Yang Family Courtyard in Xiazhuang

Yang Family Courtyard in Xiazhuang

The Yang Family Courtyard in Xiazhuang is a cultural heritage site protected by Jincheng City.

The Yang Family Courtyard, also known as the "Old Lion Courtyard," is the ancestral home of the Yang family, whose literary legacy has flourished and been passed down for over eight hundred years. Members of the Yang family produced five imperial examination jinshi degree holders and several provincial degree holders during the Jin, Ming, and Qing dynasties. Notable figures include Yang Shu and Yang Zhi, who served as censors in Henan and Shaanxi, respectively. During the Republican era, Yang Nianxian and Yang Lanjie were renowned epigraphers and calligraphers. The residence was initially built in the pre-Ming period, consisting of one main courtyard with five sections, two side courtyards, and several auxiliary courtyards. Its architectural style follows traditional northern Chinese siheyuan (courtyard house) designs, including a front archway, a corridor hall, a central archway, a rear archway, and the Yang Family Ancestral Hall. The large stone lions are exquisitely crafted, the brick and wood carvings are vividly lifelike, the front gate tower stands tall and imposing, and the central corridor hall is grand and majestic. In May 2012, it was designated as a “Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit” during the third national cultural relics survey in Jincheng City.

Xiazhuang Village: Located northeast of Runcheng, Xiazhuang Village has long been known for its rich literary culture and outstanding talent, often referred to as the “Land of Letters.” During the Ming and Qing dynasties, it produced ten jinshi degree holders, two runners-up in the imperial examinations, and several provincial degree holders. Notable figures include Li Sixiao, who solely funded the construction of Haihui Pagoda, and Li Zhi and Li Kejiu, who pioneered the tradition of father and son both passing the imperial examination in Yangcheng. During the Republican era, renowned scholars such as Yang Nianxian and Yang Lanjie came from the village. In the Anti-Japanese War period, there were figures like the honorable Li Erjian and the fearless Liu Xiaohuan. Founders of the “Zhongzhuang Yangge” folk dance include Zhang Zesheng and Li Yizhou. Among the hundred most influential historical figures in Yangcheng County, twelve are from Xiazhuang alone. Ancient... More details about Xiazhuang Village++