Nanyang Building

Nanyang Building

Nanyang Building is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

Nanyang Building is located at the foot of Shixing Mountain in Dadi Village, Xiandu Town, Hua’an County. As you approach Nanyang Building, the bold characters “Fujian Tulou Museum” come into view. It was built by Jiang Jingbang, grandson of Jiang Shirong—the founder of Er’yi Building—in the first month of the Dingchou year during the Jiaqing reign (January 1817 in the lunar calendar), 47 years after the construction of Er’yi Building. Since it had Er’yi Building as a blueprint reference, Nanyang Building inherited many of its superior architectural features and can be considered a miniature version of Er’yi Building. Moreover, its wooden carvings and stone engravings are even more refined than those of Er’yi Building. Nanyang Building faces northwest and covers an area of 3,100 square meters, stands 13.25 meters tall with a diameter of 51.6 meters. It has four units, each consisting of seven bays, totaling 96 rooms. Currently, the building displays well-preserved precious artifacts such as furniture, stationery, collectibles, and farming tools used by the tulou’s former owners, vividly recreating their daily life.

As Zhuangzi said, “There is a bird in the south... that will not roost except on the phoenix tree, eat nothing but seeds of plantains, and drink only from sweet springs.” The door of Nanyang Building is made from this “phoenix-perching wood,” demonstrating the exceptional quality of its materials. The gate tower is constructed from finely polished granite, standing 5.99 meters high and 4 meters wide, with a door opening of 1.7 meters. All three gate tops are equipped with water tanks, which can be filled to create a water curtain for defense in case of enemy fire attacks.

The stone plaque of Nanyang Building is inscribed in running script. The left alley gate plaque is carved with “High Mountains,” and the right one with “Long Rivers,” both in powerful strokes. On the left is fine regular script reading “Jiaqing Dingchou,” and on the right, “Erected in the First Month.” The stonework of this building is exquisitely crafted, with the most elaborate being the drum-shaped stones in front of the ancestral hall. Their four sides are carved with dozens of auspicious beasts, divine birds, exotic fruits, and lucky plants, such as phoenixes, qilins, lions, deer, rabbits, cranes, horses, monkeys, messenger birds, as well as red peaches, lychees, pomegranates, Buddha’s hands, pine, bamboo, plum, and magnolia. The delicate carvings on the drum-shaped stones reflect the founder’s vision for a bright future and hopes for the prosperity of descendants. The front base of the drum-shaped stones is carved with a round “longevity” character, beneath which is a mythical creature called “Tun,” known for devouring living beings. Legend says this monster was subdued by Guanyin and is now used to ward off evil and uphold righteousness. The beams and brackets of the ancestral hall are intricately carved with exquisite flowers and mythical creatures, dazzling to behold. In front of the hall, there is a pair of upside-down lotus flowers with petals as thin as paper, through which the seeds are visible. Impressively, the circumference of these inverted lotuses measures 114 centimeters. Nanyang Building uses refined materials, with large timber even used for the two purlins on the roof in front of the main gate, which had to be tapered at both ends into spindle shapes before they could be installed smoothly—testament to the craftsmanship involved.

From the first to the third floor, the wooden latticework and stair railings of Nanyang Building are exquisitely made and extremely well preserved. Within a two-meter radius outside the center of the courtyard, there is a noticeable echo effect. As the sound level increases, one can clearly feel pressure on the eardrums, similar to the Echo Wall at the Temple of Heaven.

The surroundings of Nanyang Building boast excellent ecological conditions, with lush mountains and clear waters. The building sits against Lion Mountain. It is said that a garden was built behind the building in the past, and the former flower beds have now been turned into a tea plantation. A century-old camphor tree, a lignum tree, and four ancient pines still stand tall behind the building as a natural barrier. In front of the building lies a vast lotus pond, offering a different kind of scenery. To the right of the building flows a small stream originating from the deep mountains of Xikeng Village in Anxi County. The stream has abundant water flow and crystal-clear quality, with green bamboo planted along both banks. To the right of the building, remnants of a square foundation can still be seen. Elders say it was once a schoolhouse—truly a tulou paired with a study, reflecting how the Jiang family of Xiandu Town has always valued cultural learning. Nanyang Building also retains a plaque inscribed with “Scholar of Letters,” commemorating a certain Jiang who passed the imperial examination as a deputy provincial graduate in a certain year of the Guangxu reign.

Dadi Village: Located in the eastern part of Xiandu Town and adjacent to Longjuan Township in Anxi, Dadi Village is one of the second batch of socialist new rural demonstration villages in Zhangzhou City. The world-famous “King of Tulou”—Er’yi Building—is situated here. The village has 17 villager groups, 811 households, and a population of 3,001, with 8 members in the village committee and 72 party members. Five rural party organization “three-level core network” stations have been established, giving full play to the leading, guiding, and exemplary roles of rural party members. The total area of the village is 24,284.6 mu, including 2,174.9 mu of arable land, 14,644.1 mu of forest land, and... More details about Dadi Village ++

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