Tingheng Lu Ancestral Hall

Tingheng Lu Ancestral Hall

Tingheng Lu Ancestral Hall is a cultural tourism attraction.

Tingheng Lu Ancestral Hall is located at No. 43, Dongfang Street, Wenchong Community, Wenchong Subdistrict, Huangpu District, Guangzhou. It was first built in the first year of the Xuantong era of the Qing Dynasty (1909). The building faces south and has a width of three bays (10.7 meters) and a depth of two courtyards (16.8 meters), covering a total floor area of 180 square meters. It features a flush-gable roof, hipped gable walls, plastered flat ridge, gray cylindrical tiles, clay ridge-end ornaments with decorative tile borders, and carved wooden eaves boards. In front are Dongfang Street and a pond, while the left, right, and rear sides are surrounded by residential houses.

The main gate (head door) is three bays wide (10.7 meters) and two bays deep (5.5 meters), totaling nine rafters, with a floor area of 58.85 square meters. The front porch has a three-step beam structure, with two square granite columns featuring chamfered corners and carved bamboo joints. The “shrimp beam” is adorned with stone lion bracket sets, while the beams below feature bas-relief corbels. The two projecting ends are decorated with stone carvings of figures representing happiness, wealth, and longevity, though the brick carvings on the two gable corners are damaged. The main gate has stone door frames; the door panels feature faded images of door gods. The stone door sill is carved with a relief image of a lucky lion, and the stone lintel is inscribed in relief with “Tingheng Lu Ancestral Hall,” with the upper inscription “Summer, First Year of Xuantong (1909)” and the lower inscription “Calligraphy by Zhu Ruzhen.” The wall frieze features murals rendered in an archaic brush style, painted by Li Luofeng. The rear porch has a four-step beam and is connected by column braces. Between the two central wooden columns is a central door, now only the frame remains. In front of the hall are three-tiered stone steps in a stepped design, flanked by drum stones on both sides.

The rear hall, “Huai De Tang” (the plaque is missing), is three bays wide (10.7 meters) and three bays deep (8 meters), with a floor area of 85.6 square meters. It has four wooden central columns with granite column bases. The arched inscribed board and calligraphy on the four central columns were all carved directly onto the wood; the top and bottom of the inscribed boards are adorned with carved wooden decorations of the “Hongfu” (great fortune) motif. The couplet on the front two central columns reads: Upper line – “A noble scholar composes pure verse, setting himself apart from the crowd, his legacy farsighted”; Lower line – “A renowned minister leaves behind memorial petitions, extending the noble lineage, his descendants’ reverence ever deep.” Upper inscription – “Celebrating the completion of the new ancestral hall of Tingheng Lu, posthumously honored as Dafu (Grand Master).” Lower inscription – “Respectfully offered by Ou Shuzeng, selected as magistrate and successful candidate in the 17th year of the Guangxu reign (1891) imperial examination.” The couplet on the back two central columns reads: Upper line – “Upholding integrity across Yue Mountain, valorous at Yamen Gate, early sages established the origin, hoping to continue literary traditions in honor of ancestors”; Lower line – “Near the Lion Sea and far connected to Yangshan, the divine land of Yu Mountain gathers refined spirit, this temple stands to comfort generations to come.” Upper inscription – “Celebrating the completion of Tingheng Lu Ancestral Hall.” Lower inscription – “Respectfully offered by Zhu Ruzhen, awarded the highest degree in the imperial examination, listed as candidate for imperial appointment, holding the title of Hanlin Academician Compiler.” The shrine at the back wall of the central bay has been destroyed, leaving only the stone altar table. Between the rear wooden columns is a richly carved wooden display rack, exquisitely crafted. In front of the hall are stepped stone stairs in a stepped design, flanked by drum stones adorned with carved motifs of clouds encircling the moon.

On both sides of the courtyard in front of the rear hall are four-rafter rolled-canopy corridors, featuring carved wooden antique-style beam structures and carved eaves boards with floral, bird, melon, and fruit designs.

The walls above the front porch, rear porch, corridor around the courtyard, and rear hall all feature murals accompanied by poetic verses, all very elegant.

This ancestral hall is well-preserved and currently serves as a cultural center.

Zhu Ruzhen (1870–1942), a native of Qingyuan, was the second-place scholar (Zhuangyuan) in the final imperial examination of the Guangxu reign (1904). He was appointed as a Hanlin Academician Compiler and served in the Southern Study. He excelled in calligraphy and was skilled in poetry and prose.

Wenchong Community: Located in the eastern part of the central urban area of Huangpu District, adjacent to the district government, Wenchong Community covers an area of approximately 10.03 square kilometers and consists of 22 economic cooperatives. It has a permanent population of 6,928, including 3,324 residents before restructuring and 3,604 converted agricultural residents after restructuring, plus about 20,000 migrants. The per capita income this year is 13,145 yuan. The Wenchong Community Party Committee oversees 18 Party branches, with a total of 201 official Party members and 10 probationary members. In April 2008, the community’s three leadership teams underwent a comprehensive transition. Currently, the community leadership team consists of... More detailed information about Wenchong Community++