The Wen Clan Ancestral Hall

The Wen Clan Ancestral Hall

The Wen Clan Ancestral Hall is a cultural heritage site protected by Haishu District.

The Wen Clan Ancestral Hall is located in the western part of Wenjiang’an Natural Village, Shenjiao Village, Gulin Town, Haishu District. Judging from its architectural style and structure, it was built during the Qing Dynasty, with some sections renovated during the Republic of China period. The main hall faces south and features a traditional courtyard layout. A separate women’s ancestral hall is located at the northwest corner.

The entire structure employs flush-gable roofing. The front section of the men’s hall serves as the entrance porch, spanning seven bays in width. The central bay uses a raised-beam structure with five roof rafters, and the front eave features a rolled shed roof, while the other bays have a depth of five posts and five purlins using a post-and-lintel structure. The rear hall, or main chamber, spans five bays in width. The central bay also uses a raised-beam structure with five roof rafters, and the front eave includes a rolled shed roof, while the rear eave is fitted with a double-step beam. The side bays use central posts, with a depth of six posts and eight purlins; the end bays have a depth of eight posts and eight purlins, all employing a post-and-lintel structure. Wing rooms are situated on either side of the courtyard, each spanning three bays in width. The central bay uses a raised-beam structure, while the side bays have a depth of three posts and five purlins. The women’s hall (including the Widow’s Shrine) is located to the west of the main hall, spanning four bays in width. The central bay uses a raised-beam structure with five roof rafters and single-step beams at both the front and rear, while the rest of the structure uses a post-and-lintel design.

The Wen Clan Ancestral Hall in Wenjiang’an features an intact layout, refined materials, and exquisitely carved decorations such as bracket arms and spandrel brackets. Its unique layout featuring both male and female ancestral halls gives it rich cultural significance. It was designated as a Yinzhou District-level Cultural Heritage Conservation Site in September 2007, became the ninth Yinzhou District-level Cultural Heritage Protection Unit on September 29, 2010, and was incorporated into Haishu District following the 2016 administrative division adjustments of Ningbo City.

Shenjiao Village: Located in Gulin Town, Ningbo City, Zhejiang Province, Shenjiao Village has a population of over 2,300, with about a quarter being non-native residents. Roughly one-third of the villagers bear the surname Zhou, which is the most common family name in the area. The village encompasses more than 1,450 acres of land. In 2014, the total industrial output of Shenjiao Village reached 750 million yuan, and the per capita income of villagers was 22,000 yuan. Several enterprises producing components for concrete vibrators, originating from provinces such as Shandong and Henan, have set up operations here, greatly boosting the economic development of Shenjiao Village.

The origin of Shenjiao Village’s name is said to date back to ancient times when there was a pond located right in front of the village’s main gate... More information about Shenjiao Village++