Hangzhou Ruan Gong Ancestral Hall

Hangzhou Ruan Gong Ancestral Hall

Hangzhou Ruan Gong Ancestral Hall is a cultural relic protection unit of Hangzhou.

Hangzhou Ruan Gong Ancestral Hall is located at No. 60 Yuanbaoxin on Wu Mountain, dedicated to Ruan Yuan, the Qing Dynasty Governor of Zhejiang. Ruan Yuan (1764–1849), courtesy name Boyuan and art name YunTai, was a native of Yizheng, Jiangsu. A renowned Confucian scholar, epigrapher, and calligrapher of the Qing era, he served as Grand Secretary of the Tiren Pavilion. He held positions as Zhejiang Educational Commissioner and Governor for many years. During his tenure, he dredged West Lake, built seawalls, established academies, and achieved notable governance accomplishments. He compiled works such as the "Commentaries on the Thirteen Classics" and "Records of Metal and Stone in Two Zhe Provinces." The existing structures of the ancestral hall were reconstructed in the fifth year of the Guangxu reign (1879) from the former Chongyang Nunnery, covering an area of 320 square meters. The building has five bays, a flush-gable roof, faces east with a west orientation, spans a total width of 20 meters and a depth of 11 meters, and features a brick-and-timber structure with a six-rafter front-eave corridor.

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The Ruan Gong Ancestral Hall was renovated in 2007. The renovated hall now features long stone steps leading directly to the entrance, creating an impressive sight. The entire complex consists of side chambers, the main hall, and auxiliary halls in the cross courtyard. The main hall has five bays, a flush-gable roof, faces east with a west orientation, and is bright and airy.

The main hall is arranged in the style of a traditional central hall, featuring a large line-engraved portrait of Ruan Yuan positioned at the center, with tables and stands placed in front. The side walls display four antique-style silk paintings depicting key deeds of Ruan Yuan in Hangzhou and Zhejiang. Calligraphy works by Ruan Yuan are also hung here. Additionally, display cases exhibit Ruan Yuan’s chronology, calligraphy pieces, and various editions of his major writings. The overall ambiance of the main hall is serene, elegant, and uncluttered.

Protected area: bounded by the walls of the Ruan Gong Ancestral Hall courtyard to the east and south, the northeastern wall of the courtyard, the retaining wall to the west, and extending approximately 5 meters beyond the heritage structure to the north, covering a total area of 1,423 square meters.

Construction control zone: extends to the footpath at the eastern foothill of Wu Mountain to the east, 30 meters beyond the walls of the Ruan Gong Ancestral Hall courtyard (including No. 66 Yuanbaoxin) to the south, the curb line of the main road in the Wu Mountain Scenic Area to the west, and approximately 20 meters beyond the protected area to the north, covering a total area of 6,716 square meters.