The Ancestral Hall of the Yao Clan (Former Site of the Chaoyang Youth Anti-Japanese Salvation Comrades Association)

The Ancestral Hall of the Yao Clan (Former Site of the Chaoyang Youth Anti-Japanese Salvation Comrades Association)

The Ancestral Hall of the Yao Clan (Former Site of the Chaoyang Youth Anti-Japanese Salvation Comrades Association) is a cultural relic protection unit of Shantou City.

The Ancestral Hall of the Yao Clan (Former Site of the Chaoyang Youth Anti-Japanese Salvation Comrades Association) is situated on Zhongshan Middle Road, Miancheng, Wenguang Subdistrict, Chaoyang District. Dating from the Ming Dynasty, it is categorized as an ancient building. Originally constructed in 1602 (the 30th year of the Wanli era in the Ming Dynasty), this family ancestral hall was a site for the Yao family to venerate their ancestors and notable predecessors. Having stood for over four centuries, the hall was initially established to commemorate Song Dynasty national hero and former Chaoyang County Magistrate Yao Ding, along with the “Three Phoenixes of Central Chaoyang” from the Ming era: Yao Chen, who served as Prefectural Administrator of Shuntian Prefecture, Transport Intendant of Fuzhou Prefecture, and the top scholar in the metropolitan examinations; Yao Ai, a successful candidate in the imperial examinations and Assistant Director of the Ministry of War in Nanjing; and Yao Shao, an imperial examination graduate, Department Director of the Ministry of Revenue in Nanjing, Provincial Counselor of Guangxi, and Jinshi degree holder—all esteemed officials. The ancestral hall serves as a bond that unites family lineage and sentiment, symbolizing and signifying the clan’s long history and traditional culture, and holds unparalleled influence and historical value.

In 1278 (the first year of the Xiangxing era of the Southern Song Dynasty), when Southern Song Chancellor Wen Tianxiang led troops to Chaoyang to suppress Chen Yi, the turncoat commander who surrendered to the Yuan, and Liu Xing, the Prefect of Chaozhou, Yao Ding paid a visit to Chancellor Wen and was appointed as the Magistrate of Chaoyang County. At a time of war and chaos, Yao Ding sold his own farmland to fund military provisions and personally led local troops and civilians to support Wen Tianxiang’s resistance against the Yuan forces. He died a heroic death in battle at the young age of 48, sacrificing himself for his country.

The illustrious deeds of Yao Chen, Yao Ai, and Yao Shao in service to the nation and its people are recorded in various historical sources. The Guangxu-era Gazetteer of Chaoyang County from the Qing Dynasty documents that memorial archways once stood on the county government’s main street, including the “Three Phoenixes of Chaoyang Archway,” the “Top Scholar of the Highest Rank Archway,” and the “Metropolitan Top Scholar Archway”—all erected in honor of the Ming Dynasty’s “Three Phoenixes”: Yao Chen, Yao Ai, and Yao Shao.

The Ancestral Hall of the Yao Clan faces south and covers a land area of 1,000 square meters, with a built-up area of 700 square meters. The structure is made of earth and wood, featuring a three-courtyard, two-main-hall official layout. The central section consists of the ancestral hall chamber, the worship pavilion, and the official hall, flanked by side rooms, corridors, inner and outer courtyards, and an outer open courtyard. The hall carries the name “Baoyuan Hall.” Its roof is adorned with Chaoshan-style ceramic figurine and floral inlays, with vivid and lifelike depictions. Inside the hall are ten historic imperial edict plaques, four gilded congratulatory plaques from various countries, a screen in the official hall, an ancestral shrine altar table, and forty pairs of inscribed poetic couplets by notable figures. The intricate beams and painted rafters, gilded wood carvings, clay sculptures, blue stone qilin reliefs, four hollow-carved blue stone flower baskets, and a pair of blue stone carved male and female lions—all demonstrate exquisite craftsmanship, stunning beauty, and magnificent grandeur, leaving visitors in awe. These elements fully showcase the exceptional skill and artistic creativity of ancient laborers.

On March 22, 2010, the Ancestral Hall of the Yao Clan (Former Site of the Chaoyang Youth Anti-Japanese Salvation Comrades Association) was designated as a cultural relic protection unit of Shantou City.

Wenguang Subdistrict: Located in Chaoyang District, Shantou City, Guangdong Province, Wenguang Subdistrict was established in April 1995 when Miancheng Town was restructured into a subdistrict. It lies in the central part of Chaoyang urban area and hosts the offices of the Chaoyang District Party Committee, government, and the Wenguang Pagoda. As the political, economic, and cultural hub of the urban district, it benefits from convenient transportation and vibrant commerce. To the east, it borders Haojiang District; to the west, it connects with Jinping Subdistrict; to the south, it adjoins the Xingong, Xinhua, Koumei, and Houshuangyuan neighborhood committees of Chengnan Subdistrict; and to the north, it reaches Chengbei First Road. It governs ten neighborhood committees: Xinggui, Wenguang, Pinghe East, Shuangshuang, Pingdong, Taoyuan, Ximen, Shuangwang, Kuangyuan, and Gushuai. The area includes... More details about Wenguang Subdistrict ++