Ancestral Temple of the Quince

Ancestral Temple of the Quince

The Ancestral Temple of the Quince is a cultural heritage site protected by Haishu District.

The Ancestral Temple of the Quince is located in Meixi Natural Village, Meiyuan Village, Yinjiang Town, Haishu District. It originated in the Song Dynasty and now features Qing Dynasty architecture. According to the *General Annals of Yin County*, the temple was dedicated to Yongxi, a filial son from the Song Dynasty. It was established during the Kaqing era of the Song Dynasty by Wen Shizheng, a local resident. Legend has it that Yongxi was extremely filial to his widowed mother, who loved eating quince (a traditional Chinese medicinal fruit), so he planted it himself to provide for her. When neighbors had relatives who fell ill, they begged for the fruit, and those who ate it recovered. Later generations, moved by his filial piety, built the temple to honor him. The temple faces south and measures 17.4 meters in width and 31.3 meters in depth, with a total floor area of 544.6 square meters. It consists of a front hall, a central courtyard, and a main hall. The front hall is 16.8 meters wide, with a central main gate flanked by side rooms. The porch roof in front of the gate features a rolled shed design, and its pillars, brackets, and spandrels are intricately carved with lions and human figures, showcasing refined craftsmanship. The central courtyard includes a stage, with three side chambers on each side. The rear hall’s beams feature a raised-beam structure in the central bay and a five-pillar, seven-rafter through-tenon style on the sides. The porch in front of the hall has a rolled shed roof, with carved figures and birds on the column capitals, beams, and spandrels. The entire structure is painted and gilded, demonstrating exquisite and sophisticated craftsmanship. It is one of the most well-preserved late Qing Dynasty buildings in the district. In 2010, it was designated as part of the ninth batch of cultural heritage sites protected at the district level in Yinjiang, and it was transferred to Haishu District in 2016 following adjustments to Ningbo’s administrative divisions.

Information provided by: Haishu District Cultural Relics Management Office

Meiyuan Village: Comprising seven natural villages, Meiyuan Village has a total of 530 households and a population of 1,290. The village currently has 1,646 mu of arable land and 5,501 mu of forested land. Its annual industrial and agricultural output exceeds 100 million yuan, with a per capita income of 15,000 yuan. The village is known for its distinctive local products such as the renowned Meiyuan Stone and Dongkui Waxberries. Meiyuan Village consists of seven natural villages, with a total of 530 households and 1,290 residents. It has 1,646 mu of cultivated land and 5,501 mu of woodland, generating an annual industrial and agricultural output value of over 100 million yuan, and a per capita income of 15,000 yuan. Key local specialties include the well-known Meiyuan... More detailed information about Meiyuan Village++