Hu Clan Ancestral Hall of Longchuan

　　The Hu Clan Ancestral Hall of Longchuan was built in the 25th year of the Jiajing reign during the Ming Dynasty (1547) and is located in Dakoukou Village, Yingzhou Township, Jixi County, Anhui Province. This ancestral hall, constructed in the mid-Ming period, is a Han Chinese clan temple used for ancestor worship and decision-making on important clan matters. The interior is primarily adorned with various wood carvings, earning it the titles "Museum of Wood Carving Art" and "Hall of Ethnic Art." Longchuan is also the ancestral home of the former President Comrade [redacted]. On January 13, 1988, it was approved by the State Council as part of the third group of Major National Historical and Cultural Sites.

　　The Hu Clan Ancestral Hall of Longchuan is situated in Jixi, the birthplace of ancient Huizhou culture. Historically part of Huizhou, Jixi has a rich literary tradition and is dotted with clan ancestral halls. This hall belongs to the clans of Hu Fu, Minister of Revenue in the Ming Dynasty, Hu Zongxian, Minister of War, and Hu Guangyong, a prominent Qing Dynasty businessman. Facing south and covering a total area of 1,271 square meters, the three-courtyard complex sits against mountains and beside flowing water, exuding dynamic grandeur. Known as the "Treasure House of Huizhou-Style Wood Carving Art," experts praise it as a unique gem among ancient Chinese ancestral halls.

　　In front of the Hu Clan Ancestral Hall of Longchuan lies a plaza of about 100 square meters. The foundation of the building and the plaza's surface, steps, and railings are all built from uniform granite. The front courtyard features a grand 22-meter-wide gate tower. On both the front and rear sides of the tower, there are six stone pillars, five moon beams, and four square beams, all arranged in a rigorous and symmetrical structure. The square beams are intricately carved with exquisite patterns—the middle front one depicts “Nine Lions Rolling a Ball Amidst Brocade,” while the back one shows “Nine Dragons Playing with a Pearl Under a Starry Sky.” The wooden beams on both sides are carved with theatrical figures. Behind the gate tower is a courtyard also paved with granite. Twenty stone pillars connect with twenty moon beams, arranged around the courtyard to support the east and west corridors and the roof eaves of the front and middle courtyards.

　　Beyond the courtyard is the central section, which serves as the main hall of the ancestral temple. It is supported by 14 thick ginkgo wood pillars with a diameter of 166 cm, along with 19 large and small melon-shaped beams. Each beam end is fitted with an oval beam bracket, carved with colorful clouds and tassels, and adorned with carvings of dragons, phoenixes, lions, and tigers in the center. Between the beams hang layers of cloud motifs, inlaid with floral carvings, and even the beam hooks (used for hanging lanterns) are decorated with carved animal and plant designs such as coiled dragons, peacocks, narcissus flowers, and evergreen plants.

　　On both sides of the main hall are floor-to-ceiling windows over a zhang tall. The upper sections of each window feature latticework carvings, while the lower parts consist of flat relief carvings, primarily themed around lotus flowers accompanied by aquatic birds. The row of floor-to-ceiling windows at the front of the main hall also displays carvings centered on deer, set against landscapes of mountains, waters, bamboo, trees, and flowers. The rear section is the sleeping quarters, divided into two levels separated by a long, narrow courtyard. The windows in the sleeping quarters are carved entirely with vases, using relief and shallow carving techniques. Small panels between the windows depict items such as the Eight Immortals' belongings, the Four Treasures of the Study, bookstands with scrolls, and round or straight-backed chairs—delicate and rich in three-dimensional detail.

　　Historical records indicate that Longchuan was the ancient name of Dakoukou Village. In front of the village stands Longxu Mountain, and a small stream (referred to as a “chuan”) runs through the settlement, hence the name Longchuan. Later, people believed that the stream (also called a “keng”) flowed into the larger Dengyuan River, allowing dragons to swim freely, so it was renamed Dakou (literally “Stream Mouth”). This legend continues to be passed down among locals. The Hu Clan Ancestral Hall of Longchuan is a product of the ancient Huizhou system of clan consolidation and the maintenance of clan law. While it no longer serves its original functions today, its wood carving art remains a crystallization of the wisdom of working people and holds unique archaeological and aesthetic value as a historical artifact. Its wood carvings, in particular, are distinctive and have formed their own artistic style, making them a true “pearl” of wood carving art—hence the saying that this is “a unique gem among ancient ancestral halls.”