Five Jinshi (Advanced Scholars) Residences in Lian Village

Five Jinshi Residences in Lian Village

The Five Jinshi Residences in Lian Village are a Fu’an Municipal Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

The Five Jinshi Residences in Lian Village are located in Lian Village, Xitan Town, Fu’an City, dating back to the Daoguang era of the Qing Dynasty (1821–1850), and are categorized as ancient architecture.

These residences are located at No. 9 Xiajiao Road, Lian Village, Xitan Town, built during the Daoguang era (1821–1850). Oriented from northwest to southeast, they feature a courtyard-style post-and-lintel wooden and brick structure, consisting of a main gate, central courtyard, side rooms on both sides, main house, rear courtyard, and two additional side rooms. The total width is 33.3 meters, depth 34 meters, covering an area of 1,132.2 square meters. The roof is of the hanging gable type with magpie-tail ridges. The main house uses a post-and-lintel beam framework with reduced columns. The main section has five bays in width and ten columns in depth, with a false ceiling installed in the central bay. A horizontal plaque inscribed with “Celebrating Prosperity in Qi’s Residence” hangs on the mid-wall. The interior features exquisitely carved window lattices that are well preserved. This residence produced five Jinshi scholars, marking another significant feature among Lian Village’s many scholarly figures, and holds important value for the study of the village’s history and culture.

On February 20, 2013, the Fu’an Municipal People’s Government designated it as part of the fifth batch of municipal-level cultural relics protection units.

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

Lian Village: Originally named Shiji Jin, Lian Village is located 15 kilometers southwest of Fu’an City, Fujian Province.

During the Tianjian era of the Liang Dynasty in the Southern Dynasties (502–519), the Imperial Censor Xue He migrated from southern Jiangnan to Fujian and eventually settled in Shiji Lu. His sixth-generation descendant, Xue Lingzhi, diligently studied and became the first Jinshi scholar from the Eight Min regions in the second year of the Shenlong era of the Tang Dynasty (706 AD). After passing the imperial examination, he was appointed as Left Supplement Official and Tutor to the Crown Prince. At the time, Prime Minister Li Linfu abused his power, leading to the neglect of Eastern Palace officials. Feeling indignant, Xue Lingzhi wrote a self-mourning poem on the wall: “The morning sun rises round and bright, shining upon the master’s tray. What lies within the tray? Sprouting alfalfa along the railings. The rice is dry, the spoon…” Detailed information about Lian Village++

Further reading:

· Fifth Batch of Municipal-Level Cultural Relics Protection Units in Fu’an City