancestral Hall, Xiaosi Ancestral Hall, Ji Clan Grand Ancestral Hall, Shao Clan Grand Ancestral Hall, Zheng Clan Grand Ancestral Hall, Xie Clan Grand Ancestral Hall, Ye Clan Grand Ancestral Hall, and Chen Clan Grand Ancestral Hall.

The formation of many ancient villages in the Nanxi River basin originated from the southward migration of people fleeing wars in the Central Plains. The village culture represents a fusion of Central Plains culture and the indigenous culture of Eastern Ou. The ancestral halls reflect the social background and clan culture of the time. Among them, the representative Yongjia County Ancestral Hall is located in Shangcun, Bilian Town, Yongjia County. It is the ancestral hall of the Liu Clan in the village, initially built during the Yuan Dynasty and renovated during the Ming and Qing Dynasties. The existing structure largely retains the architectural style of the Ming Dynasty.

In August 1997, the Xiaosi Ancestral Hall and Yongjia County Ancestral Hall were listed as Zhejiang Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units. In January 2011, during the third national cultural relics survey, 11 newly discovered ancestral halls—including Wenyan Ancestral Hall, Gu Clan Grand Ancestral Hall, Zheng Clan Grand Ancestral Hall, Xie Clan Grand Ancestral Hall, Ye Clan Grand Ancestral Hall, and Hu Clan Minor Ancestral Hall—were added to the Zhejiang Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units. These were merged with the Xiaosi Ancestral Hall and Yongjia County Ancestral Hall to form the Nanxi River Ancestral Hall Complex. In May 2013, the Nanxi River Ancestral Hall Complex was included in the seventh batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units.

Further Reading:

·Seventh Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units