The Li Clan Ancestral Hall of Xiaguang

The Li Clan Ancestral Hall of Xiaguang

The Li Clan Ancestral Hall of Xiaguang is a cultural relic protection unit of Hunan Province.

The ancient village of Xiaguang is also known as the "Hometown of Number One Scholars and the Birthplace of Mahjong": it gave birth to Li He, the top scholar of the Tang Dynasty, and Yue Laifa, the top scholar of the Song Dynasty. Both the Scholar’s Bridge and the Mahjong Square here tell the story of mahjong’s origins.

The windows and thick walls of the ancestral hall feature European-style designs, and the entire ancestral hall covers an area of 2,000 square meters. The front hall upon entering serves as a large opera stage, with beams carved with images of the Eight Immortals. The stage is still used for performances today. The large open courtyard of 200 square meters is paved with cobblestones.

The middle hall is a large reception space, behind which lies the shrine hall dedicated to Li He and the ancestors of the Li clan. This ancestral hall is the largest in area and the most magnificent one discovered in Yongzhou to date.

The grand Li Clan Ancestral Hall was first built in the third year of the Zhi Dao era during the reign of Emperor Taizong of the Song Dynasty. After several major renovations, the most recent reconstruction took place following a great fire in the 20th year of the Republic of China.

Further reading:

· Ninth Batch of Cultural Relic Protection Units of Hunan Province