Xunkou Zhang Family Ancestral Hall and Screen Wall

Xunkou Zhang Family Ancestral Hall and Screen Wall

The Xunkou Zhang Family Ancestral Hall and Screen Wall is a cultural relic protection unit of Jiangxi Province.

The Zhang Family Ancestral Hall covers an area of 364 square meters, with a depth of 26 meters and a width of 14 meters. It is a three-courtyard traditional building complex, constructed entirely of brick and wood. The structure is spacious, rustic, and refined in style.

According to the "Zhang Family Genealogy" from Xunkou Village, Xunkou Town, Lichuan County, the Zhang Family Ancestral Hall is the clan temple of the local Zhang family, built by Zhang Jia's ninth-generation ancestor, Zhang Jia, where the ancestral tablets of the Zhang family are enshrined.

The Zhang Family Ancestral Hall was first built in the 21st year of the Wanli era during the Ming Dynasty (1593 AD), funded by Zhang Jia, who was then the Minister of Works in Nanjing, using his own salary. It underwent several renovations over the years. In the 37th year of the Kangxi era (1698 AD), following discussions within the family, further construction began. Work commenced three years later and was completed in the 43rd year of the Kangxi era (1704 AD), but the hall was destroyed by marauding Cantonese rebels in the 7th year of the Xianfeng era (1857 AD).

In the 9th year of the Tongzhi era (1870 AD), Zhang Jin’gao, the 19th-generation ancestor of the Zhang family, returned to the village after passing the local imperial examination. He then invited community leaders such as Rui Lin to mobilize the clan to contribute funds and labor for reconstruction. After three years of hard work, the project was completed in the 11th year of the Tongzhi era (1873 AD).

Among all parts of the Zhang Family Ancestral Hall, the most eye-catching feature is undoubtedly the grand entrance screen wall, which also represents the highlight of the entire ancestral temple.

Guided by a local villager named Zhang Hua, reporters found this well-preserved Ming Dynasty screen wall located directly in front of the main gate of the ancestral hall.

This screen wall is separated from the main ancestral hall by a 7.7-meter-wide passageway and forms an integral part of the temple complex. The entire screen wall stands 4 meters tall and 14 meters wide, supported by four upright stone pillars and several horizontal stone beams. The horizontal beams are adorned with various auspicious relief carvings featuring flowers, birds, fish, and insects. At the top center of the screen wall is embedded a stone plaque inscribed with four one-square-foot regular script characters: “建言召用” (meaning “Advised and Summoned for Office”), signifying that the ancestors’ advice to the imperial court had been adopted and honored.

The upper right corner of the screen wall indicates its construction date and inscription: “The 36th Year of the Wanli Era” (1608 AD), dedicated to “Zhang Jia, the Imperial Scholar, Inspector of Shanxi Circuit, promoted from Inspector of Huguang Circuit, later appointed as Prefect of Yingzhou, Chief Justice of the Dali Temple, Vice Minister of Works, posthumously awarded the title of Minister of Works, and specially granted ceremonial sacrifice—your servant Zhang Jia.”

Further Reading:

· Sixth Batch of Jiangxi Provincial Cultural Relic Protection Units