General Chen Ce's Ancestral Home

General Chen Ce's Ancestral Home

For decades, out of admiration for General Chen Ce and due to legends about the "feng shui" of his ancestral home, Chen Ce’s Ancestral Home has attracted many domestic and international tourists. Shagang Village is nestled against mountains and faces the sea, surrounded by tall, lush coconut trees. The main road leading into the village and the paths within are flat and clean, with houses neatly arranged in rows. Birds often sing in the woods and on rooftops, making it a microcosm of Wenchang’s overseas Chinese hometown. The village is divided into three sections: Upper Qi, Middle Qi, and Lower Qi. Chen Ce’s ancestral home is located to the west of Upper Qi. It is not a very large, single-story courtyard house, but its architecture is unique, with distinct local characteristics, and the roof faces south with the back to the north.

The slope is moderate, the distance between the sky well and the main hall is just right, allowing for smooth air circulation. The roof and eaves are painted with dragons and phoenixes. The walls are carved with landscapes, flowers, and birds, adding a special charm. In front of the gate is a half-moon-shaped pond about one acre in size, called "Taigong Pond." Legend has it that Chen Ce’s ancestral home originally had a hill behind it but no pond in front. His father, Chen Wengou, who had emigrated to Singapore, was a firm believer in geomancy. After hearing from a feng shui master that “a bright mirror in front and a mountain at the back bring wealth and high office to descendants,” he remitted money from Singapore to have a half-acre, half-moon-shaped pond built in front of the house, aligning the home’s feng shui with the master’s advice.

Once the pond was completed, it was named "Taigong Pond." The pond and the house complement each other in layout, appearing simple, elegant, and uniquely charming. Coincidentally, shortly after the pond was built, Chen Ce’s achievements in both military and political careers became increasingly prominent. He became the commander of the Guangdong Navy and the mayor of Guangzhou, while his younger brother, Chen Ji, also rose to the rank of division commander in the army. With two generals in the family, the legend of the feng shui of Chen Ce’s ancestral home spread far and wide, growing ever more mysterious.

Chen Ce (1893–1949), Admiral of the Kuomintang Navy. His original name was Mingtang, with the courtesy name Choushuo. He was from Shagang Village, Huawen Town. In his early years, he joined the Tongmenghui and participated in the Xinhai Revolution. In 1911, he dropped out of the Guangdong Naval School and conspired with schoolmates to overthrow Yuan Shikai. After the plot failed, he went to Hong Kong. In 1917, he joined the revolution in Guangdong. In 1919, he represented naval schoolmates in Zhangzhou to persuade Chen Jiongming, Commander-in-Chief of the Fujian-Guangdong Army, to lead troops back to suppress the rebels. Later, he was sent back to Guangdong. In 1923, he served as Commander of the River Defense Fleet and later as an advisor to the Navy Bureau. In 1927, he became a member of the Guangdong Party Purification Committee and head of intelligence... More details about Chen Ce ++