Ancient Ruins of Xiyin Village Manor

Ancient Ruins of Xiyin Village Manor

The ancient ruins of Xiyin Village Manor is a cultural tourism attraction.

The ancient ruins of Xiyin Village Manor are located in Shimingshan Village, Jishigang Town, Haishu District, Ningbo City, at the land temple behind the well base on Geshan Mountain. According to the book Fan Qin: A Critical Biography published by Ningbo Publishing House, Fan Zhengluo was buried in Xiyin Village Manor, Shuijingdi, west of Yin County, commonly known as Geshan. Fan Qin’s collection of poems, Tianyige Ji, contains multiple poems titled “Xiyin Village Manor.” Behind the manor lies the tomb of Fan Zhengluo, who was a descendant of Fan Qin. Therefore, Xiyin Village Manor was undoubtedly where Fan Qin chose to live in seclusion after his fall from grace in officialdom. Although the above-ground structures of Xiyin Village Manor no longer exist, the remaining foundations are sufficient evidence that this site was once a grand estate. Today, three foundation sites can be observed at the ruins, with the rear retaining wall being particularly high. At the center below the wall lies a pond. The entire site covers an area of approximately 1,365 square meters, and the surface of the ruins has now been turned into a bamboo forest.

Volume 489 of the Ming Veritable Records · Emperor Shizong, page records: “In the tenth month of the thirty-ninth year of the Jiajing reign, on the day of Renzi… the Ministry of Personnel responded: ‘Fan Qin has been impeached and his crimes warrant investigation; however, Yi Zhi has just assumed office and should be held accountable for his future achievements.’ The imperial decree stated: ‘Yi Zhi shall remain in service, while Fan Qin is to return to his hometown and await investigation.’” At that time, Fan Qin was only 55 years old. Having been dismissed from his position at the rank of Vice Minister of War due to false accusations, he was not formally convicted but was ordered to “return home and await investigation.” This marked a significant blow to Fan Qin’s official career, especially since he was still in his prime. Out of unwillingness to accept his fate, he found this secluded mountain retreat. Later, he built a cottage in the city, which eventually became today’s Tianyige Library. According to the Peach Blossom Spring Township Annals, the original Xiyin Village Manor was originally a Chan Master’s Nunnery that was converted into Xiyin Village Manor by the Zang family during the early Southern Song Dynasty. The Zang family later prospered and held official positions elsewhere. Due to the longstanding friendship between the Zang and Fan families, Fan Qin purchased the Zang family’s Xiyin Village Manor to live in seclusion. His descendant, Fan Zhengluo, was buried behind the manor, indicating that by the Qing Dynasty, Xiyin Village Manor had gradually fallen into decline.

The discovery of the Xiyin Village Manor ruins serves as an irreplaceable physical heritage for studying the experiences of Fan Qin of Tianyige in Ningbo, and also provides new material for research on the Zang family. In September 2010, it was designated as a cultural relics protection site at the Yinzhou District level. In 2016, following the adjustment of Ningbo’s administrative divisions, it was placed under the jurisdiction of Haishu District.