Tongyidafu Residence

Tongyidafu Residence

The Tongyidafu Residence is a cultural relic protection unit of Guangdong Province.

“One Womb, Three Hanlin Academies” – The Tongyidafu Residence in Baihou

The Tongyidafu Residence is located beside the government office of Baihou Town, Dabu County, approximately 12 kilometers from the county seat. Built around the year 1750 during the Qing Dynasty’s Qianlong reign, it has a history of over 250 years. Facing south and built with brick, wood, and earth, it is a classic example of Hakka residential architecture featuring three halls, four wings, nine courtyards, and eighteen skywells. The residence contains nine halls, 18 skywells, and is exquisitely crafted with painted beams and carved rafters. The main gate features a grey-plastered plaque with the white characters on a black background reading “Tongyidafu Residence.”

[One Womb, Three Hanlin Academies]

The “Tongyidafu Residence,” commonly known as “One Womb, Three Hanlin Academies,” refers to the fact that the home’s owner, Yang Zuoxu, along with his brothers Yang Fushi and Yang Yanshi, successively passed the imperial examination and became Jinshi (advanced scholars) during the Kangxi, Yongzheng, and Qianlong reigns of the Qing Dynasty, all entering the Hanlin Academy. Because this was such a rare feat, a popular local legend arose: “What about two prime ministers across the river, three top imperial examinees within five li, or nine Jinshi within ten li? None can compare to my one womb, three Hanlin Academies.”

Legend has it that in a certain county in Jiangxi, two prime ministers came from across the river, three top imperial examinees emerged within five li, and nine Jinshi were born within ten li. Emperor Qianlong even bestowed a stone tablet inscribed with “Civil officials dismount, military officials dismount” by the roadside. When Yang Zuoxu served as an official in Shaanxi, his mother, Lady Rao, once visited him and passed through that area. When the sedan bearer asked her to get out of the sedan chair, Lady Rao asked why. After being told the reason, she said they should continue without worry. When locals stopped the sedan and questioned them, Lady Rao calmly patted her belly and replied, “Your place may be noble, but it lies far across the river and nine li away. How could it compare to my small womb, ‘one womb, three Hanlin Academies’?” Hearing this, the locals felt ashamed and stepped aside to let them pass. There is also a magical legend about Lady Rao, Yang Zuoxu’s mother. It is said that Yang Zuoxu’s father, Yang Zhixu, once visited a friend in Chayang and passed by a house where a straw mat with three faint dragon shapes was drying in front of the door—an unusual sight. Upon asking, he learned the homeowner had an 18-year-old daughter who had suffered from bedwetting since childhood and had rough skin with scales. He immediately proposed marriage, and the offer was accepted. On the wedding day, a sudden heavy rain caused the Chayang River to flood, and people said it was the “dragon girl’s wedding procession.” Later, Lady Rao gave birth to seven sons, three of whom became Jinshi and entered the Hanlin Academy.

[Yang Zuoxu]

The original owner of the residence, Yang Zuoxu, styled Shiguang, also known as Jie’an, was born in the leap third month of the year Dingchou during the Kangxi reign (1697). In the 60th year of Kangxi’s reign (1721), he passed the imperial examination and was selected as a Shujishi (imperial scholar), later appointed as an External Member of the Ministry of Personnel, then transferred to become an Imperial Censor of Shanxi Province. He eventually rose to the position of Censor of Shaanxi Province. As an official, he was upright, resolute, and courageous. He once opposed Prince Zhuang in the case of Jiao Hongxun, upholding justice impartially without bending to power, which caused a sensation in the capital and brought him great renown at the time. He retired in the 24th year of Qianlong’s reign (1814). His wife was granted the imperial golden plaque inscribed with “Seven Generations of Blessings” for having served her grandmother-in-law and cared for her great-great-grandson, and it is still hung in the central hall to this day.

In 2010, the People’s Government of Guangdong Province announced it as a Cultural Relic Protection Unit in the Sixth Batch of Guangdong Provincial Heritage Sites.

Hounan Village: Located in the southern part of Baihou Town, Dabu County, Meizhou City, Hounan Village administers 63 villager groups, with 1,534 registered households and a population of 5,415. The village covers a total area of 13.9 square kilometers, including 2,261 mu of arable land. The average annual temperature is 21°C, with annual rainfall of approximately 1,552.3 mm, characterized by a subtropical monsoon climate. Major cash crops include rice and flue-cured tobacco, with flue-cured tobacco being the village’s featured economic product. The previous year’s total rural economic income was 59.62 million yuan. Measures include: 1) Renovating and expanding the village-level power station; 2) Vigorously developing high-quality flue-cured tobacco production... More details on Hounan Village++

Further Reading:

· Sixth Batch of Guangdong Provincial Cultural Relic Protection Units