Chenhai Ding Clan Ancestral Hall

Chenhai Ding Clan Ancestral Hall

The Chenhai Ding Clan Ancestral Hall is a cultural tourism attraction.

The Chenhai Ding Clan Ancestral Hall is located in Andou Village, Chenhai Town, Jinjiang City, Fujian Province.

The ancestral hall was first built in the early Ming Dynasty and has been repaired, rebuilt, and expanded over the years. It is the oldest, largest, and most well-preserved Hui-style ancestral hall in Fujian Province. The Ding family originally came from Arabia; their ancestor Sayyid Ajjal Shams al-Din Omar (1222–1279) served in the Yuan Dynasty as the Chancellor of the Right. One branch of their descendants engaged in trade and settled in Quanzhou during the Yuan Dynasty. After the transition from the Yuan to the Ming Dynasty, the clan took refuge in Chenhai and adopted the final sound of their ancestor’s name, “Ding,” as their surname. Although the Ding clan of Chenhai has largely assimilated into Han Chinese culture in social and daily life, traces of Islamic customs and ethnic identity can still be observed in their living spaces. This unique cultural characteristic, which reflects both the common traits of Southern Fujian’s Han culture and remnants of Islamic traditions, can be better understood through the design of their ancestral hall and the way they honor their ancestors.

The ancestral hall faces south and is organized around a corridor-style courtyard complex. It employs traditional Southern Fujian residential architectural techniques, using brick, stone, and wood in its construction. The central axis runs from south to north, including a pond, entrance courtyard, front hall, front garden, main hall (central shrine), rear courtyard, and rear hall. Excluding the pond, the structure is 49.24 meters long from north to south and 21.38 meters wide from east to west, covering a total area of 1,052.75 square meters. A red plaque with golden characters reading “Ding Clan Ancestral Hall” hangs prominently above the front gate of the front hall, its bold calligraphy shining brightly. The main hall is the central structure of the ancestral hall complex, where the spirit tablets of Ding clan ancestors are enshrined, and the grand annual ceremonies for veneration are held in spring and autumn. Most striking are the wood carvings above the lintels and the stone carvings of Arabic script decorations on the corridor walls—especially the central bird-shaped wooden carving above the main gate lintel, formed from Arabic letters. It is said to represent the “auspicious bird” of Islam, which “prays to Allah for blessings and peace.” The corridor-style layout forms the shape of the Chinese character “回” (meaning “return”), and the northeast corner of the rear hall is cut at an angle, further mimicking the turning stroke of the Chinese character, perhaps symbolizing the Ding clan’s strong ethnic identity integrated into the architecture of the ancestral hall.

The Ding Clan Ancestral Hall is not only grand and richly decorated but also carries deep and profound meaning. Eighteen plaques are erected inside the hall, along with nearly 30 pairs of carved stone and painted couplets. The plaques document the clan’s historical academic and official achievements, commend exemplary figures, and honor the merits of ancestors. The couplets depict the ancestral hall’s feng shui, historical origins, and notable events, mostly praising the virtues and accomplishments of forebears to showcase the clan’s glory. “Talents flourish through generations, with many donning official hats”—during the Ming and Qing dynasties, 12 individuals from the clan passed the imperial examination for jinshi (advanced scholars), 21 became juren (provincial graduates), 26 were gongsheng (tribute students), and 105 became xiucai (county-level graduates). In 1984, the Ding Clan Ancestral Hall was converted into the “Chenhai Hui Ethnic History Exhibition Hall.”

The woodworking, masonry, stonework, and plasterwork of the Ding Clan Ancestral Hall are exquisitely crafted, leaving visitors in awe. The decorative carving skills are exquisite, with rich motifs and vibrant colors. With its grand yet well-proportioned structure and appropriately modest embellishments, the hall showcases its distinctive ethnic characteristics.

In 2006, the Chenhai Ding Clan Ancestral Hall, as a Ming Dynasty structure, was listed by the State Council as part of the sixth group of Major Historical and Cultural Sites Protected at the National Level.

Andou Village: A Hui ethnic village in Chenhai Town, Jinjiang City, Andou Village is located on the southern edge of the East Plain of Quanzhou Bay and is one of the main administrative villages in the Chenhai Hui community. It neighbors six other Hui villages. The village is divided into three areas: Houjiao, Xincuoqian, and Houjie. It has a total of 1,116 households, with a permanent population of over 4,750, 95% of whom are the Ding clan Hui people, plus over 25,000 migrant residents. The village got its name from its coastal location, where the coastline indents into a bay—“dou” in the Southern Fujian dialect refers to a “pocket-like” shape, hence the name derived from the water body. According to historical records and expert research, the ancestor of the Ding clan... More details about Andou Village++

Further Reading:

· Sixth Group of Major Historical and Cultural Sites Protected at the National Level