Tangjiao Ancient Village

Tangjiao Ancient Village

Tangjiao Village: Where Chaozhou Culture Thrives by the Water

Located in Pandidong Subdistrict, Blue City District, Tangjiao Village was historically known as “Chaolin” and later renamed “Tangjiao.” Surrounded by water on three sides, the village features an intricate network of waterways, with its ancient layout and rich historical and cultural heritage well preserved. It is home to numerous historic sites. According to accounts, Xu Guang, the founding ancestor of the Xu clan in Tangjiao, came from Fujian during the Song Dynasty…

Ancient saying goes: “Gold is born in beautiful waters, and jade comes from Kunlun.” The ancestors of the Xu clan in Tangjiao revered the concept that proximity to water brings prosperity. They carefully selected the site and meticulously planned the village, resulting in unique geographical features in the architecture. Firstly, the location was chosen with great care. Most of the settlements were laid out based on the flow dynamics of streams and canals, following the principles of the Five Elements and feng shui. Secondly, the designs are elegant. Adapting to the terrain, the village features animal-shaped walled settlements. Among them, Nancuo and Beicuo form a “double pomegranate land,” so these two connected circular walled villages were built and inhabited by two branches of the Xu family, each with their own gate—south and north—commonly known as the “Pomegranate Mouth,” symbolizing “shared roots and unity.” Xinwei and Gouwei belong to the “snake land,” with the village built along a stream that meanders like a coiling spiritual snake. Thirdly, the structures are rigorously designed. All traditional folk buildings adopt the hard mountain-style timber and earth construction. Lastly, the decorations are quaint and elegant. The stone carvings, wood carvings, plaster sculptures, and ceramic inlays on ancestral halls and public halls are exquisitely crafted, embodying the artistic style of ancient Chaoshan architecture.

“Ancient stream temples and Chaolin Palace, the city god, water hyacinths, and Beijiao banyans” (note: “banyan” is pronounced “shen”), is a popular folk rhyme in Jieyang, in which “Chaolin Palace” refers to the ancient Chaolin Temple located in the northwest of Tangjiao Village. Built at the time of the village’s founding, this temple has a history of over 700 years. Situated by the northern branch of the Rongjiang River, during ancient high tides, the water would rise to flood the temple’s front courtyard but never overflow the palace gates—a unique natural phenomenon. This gave the village its name “Chaolin” (“Tide-Reaching Village”), and the “Chaolin Ancient Temple” is hailed as one of the Four Scenic Spots of Jieyang. During the Second Eastern Expedition of the National Revolutionary Army, in order to block enemy forces, Zhou Enlai, He Long, and Ye Ting ordered troops to occupy the Tangjiao ferry crossing. To avoid disturbing local residents, about a company of soldiers stayed in the temple. Zhou Enlai and other leaders visited the temple to check on the soldiers and make battle plans, leaving behind revolutionary relics.

Hidden within Tangjiao Village is a treasured piece—a set of 12-panel birthday congratulatory screens. The central part of the screen features a black lacquered background with birthday congratulatory text written entirely in golden regular script characters, extending over 1,000 words from right to left. The wooden panels are adorned with gold-lacquered carvings at the top and bottom, and each side of the screen features a column topped with a carved lion. Created in the 10th year of the Guangxu reign during the Qing Dynasty (1884), these screens have endured for over 130 years and still shine brightly—a truly rare artifact.

Xinyue Garden is the most representative garden architecture in Tangjiao Village, established by Xu Xinyue, the founding ancestor of the Xu clan in Tangjiao. Xu Xinyue, a successful candidate in the imperial examination during the Baoliang era of the Song Dynasty, once served as an educational officer in Huguang. He built Xinyue Garden to provide an ideal place for his family to study. What makes Xinyue Garden particularly unique is the tomb located within the garden, marked by two gravestones—one commemorating Xinyue Xian and the other honoring a general named Jinbiao. According to accounts, General Jinbiao and Xinyue Xian were fellow successful candidates in the same imperial examination. Sharing similar interests, they became good friends. Later, Jinbiao abandoned literature for the military and became the Southern Pacification General. When the Yuan army invaded and the Song emperor fled south to the Chaoshan region, General Jin fought to protect the emperor and died a martyr on the battlefield. Upon hearing the news, Xinyue Xian was deeply saddened and had the general’s remains respectfully buried within Xinyue Garden. After the founding of the People’s Republic of China, both Xinyue Garden and the ancient tomb were destroyed. In 1993, members of the Xu clan organized the restoration of Xinyue Garden and the reconstruction of the ancient tomb, mainly to ensure future generations remember the achievements and bonds of their esteemed ancestors.