Wu Cheng Ji’an Guild Hall

Wu Cheng Ji’an Guild Hall

The Wu Cheng Ji’an Guild Hall is a cultural relic protection unit of Jiangxi Province.

In Wu Cheng, Yongxiu County—one of Jiangxi Province’s Four Famous Towns—stands the Ji’an Guild Hall, renowned for its exquisite stone carvings, brick carvings, and wood carvings. The Ji’an Guild Hall in the center of Wu Cheng was first built during the Song Dynasty. The structure is grand in scale, covering an area of one mu. The hall exudes an ancient charm, with intricately carved beams and doors/windows. The Ji’an Guild Hall has a two-story structure; the ground floor is built with rammed stone and sand, while the upper floor is made of wood. The Ji’an Guild Hall served as a gathering place for merchants from Ji’an, providing a highly convenient venue for business dealings.

Stepping into the newly restored Ji’an Guild Hall, you’ll see a granite plaque above the south gate inscribed with four large characters: “Li Xue Ming Chen” (Scholar-Officials of Principle Learning). Legend has it that these were written by Xie Jin in the early Ming Dynasty to commemorate the national hero Wen Tianxiang. The existing guild hall was rebuilt between the 20th year of the Jiaqing reign and the 7th year of the Daoguang reign of the Qing Dynasty on the original Song Dynasty foundation by Ji’an merchants. The hall is divided into three sections: the front hall, middle hall, and rear hall, connected by corridors and gardens, creating a delightful sense of shifting scenery as you walk through. The brick-and-wood structure of the guild hall is rectangular in shape, with the upper and lower floors serving as an opera viewing platform and guest hall, respectively.

The Ji’an Guild Hall was built in very ancient times. According to locals, it was likely first constructed during the Song Dynasty. Its stone-carved gate plaque still bears four clearly legible characters: “Li Xue Ming Chen.” The architecture is grand, still holding its own compared to modern buildings, and covers an area of one mu. The house exudes an ancient charm, with beams and doors/windows featuring exquisitely carved details that are nothing short of miraculous craftsmanship. Despite the passage of time, its former prosperity remains unmistakable. A green stone path in front of the gate further highlights its rich cultural atmosphere. The Ji’an Guild Hall has a two-story structure; the ground floor is built with rammed stone and sand, while the upper floor is made of wood. Most astonishing is its central rooftop, which is round in shape and adorned with peerlessly intricate wood carvings, reflecting the pinnacle of carving artistry at the time. The Ji’an Guild Hall served as a gathering place for Ji’an merchants, akin to a present-day local office, providing a highly convenient venue for business dealings. Wu Cheng was home to numerous guild halls of various sizes, greatly boosting the local economy and facilitating social interactions.

As a landmark ancient building of the old town, the Ji’an Guild Hall holds immense historical, artistic, and aesthetic value. In the early 20th century, water merchants and traders from across the country flocked to Wu Cheng to discuss business, reminisce about their hometowns, and store goods. During this period, as many as 48 fellow-townsman guild halls were established here, including some of the more notable ones: Quan Chu Guild Hall (Hunan and Hubei), Shanxi Guild Hall, Guangdong Guild Hall, Zhe Ning Guild Hall, Fujian Guild Hall, Huizhou Guild Hall, Fengxin Guild Hall, Duchang Guild Hall, Longnan Guild Hall, Jianchang Guild Hall, and Jiangxi Guild Hall (Wanshou Palace). Whenever a deity’s birthday was celebrated, fellow townsmen and relatives would gather in the guild halls for days of grand worship, feasting, and performances by visiting theater troupes. Local folk songs from Poyang Lake, ancient Huangmei tunes, and famous Kunqu operas were just some of the lively performances. The guild hall culture imbued the ancient town of Wu Cheng with a mysterious and rustic charm.

Further Reading:

· Fifth Batch of Jiangxi Provincial Cultural Relic Protection Units