Zhumu Hall

Zhumu Hall

Zhumu Hall, built during the Jiayin year of the Qing Dynasty (1794), was constructed by Hu Guansan, the 24th-generation ancestor of the Mingjing Hu clan, in memory and reverence of his grandfather Bingpei and father Yinghai. They were known for their lifelong dedication to culture, righteousness, philanthropy, and charity. Inside the hall are portraits of Emperor Taizong of Tang’s meritorious officials and a statue of the emperor himself.

Zhumu Hall is the ancestral temple where the Hu clan of Xidi worship their forebears. The building is generally oriented from north to south, with the entrance located on the southern side. The spatial layout of Zhumu Hall follows a distinct sequence: from the front plaza of the ancestral hall, through the entrance hall, into the square courtyard, then to the main hall, and further via both sides into the rear rectangular courtyard, ultimately leading to the area where ancestors are enshrined — a structure with clearly defined spatial layers. The front plaza of the ancestral hall has a narrow rectangular shape, with a length-to-width ratio of about 3:1. The distance from the wooden fence gate of the hall to the outer wall of the neighboring residence is approximately 9 meters, while the outer eave height of the hall is nearly 5 meters. As a result, the sectional proportion of the entrance plaza forms a 1:2 (height-to-width) ratio. This perspective is conducive to appreciating the details of the facade, but not ideal for viewing the overall contour of the building.

The roof of Zhumu Hall features upturned eaves and soaring corners, with an octagonal-shaped main gate. Beneath the eaves, wooden railings are installed outside the Sanyuan Gate, and the octagonal walls are made of smoothly polished Yixian marble slabs, giving the structure a uniquely exquisite and magnificent style.

Xidi Village: Located at the southern foot of the Huangshan Mountain Range in eastern Yixian County, Anhui Province, Xidi Village lies in Dongyuan Township, approximately 8 kilometers east of the county seat. The road from Yicheng to Tankou runs along the northwest side of the village.

The ancient dwellings of Xidi are largely well-preserved. Their architectural style stands out uniquely within the Huizhou tradition, featuring exquisite craftsmanship, especially in the “Three Carvings” (stone, wood, and brick carving), with stone carving being particularly outstanding. These structures serve not only as tangible artifacts for studying residential architecture of the Qing Dynasty, but also as valuable resources for researching the socio-economic patterns of the Huizhou merchants, as well as the architectural and artistic history from the Ming and Qing periods. It is hailed as the “Museum of Ming and Qing Residential Architecture,” the “Treasury of Eastern Culture,” and the “Best-Preserved… More details about Xidi Village++