The Ancestral Hall and Memorial Archway of the Zheng Clan in Zoutang

The Ancestral Hall and Memorial Archway of the Zheng Clan in Zoutang

The Ancestral Hall and Memorial Archway of the Zheng Clan in Zoutang are National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units.

The ancestral hall of the Zheng clan in Zoutang, commonly known as the “Ancestral Hall of the First Patriarch,” is located in Wumei Community, Didu Town, Jieyang Airport Economic Zone. It was built in the second year of the Longqing reign during the Ming Dynasty (1568) by Zheng Min, the 11th-generation ancestor of the Zheng clan in Zoutang, who returned to his hometown on leave to construct the ancestral hall. Zheng Min was a successful candidate in the imperial examination of the 25th year of the Jiajing reign (1556), appointed as an official in the Ministry of War, and had served as the Provincial Administration Commissioner of Guizhou and the Surveillance Commissioner of Sichuan, among other positions. He was known for his integrity and uprightness, earning widespread praise. His ancestral hall has been burned down and rebuilt multiple times, but still stands proudly at the foot of Mount Zoutang, preserving its ancient charm. The “Scholarly Aristocratic Family” stone memorial archway is located outside the hall. It is a three-bay, four-pillar, fully stone structure on a two-tier stone base, approximately 5 meters high and 7 meters wide. This archway was erected by Zheng Qichong, the fifth-generation descendant of Zheng Min, after he passed the imperial examination and returned to his hometown to renovate the ancestral hall. The stone archway bears witness to the honor and glory of the Zheng clan in Zoutang—since Zheng Min became the first to pass the imperial examination, four out of five generations produced scholars, truly worthy of admiration. It is said that the Zoutang area produced one imperial scholar, five successful candidates in the provincial examination, and 40 tribute students, with many ancient residences marked “Mingjing Residence” still visible throughout the villages.

The Zheng ancestral hall and the “Scholarly Aristocratic Family” stone archway form a harmonious and unique whole, serving as a cultural symbol of Zoutang and inspiring its people to value literature and learning, and to pursue knowledge with dedication. During the Kangxi and Yongzheng reigns of the Qing Dynasty, a scholar named Zheng Wenhai from Shachiwei in Zoutang, styled Mingruo and respectfully called “Scholar Master” by locals, initiated the digging of canals and construction of long dikes in 1737, transforming thousands of acres of saline fields into fertile farmland. His achievements were recorded in history and remain quite illustrious. Currently, the “ChunDu Ancestral Hall” located in Shachiwei within Fengmei Village, Zheng Wenhai’s study—“DeLinju Study Room,” and his former residence—“LanGan Hall,” which form a group of well-preserved ancient residential buildings, have been listed as Cultural Relics Protection Units of Jieyang City. Since ancient times, Zoutang has been rich in cultural talent, producing many eminent individuals and maintaining a strong literary tradition—a legacy that continues to this day.

Wumei Community: Wumei Village

Wumei Village is located at the junction of the three cities in the Chaoshan region, bordered by Sangpu Mountain to the north, facing the Rong River to the south, adjacent to the Shantou Special Economic Zone to the east, and traversed by National Highway 206. It enjoys a superior geographical location. The village stretches 2.5 kilometers from east to west and 3 kilometers from north to south, covering a total area of 7.5 square kilometers. Wumei Village is an administrative village under Didu Town, with one Party general branch comprising nine sub-branches, and one Village Committee with nine villager groups. The village has a total population of 6,031, with 1,352 households, and currently has 140 Party members. The village's two committees consist of a total of nine members, including seven from the Party branch... Detailed Information on Wumei Community++

Further Reading:

· Ninth Batch of Guangdong Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units