Longchuan Hu Clan Ancestral Hall

Longchuan Hu Clan Ancestral Hall

The Longchuan Hu Clan Ancestral Hall is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

The Longchuan Hu Clan Ancestral Hall was built in the 25th year of the Jiajing reign of the Ming Dynasty (1547) and is located in Dakoukou Village, Yingzhou Township, Jixi County, Anhui Province. Constructed during the mid-Ming Dynasty, this Han Chinese ancestral hall served as a place for worshipping ancestors and discussing important clan affairs. The hall is adorned predominantly with various types of wood carvings and is known as a "museum of wood carving art" and a "palace of ethnic art." Longchuan is also the ancestral home of the former President Comrade [Note: redacted per Rule 4]. On January 13, 1988, it was approved by the State Council as part of the third batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units.

The Longchuan Hu Clan Ancestral Hall is located in Jixi, the birthplace of ancient Huizhou culture. Historically part of Huizhou, Jixi has long been known for its rich literary tradition and widespread ancestral hall architecture. The Longchuan Hu Clan Ancestral Hall is the clan temple of Hu Fu, Minister of Revenue in the Ming Dynasty; Hu Zongxian, Minister of War in the Ming Dynasty; and Hu Guangyong, a prominent Qing Dynasty merchant known as the "Red Top Merchant." The ancestral hall faces south and consists of three sections, covering a total area of 1,271 square meters. Nestled against the mountains and near flowing water, it has a majestic presence and is praised as a "treasury of Huizhou wood carving art." Experts have acclaimed it as a unique gem among ancient ancestral halls in China.

In front of the Longchuan Hu Clan Ancestral Hall lies a square of approximately 100 square meters. The foundation of the building, the square ground, steps, and railings are all constructed from uniform granite. The front section features a grand gate tower that is 22 meters wide. Both the front and back of the gate tower are supported by six stone pillars, five moon beams, and four square beams, presenting a rigorous structure and balanced layout. The surfaces of the square beams are intricately carved— the central front beam depicts “Nine Lions Rolling a Ball on an Embroidered Carpet,” while the rear one shows “Nine Dragons Playing with a Pearl under a Starry Sky.” The wooden beams on both sides are carved with theatrical figures. Behind the gate tower is a courtyard, also paved with granite. Twenty stone pillars connect with twenty moon beams, arranged around the courtyard to support the east and west corridors and the eaves of the southern and northern rooms in the front and middle sections.

Passing through the courtyard leads to the middle section, which serves as the main hall of the ancestral temple. It is supported by 14 ginkgo tree columns, each with a circumference of 166 centimeters, along with 19 large and small winter melon-shaped beams. Each beam is fitted with oval beam supports at both ends, decorated with carved patterns of colorful clouds and flowing ribbons, with dragons, phoenixes, lions, and tigers sculpted in the middle. Layers of cloud motifs hang between the beams, with carved floral inlays inset, and even the beam hooks (used for hanging lanterns) are adorned with carved animal and plant designs such as coiling dragons, peacocks, daffodils, and evergreen plants.

On both sides of the main hall are floor-to-ceiling window doors over ten feet high. The upper parts of the windows feature openwork lattice patterns, while the lower parts consist of flat carved panels, primarily depicting lotus flowers interspersed with aquatic birds. The upper section of the main hall also has a row of floor-to-ceiling windows, with carved floral scenes centered around deer, complemented by mountain scenery, water, bamboo, trees, and flowers. The rear section is the bedroom area, consisting of two levels separated by a long, narrow courtyard. The bedroom windows are entirely carved with vases, using relief and shallow carving techniques. The small panels between the windows are intricately carved with objects used by the Eight Immortals, the Four Treasures of the Study, scrolls and desks, round chairs, and long tables—delicate and rich in three-dimensional detail.

Historical records indicate that Longchuan is the ancient name of Dakoukou Village. In front of the village lies Longxu Mountain, and a small stream (referred to as a "chuan") runs through the village, hence the name Longchuan. Later, people believed that the stream (also called a "keng") flowed out into the larger Dengyuan River, allowing dragons to swim freely, leading to the name change to Dakoukou. This legend is still passed down among local residents. The Longchuan Hu Clan Ancestral Hall is a product of the clan unification and ancestral law system in ancient Huizhou. Though it no longer serves its original function today, its wood carving art represents the crystallization of the wisdom of working people. As a historical artifact, it holds unique archaeological and aesthetic value. Its wood carvings are particularly distinctive, forming their own artistic style, and can be considered a “pearl” of wood carving art. This is precisely what is meant by the phrase “a unique gem among ancient ancestral halls.”

Further Reading:

· Third Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units