The Ancestral Hall of the Su Clan at Beiwangzhao

The Ancestral Hall of the Su Clan at Beiwangzhao

The Ancestral Hall of the Su Clan at Beiwangzhao is a cultural heritage site protected by Shandong Province.

In Juancheng, the settlement of the Mongolian Su clan has preserved an ancestral hall built in the early Ming Dynasty, located at Beiwangzhao. In Mongolian, "zhao" means temple; as the name suggests, Beiwangzhao translates to the Temple of the Northern King — the shrine of Prince Yi, who was relocated from the royal court of the Yuan Dynasty’s northern capital. Having suffered repeated damage from Yellow River floods, the hall has been rebuilt several times but still retains the architectural style and characteristics of its original construction. The ancestral hall is a brick-and-timber structure forming a traditional three-sided courtyard, covering an area of approximately 2,000 square meters. The main hall has three rooms, with a stone lion on each side of the entrance. Inside, the beams are painted and carved, and golden pillars support elaborately embroidered screens. According to Mr. Bi Baoqi, an archaeological expert from the Shandong Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology, “the pair of stone lions at the entrance dates back to the early Ming Dynasty,” and “the wooden beams of the three-room main hall of the Su Clan Ancestral Hall were constructed during the Jiaqing and Daoguang reigns of the Qing Dynasty.”

Su You (1493–1573), also known as Yunji or alternatively as Shunze, was a native of Puzhou, Dongchang Prefecture in the Ming Dynasty (now Sujialao Village, Shiji Town, Juancheng County). Su You was a man of imposing stature. In 1526, during the fourth year of the Jiajing reign, he passed the imperial examination and was appointed as an imperial censor of the Guangdong Circuit. He rose to the position of Minister of War, excelling both in literary and martial pursuits, demonstrating remarkable talent as a military commander, and also earning a distinguished reputation in literature.

In 1533, during the twelfth year of the Jiajing reign, soldiers in Datong, Shanxi, revolted due to harsh labor duties and killed the regional commander Li Jin. Su You, serving as a military supervisor, quelled the unrest, bringing lasting stability to Datong. Later, he held successive positions including Vice Commissioner of Education in Jiangxi, Provincial Administration Commissioner in Shanxi, and Chief Judge of the Dali... More details about Su You ++

Su Shu (1580–1625), an official of the Ming Dynasty. His courtesy name was Shaoni, and his pseudonym Pengfu. He was a native of Juancheng, Caozhou Prefecture (now Beiwangzhao Village, Shiji Town, Juancheng County).

A successful candidate in the imperial examinations of the Wanli era of the Ming Dynasty (1586), and later awarded the jinshi degree in 1587, Su Shu subsequently served as magistrate of Jun County in Henan. During his tenure, he oversaw the construction of the renowned “Stone City” north of the Yangtze River. He later served as a surveillance commissioner in Shaanxi, an imperial censor of the Zhejiang Circuit. Particularly noteworthy is that Su Shu, despite being a scholar-official, once led troops to suppress rebellions in Yunnan and Guizhou, making significant contributions to national stability. In recognition of his achievements, the Ming court specially commissioned a memorial archway to honor him, bringing glory to his hometown. ... More details about Su Shu ++

Further reading:

· Fourth Batch of Cultural Heritage Sites Protected by Shandong Province