Jiannanjiufutang

Jiannanjiufutang

Jiannanjiufutang is a cultural heritage site protected by the People's Government of Hunan Province.

The Ancient City of Qianzhou is located within Jishou City. The ancient city sits in a ten-li basin, embraced by two rivers, making it a place of great prosperity; three landmasses stretch out in a pattern resembling the Qian trigram from the I Ching, giving it an ancient and mysterious aura. Within the city stands Jiufutang, the ancestral hall of the prominent local Yang family, built during the Qing Dynasty.

The overall architecture of Jiufutang is an irregular rectangle, composed of a grand gate tower, a theater stage, wing rooms, the main hall, and a courtyard. Beyond the gate tower lies the theater stage, which features a wooden structure with upturned eaves and intricate carvings of dragons and phoenixes. On either side of the stage are side rooms and a backstage area, reserved for actors to dress and rest. The caisson ceiling of the stage is adorned with carved dragons and phoenixes, while the brackets and pillars are exquisitely detailed. The hollow-carving and projecting-eave relief techniques are masterful, with each painting depicting a folk legend or historical anecdote. In front of the stage is a small courtyard covering approximately 40 square meters, paved with red sandstone slabs. The wing rooms are all two stories high and served as viewing areas for higher-status family members during performances. When operas were staged, the sounds of gongs and drums created a lively and bustling atmosphere. Passing through the small courtyard and ascending three steps leads into the main hall, which is paved with rectangular slab stones in a highly refined design, serving as the venue for ancestral worship and clan meetings of the Yang family. The first floor around the courtyard is a corridor, while the second-floor wing rooms connect with those on the stage side. The structure is compact, the layout rational, and the architecture bears distinct ethnic characteristics.

Further Reading:

· Ninth Batch of Cultural Heritage Sites Protected by the People's Government of Hunan Province