The Ancient Architectural Complex of Cangxi Village

The Ancient Architectural Complex of Cangxi Village

The Ancient Architectural Complex of Cangxi Village (including Feiying Archway, Jigong Jinshi Mansion, Gengzi Public Study, Feigong Jinshi Mansion, Zhonggong Jinshi Mansion, Tea Merchant Residences, Porcelain Merchant Residences, and Sanguard Archway)

Cangxi Ancient Village is one of the representative settlements at the junction of Jiangxi and Anhui since the Song Dynasty, boasting a long history. Throughout the village, there are numerous ancient dwellings, ancient buildings, and ancient streets. During the Southern Song Dynasty, Zhu Hong, the 13th-generation ancestor of the Zhu family in the village, had close ties with Zhu Xi of Wuyuan, leading to the introduction of a series of Huizhou-style architectural elements. This gave rise to an architectural style that mimics Huizhou features while also incorporating characteristics of Fuliang. In the late Ming and early Qing dynasties, six local tea businesses flourished, giving rise to a large number of wealthy merchants and leaving behind many exquisitely decorated and ornate buildings. With a history of over 1,700 years, Cangxi Ancient Village was included in the fifth batch of “China’s Famous Historical and Cultural Towns and Villages” in December 2013.

(1) Natural Landscape: Cangxi is nestled against mountains and beside water, covered in lush greenery. Outside the village, verdant mountains rise in layers amid misty clouds; in front of the village, a stream babbles gently with swaying green bamboo, presenting a serene pastoral scene. Inside and around the village, ancient trees stand tall in dense groves, numbering over 2,000, with a wide variety of species. Among them are three thousand-year-old ginkgo trees, known as living fossils in the botanical world, which are lush with branches heavy with fruit. Seasonal osmanthus trees and large locust trees serve as natural barriers that block wind and gather energy, greening the village. In front of the village stands an ancient chinquapin tree with a diameter of two meters, its branches spreading outward like a giant umbrella.

Cangxi once had Eight Scenic Spots, for which ancient poets composed eight scenic poems:

Twin Dragons Playing with a Pearl on the Wall, Immortal Bridge Veins Leftward Rushing;

Cliff Peak Swallows Rich Beauty, Two Waters Merge Eastward Flowing;

Lakeside Hangs Spring Peach Blossoms, Osmanthus Cliff Prints Moon Palace;

Screen Valley Hides 0, Beauty Lies in Flower Peak.

Together with the stream flowing westward, they form a Jiangnan water town scene where “luxuriant woods and slender bamboos complement each other beautifully, and the meandering river rivals the beauty of rivers in Guilin.”

The ingeniously crafted historical architecture of Cangxi and the naturally wondrous landscapes complement each other, forming a unique southern rural settlement.

(2) Ancient Village: Cangxi Village currently has 187 buildings, among which 73 traditional structures are well-preserved, covering a construction area of 7,150 square meters. Mostly built in the Ming and Qing dynasties in the Huizhou style, it is thus nicknamed the “Pocket Version of Xidi.”

Outside Cangxi Village, green mountains stand in layers amid drifting mist; in front of the village, a stream murmurs as it flows around the settlement; inside the village, ancient trees provide shade and the fragrance of tea fills the air. The entire village faces south with its back to the north, nestled against mountains and near water, with the Vermilion Bird in front and the Black Tortoise behind. This planning and site selection draw on the strengths of traditional Chinese village location, layout, and disaster prevention, fully aligning with the ancient geomantic theory of “resting against a mountain, encircling water, and facing a screen,” reflecting the materialistic view of harmony between man and nature. All houses are built along the terrain, rising with the land, embodying the traditional Chinese mountain-style architecture’s reverence for nature.

The entire village resembles a bamboo raft, symbolizing the convergence of two rivers where the raft remains unsubmerged. Walking along the riverbank and looking up at the riverside buildings, the clustered structures overlap like floating in the sky, offering a unique sight. Here, the Huizhou-style residential architecture is very distinctive: white walls, gray bricks, and dark tiles, with simple yet solid stone-paved lanes, and horse-head walls with straight-lined designs rising and falling. From afar, the rooftops crisscross in rich, distinct layers with a strong sense of rhythm. Though time and vicissitudes have faded their former glory, the beautiful mountains, winding rivers, well-preserved residences, and exquisitely decorated architectural art give the ancient village a unique charm.

In addition to the residential complexes, the village also features ancient archways, worship platforms, ancient pavilions, and ancestral halls. Their architectural styles are either delicate and elegant with refined decorations; or tall, imposing, and majestic; or ancient in flavor with distinctive styles.

During the Southern Song Dynasty, Zhu Hong had close interactions with Zhu Xi of Wuyuan, introducing a series of Huizhou architectural elements, thus forming an architectural style with Huizhou characteristics. However, it still differs somewhat from typical Huizhou architecture—only about one meter from the top of the wall is whitewashed, with the rest in bluish-gray, and the treatment of the horse-head walls also differs from that of Huizhou architecture.

Scenic Spot Location

Cangxi Village, Fuliang County, Jingdezhen City, Jiangxi Province