Le Shan Chu

Le Shan Chu

Le Shan Chu is a cultural relic protection unit of Guangdong Province.

The Le Shan Chu residence is located in Xinggonglin Village, Huizhai Town, Jiexi County, serving as the main part of the ancient Xinggonglin dwellings. It follows the traditional Chaoshan architectural layout known as "Four Horses Pulling a Cart." At its center are three ancestral halls and residential buildings, with Le Shan Chu situated along the central axis. It features a width of seven bays and extends three sections deep. The residential buildings on both sides are each three bays wide and three sections deep, with small flower alleys between them and Le Shan Chu. The three structures together are called the Three-Walled Alliance, with a total width of 61 meters and a depth of three sections measuring 34.78 meters. This accounts only for the central main section. Behind Le Shan Chu are the Ji Shan Tang and Cheng Shan Tang, while on both sides there are three lanes totaling six lanes, and three streets front and back, covering a total area of 23,000 square meters. All structures feature flush-gable roofs and are built with earth and timber. According to a Republican-era copy of the "Li Family Genealogy," locals have deduced that Le Shan Chu was built in the eighth year of the Jiaqing era of the Qing Dynasty (1803), making it over 200 years old. Other buildings are believed to date from around the Jiaqing period, particularly those added in subsequent years. The main body of Le Shan Chu includes nine halls and eighteen courtyards, with surrounding houses converging toward it, earning it the nickname "A Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix." Along the front, there is a row of seven gates aligned along a central axis from east to west, consisting of five gate towers and two round gates. The five gate towers are named “Weixin Gate,” “Shaolong Gate,” “Shaohui Gate,” “Lianfang Gate,” and “Wenwei Gate.” In front lies a crescent-shaped pond, in which stands an ancient podocarpus tree planted at the time of construction. With its twisted trunk and venerable appearance, the tree's reflection in the water adds a touch of refined charm. The main gate of Le Shan Chu bears the couplet: “Joyful peace resides behind; Virtue yields not to what came before.” It is unique among ancestral halls to be named “Le Shan Chu” (Place of Joy and Virtue). Le Shan Chu was built by Li Zhonglie, the thirteenth-generation ancestor of the Li family of Xinggonglin. Born in the 28th year of the Qianlong era (1763) in the Year of the Goat, Li Zhonglie, also known as Hua Shang and styled Qin Ci, held the official title of Zhou Tong. “Zhonglie” is his posthumous name. The Republican-era copy of the "Li Family Genealogy" describes him as “decisive and talented, prospering through business. He made sugar his trade, traveling down to Zhanglin, up to Tianjin, passing through Wucheng, and onward to Suzhou, trading across the land. He established his base at Goubei, constructing a grand estate of a thousand rooms and vast fertile fields—truly a hero of his time.” Le Shan Chu incorporates the essence of Suzhou garden architecture, blends forms of traditional Chaoshan residences, and draws from the grand design of Hakka enclosed houses. It stands as a highly distinctive ancient dwelling in the Jieyang region and a uniquely representative traditional residence in Chaoshan, offering valuable insights and cultural heritage significance for the study of ancient architecture and the folklore history of Chaoshan.

On December 10, 2015, Le Shan Chu was approved and announced by the People's Government of Guangdong Province as part of the eighth batch of Guangdong Provincial Cultural Relic Protection Units.

Xinggonglin Village: Located at the center of Huizhai Town, Xinggonglin Village has a history of over 200 years. The village has a population of 1,571, with 531 mu of arable land and 9,800 mu of mountainous land. It has one Party branch and one village committee. In 2007, the total industrial and agricultural output value of the village was over 29 million yuan, the village collective income was 38,000 yuan, and the average annual per capita income of villagers was 4,322 yuan. The main sources of income are agriculture, migrant work, and business. There are five individual towel enterprises in the village. Currently, the village has six village cadres with an average age of 48. There are 49 Communist Party members, including... [More detailed information about Xinggonglin Village]

Further Reading:

· Eighth Batch of Guangdong Provincial Cultural Relic Protection Units