Yuantian Ancient Architectural Complex

Yuantian Ancient Architectural Complex

The Yuantian Ancient Architectural Complex is a cultural heritage site protected at the provincial level in Fujian Province.

The Yuantian Ancient Architectural Complex is located in Yuantian Village, Taibai Town, Shanghang County, and dates back to the Qing Dynasty.

Description: It consists of six structures: “Dian You Ju,” “Sheng Qi Pan Yu,” “Ying Chuan Zhi,” “Kuo You Qi Rong,” “Rui Qi Yao Lin,” and “Ling Xiao Ge.” “Dian You Ju,” “Sheng Qi Pan Yu,” “Ying Chuan Zhi,” “Kuo You Qi Rong,” and “Rui Qi Yao Lin” are mainly built in the traditional Qing Dynasty architectural style. The entire complex features earth-and-timber structures built along the water, with layouts typically consisting of two courtyards, three sections, and three bays, flanked by wing rooms. The gate towers are usually located on either side of the main house. The central axis includes, in sequence: courtyard walls, a courtyard yard, an entrance hall, a front courtyard, a central hall, a rear courtyard, and a rear building. The entrance hall is generally three bays wide and one bay deep, with a post-and-lintel wooden frame and a gable-and-hip roof; the central hall and rear building are both three bays wide, with gable walls supporting the purlins and gable-and-hip roofs. The rear building is often a two-story brick-and-timber structure with a wooden veranda on the second floor and a hip-and-gable roof. “Ling Xiao Ge,” also known as the “Octagonal Tower,” was built during the Kangxi reign of the Qing Dynasty (1662–1722). It faces northeast and is situated southwest, designed in a pavilion style with an earth-and-timber structure and post-and-lintel wooden frame. The seven-story tower rises 20.4 meters high in an octagonal shape, tapering with each level, and culminates in an octagonal spire with a gourd-shaped finial. The base side measures 3 meters. The second level of the tower features a surrounding veranda with railings, and the exterior walls preserve calligraphy works from Qing Dynasty literati.

Protected Area: “Dian You Ju”: East to 15 meters beyond the courtyard gate, west to 10 meters beyond the rear eaves wall of the wing room, south to the southern bank of the Ruxi River, north to 10 meters beyond the rear eaves wall. “Sheng Qi Pan Yu,” “Ying Chuan Zhi,” “Kuo You Qi Rong”: East to 15 meters beyond the rear eaves wall of the wing room of “Kuo You Qi Rong,” west to 10 meters beyond the rear eaves wall of the wing room of “Sheng Qi Pan Yu,” south to the village road beyond the rear eaves wall, north to the northern bank of the Ruxi River. “Rui Qi Yao Lin”: East to 10 meters beyond the rear eaves wall of the wing room, west to 15 meters beyond the rear eaves wall of the wing room, south to 10 meters beyond the rear eaves wall, north to the northern bank of the Ruxi River. Ling Xiao Ge: East to the eastern bank of the Ruxi River, south to the southern bank of the Ruxi River, west to the western village road, north to the Taibao Temple.

In 2018, the Yuantian Ancient Architectural Complex was designated as a ninth-batch provincial-level cultural heritage site by the People’s Government of Fujian Province.

Yuantian Village: Yuantian Village is located southeast of Taibai Township. The village covers an area of 5 square kilometers, with 2,117 mu of arable land and over 5,000 mu of forested land. It enjoys a mild climate, fertile soil, abundant water resources, and a beautiful environment. The village comprises 4 natural villages, 23 villager groups, 556 households, and 2,117 residents. In 2011, the village collective annual income was 12,000 yuan, and the per capita income of villagers was 63,000 yuan. There are 60 Party members, and currently, 32 households are classified as impoverished. Under the unified leadership of the village committee, the villagers have seized favorable opportunities for rural economic development, focusing on increasing farmers’ incomes and strengthening the village economy. … Yuantian Village detailed information++

Further Reading:

· Ninth Batch of Provincial Cultural Heritage Sites in Fujian Province