Chishan Ancient Courtyard

Chishan Ancient Courtyard

Chishan Ancient Courtyard is a cultural relic protection unit of Guangdong Province.

Chishan Ancient Courtyard is situated in Dongfu Village, Huahu Town, Huidong County, Guangdong Province. It was initially constructed in the second year of the Zhiyuan era of the Yuan Dynasty (1342) and reconstructed in the 32nd year of the Jiajing era of the Ming Dynasty (1553). The architectural complex includes Chishan Ancient Courtyard, Zhenwu Temple, ancestral hall, and surrounding wing rooms. It faces south with its back to the north. The courtyard features three bays and three courtyards, with a width of 13.5 meters. The Zhenwu Temple has three bays and two courtyards, spanning 7.9 meters in width. The first courtyard includes the Kuixing Pavilion. The ancestral hall has three bays and four courtyards, measuring 16.4 meters in width. All structures are built with lime-sand rammed earth, flanked by wing rooms and Qingyun Alleys, which are constructed with shell lime. The total width is 52.32 meters and the depth is 42.9 meters, with a flush gable roof. The total floor area is 2,245 square meters.

The entire architectural complex of Chishan Ancient Courtyard is uniquely designed, majestic, and grand. During the Chinese Civil War, it served as an underground liaison point and secret meeting place for the Dongjiang Special Committee and the South China Guerrilla Forces. The courtyard preserves cultural relics from the Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties, including plaques, inscribed stone tablets, incense burners, and original stone railings from the ancient buildings. These artifacts hold significant value for the study of Chaoshan ancient architecture and carving art.

In July 2012, it was designated as a county-level cultural relic protection unit by the People's Government of Huidong County.

On December 10, 2015, Chishan Ancient Courtyard (including Chishan Ancient Courtyard, the Fang Family Ancestral Hall, and Zhenwu Temple) was approved and listed as part of the eighth batch of Guangdong Provincial Cultural Relic Protection Units by the People's Government of Guangdong Province.

Dongfu Village: Originally named Qixiang, Dongfu (situated southeast of Huicheng) is traversed north–south by Dongheng Road and east–west by Huan’nan Second Road, which intersect in front of Chishan Courtyard within the village. To the east, it connects with Guanlu, Dingpu, Dingtian, and Nanshanling villages; to the west, it neighbors Hualong, Huaxie, Longmei, Houxie, and Xiyang; to the south, it borders Yangjiaolin, Shipian’an, and Yingshinai villages. The village covers an area of approximately 10,000 mu, nearly 6,000 mu of which are mountainous. It administers four villager groups: Dongfu, Qianhe, Houchen, and Xinzhai, and falls under the planning control zone of the southern urban district of the county. With a population of 7,057, and about 4,000 fellow villagers residing in Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan, and other regions, Dongfu is a part of Huidong… For more details on Dongfu Village ++

Further Reading:

· Eighth Batch of Guangdong Provincial Cultural Relic Protection Units