Jiahe Ouyang Ancestral Hall

Jiahe Ouyang Ancestral Hall

The Jiahe Ouyang Ancestral Hall is a cultural heritage site protected by the Chenzhou Municipal Government.

The Ouyang Ancestral Hall in Jiahe County is situated in Pingshi Village, Lianhe Township, Jiahe County. In the 35th year of the Qianlong reign (1770), descendants of the Ouyang family relocated the ancestral halls of Zongyi, Yirui, Yijiang, and Yixuan to the current location, renaming it “Qinglong Ancestral Hall,” also known as the Ouyang Ancestral Hall. Renovations were carried out in the 10th year of the Jiaqing reign (1806), the 3rd year of the Republic of China (1914), the 30th year of the Republic of China (1941), and the year 2003. The ancestral hall faces northeast and is situated southwest, covering an area of over 400 square meters. It is constructed with a brick, stone, and timber structure, consisting of two courtyards, and includes a stage, open-air courtyard, side chambers on both sides, and a main ancestral hall.

The front building of the Ouyang Ancestral Hall has five bays, featuring a central gate and two side gates, with blue-tiled gabled roofs and side rooms on either side. Above the central gate hangs a plaque inscribed with four gilded characters reading “Ouyang Ancestral Hall.” Two pillars, several beams, and horse-head-shaped firewalls give the structure a simple and unadorned appearance. Upon entering the main gate, you will find the stage, which has a post-and-lintel wooden frame structure, a square caisson ceiling, and a hip-and-gable roof topped with a gourd ornament. Above the stage is a plaque inscribed with the characters “格祖元音” (Honor the Ancestors, Preserve the Original Voice). The front of the stage is decorated with intricately carved patterns of auspicious dragons, mythical beasts, and cloud motifs, all exquisitely crafted and lifelike, showcasing high artistic value. On either side of the stage are side rooms, with both upper and lower levels—the ground floor serving as passageways and the upper floor as viewing galleries, connecting directly to the main ancestral hall. The middle section is an open-air courtyard (originally paved with bluestone slabs, later covered with cement during the 2003 renovation, with drainage ditches on three sides), which serves as a space for villagers to watch performances and engage in other activities. Steps lead up from the courtyard to the main ancestral hall, which has three bays, with side rooms on both ends, also featuring upper and lower levels. The second floors of the side rooms connect to the viewing galleries, with staircases on each side leading upstairs. The center of the hall houses an ancestral shrine, where spirit tablets of ancestors are enshrined, serving as a place for villagers to worship their forebears.

The Ouyang Ancestral Hall serves as a comprehensive venue integrating ancestor worship, clan activities, theatrical performances, entertainment, and learning. Its layout is rational, functions are complete, and the structure is concise and rigorous, embodying the typical architectural style of southern Hunan. Especially notable are the carved ornaments on the stage, which are masterpieces of art in both design and craftsmanship, fully demonstrating the technical standards of the time. In November 2003, it was designated as a county-level cultural heritage site under Document Jia Zheng Fa [2003] No. 42, and in 2008, it was listed as a municipal-level cultural heritage site under Document Chen Zheng Han [2008] No. 88.