Ancient Residential Buildings of Shenhou

Ancient Residential Buildings of Shenhou

The ancient residential buildings of Shenhou are a protected cultural heritage site of Henan Province.

Shenhou is located on the foothills of the Funiu Mountain Range, boasting beautiful landscapes and numerous historical and cultural sites. These include the Lingquan Temple, Huaxi Lou (Flower Opera Tower), Ancestral Master Temple, Dengyu Fort, and the ruins of Jun Kiln, among many others. With its profound historical and cultural heritage, Shenhou’s cultural attractions and tourism resources are truly unique. As early as 1979, it was designated as one of the eighteen key tourist routes in Henan Province.

The ancient town is surrounded by four ancient forts—located to the southeast, northwest, and other directions. Entering Wangchong Fort, you’ll find walls over three zhang (approximately 10 meters) high, solid and thick, equipped with lookout and shooting holes. The fort is easy to defend but hard to attack; once the gate is closed, it becomes an impregnable stronghold.

Passing through the fort gate, you’ll enter what is known as the “Seven-Mile Long Street” of Shenhou Old Street. In the past, this bustling old street served as the center of the ancient town, with watchtowers, ancient residences, and temples all situated close to one another. Today, the bluestone-paved old street has retained much of its layout from before the late Qing Dynasty.

There is a folk song from the Ming and Qing periods about Shenhou: “Enter Shenhou Mountain, stroll the Seven-Mile Long Street, see seventy-two kilns, with smoke covering the sky, merchants everywhere, earning a fortune every day.” The old street of Shenhou features four highlights: ancient bridges, ancient temples, ancient fort walls, and ancient residences. The main iconic building on the old street is the Bailingong Temple, which also stands as proof of Shenhou’s status as a millennial ancient town.

In China, every traditional trade once had its own patron deity. The Jun porcelain of Shenhou is no exception. The Bailingong Temple in the ancient town, built during the Song Dynasty—also referred to by locals as the “Kiln God Temple”—has been renovated many times over the dynasties and still preserves exquisitely crafted ancient wood carvings, stone carvings, and painted decorations.

Upon entering the temple gate, you’ll find the Huaxi Lou (Flower Opera Tower). Though the square in front of the theater is not large, it is said to be a “living ground,” never feeling crowded no matter how many spectators there are. The Flower Opera was originally performed for the Kiln God to bless the hard work and products of the kiln workers. Nearby, there is also the East Opera Tower, built by kiln owners for their own enjoyment.

Most of the ancient residences in Shenhou were built during the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Nestled against mountains and rivers, they are long and narrow with deep layouts, locally referred to as a “triple-combined” courtyard structure.

Each courtyard was inhabited by families sharing the same surname, with each courtyard representing one family name, ranging from dozens to over a hundred people. These ancient homes feature symmetrical structures, ornate beams and painted rafters, with exquisite brick carvings, stone carvings, and wood carvings. At the same time, as the saying goes, “Shenhou Street, seven miles long, every household has a cage helmet wall.” The cage helmets used to hold Jun porcelain during firing were repurposed as building materials, giving rise to Shenhou’s distinctive wall style.

As early as the Xia and Shang Dynasties, the ancestors of Shenhou began engaging in farming and pottery-making. By the Tang Dynasty, Shenhou was already producing colorful floral porcelain and Jun porcelain, which were designated as “Imperial Treasures for Court Use” during Emperor Huizong’s reign in the Northern Song Dynasty. Historically, the name Shenhou received imperial recognition four times, enjoying great prosperity and fame that rivaled even Jingdezhen.

Over thousands of years and through dynastic changes, the path of Jun porcelain in this ancient town has continued uninterrupted for a millennium. The ancient town still maintains the tradition of a morning market. Every Tuesday morning, people from nearby villages bring their treasures to the town to take part in the “morning fair.”

Shenhou Ancient Town—a bluestone path, a Kiln God Temple—emerges from the civilization dating back to the Xia and Shang Dynasties, bearing the glory of four imperial recognitions and the unextinguished flame of the kiln that has burned for a thousand years. Time slows down in the ancient town, life slows down in the ancient town, and the only thing that brings vibrant color to the town is the ever-changing glaze colors of Jun porcelain.

Further Reading:

· Fifth Batch of Protected Cultural Heritage Sites of Henan Province