The Fang Clan Ancestral Hall in Dongguan

The Fang Clan Ancestral Hall in Dongguan

The Fang Clan Ancestral Hall in Dongguan is a protected cultural heritage site of Guangdong Province.

The Fang Clan Ancestral Hall in Dongguan is located in Hetian Village, Houjie Town, Dongguan City. It was built during the Jianwen era of the Ming Dynasty (1399–1402). The ancestral hall features a five-courtyard quadrangle layout, stretching 66.4 meters in depth and 16.6 meters in width, covering a total area of over 1,100 square meters. The buildings all have flush gable roofs, with a mixed wooden structure of raised beams and penetrating dougong. The second courtyard is a four-pillar, three-bay, three-story stone memorial archway. The archway roof features glazed tiles and a hip-and-gable design, adorned with bracket sets under the eaves, standing 8 meters tall. The lintel on the gate is inscribed in intaglio with the characters “六桂留芳” (Six Laurels Leave Their Fragrance) on a red sandstone slab. The second and third courtyards feature exquisite landscape paintings rendered in plaster relief on their gable walls, while other courtyards display vivid ceramic sculptures of landscapes, flowers, birds, and figures along their ridges. The ancestral hall also preserves a couplet written in cursive script by Fang Xiaoru, a Hanlin academician during the hall’s construction, and carved in wood in negative intaglio: “Crossing the bridge divides the wild colors; moving the stone stirs the roots of the clouds.” The ancestral hall structures are currently well preserved.

In 1993, the Dongguan Municipal People’s Government designated it as a cultural heritage site. On November 8, 2008, the General Office of the People’s Government of Guangdong Province issued the “Notice on the Announcement of the Fifth Batch of Guangdong Provincial Cultural Heritage Sites,” listing the Fang Clan Ancestral Hall among them.

Houjie Town: Houjie Town was first established during the mid-Xuanhe era of Emperor Huizong of the Northern Song Dynasty (1119–1125 AD), boasting a history of over 800 years. Legend has it that Wang Tai from Putian, Fujian, settled here during his official travels, naming the place “Houjie” (Rear Street) because it was located behind the “Junpu” (a market for military dependents). Over the generations, the population flourished, industries thrived, and talent emerged in great numbers. Due to the honest and kind-hearted nature of its people, as well as a rich and abundant life, it came to be known as “Houjie” (Thick or Prosperous Street). Since ancient times, Houjie has enjoyed prosperous commerce and abundant local products, with specialties such as Dongguan couchgrass, sausages, and rice noodles being famous both at home and abroad.

Comprehensive Strength: Houjie is located on the eastern bank of the Pearl River Delta, along the economic corridor connecting Guangzhou and Hong Kong… Detailed information about Houjie Town++

Further Reading:

· Fifth Batch of Guangdong Provincial Cultural Heritage Sites