Ancient Architectural Complex of Caojiaowan Village

Ancient Architectural Complex of Caojiaowan Village

The ancient architectural complex of Caojiaowan Village is a cultural heritage site protected at the Guangdong Provincial level.

The oldest structure in the ancient architectural complex of Caojiaowan Village is the Deng Clan Ancestral Hall, built in the 47th year of the Qianlong reign (1782 AD); followed by the Stone Enclosure Building, constructed in the first year of the Jiaqing reign (1796 AD); the Lower Study Room was built in the third year of the Daoguang reign (1823 AD); the Upper Study Room was constructed in the sixth year of the Tongzhi reign (1867 AD); and the New Enclosure Building was built in the ninth year of the Tongzhi reign (1870 AD). The village is laid out symmetrically on both sides of the central axis of the ancestral hall according to the terrain, with the ancestral hall complex adopting a “Chinese character ‘Guo’ (国)” layout. The ancestral hall has three courtyards, each separated by a skywell designed with a “four-hall water-return” structure. The enclosed building consists of an outer wall, the ancestral hall, and left and right living quarters. The outer gate is angled 10 degrees southeast along the central line, with a plaque inscribed “He Tian Chi Zeng” (Gift from Heaven) hanging from the lintel, dated to the 12th year of the Guangxu reign. The moon beam is carved with a dragon-and-phoenix auspicious design; the door pillow stone is sculpted into the shape of a tripod, with cloud-thunder motifs engraved between the tripod feet. Upon entering the main gate of the ancestral hall, there is a latticed screen decorated with openwork carvings of scrolling vines and floral patterns; passing through the Blessing Hall, across the Sky Street, one then steps into the Central Hall. The Central Hall features a six-pillar purlin structure, leading further into the Upper Hall where the ancestral altar is located.

The Stone Enclosure Building is located in the western part of the village. Construction began in the first year of the Jiaqing reign (1796 AD) and was completed in the seventh year of the Jiaqing reign (1803 AD), with an additional layer and a half added in the third year of the Daoguang reign (1823 AD). The stone building is four and a half stories high, with an exterior built from stone. Originally, the interior had a horse-stable-style brick-and-wood structure with 52 rooms, serving as a place for villagers to store grain and take refuge during emergencies. Later, due to a fire inside the building and years of warfare, it gradually fell into disrepair. In 1980, the wooden structures were dismantled, leaving only the stone outer walls of the enclosure building.

Adjacent to the stone building are the New Enclosure Building and the Lower Study Room. The New Enclosure Building was constructed in the ninth year of the Tongzhi reign (1870 AD), stands three stories tall, and features what is known as a “gold-wrapped-in-silver” brick-and-wood structure (with an outer layer of blue bricks and an inner layer of mud bricks). The floor is paved with cobblestones, and the building is enclosed with a front and rear gate. The front gate is designed as a gate tower, with a gate fence in front. Though not large in area, the enclosure building is solid and practical. The Lower Study Room was built in the third year of the Daoguang reign (1823 AD), covering an area of about 300 square meters. In front of the building is a small courtyard and a screen wall, with the screen wall topped by a “Bo Gu” ridge. The moon beams and gate piers in front are carved with exquisite patterns; the middle section of the moon beam is carved in the style of ancient bamboo slips, inscribed with the words “Talk and laughter with great scholars, none but the learned come and go.” Below the beam, one side features bas-reliefs of strings of coins, while the porch on both sides of the gate is supported by four tiers of intricately carved six-puzuo bracket sets, showcasing exquisite craftsmanship.

The Upper Study Room is located between the stone building and the ancestral hall. Built in the sixth year of the Tongzhi reign (1867 AD), it follows a two-courtyard, enclosed-layout design, covering an area of 600 square meters. It continued to operate as a private school during the Republican era, providing education to the village’s children. The overall structure of the study room remains well-preserved.

This ancient village still preserves 15 complete Qing Dynasty plaques. From the remaining plaques, it is evident that Caojiaowan Village had a tradition of valuing both farming and scholarship, emphasizing the education of its youth in hopes they would achieve academic success and official rank, thereby gaining distinction. That such a remote mountain village had two study rooms clearly reflects the community’s emphasis on education and talent development. According to elders in the village, since the 13th-generation ancestors—brothers Deng Wansheng, Deng Wanxing, and Deng Wanlong—the Deng family has produced around 40 individuals who either earned official titles or had them conferred upon them, with approximately 20 holding various official positions. Among them, there were even families with multiple members or several generations who attained scholarly honors or official ranks, truly a “family of scholarly distinction.” To this day, an anecdote known as the “Seven Sons, Six Scholars” tale is still passed down orally among the clan members. The scholarly achievements of the clan members are all recorded in the Guangxu-era edition of the “Qujiang County Annals.”

Shangdong Village: Shangdong Village is located in the eastern part of Xiaokeng Town, adjacent to Shixing County. The village has a total population of 1,745, comprising 13 villager groups with 434 households. The total forested area is 45,000 mu, and the total cultivated land area is 2,557 mu, including 1,508 mu of paddy fields, making it a typical old revolutionary base village. The Shangdong Village Committee currently has five cadres in its “two committees,” 45 Party members, and collective economic income of 523,000 yuan. The main sources of collective economic income for the village committee are dividends from two hydroelectric power stations and the town government’s enterprise-managed power station. The primary economic activities of the villagers include farming, animal husbandry, forestry, and labor export. … More details about Shangdong Village ++

Further Reading:

· Ninth Batch of Guangdong Provincial Cultural Heritage Protection Units