Ziwu Ancestral Hall

Ziwu Ancestral Hall

Ziwu Ancestral Hall is a cultural relic protection unit of Anhui Province.

Ancestral Hall in Banqiao Township, Xiuning County during the Ming Dynasty

This ancestral hall is known as the “Family Temple of Sizhao Gong from Zili.” It is one of the most well-preserved ancestral halls in Xiuning and serves as an important physical resource for studying Huizhou carving and architectural art from the Ming Dynasty. The Ziwu Ancestral Hall dates back to the Ming Dynasty and is located in Banqiao Township, Xiuning County. This ancestral hall is called the “Family Temple of Sizhao Gong from Zili.” It has three bays and three sections, with a total depth of 30 meters and a total width of 15 meters, covering a total area of 450 square meters. The three successive sections are the “Jingde Hall,” “Xiang Hall,” and “Bedroom Tower.” The structure uses relatively large materials. There are exquisite carved decorations on the coffered ceiling, elephant trunk beams, and flat tray brackets. The beams are supported by a lifted beam system, with brackets used between the beams and columns. The beams and crossbeams are supported by square blue stone pillars, and the brick carvings on the gate tower are highly refined.

The Ziwu Song Family Ancestral Hall was built during the Ming Dynasty and is now seven to eight hundred years old. From the outside, the walls are made of blue bricks and covered with white lime, while the roof is tiled in black with upturned eaves. Stepping through the main gate, you see flagstone flooring, spacious halls, and bright courtyards; there are towering pillars, massive beams, and exquisitely crafted components. Song Fagen, Secretary of the Party Branch of Ziwu Village, told us that the square stone pillars used in the ancestral hall were all transported here by ancestors using traditional log rolling methods.

The Ziwu Ancestral Hall is one of the most well-preserved ancestral halls in Xiuning and serves as an important physical resource for studying Ming Dynasty Huizhou carving and architectural art, as well as the history of Huizhou clan migrations.