Xikeng Ancestral Temple

Xikeng Ancestral Temple

Xikeng Ancestral Temple is a cultural heritage site protected by Fu’an City.

Xikeng Ancestral Temple is located in Xikeng Village, Tan Tou Town, Fu’an City. It dates back to the 25th year of the Jiajing reign of the Ming Dynasty (1546) and is categorized as an ancient architectural structure.

The temple is located at the entrance of Xikeng Village in Tan Tou Town. It was first built in the 25th year of the Jiajing reign (1546) of the Ming Dynasty and was renovated in the 44th year of the Wanli reign (1616), in the early winter of the year Bingchen. The structure faces west and is oriented eastward. It is a brick-and-timber corridor-style building with a total depth of 24.9 meters and a total width of 17.8 meters, covering a floor area of 443.22 square meters. It consists of an entrance hall, a courtyard, and a main hall. The main hall features a post-and-lintel beam frame and a hip-and-gable roof, with the central bay’s beam frame reaching a height of 5.71 meters. The building has a depth of four bays and a width of five bays, along with two side corridors. According to local villagers, the temple was originally a Buddhist nunnery before being converted into a place where the Zhan clan worshipped their ancestors and conducted religious activities. Architectural elements such as its arches and door frames still preserve the distinctive style and layout of Ming Dynasty architecture, providing valuable and significant physical evidence for the study of ancient Ming-era buildings.

On February 20, 2013, the People’s Government of Fu’an City designated it as a municipal-level cultural heritage site in the fifth batch of such listings.

Protected area: an extension of 5 meters beyond the outer walls of the building.

Tan Tou Town: a town under the jurisdiction of Fu’an City. Established as Tan Tou Commune in 1969, it was reorganized as a township in 1984 and upgraded to a town in 1992. Located in the northern part of the city, it is 18 kilometers from the municipal government. Covering an area of 150 square kilometers, it has a population of 37,000. The town administers 29 village committees: Tan Tou, Fu Luo Ban, Dong Sheng, Da Zhuang, Jian Bing, Yu Xi Yang, Ni Yang, Gao Yan, Dong Kun, Xi Yang Jing, Shu Yang, Ke Yang, Nan Yan, Qian Shi Ting, Dong Ling Yang, Tang Xi, Fen Yang, Ci Tang Qian, Zhe Tou, Hou Yang, Tai Feng, Dong Kang, Shang Ping Yang, Xikeng, Keng Ping, Xia Yang, Ban Keng, Hou Jiao Long, and E Shan. The main agricultural products are rice and tubers, along with... More detailed information about Tan Tou Town ++

Further reading:

· Fifth Batch of Municipal-Level Cultural Heritage Sites in Fu’an City