Qingyun Sun Clan Ancestral Hall (including the Library Tower and Council Hall)

Qingyun Sun Clan Ancestral Hall (including the Library Tower and Council Hall)

Qingyun Sun Clan Ancestral Hall (including the Library Tower and Council Hall) is a Zhejiang Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

The Qingyun Sun Clan Ancestral Hall is located in Qingyun Village, Xiaowangmiao Subdistrict, Fenghua District, and was expanded from the original Rear Hall Front (Yiyantang). Yiyantang, built in the late Qing Dynasty, was expanded in the Republican era's Gengwu Year (1930) when Sun Hegao funded the construction of an entrance hall and two side wings to its south and sides, forming a courtyard-style complex. Covering an area of 644 square meters, the building has flush gable roofs. The main hall has three bays, with the central bay featuring a depth of five columns and nine rafters, and a five-rafter system with double steps in front and single steps at the back. The entrance hall also has three bays, while the east and west side wings each have five bays, all featuring single-eave, two-story structures.

The Library Tower and Council Hall are located on the east and west sides, respectively, outside the main gate of the Sun Clan Ancestral Hall. They were constructed with funds from Sun Hegao during the expansion of the ancestral hall and were built by the Shanghai Sun Yusheng Construction Company, belonging to the ancestral property. The Library Tower is situated to the left of the ancestral hall, facing west, with a single-eave, hanging gable roof, brick-and-wood structure, and two stories. It has three bays in width and originally housed books purchased from Tianyi Pavilion, many of which were lost during the War of Resistance. The Council Hall is located to the right of the ancestral hall, facing east, with a single-eave, flush gable roof, brick-and-wood structure, and two stories. It features a Guanyin-dou gable wall, with three bays and one alleyway in width. The two buildings share a largely consistent style but with slight differences. To ensure ventilation for the stored books, the Library Tower’s foundation includes a raised level, making it taller than the Council Hall. Its floor is wooden, whereas the Council Hall has a cement floor. The eaves columns of the Library Tower are made of brick, while those of the Council Hall are made of cement aggregate.

Sun Hegao (1888–1970), a native of Qingyun Village, was an early follower of Sun Yat-sen. He once served as an advisor to the National Revolutionary Army Headquarters, Director of the Jinpu Railway Bureau, and Advisor to the Ministry of Railways. After the liberation, he supported the Communist Party and was a renowned local historical figure. The Qingyun Library Tower and Council Hall, funded by him, are typical Republican-era buildings, meticulously constructed and rationally designed. They are the only well-preserved private library tower and council hall in the city.

In January 2017, it was announced by the People's Government of Zhejiang Province as part of the seventh batch of provincial-level cultural relics protection units.

Source: Yuyao Cultural Relics Protection Office

Qingyun Village: Qingyun Village…… More information about Qingyun Village++

Further reading:

· Seventh Batch of Zhejiang Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units