Fengyi Jiang Family Ancestral Hall

Fengyi Jiang Family Ancestral Hall

The Fengyi Jiang Family Ancestral Hall is a cultural relic protection unit of Sichuan Province.

The Fengyi Jiang Family Ancestral Hall was built in the 23rd year of the Guangxu reign (1898) during the Qing Dynasty, featuring a courtyard layout across three terraces: a front hall, side rooms on the left and right, and a main hall. It covers a land area of 506 square meters, with a total floor area of 400 square meters. The terrace where the front hall is located connects to the patio courtyard of the second terrace via a three-step staircase. Ascend seven steps from the 8-meter-deep bluestone-paved courtyard patio to reach the main hall on the third terrace. It is now a cultural relic protection unit of Sichuan Province.

The Fengyi Jiang Clan Ancestral Hall was built in the 23rd year of the Guangxu reign (1898), which is 118 years ago. The ancestral hall is located in Group 2 of Yonghe Village, Fengyi Township, Nanjiang County, Bazhong City, Sichuan Province (Jiangjialiang). It sits against Yangling Mountain at the back, faces the Sanhui Snow Mountains ahead, leans on Liujiachang of Yonghe Village on the left, and nestles by the Qijiachang River on the right. It was constructed over more than two years under the leadership of Jiang Mingzhong, the great-great-grandson of Jiang Yiliang—the first Jiang ancestor who migrated to Sichuan—along with other members of the clan such as Jiang Mingxi, Jiang Zhenggang, Jiang Zhengchang, and Jiang Zhenglun. The structure follows a terraced layout, with a width of 22 meters and a depth of 34 meters, consisting of a front hall (3.5 zhang high), side rooms on both sides with two storeys each, and a main hall (3.6 zhang high), totaling an area of 660 square meters. Today, it is surrounded by a colorful forest.

The ancestral hall architecture is grand. The theater stage of the front hall is crowned with an octagonal caisson ceiling resembling a large umbrella. The surrounding ceilings are painted with scenes from the “Legend of the White Snake.” All beams and pillars are carved with dragons and painted with landscapes. The two main doors feature carvings of the full-body figures of Yuchi Gong and Qin Shubao. A couplet reads: “Hear the echoing greetings by the courtyard gate with heartfelt emotion. Offer deep gratitude on the rain-dappled steps during seasonal worship.” The east gate inscription reads: “Enter the hall to remember our ancestors. Go out the door to gaze toward our hometown.” The north gate says: “Already joyous, we enter again. Again and again we follow the reverent path.” Other parts are decorated with paintings of famous flowers and noble plants. The entire hall is filled with exquisitely carved and vivid designs, arranged in a richly layered and orderly fashion. The ridges of the four sides rise like dragons climbing, and the roof eaves curl outward at the corners like melons, giving an ancient and classic charm. At the center of the main hall stands a shrine, measuring 4.6 meters long, 1.7 meters wide, and 1.1 meters tall. The shrine enshrines the spirit tablets of ancestors from Lingling, Hunan, as well as from Zhizhi and Fengyi. Regrettably, most of these precious cultural relics were damaged during the Cultural Revolution’s campaign to destroy the Four Olds, with only a few surviving.

The Fengyi Jiang Clan Ancestral Hall in Nanjiang County was officially recognized and announced as a cultural relic protection unit by the People's Government of Sichuan Province on July 16, 2012. In November 2013, the Nanjiang County Government erected a marble stele for the ancestral hall, which praises the hall. The overall structure of the ancestral hall remains intact, with finely carved wooden components and vividly preserved colors, giving it significant historical and artistic value.

Ode to the Ancestral Hall: The Jiang Family Ancestral Hall stands on Jiangjialiang, located on a terrace along the dragon vein. Its architectural style is rare, and its fine carvings are widely admired.

Since the construction of the ancestral hall, descendants have flourished, and many talents have emerged to spread its fame. The ancestral teachings must be remembered, ensuring the prosperity of future generations.

Protected Area: Extending 30 meters beyond the land occupied by the hall.

Construction Control Zone: Extending 30 meters beyond the protected area.

Further Reading:

· Eighth Batch of Sichuan Provincial Cultural Relic Protection Units