Former Residence of Yao Mo

Former Residence of Yao Mo

The former residence of Yao Mo is a cultural tourism attraction.

The former residence of Yao Mo is a Ming Dynasty residence. In Volume 44, "Residences," of the *Cixi County Annals*, it is recorded under "Zhi Ben Tang" that the house, located one li southwest of the county, was the home of Minister Yao Mo. Originally built by Song Dynasty’s Yao Zhen, it had been inhabited by his descendants since the era of the Song prodigy Zhengzi.

Zhi Ben Tang uses large timber, featuring principal-rafter lifted-beam construction, junior pillars, and eagle-beak brackets, but the carved sections and column bricks are clearly from after the Qing Dynasty. The entire structure appears somewhat eclectic, leading to speculation that it may have been modified by later generations (actually rebuilt during the Ming Dynasty) using old materials. Originally, the hall housed many spirit tablets, and there was a plaque inscribed “Zhi Ben Tang” from the 17th year of the Jiajing reign of the Ming Dynasty, commemorating Yao Mo, who served as the Eighteen Armies’ Minister. The rear building served as Yao Mo’s study and contains a Song Dynasty plaque in white with black characters reading “Ti Ying,” along with a collection of paintings.

The “Ti Ying” plaque exhibits clear Ming Dynasty characteristics. It has a west-facing door, with ladder storage areas in the left and right side rooms. The columns are made of relatively thick timber, and the two connected rooms on the eastern side show the size of the timber used. The principal section employs central pillars, with three bays at the front and four at the rear, using double-step beams and single-step beams respectively. The column capitals are simple square short columns, and the beams are not shaped as crescent beams. Central beam heads are fitted with round buckets, with crossed brackets applied. The eaves columns are small octagonal pillars with slight inward tilt, a feature characteristic of Song architecture. Corresponding column bricks are square lotus pedestals, while the rest are bead-style plinths. The eaves column heads have square buckets, with no decorative brackets visible. The end timber blocks have evolved into plug-like shapes. The partition walls between beams are filled with bamboo cores and coated with a layer of mud plaster. The railings in the secondary rooms are made of dragon-patterned bricks, measuring 26×45 cm on the sides, while the main room has an earthen floor. The secondary rooms have wooden flooring. Currently, on the second floor, in the eastern secondary room near the window, there is still a row of wooden balustrades. The rafters are covered with seal tiles, some of which have wave patterns, with the lower part featuring double-peach leaf supports, possibly remnants from the early Qing Dynasty. The roof is of the flush-gable style.

The front hall originally had a gate tower to the east, with stone lions and drum stones in front of the western wing. Based on the current orientation of the building and relevant historical records, this is undoubtedly the former residence of Yao Mo. The west wing consists of three bays with doors and windows featuring large lattice designs from the Song Dynasty.

Yao Mo (1465–1538), courtesy name Yingzhi, was a native of Cixi, Zhejiang Province during the Ming Dynasty. He was a renowned statesman and celebrated military strategist of the Ming era.

In the 6th year of the Hongzhi reign (1493), Yao Mo passed the imperial examination and earned his jinshi degree. He served as an official in the Ministry of Rites, advancing to the position of Assistant Director, before being promoted to Investigating Censor in charge of education in Guangxi.

Yao Mo founded the Xuan Cheng Academy and invited scholars of the Five Classics to teach students. When he first arrived in Guangxi Province, the locals (of Guangxi) worshipped the mountain spirit Zhuowang. Yao Mo destroyed the idol, changing the local custom. Later, Yao Mo was transferred to become the Deputy Commissioner of Fujian, and not long after, he was appointed as an Education Commissioner. In the 9th year of the Zhengde reign (1514), Yao Mo was promoted to Provincial Surveillance Commissioner of Guizhou. In the 15th year of the Zhengde reign (1520)… More details about Yao Mo ++