Zhuangyuan Platform Gate

Zhuangyuan Platform Gate

Zhuangyuan Platform Gate is located on Changtang Old Street, in the Liuduan area, also known as the Old Platform Gate. It was the residence of Luo Wanhua, the top imperial scholar of the Chen Year (1568) in the Ming Dynasty’s Longqing reign. Luo Wanhua (1536–1594), courtesy name Yifu, art name Kangzhou, was a native of Changtang, Shaoxing. In 1568, he became the top scholar in the Wenke (literary) category of the Chen Year examination. After becoming the Zhuangyuan, he returned to his hometown of Changtang and built a residence befitting his status. The local government awarded the Luo family a plaque inscribed with “Zhuangyuan Residence” (this plaque is still kept hidden in the home of a Luo family farmer in Changtang Village). The family hung this plaque above the main gate, making it a source of great pride for Changtang at the time. Due to wars and destruction over the dynasties, as well as the demolition of old structures and construction of new ones, the main halls and other principal buildings of the original Zhuangyuan residence have all disappeared, leaving only a bottomless (leaky) platform gate. Elders in Changtang refer to it as the Old Platform Gate. In 1996, the village of Changtang funded the restoration project. The restored gate largely retains its original appearance, such as the corridor eaves. Inside the gate, a stone stele was erected, inscribed with words such as “Ruins of the Ming Dynasty Longqing Chen Year Zhuangyuan Residence – A Historic Site of Changtang.” Having endured over 400 years through the Ming, Qing, Republican, and People’s Republic eras, the Zhuangyuan Platform Gate still reflects its former glory.