Kangshuai Mansion

Kangshuai Mansion

Kangshuai Mansion is located on Jinzili Street in Shaxi Village, Wufeng Village, Taisha Road. It is a small local temple nestled within the village alleys. Facing west and situated along an east-west axis, the structure consists of a single row with three sections, built with brick, wood, and stone. It features a front pavilion and a rear hall, with a total width of 6 meters and a depth of 14 meters, covering a construction area of 84 square meters. The site is surrounded by lanes and alleyways.

The worship pavilion is a four-cornered stone-pillared hip-and-gable roof structure, measuring 6 meters in width and 8 meters in depth, with a total of seven rafters, including two steps at the front and back. The main ridge is adorned with grey-plastered lion and antique motifs. The four hanging ridges feature grey-plastered lions decorated with floral patterns, topped with barrel tiles. The roof is fitted with green-glazed tile ends and drips. The eaves are decorated with wooden carvings inscribed with “Wanfu You Tong” (Auspicious Blessings Abound). The square pillars are made of granite, each measuring 0.3m x 0.3m. The pillar bases are also granite. The floor is a later-added imitation brick-patterned cement surface.

The second section is connected to the worship pavilion in a continuous structure. It has a depth of 3 meters. The roof features curling floral-patterned grey-plastered hanging ridges and barrel tiles. The space is open with no walls.

The third section is the main hall of the temple. It measures 6 meters in width and 3 meters in depth, with a flush gable roof. The main ridge is decorated with grey-plastered antique motifs, and the lower hanging ridges are modest. The roof is covered with barrel tiles. The eaves are adorned with wooden carvings. The platform is made of cement. The front wall is constructed with double-corner grey-plastered brickwork, and the door frame is encased in stone. The stone lintel is inscribed with the three characters “Kangshuai Mansion.” The stone door couplet reads: “The land’s dragon-like terrain brings lush and flourishing vibes; literary fortune akin to a tiger’s transformation echoes resoundingly through the clouds.”

The gable walls feature grey-plastered inscriptions: “Made by Chen Heli of Wufeng” and “Made by Du Yucheng of Dashi, Panyu,” marking the names of donors and builders. The front eave pillars are inscribed with: “The tiger’s tent brims with heroic spirit, awe-inspiring in might; the grand shelter witnesses the sun’s transformative light, bestowed with radiant glory.” The central stone pillar is carved with: “The thunderous might of the army is fittingly positioned to the left; the divine protection extends even further afar.” The right plaque reads: “Zhan Yun” (Gazing at the Clouds). The left plaque reads: “Jiu Guo” (Approaching the Nation). The couplet reads: “□□□□□□□; Kang Palace shares the grace of sea and mountain.” Another couplet reads: “Having completed meritorious deeds in the golden palace, wise and sagacious; having fulfilled the divine mission in the jade realm, holy and divine.”

Kangshuai Mansion once hosted temple festival events, particularly notable for the annual festival on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month. On this day, the village women would collectively celebrate by staying overnight in front of the temple. During the day, canopies were erected for opera performances, lion dances to pluck the greens, and the sounds of drums and gongs filled the air. Nowadays, the surrounding area is crowded with buildings, and the streets and alleys are narrow, making it difficult to find traces of this ancient charm.