Ancient Residential Houses of Dongyang

Ancient Residential Houses of Dongyang

There are three clusters of ancient residential houses remaining in Dongyang: the Xincuoxia Residential Cluster, the Xicun Residential Cluster, and the Menlouwai Residential Cluster. The founding ancestor of the Lin clan in Dongyang, Lin Jian (Chief Clerk of the Cabinet during the second year of Tang Tianyou [905]), was originally from Putian, Fujian. To escape turmoil, he relocated to Dong’ao (Xinlou), Xiaocun, Taishun, in the third year of the Tongguang era of the Later Tang Dynasty (925). In the second year of the Jianlong era of the Song Dynasty (961), he moved again to Shangduan, Sixi (Houchi). When Lin Jian migrated from Putian to Dong’ao, Xiaocun, he had six sons in total. Later on, apart from the sixth son, Qing, who followed his father from Dong’ao to Sixi, the other five sons all remained in Dongyang. The three remaining clusters of ancient houses in Dongyang are historical and cultural legacies left by the descendants of Lin Jian during their growth and development.