Shangmu Deng Family Enclosed Roundhouse

Shangmu Deng Family Enclosed Roundhouse

Shangmu Deng Family Enclosed Roundhouse is a cultural heritage site protected at the provincial level in Jiangxi Province.

Shangmu Deng Family Enclosed Roundhouse is the only surviving Hakka enclosed roundhouse in western Jiangxi. Majestic and impregnable, it resembles a fortress. Located in Shangmu Village, Huzhe Town, Fenyi County, the Deng Family Roundhouse—also known as Sanli Hall, Deng Chunya Ancestral Hall, Deng Family Grand House, or Deng Family Old House—is a Hakka clan settlement that combines the architectural features of Hakka earthen buildings with those of traditional southern Chinese architecture. It is also the largest enclosed roundhouse discovered so far in western Jiangxi.

The origins of Shangmu Deng Family Enclosed Roundhouse trace back to the migration and prosperity of a single family. According to the Deng Family Genealogy: During the Qianlong era of the Qing Dynasty, Deng Tinghuan, an ancestor of the Deng family, moved from Jiaying Prefecture (now Meizhou), Guangdong, to Baitian Village, Fenyi, accompanied by his son Deng Xun. The family made their fortune trading oil along the Yuan River. After Deng Tinghuan passed away, Deng Xun relocated to Shangmu with his three sons—Deng Chengzhang, Deng Jinggao, and Deng Jingbiao—and continued the oil business. In the 10th year of the Jiaqing reign (1805 AD), Deng Jingbiao, the third son, built the Deng Family Grand House on behalf of the three brothers. Since Deng Jinggao had died early and Deng Chengzhang was already 56 years old at the time, and the brothers had not yet divided the family property, Deng Jingbiao managed all affairs. Initially, only a three-courtyard house was constructed and named Sanli Hall, symbolizing the three brothers’ success and prominence. Later, a surrounding wall was added for security. Along the wall, various structures of different sizes were built, including living quarters, bathrooms, woodsheds, the Dragon Hall Tower, and the main gate, totaling 99 rooms—hence it was also called Shangmu Hundred-Room House. To commemorate their late father, the Deng brothers built a gatehouse outside the main gate in the style of local ancestral halls and hung a plaque inscribed with “Deng Chunya Ancestral Hall.” Thus, the Deng Family Roundhouse took its current form, a project that spanned 14 years.

Further Reading:

· Fifth Batch of Provincial-Level Cultural Heritage Sites Protected by Jiangxi Province