The Zhou Family Residential Complex in Hefu

The Zhou Family Residential Complex in Hefu

The Zhou Family Residential Complex in Hefu is a cultural relic protection unit of Jiangxi Province.

The Zhou Family Residential Complex in Hefu (including Ailian Di, Chuan Yue Cheng Xiang, Ping Yuan Shi Ze, Li Xue Ming Jia, and Shuang Xi Hui Xiu), located in Tian Nan Ye Jia, Hefu Township, Linchuan District, Fuzhou City, Jiangxi Province.

Zhoujia Village retains a well-preserved ancient architectural complex from the Ming and Qing dynasties. As you enter the village, a row of four interconnected ancient buildings comes into view. All four buildings face south and are quite substantial in scale. Constructed from brick, wood, and stone, they feature a post-and-lintel structure. The complex spans 58 meters in width and 48.5 meters in depth, with a height of 6 meters. Viewed from east to west, these four exquisitely built ancient structures are, in order, the Ailian Di residence, Chuan Yue Cheng Xiang residence, Ping Yuan Shi Ze residence, and Li Xue Ming Jia residence — their names clearly inscribed on the stone carvings above their door lintels.

The gates of Ailian Di and Chuan Yue Cheng Xiang are four-pillared, three-bay, five-story stone archways with hanging lotus motifs, embedded in the brick walls above the main doors. The archways are adorned with intricate carvings depicting the Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea, filial piety scenes, courtyard street designs, window and door partitions, as well as floral and animal patterns. The stonework on the archways is delicate and lively, with lifelike figures. The Ping Yuan Shi Ze residence features a single-eave pavilion-style gate canopy, with the stone plaque inscribed “Ping Yuan Shi Ze” embedded above the gate. The Li Xue Ming Jia residence has a double-eave brick gate canopy, with the stone plaque inscribed “Li Xue Ming Jia” above the gate, and above the plaque is painted the Taiji diagram of the famous Song Dynasty Neo-Confucian scholar Zhou Dunyi. Each of the four residences has four courtyards and three skywells, with carved patterns also found on the windows, partitions, and stone bases. The carving craftsmanship can be described as truly magnificent.

In the ancient village of Zhoujia, there are many deep, quiet alleys between the houses. Walking through the arched alley gates feels like traveling through a historical time tunnel. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, Hefu Township in Linchuan District was once a key waterway for cargo transport. Merchants from this area traveled to Fujian and Guangdong, trading in silk and rice. After becoming wealthy, they felt that the local culture was underdeveloped, so they invested heavily in building mansions such as “Ailian Di” to promote a culture of valuing literature and etiquette, aiming to inspire future generations to strive for success and bring honor to their ancestors. Influenced by their forebears, the village developed a strong culture of scholarship, producing many educated individuals. After the founding of the People’s Republic of China, the village also produced nationally renowned senior engineers such as Zhou Bangjie and Zhou Bangguo. Today, the village has over 20 college and graduate students.

Further Reading:

· Sixth Batch of Cultural Relic Protection Units of Jiangxi Province