The Lu Residence Complex

　　The Dongyang Lu Residence, officially known as the Ming and Qing Dynasties Ancient Architectural Complex of the Lu Residence, is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit. It is situated outside the eastern gate of Dongyang County in Zhejiang Province, initially constructed between the seventh year of the Jingtai era (1456) and the sixth year of the Tianshun era (1462) during the Ming Dynasty, and subsequently expanded into a large-scale residential complex. The entire residence covers an area of approximately 5 hectares and consists of more than ten courtyard groups arranged along a north-south axis. The main axis extends from the screen wall, passes through three stone memorial archways, turns toward the Suyong Hall and the Leshou Hall, and ends at the Shiyong Hall. The residence is surrounded by rivers, connected internally and externally via nine bridges spanning the waterways. A main road in front of the residence leads westward to the east gate of Dongyang City. The numerous memorial archways at the entrance indicate that this was a family compound inhabited by generations of officials.

　　　　The Suyong Hall serves as the main hall of the entire residence. Its layout resembles that of the Mansion of the Duke Yansheng in Qufu, featuring two sets of entrance gates in the front and side chambers on both the eastern and western sides. The floor plan of the Suyong Hall is shaped like the Chinese character "工" (work), with a connecting hallway uniting the front and rear halls. Originally, the front hall had a hip-and-gable roof, which was later changed to a flush-gable roof, but the wooden framework inside still retains the design of the corner hips, and the bracket sets are also exquisitely ornate. According to Ming regulations, official residences were not permitted to have hip-and-gable roofs. Therefore, was the alteration of the front hall’s roof a remedial measure taken by the owner to avoid accusations of overstepping official rank? This phenomenon is quite rare among Ming Dynasty residences.

　　　　The Lu Residence includes thousands of rooms, with over 20 structures surviving from the Ming Jingtai era to the early years of the Republic of China. The architectural complex is surrounded by water on three sides, facing the Brush Rack Mountain to the south. The Elegant Stream meanders around, and an east-west pebble-paved street runs through the area. The Suyong Hall lies along the main axis, flanked by parallel complexes such as the Shide Hall, Dafu Mansion, Shijinqi Mansion, Wutai Hall, Zhushi Mansion, Wuyun Hall, and Bingyu Hall. There are also the Lu Family Ancestral Hall, Shangqing Hall, Jiahui Hall, Xianchen Hall, Shude Hall, and other structures.

　　　　The Suyong Hall axis forms the core of the main buildings, consisting of nine sections in sequence: the Victory Report Gate, the National Glory Gate, the Suyong Hall Main Hall, the Suyong Main Hall, the Leshou Hall, the Shiyong Gate Tower, the Shiyong Hall, the Central Hall, and the Rear Building.

　　　　East Side: Parallel to it is the Xide Hall axis (in sequence: the Xiangyu Hall, Jiahui Hall, Xide Rear Hall, and Xide Upper Hall, comprising four sections).

　　　　The Shude Hall axis (in sequence: the Shude Front Hall, Middle Hall, and Rear Building, three sections), and the East Yin Hall of the Dafu Mansion.

　　　　The Rear Daya Hall axis (now the Shangqing Hall and Xiangxu Hall, two sections), and the Airi Hall.

　　　　West Side: Adjacent to the Ceremonial Gate is the Cunyi Hall, and parallel to it is the Zhongshijinshi Mansion and Zhongxiaotang. To the south along the street are the East and West Lotus Pavilion Academies, the Bingyu Hall, covering a total area of 25,000 square meters.

　　　　The Suyong Hall is the public hall of the Lu clan. Constructed between the seventh year of the Jingtai era (1456) and the sixth year of the Tianshun era (1465), it has a width of three bays, flanked by wing rooms, and a depth of ten rafters in a continuous roof structure. The front eaves feature bracket sets with intricate designs, while the rear employs simpler patterns. The central bay is not overly deep, yet the rear space is richly adorned with various carvings and painted motifs. The interior and exterior of the residence are symmetrically laid out, embodying the essence of ancient Chinese architectural design and serving as an outstanding example of traditional structures.

　　　　The lanterns in the Suyong Hall date back to the Ming Dynasty and flourished in the Qing Dynasty, featuring all types of lanterns described in the novel Dream of the Red Chamber. Among them, a particularly magnificent and elegant hall lantern remains preserved, with a canopy underneath where three large lamps—made of sheepskin, glass silk, and goat horn—are stacked vertically. Surrounding them hang six strands of 24 small goat horn lanterns and beaded basket lamps. This grand hall lantern stands 4.5 meters tall, weighs 255 jin (approximately 127 kg), and incorporates 400,000 colorful glass beads. It has been recorded in the Guinness World Records.

　　　　The Lu Residence has been hailed by ancient architecture experts as an “Oriental residence of international caliber.” In January 1988, it was declared a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit by the State Council. In 2005, the World Monuments Fund (WMF) in New York released a list of the top 100 most endangered cultural heritage sites for 2006, featuring six sites in China: the Ancient Tower Complex in Tianshui, Gansu; the Jiming Post in Huailai, Hebei; the Village of Qikou Town in Shanxi; Tuanshan in Yunnan; the Stone Forests in Sichuan and Tibet; and the Lu Residence in Dongyang, Zhejiang.

　　Source: Jinhua Government Website