Shuyuqing Hall

Shuyuqing Hall

Shuyuqing Hall is a cultural relic protection unit of Anhui Province.

Shuyuqing Hall, Pingshan Village, Yi County

Built around 1600 (during the Wanli era of the Ming Dynasty), covering an area of 480 square meters, the hall's main gate faces south and is fronted by a horizontal high wall. The large attached wall archway, with two pillars and three stories, is made from water-ground bricks, standing approximately 10 meters tall, with 50-centimeter-wide spindle-shaped brick pillars. The moon-beam brick carvings are finely crafted, simple yet dignified. The two-story eaves project layer by layer, supported by bracket sets (dougong), and the overall composition of the archway masterfully balances primary and secondary elements, density and openness, complementing each other beautifully. Behind the grand stone-framed gate, a solid door with square brick paving features iron strips pressed into the joints, forming diagonal grids. Each square brick is secured with a round-headed nail at the center, adding to its majestic and solemn appearance. The ancestral hall is divided into three sections: the lower hall, middle hall, and rear hall, arranged appropriately with grand beams and pillars. The main structure is entirely built from ginkgo wood. The main pillars have a diameter of 0.4 meters, are spindle-shaped, and rest on inverted-basin-shaped pedestals lined with catalpa wood boards. The moon beams are massive and slightly spindle-shaped. The bracket arms between the beams and pillars are all supported by dougong brackets, with the "ding" head brackets adorned with coiled floral patterns. The supplementary beams under the main beams are intricately carved. The flat tray brackets beneath the ridge-supporting posts feature upward-facing lotus petals, while the forked brackets on either side of the ridge-supporting posts are deeply carved with swirling patterns. The beam framework is prominently featured, resembling colorful ribbons and bearing resemblance to structural styles from the Song Dynasty. A row of bracket sets beneath the eaves is stacked layer upon layer, exuding a richly ornate grandeur. The rear hall and middle hall have been altered due to long-term disrepair and mold, but the middle hall still retains much of its original appearance. The entire ancestral hall is now largely intact and is a key cultural relic protection unit of Anhui Province.