Residential Houses in Likeng Village

Residential Houses in Likeng Village

The residential houses in Likeng Village are designated as a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

The residential houses in Likeng Village are located in Likeng Village, Tuochuan Township, Wuyuan County, Jiangxi Province.

The mountain village was originally named Likeng (literally “Back Lane”). Due to the long-standing tradition among villagers of valuing Confucian learning and promoting the culture of diligent study, it earned the reputation as the birthplace of Zhu Xi’s Neo-Confucianism, hence the name Likeng (meaning “Village of Principle”). Since the Yuan Dynasty, the village has seen a flourishing literary culture. During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, it produced numerous scholars, imperial examination graduates, and government officials—including 36 high-ranking officials, 16 Jinshi degree holders, and 92 literati. The village boasts 333 works totaling 582 volumes, of which five works comprising 78 volumes were included in the Siku Quanshu (Complete Library in Four Branches of Literature), attesting to Likeng’s former glory.

There are approximately 120 official residences from the Ming and Qing Dynasties in Likeng, many of which remain well-preserved. These ancient structures include the “Official Hall” built during the Chongzhen era of the Ming Dynasty by Yu Ziyi, who served as Prefect of Guangzhou; the “Heavenly Official Minister’s Residence” from the Tianqi era of the Ming Dynasty, constructed by Yu Maoheng, Minister of Personnel; the “Minister’s Mansion” from the Wanli era of the Ming Dynasty, built by Yu Maoxue, Vice Minister of Revenue and Minister of Works; the “Sima Mansion” from the Shunzhi era of the Qing Dynasty, created by Sima Yu Weishu; the “Yiyu Hall” from the Daoguang era of the Qing Dynasty, built by tea merchant Yu Xianhui; as well as the garden-style “Yunxi Villa,” the landscape-style “Flower Hall,” and the legendary “Jin Family Well.” These ancient buildings feature white walls, black tiles, upturned eaves, exquisite “three-carving” (wood, brick, and stone) craftsmanship, scientifically and rationally designed layouts that ensure warmth in winter and coolness in summer. They are regarded as emeralds of ecological civilization and showcases of architectural art. The Heavenly Official Minister’s Residence was built by Yu Maoheng, Minister of Personnel in the late Ming Dynasty, upon his retirement for family living and receiving esteemed guests. The main gate of the residence is an “eight-character gate,” symbolizing high status, with the four characters “Heavenly Official Minister” lightly engraved on the gate lintel, representing the owner’s official rank. The interior decoration is relatively simple, reflecting both the unadorned style of Ming Dynasty architecture and the character of the owner.

In 2006, the ancient Ming and Qing Dynasty buildings in Likeng Village were included by the State Council in the sixth batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units.

Further Reading:

· Sixth Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units