Taoyuan Residence

Taoyuan Residence

Constructed in the 10th year of the Xianfeng reign during the Qing Dynasty (1860), Taoyuan Residence earned its name from a rare peach tree planted in the courtyard by the landlord. The brick carvings on the gate tower are finely executed with rich layering, and the animal figures such as blue lions and white elephants are particularly lifelike. Uniquely, the upper part of the gate tower features an arched lintel constructed from polished bricks, reminiscent of the winter melon beam often seen above the front section of indoor hallways. At the center of the lintel is inlaid a large arched brick carving—a feature seldom found in traditional old houses.

The main patterns on the doors and windows of the Taoyuan Residence hall include tripods and vases. The window openings are of the hanging-lace style, with two “guardian children” above each of the side windows. The four magpies and six qilins on the window railings appear almost alive, symbolizing “four joys and six smooths.” The upper parts of the room doors feature “vine entwined flowers,” and the figures on the “central flower panels” of each door depict historical allusions. Among them, the inner panel of the east room’s door leaf shows “Wang Xizhi Playing with Geese,” while other stories remain to be verified. Additionally, the grape hanging-lace and double-lion spandrels in the side rooms are considered masterpieces, with the flying horses in the hanging-lace symbolizing “rapid advancement and success.”

The upper sections of the four doors in Taoyuan Residence are carved in descending order with panels depicting “Bats Offering Longevity,” “Eight Steeds,” and “Fairyland on Earth” (also known as “Peach Blossom Spring”). The large carved panels feature “Squirrels and Grapes.” The waist boards of the four doors are respectively carved with four historical tales: “Yue Fei Being Tattooed with a Mother’s Admonition,” “Wang Xiang Catching a Carp” (also called “Lying on Ice to Catch Fish”), “Ji Zi Hanging His Sword,” and “Kong Rong Yielding the Pear.” These four stories represent the four virtues of “loyalty, filial piety, chastity, and righteousness.”

Hongcun Village: Located in the northeastern part of Yi County, Anhui Province, Hongcun Village covers an area of 19.11 hectares. Established during the Shaoxi reign of the Southern Song Dynasty (1131 AD), it has a history of over 800 years. Backed by the remnants of the Huangshan Mountain range, including Yangzhan Ridge and Leigang Mountain, the village sits at a relatively high elevation and is hailed as the “Village in a Chinese Painting.”

Hongcun is situated at the southwestern foot of Huangshan Mountain, north of Yicheng. The village spans an area of 4.1 square kilometers, with 768 acres of cultivated land, 13 villager groups, 437 households, and a population of 1,368. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit, a National AAAAA-level Tourist Attraction, a National Eco-Cultural Village, and more. More detailed information about Hongcun Village ++