Zhou Ancestral Hall

Zhou Ancestral Hall

Zhou Ancestral Hall is a Sichuan Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

There is a two-story building constructed in the early Republican era with a distinctive blend of Chinese and Western architectural styles using brick and wood. It is considered a masterpiece of local architectural heritage and is known as the Zhou Family Filial Piety Ancestral Hall, later abbreviated to Zhou Ancestral Hall. It is located in Anjuba, Jiuzhi Town, Hejiang County.

Although it has weathered many challenges, Zhou Ancestral Hall remains relatively well-preserved to this day. Its unique architectural style has no known counterparts in southern Sichuan, making it one of the most significant above-ground cultural heritage sites in the area. It was built by Zhou Xicheng, who served as the Chairman of Guizhou Province during the Republican era, a General of the Nationalist Party, and the Commander of the 25th Army of the National Revolutionary Army.

Zhou Xicheng, whose given name was Shijie, courtesy name Xicheng, and alias Jibin, was from Tongzi County, Guizhou Province. He participated in the National Protection War and other conflicts; after the Northern Expedition, he fought in campaigns across Hunan, Guangxi, Sichuan, and Guizhou. In the 12th year of the Republic (1923), he was appointed as the Commander of the Provisional 12th Division of the Sichuan Army. In the 13th year of the Republic (1924), he led his troops from southern Sichuan to settle in Chishui County, overseeing various counties in northern Guizhou and southern Sichuan. Later, Zhou Xicheng established his base in Chishui. In June of the 15th year of the Republic (1926), he was appointed as Chairman of Guizhou Province and Commander of the 25th Army of the National Revolutionary Army. In the 18th year of the Republic (1929), he was fatally wounded in battle against Yunnan forces when a bullet struck his chest. He reportedly fell into the Dabang River while being carried to safety and died.

Zhou Xicheng’s father passed away when he was young, and he and his siblings were raised by their mother. In the 15th year of the Republic (1926), while serving as the Military Affairs Commissioner of Guizhou Province, Zhou Xicheng’s mother, Madam Li, passed away. To bury her, Zhou Xicheng consulted geomancers and selected burial sites ranging from Tongzi to Chishui, ultimately choosing “Anjuba,” located on the opposite bank of the Chishui River. Anjuba is described as “an auspicious land. Its main northern mountain is robust, with a gently meandering ridge. Both flanks curve protectively, embracing the site with affection. The surrounding peaks are picturesque and elegant...” It is said that the location is not only a “feng shui treasure” but also symbolizes peace and rest in burial.

Zhou Ancestral Hall, situated in Anjuba, Jiuzhi Town, Hejiang County, is a two-story building that blends Chinese and Western architectural elements. It covers an area of 11,153 square meters, with a built-up area of 1,052 square meters. Its layout primarily follows the ancestral hall design outlined in Zhu Xi’s “Family Rituals,” namely: main gate – ceremonial hall – ancestral worship hall.

Overall, it adopts a foreign-inspired tower-like form, while the main gate retains the traditional Chinese archway architectural style. The main structure features four pillars and three bays, with the central bay functioning as a passageway with two doors and inscribed plaques and a horizontal tablet above. At the center of the gate is a vertical plaque measuring 190 cm in height and 70 cm in width, engraved with four one-square-foot seal script characters: “越荫长依,” meaning “a lasting shelter under greater shade.”

The stone pillars on both sides of the gate feature a long couplet carved in stone. The upper verse reads: “The grand ancestral hall honors the longevity celebration of the virtuous mother, continuing ancestral traditions and embodying noble virtues. Filial devotion is expressed through reverence and recognition, while meritorious achievements shine brilliantly for a hundred generations.” The lower verse reads: “In the Republican era, a pillar of strength stood firm amid adversity, sharing both dangers and joys. Like a vine entwined with a pine, the grace shines brightly enough to illuminate a thousand autumns.”

In Zhou Ancestral Hall, the ancestral worship hall is built on the upper floor, while the spirit cabinets are located on the right side.

The main ceremonial hall (also called the Offering Hall) is a two-story brick-and-wood structure. Originally, there were two Yunnan camellia trees gifted by military comrades planted in the flower stands on either side of the front courtyard; these have since been replaced by two tall Michelia champaca trees. At the center is a five-tiered semi-circular ceremonial path leading into the ceremonial hall. The hall has a front corridor with six auxiliary columns, their bases carved with decorations such as pairs of stone lions, lotus petals, and toads.

The ceremonial hall is five bays wide, with the central and adjacent bays serving as the main ceremonial space and the smaller side bays as the ancestral worship chamber.

The outer sides of the two smaller bays feature semi-circular enclosed balconies. Inside the ceremonial hall hang portraits of Zhou Xicheng’s parents and plaques honoring ancestors. Below are incense tables and offering platforms, adorned with carvings of dragons playing with pearls. Side drapes hang from the platform, and eight high-backed chairs used in ancestral ceremonies are stored along the walls. The plastered walls on either side feature murals depicting scenes such as “Guan Yu Gazing at Jingzhou,” “The Mother of Yue Fei Tattooing Her Son’s Back,” and “Three Visits to the Thatched Cottage.” The calligraphy and paintings hanging in the hall—including single scrolls, central pieces, and couplets—were gifted by various figures in Guizhou and mostly created by renowned artists, with content praising virtue and legacy.

Overall, the ceremonial hall features carved pedestals beneath the pillars, shallow relief decorations beneath the eaves, and interconnected arches adorned with landscape paintings or depictions of deities. The windows are sliding wooden louvers. The ancestral worship chamber includes caisson ceilings and reliefs featuring motifs such as “The one closer to the water enjoys the moonlight first,” “Flowers facing the sun bloom early,” and the taiji symbol.

Behind the ceremonial hall lies a spacious courtyard, flanked by four-pillar, three-bay grain storage buildings used to store food supplies for rituals and guards. On the right side of the ceremonial hall is the spirit cabinet, a simple single-story structure.

Zhou Ancestral Hall was completed in July 1928 (lunar May). Its architecture is grand and imposing. “Behold the emerald roofs soaring skyward, painted in vibrant hues, with the sounds of zithers, drums, and bells evoking a deep sense of filial reverence.” Today, standing on the upper floor and looking out over the railing, one sees the lush, layered peaks of the Wumeng Mountains in the distance; the golden ripples of the surging Chishui River; the vast, flat lands of Anjuba stretching for miles with fields of rice and wheat, crisscrossed paths, bamboo groves, and the chirping of birds and insects, all harmonizing with the clouds and surrounding hills. Truly, it is a “feng shui treasure.”

As a Sichuan Provincial-level Cultural Relics Protection Unit, Jiuzhi Zhou Ancestral Hall is one of the most well-preserved ancestral halls among Luzhou City’s clan shrines. It serves as an important physical resource for studying folk customs, local traditions, and feudal religious systems. With its unique blend of Chinese and Western architectural styles, Zhou Ancestral Hall enjoys a distinguished reputation in southern Sichuan. Moreover, its location in Jiuzhi Town—a bustling hub at the Sichuan-Guizhou border—attracts considerable tourist interest, making its tourism value immeasurable.

Protected Area: 20 meters beyond the current perimeter wall.

Construction Control Zone: 50 meters beyond the protected area.