The Xinqi Mo Ancestral Hall

The Xinqi Mo Ancestral Hall

The Xinqi Mo Ancestral Hall is a protected cultural heritage site of Guangdong Province.

The Xinqi Mo Ancestral Hall is located in Bazhaifang, Xinqi Village, Machong Town, Dongguan City. Facing east and backed by the west, it is a three-courtyard, five-bay building with a flush-gable roof. It stretches 120 meters in length and 20 meters in width, covering a site area of 2,400 square meters with a built-up area of 800 square meters. The front courtyard spans 1,600 square meters and is entirely enclosed by stone railings. This magnificent ancestral hall is possibly the largest in Dongguan. It is said that the Mo Ancestral Hall was first built during the Wanli era of the Ming Dynasty (1572–1620). Among the remnants of wall paintings are the words “Reconstructed in the 37th Year of the Republic of China.” Its most recent reconstruction took place in 2006.

The Mo clan is one of the major lineages in Machong, with its ancestors originating from Zhaoqing. In the fifth year of the Jingding era of Emperor Lizong of the Song Dynasty (1264), the third-generation ancestor Pei Mo Donghu migrated to Machong (ancient Meizhou). By the fourth generation, the lineage split into two branches, known as the Southern Sugar and Northern Sugar groups. The Southern Sugar group settled in Xinqi and Dongpu (including Jiuzhai); the Northern Sugar group inhabited Dongning (Ma San), Xining, Songbaifang, and Xiangbei (within Ma Yi territory) of Machong, thus forming what is called “One Mo Clan, Three Villages.” Mo Donghu is the founding ancestor of the “Mo Clan Chongben Hall.” By the seventh generation, the ancestor Jian’an established the “Qiyu Mo Clan Ancestral Hall.” The Donghu Mo Ancestral Hall is located on Xinjiexi, Ma San Village. Built in the late Yuan and early Ming periods, it faces west and borders the Machong River to the east. The hall consists of three sections: the front gate, central hall, and rear chamber, constructed with blue bricks, stone bases, and a post-and-lintel structure. The Qiyu Mo Clan Ancestral Hall is situated in Yifang, Ma San Village, and was built in the mid-Ming Dynasty. Covering approximately 1,000 square meters, the hall has a front plaza. The front gate and central hall feature luxurious architecture with vivid, bright, and realistic murals. Delicate brick and stone carvings subtly emerge, while beams and pillars are exquisitely carved, with lifelike human portraits. Scenes such as “Nezha Stirring up the Sea,” “The Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea,” “The Peach Garden Oath,” “Zhao Zilong Hastening Home,” and “Diao Chan Worshiping the Moon” are arranged in sequence. The Qiyu Mo Clan Ancestral Hall was a premier example of ancestral architecture in Machong at the time.

Xinqi Village: Located in the northeastern part of the center of Machong Town, Xinqi Village covers a total area of 4.4 square kilometers. The village was established in the fifth year of the Chunyou era of the Song Dynasty (1245). In 1958, it became the Xinqi Brigade; in 1983, it was designated as a township; in 1987, it was renamed an administrative district; and in 1999, it was restructured as a village. It governs 20 production teams, with a registered population of 5,864 and a migrant population of about 10,000. Over the years, Xinqi Village has focused on developing the collective economy, improving the village environment, raising villagers’ living standards, and maintaining social harmony and stability. It has successfully developed into a livable ancient village with distinctive Lingnan characteristics, including features of a water town and beautiful countryside... More details about Xinqi Village ++

Further Reading:

· Ninth Batch of Protected Cultural Heritage Sites of Guangdong Province