Ancestral Hall of Xu Songshi

Ancestral Hall of Xu Songshi

The Ancestral Hall of Xu Songshi is a cultural tourism attraction.

The Ancestral Hall of Xu Songshi is located in Xiayuan Community, Suidong Subdistrict. According to clan members, it was originally built during the Kangxi reign of the Qing Dynasty and renovated in 2003. Facing south, the hall has three bays and three courtyards, with a total width of 13.88 meters, a total depth of 45.16 meters, and an overall floor area of approximately 626.82 square meters. It features a flush-gable roof and wok-handle-shaped gable walls. The colorful ceramic ridge decoration features a classic antique ridge with ceramic ridge beasts, covered with green glazed tiles. The base is built with blue bricks and stone. The gable ends are adorned with gray plaster carvings. The front faces an open space, street, and fishpond, while the other three sides are surrounded by residential houses. In the open space, there are four flagpole stone bases, erected respectively by: Xu Jingming, who was awarded the Second-Rank Official Rank and selected as a provincial road official for his overseas inspection missions after excelling in the 1906 Imperial Examination (Guimao Year), Xu Shaosen, who was selected as a Tongzhi (Deputy Prefect) in the 1904 Imperial Examination (Jiachen Year), Xu Zhuowen, who was selected as a Youfu (Military Command Official) on December 6, 1904, in the 1904 Imperial Examination (Jiachen Year), and Xu Jingwen, who achieved the highest rank in the 1904 Imperial Examination (Jiachen Year) and was summoned by imperial decree to be appointed as a Juren (successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations).

The front gate is three bays wide (13.88 meters) and two bays deep (9.13 meters), totaling thirteen rafters, with a floor area of 126.72 square meters. The front porch has a three-step beam structure and four octagonal granite columns. The two side bays are connected by wooden tie beams, and the side bays have enclosed platforms. The main door is framed by red sandstone lintels with carved patterns on the stone door sockets, and the door header is inscribed with “Ancestral Hall of Xu Songshi,” with the upper inscription “Guimao Year, 2003 AD” and the lower inscription “Renovated by Xiayuan Honggang.” The wooden door couplet reads “The East Sea flows, the Southern Region prospers; Six Dragons bring auspiciousness, Five Lands gain fame.” The rear eaves have two octagonal granite columns, and the two side bays serve as wing rooms, with latticed windows on the north wall and polished tile flooring.

The central hall is three bays wide (13.88 meters) and three bays deep (10.61 meters), totaling fifteen rafters, with a floor area of 147.27 square meters. The front beam of the central bay features a moon-beam design with carved patterns underneath, and five wooden plaques are hung from the beam, including one inscribed “By Imperial Decree, Awarded Peacock Feather in 1905.” There are four octagonal granite pillars, with lotus-shaped bases. The front and rear each have two square granite columns. Between the two rear inner pillars, there is a six-panel screen door, above which hangs a red plaque with gold characters reading “Dajing Hall,” with the upper inscription “Renovated in Guimao Year, 2003” and the lower inscription “Erected by Xiayuan Honggang.” Wooden couplets are hung from the inner pillars, front eave pillars, and both side walls, with a particularly notable 6-meter-long couplet hanging from the central beam on the side wall, which reads “Descendants of the Tongzhilang official, a family of prominence producing great figures, truly a distinguished clan in the Lingnan region; Descendants of Ancestor Xu Songshi, united in respect and mutual affection, exemplifying a land of etiquette.” The floor is paved with polished tiles. There are three granite steps leading to the central hall. On both sides of the courtyard are four-rafter corridor wings, with murals on the corridor walls, and the floor is paved with polished tiles.

The rear hall is three bays wide (13.88 meters) and three bays deep (11.42 meters), totaling fifteen rafters, with a floor area of 158.51 square meters. The rear hall is built on a 0.8-meter-high platform, with two wooden inner pillars and stone bases, and the pillars are backed by brick walls separating the central and side bays. In the left side bay, a wooden plaque reading “Ancestral Virtue Endures” is hung from the front beam, and the back wall enshrines the spirit tablets of Xu Deming, the first ancestor who served as the Defense Official of Guangnan East Road, and other Xu clan ancestors. In the central bay, a wooden plaque reading “Planning for Posterity” is hung from the front beam, and the back wall enshrines the spirit tablets of Xu Songshi, the Ancestral Official of Song Dynasty, and his wife. In the right side bay, a wooden plaque reading “Honored for Virtue and Age” is hung from the front beam, and the back wall enshrines the spirit tablets of the descendants of Tongzhilang (including those of the General of Righteous Valor and the Chengdu Garrison Commander). The floor is paved with polished tiles. On both sides of the courtyard in front of the rear hall are four-rafter corridor wings with coffered ceilings. The courtyard floor is made of granite, while the corridor floors are paved with polished tiles.

The ancestral hall is largely well-preserved, but the rear building has collapsed and has not been rebuilt. It is currently used by clan members.

Xiayuan Community: Located in the northeastern part of Huangpu District, Xiayuan Community in Suidong Subdistrict spans eastward to Shabu Community, borders Hengjiao River to the south, reaches NANJI Community to the west, and adjoins Bigang Community to the north, covering a total area of 4.38 square kilometers. It consists of 13 resident groups with a local permanent population of over 5,178.

Over the years, Xiayuan Community has emphasized the promotion of national fitness activities. The community currently has a total of about 2,150 square meters of cultural and sports activity venues. The Xiayuan Sports and Cultural Park covers an area of 20,000 square meters, including a cultural center with a floor area of 2,150 square meters. The community has 13 amateur cultural and sports teams that regularly organize activities, ensuring there are events... More details about Xiayuan Community++