Ancestral Hall of Jianzhai

Ancestral Hall of Jianzhai

The Ancestral Hall of Jianzhai is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

The Ancestral Hall of Jianzhai is located on the north bank of Ximen Pond in the Ming-Qing ancient architectural complex of Nanshe Village, Chashan Town, Dongguan City, Guangdong Province. It was built in the 18th year of the Qianlong reign during the Qing Dynasty (1753), and underwent renovations in the 3rd year of the Guangxu reign (1877) and again in 2004. The structure faces southeast and is oriented northwest, featuring a traditional courtyard layout with three bays, two courtyards, two corridors, and a central skywell. It has a total width of 9.4 meters and a total depth of 15.2 meters, covering an area of approximately 143 square meters. The building is constructed with a brick, wood, and stone structure, featuring blue brick walls and red sandstone plinths; it has a flush-gable roof, a mixed beam-frame system of raised beams and through-tenons, gable and hip roof ridges, clay sculptures on the roof ridges, gray barrel tiles, green glazed tile end caps, and scalloped drip tiles. The front bay has lectern-style platforms on both sides, and the red sandstone plaque above the entrance door is inscribed with the characters “Ancestral Hall of Jianzhai” in relief. The eaves retain polychrome murals from the Qing Dynasty, and the eave boards and bracket sets feature exquisitely carved details, along with a gray-clay sculpted classical ridge. Upon entering the main gate, there is a screen wall, and on the right wall is embedded a stele commemorating the 1877 renovation. The rear hall, known as “Jingkang Hall,” features column-and-beam construction and a clay sculpture of a dragon boat ridge. Xie Jianzhai, born in the 39th year of the Jiajing reign of the Ming Dynasty (1560) and died in the 46th year of the Wanli reign (1618) at the age of 59, had three sons: the eldest, Huaijian; the second, Shaojian; and the third, Aijian. This ancestral hall holds significant value for the study of ancestral halls in the Lingnan region. It was designated as a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit in 2006.

Source: Xiang'an Cultural Center

Nanshe Village: Nanshe Village is situated southeast of Chashan Town, approximately 18 kilometers from downtown Dongguan. It enjoys convenient transportation, covers an area of 4.13 square kilometers, and governs seven villager groups. It has a registered population of 3,690 and an immigrant population of about 10,000. In 2016, the total operating income of the village and group levels reached 33.62 million yuan, with a net income of 18.08 million yuan, reflecting steady growth in the collective economy.

Since 2015, Nanshe Village in Chashan Town has appeared on CCTV programs six times in a row, showcasing the profound historical culture and unique charm of Chashan and even Dongguan to audiences nationwide. Among them... Detailed information about Nanshe Village++