Lu Xun’s Ancestral Home

Lu Xun’s Ancestral Home

Lu Xun’s Ancestral Home is a national AAAA-level tourist attraction.

Lu Xun’s Ancestral Home, also known as the Old Zhou Family Gatehouse, faces south and stands opposite the Sanwei Study House across the river.

A gatehouse is a type of residence commonly found in the Jiangnan region, similar to a courtyard house in northern China.

Lu Xun, whose original name was Zhou Shuren, came from the prominent Zhou family in Shaoxing. At that time, the Zhou family owned three gatehouses, and Lu Xun’s Ancestral Home was the first one they acquired, hence the name Old Zhou Family Gatehouse.

The Old Gatehouse covers an area of over 3,000 square meters, with its main building divided into four sections. The first section is called the Gate Courtyard, which was used for alighting from carriages in the old days and now serves as the ticket checkpoint for the scenic area.

The second section is the Deshou Hall, a venue used by the Zhou clan for celebrations, blessings, and banquets. The name “Deshou” carries the meaning of virtue leading to longevity and prosperity. Lu Xun’s Ancestral Home was not where Lu Xun lived as a child; he rarely visited the ancestral home, only coming for family ancestor worship or major events.

The entire ancestral home is divided into east and west wings along a central axis. The third section, the Incense Hall, was used by the Zhou family for ancestor worship and funeral ceremonies. In the center of the Incense Hall hangs a portrait of the Zhou ancestors, while the walls display the family precepts titled "Hengxun" handwritten by Lu Xun’s grandfather, Zhou Fuqing. The version of "Hengxun" currently displayed was copied by Lu Xun himself during his studies in Nanjing. The content of "Hengxun" summarizes Zhou Fuqing’s life principles in scholarship, conduct, and interpersonal relations — covering everything from methods of study and officialdom ethics to everyday life knowledge.

The current layout of Lu Xun’s Ancestral Home is based on the scene during the Zhou family’s most prosperous period, incorporating representative living scenes of other prominent households to recreate an authentic setting of a wealthy family residence in Shaoxing during the Qing Dynasty.

The fourth section of Lu Xun’s Ancestral Home is called the Main Building, which served as the primary living area for the Zhou family. It is now arranged as a young lady’s study room, embroidery room, dressing room, and bathroom. Due to the growing number of descendants and the expansion of the family, the original rooms of the ancestral home became insufficient. Therefore, during the Jiaqing era of the Qing Dynasty, the Zhou family purchased two more gatehouses: the Bridge-Crossing Gatehouse and the New Gatehouse. Starting with the ninth generation, the Zhou family began dividing their residence: the eldest son lived in the New Gatehouse, the second son in the Bridge-Crossing Gatehouse, and the youngest son along with the parents in the Old Gatehouse. Lu Xun was born on September 25, 1881, in the New Gatehouse, which is now part of the Lu Xun’s Hometown Scenic Area known as the Lu Xun Residence. The well-known Hundred Grass Garden is located there.