Chayuan Lei Clan Ancestral Hall

Chayuan Lei Clan Ancestral Hall

The Chayuan Lei Clan Ancestral Hall is a cultural heritage site protected by Nanchang County.

The “Chayuan Lei Clan Ancestral Hall” is situated in the central part of Chayuan Leijia Natural Village, Canshi Village, Gangshang Town, Nanchang County. It faces west with its back to the east. The building has a rectangular layout and follows an east-west axial symmetry, consisting of two courtyards, and covers an area of 666 square meters. Clan records indicate that the ancestral hall was first constructed in the Bingwu year (1726) during the Yongzheng reign of the Qing Dynasty and completed in the Dingsi year (1727). Originally named the “Lei Clan Ancestral Hall,” it was renamed as a family temple in the 45th year of the Qianlong reign (1780) after Lei Chun, a member of the clan, was appointed as a Zhongshu official in the Grand Secretariat. The temple was then used to worship ancestors. In the 33rd year of the Guangxu reign (1907), Lei Jinying, a successful candidate in the imperial examinations, established Zhu Yin Primary School within the family temple. In the 17th year of the Republic of China (1928), it was renamed Gangshang Central Primary School. In 1941, the family temple was burned down by Japanese invaders. It was rebuilt in 1946.

The “Lei Clan Ancestral Hall” serves as tangible evidence for the study of ancestral hall architecture.

In 2003, following partial renovations funded by clan contributions, the overall appearance of the “Lei Clan Ancestral Hall” was largely restored to its original state. A new cement path was laid in the courtyard between the front and rear halls of the family temple, with a few trees planted sparsely along the sides.

The “Lei Clan Ancestral Hall” is located in the middle of the western side of the village, approximately 1 kilometer from Gangshang Street to the north, with a north-south cement road about 10 meters in front of the main gate.

On May 7, 2010, the People’s Government of Nanchang County designated it as a Cultural Heritage Site under the fifth batch of Nanchang County Cultural Relics Protection.

Source: Nanchang County Museum

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