Ancient Architectural Complex of Tianbao Village

Ancient Architectural Complex of Tianbao Village

The Ancient Architectural Complex of Tianbao Village is a cultural heritage site protected by Jiangxi Province.

Ancient Architectural Complex of Tianbao Village (including the Ancestral Hall of Zhao Gong, the Gate Tower of the Liu Clan Ancestral Hall, the Ancestral Hall of Yi Xin Gong, the Ancestral Hall of Wu Fang Weng, the Mansion of Jinshi, and the Ancestral Hall of Gong Li)

The ancient village of Tianbao follows the contours of its natural landscape, extending east-west in the shape of a boat. Characterized by grey-tiled buildings with white walls and horse-head walls, it showcases the architectural style of Jiangxi Province, covering a total area of 800,000 square meters. The ancient village still preserves over 170 houses from the Ming and Qing dynasties, 7,375 meters of ancient flagstone roads, 43 ancient alleys, one ancient city wall stretching 1,490 meters, as well as 36 ancient wells scattered throughout the village. Since the establishment of the Liu clan in Tianbao, the village has produced 22 Jinshi (successful imperial examination candidates), and 25 imperial plaques bestowed by the royal court are still preserved.

The ancient village of Tianbao naturally forms the shape of a boat. To the southeast lies a moat where the river flows from east to west, winding around the city; to the west is the Teng River; and to the north are the ruins of the ancient city wall. The old town features three streets and six markets, six city gates, thirteen mansions, 48 alleys, 48 wells, and is surrounded by eight inner and outer scenic spots.

The Ming and Qing architecture of Tianbao Village can be divided into ten categories: ancestral halls, pavilions, painted halls, Guanyin halls, official residences, residential houses, stone archways, pagodas, nunneries, and temples. The layout emphasizes feng shui principles such as “building houses against the mountain and settling near the forest” and “facing south.” Architecturally, the buildings feature several sections, varying in height—with the front higher than the back—and include side halls, offering spacious and rigorously arranged interiors. Local customs are embodied through elements like the “Book Gate” and the culture of “farming and studying.”

Major Buildings

Liu Clan Ancestral Hall

The Liu Clan Ancestral Hall was first built in the seventh year of the Hongzhi era of the Ming Dynasty (1494). The original hall was over 100 meters long and more than 30 meters wide, featuring 36 stone pillars, 24 courtyards, and a structure consisting of five main buildings and one bedroom, along with left and right auxiliary halls, all richly decorated with carvings of dragons and phoenixes. Zhu Shi, Grand Secretary and Grand Tutor, as well as Chancellor of the Palace of Cultivated Talent during the Qing Dynasty, personally bestowed the golden plaque inscribed with “Famed Clan of Jiang Province.” The ancestral hall was destroyed and rebuilt six times, with the final reconstruction taking place in the 30th year of the Republic of China (1941). It was later converted into a grain storage facility in 1962 and suffered fire damage during the Cultural Revolution, leaving only the gate tower.

Ancestral Hall of Zhao Gong

The Ancestral Hall of Zhao Gong was first built in the 12th year of the Wanli era of the Ming Dynasty (1585), also known as the Ancestral Hall of the Four Seasons. Zhao Gong, whose name was Ji Zhao, was the sixth-generation descendant of Liu Shi, the founding ancestor of the Ink Village. Ji Zhao had four brothers: Ji Ming, Ji Zhao, Ji Hua, and Ji Rong—all of whose names contained the character “Ji,” hence the hall's alternate name, the Ancestral Hall of the Four Seasons. The building consists of three main sections, one bedroom, and a surrounding corridor with two arches and one pavilion. The entire structure is majestic, with a total floor area of over 1,000 square meters, making it the most intact ancestral hall in Tianbao and earning the reputation as a “masterpiece of residential architecture in southern China.”

Mansion of Jinshi

The Mansion of Jinshi was first built during the Qianlong era of the Qing Dynasty (1736–1795), originally named the Ancestral Hall of Pu Ting Weng. It was constructed by Liu Yingjun. In the 24th year of the Daoguang era (1844), Liu Gongchen, grandson of Liu Yingjun, passed the imperial examination and became a Jinshi, leading to the renaming of the estate. The mansion is built with brick and wood, featuring two sections, one bedroom, six doors, five rooms, and a connecting corridor.

Brothers of Righteousness

The Brothers of Righteousness was first built in the first year of the Daoguang era of the Qing Dynasty (1821). Emperor Daoguang, upon hearing that brothers Liu Yingbao and Liu Fen were known for their filial piety, kindness, and numerous charitable acts, and that their family had achieved the rare feat of seven generations living together under one roof, commissioned Wang Tingzhen, Minister of Rites and Grand Councilor, to bestow the honorific title “Brothers of Righteousness.” Today, only the gate tower and the plaque above it remain, with the inscriptions, seals, and characters still clearly visible.

Peigen Vocational School

The Peigen Vocational School was first built in the eighth year of the Republic of China (1919), and was the first modern vocational school in Jiangxi Province. In its early years, the school hired Liu Tianqu (father of Liu Shunshun), a renowned local scholar from Tianbao who had studied in Japan, as its principal, with Liu Jida (who served as the acting commissioner of Ganzhou in 1938) as the academic director, and employed over 10 vocational teachers.

The cultural relics related to the ancient dwellings of Tianbao hold research value in history and the aesthetics of craftsmanship; the Book Gate offers insights in sociology and folklore, while the swastika patterns on column bases are of interest in Buddhist studies. The sculptures in the ancient houses—such as wall carvings, door carvings, stone carvings, and openwork wood carvings—are valuable for the study of carving art; and the inscriptions on the plaques provide material for the study of calligraphy.

Further Reading:

· Sixth Batch of Cultural Heritage Sites Protected by Jiangxi Province