Former Residence of Shao Yong (Shao Yong Ancestral Hall)

The former residence of Shao Yong (Shao Yong Ancestral Hall)

The former residence of Shao Yong (Shao Yong Ancestral Hall) is a cultural relic protection unit of Henan Province.

The former residence of Shao Yong, also known as the Shao Yong Ancestral Hall, is located north of Luoyang Normal University and was the home of Shao Yong, a philosopher and Yi studies expert from the Northern Song Dynasty. The original vermilion color of the gate has faded, and above the door is written in large characters “An Le Wo” (Happy Nest), the self-styled name of Shao Yong, who called himself "Mr. Happy." On the right side of the gate, a black plaque reads “Former Residence of the Sage Shao Kangjie.” The former residence of Shao Yong had already declined by the end of the Northern Song Dynasty and was converted into the “Jiuzhen Guan” (Nine Truths Temple) during the Jin Dynasty. It wasn’t until the Jingtai era of the Ming Dynasty that Yu Tingxi, the governor of Henan, restored it, and further reconstructions were made during the Qing Dynasty. However, only three rooms of the “Huangji Shuge” (Imperial Ultimate Book Pavilion), another four rooms of other buildings, and several stelae from the Ming and Qing Dynasties remain today. When Shao Yong first arrived in Luoyang, he was poor and lived in a thatched hut on the southern bank of the Luo River. Later, with the support of people like Sima Guang, he was able to purchase over 30 houses. Throughout his life, Shao Yong did not seek fame or official position and led a reclusive life. He was one of the founders of Neo-Confucianism in the Northern Song Dynasty and is grouped with Zhou Dunyi, Zhang Zai, Cheng Hao, and Cheng Yi as the “Five Masters of the Northern Song.”

When Shao Yong first moved to Luoyang, life was quite difficult. He built a thatched hut on the southern bank of the Luo River, which leaked badly whenever it rained. He referred to his dwelling as the “Happy Nest.” Later, with the financial help of over 20 people including Sima Guang, he purchased more than 30 rooms of the former residence of An Shenqi, a military governor from the Five Dynasties period, and personally inscribed the name “Happy Nest” on it. Today’s An Le Wo Village in An Le Town gets its name from this.

Location

No. 129, Longmen Avenue, Luolong District, Luoyang City

Anle Village: Anle Village…… More information about Anle Village++

Further Reading:

· Fifth Batch of Cultural Relic Protection Units of Henan Province