Hangu Jiafu

Hangu Jiafu

Hangu Jiafu is a protected cultural heritage site of Henan Province.

Originally known as the "Ming Dynasty City Tower," Hangu Jiafu is located on the second-level terrace on the west bank of the Hongnong Gully, approximately 250 meters east of the gully and about 500 meters west of Meng Village. It was discovered during a survey in 1981 and designated as a county-level cultural heritage protection unit. In 2000, it was listed by the Henan Provincial People's Government as one of the third batch of provincial protected heritage sites.

Hangu Jiafu was built in the 12th year of the Guangxu reign during the Qing Dynasty (1886 AD) by Xue Guoren, son of the renowned Lingbao figure Xue Shuchang from the late Qing period and serving as Prefect of Zhili Prefecture, at his family residence in Meng Village. The structure consists of two parts: the lower part is a passageway-style gate tunnel, which is 2.39 meters wide and 2.33 meters high. The lower sides are built with blue bricks, while the section above 1.2 meters is constructed using sideways-laid blue bricks arched to form a vaulted ceiling, with the interior being a sloped passageway.

Above the exterior of the tunnel is a brick frame, inside of which the four characters 函关夹辅 (“Hangu Jiafu”) are carved in brick. On the inner back wall of the tunnel are the words 孟尝逆旅 (“Mengchang’s Inn”), while outside the tunnel are the words 灵竹善在 (“Spiritual Bamboo, Goodness Remains”). The upper part of the gate tunnel features a wooden structure, consisting of two levels. The first level has a grid of four vertical and horizontal main pillars supporting the second level, with earthen walls in the middle running east-west and skirt boards running north-south.

The lower section of the first level features a hip-and-gable roof style along all sides, while the center also consists of a four-by-four grid of vertical pillars forming a support network for the hanging gable roof. Carved skirt boards provide screening in the center, and the structure is surrounded by corridor eaves on all sides. It holds significant value for the study of Qing Dynasty architectural art.

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Between the Qin and Wei versions of the Hangu Pass in Lingbao, there lies an alleyway, and toward the northern side of this pathway stands an old residence. The owner of this residence was once a teacher to the emperor. Above the doorway of the teacher’s residence is a brick carving with the four characters “函关夹辅” (Hangu Jiafu), and as a result, both this famous residence and the alley where it is situated came to be commonly known as “Hangu Jiafu.”

The alleyway refers to the narrow valley nestled between the Qin and Wei Hangu Passes, and the people and stories associated with Hangu Jiafu are nothing short of extraordinary. The owner of Hangu Jiafu was named Xue Shuchang (1815–1880), a native of Meng Village, Lingbao, during the Qing Dynasty. Originally named Shutang, later changed to Shuchang, with the courtesy name Shixiang and the alias Shaoliu. He passed the imperial examination in the 2nd year of the Xianfeng reign (1852), served as a Shujishi (imperial scribe) in the Hanlin Academy, and later became a reviser. In the 9th year, he was appointed as an examination official for the Hubei provincial exams, took charge as an imperial censor of the Huguang Circuit, and was promoted to an official of the Ministry of Revenue. Later, he rose to the rank of Hualing (a high-ranking official wearing a peacock feather) Provincial Administration Commissioner.