Chongde Hall

　　Chongde Hall is a typical southern-style quadrangle courtyard. It was first built in 1884 by Pei Shoulu, a native of Fengcheng, Jiangxi. At that time, Fenghuang was very prosperous, and Pei Shoulu, who was only 16 years old, came to Fenghuang to do business. With his intelligence and wisdom, he established his own business, the "Pei Sanxing" firm, and built this ancient residence. The residence covers a total area of 622 square meters and has two floors. The first floor displays exhibits including: a stone carving exhibition hall, two wood carving exhibition halls, a reception room, a kitchen, and a backyard garden. The second floor showcases the living quarters of the owner and his family, including the rooms of the young lady, the first wife, the second wife, and a study.

　　In the stone carving exhibition hall, there is a white marble plaque of a chastity archway inscribed with “志洁行方” (meaning “Noble in Principle and Upright in Conduct”). It was inscribed in the fourth year of the Republic of China (1915) by then-President Yuan Shikai for a widow, praising her devotion to her husband. It is said that this widow was a child bride from a powerful and influential family, and she began her life as a widow at the age of three. Another black-and-white plaque reads “Guo Litang” (Guo’s Hall). Guo Litang was a place where family disputes were resolved. This plaque was re-erected during the Kangxi era, but it was gifted by Luo Hongxian, a top imperial scholar from the late Ming Dynasty.

　　The reception room was where the owner used to meet important merchants. In the center of the hall, there is an exquisitely carved round table made of camphor wood. As is well known, camphor trees often have hollows. This table has a diameter of 116 centimeters, which gives an idea of how large the tree must have been. It is clear that finding such a huge camphor tree was extremely rare.

　　In front of the kitchen is a pair of door drums, also known in ancient times as “matched doors,” which were only found in wealthy households. In the backyard garden, there is an ancient well that the owner used to secure daily water supply when the city was under siege by bandits and drawing water from outside was inconvenient.

　　The wood carvings in the wood carving exhibition hall are all exquisitely crafted, showcasing the skill of the artisans at the time. Among them is a hanging plaque titled “Guo Ziyi Pays Homage on His Birthday.” Guo Ziyi was a great general of the Tang Dynasty who was rewarded with titles and promotions for his meritorious service in suppressing the An Lushan Rebellion. He had seven sons and eight sons-in-law, all of whom held official positions. The peach symbolizes longevity, and people often use the motif of “Guo Ziyi Pays Homage on His Birthday” to imply being beloved and noble. The display cases showcase items used by the mistress and young ladies of the household (such as cosmetic boxes and bound feet shoes). On the wall of the second exhibition hall, there is a pair of wooden lions, which are diagonal braces used in traditional decoration, commonly known as “ox-legs.” This pair of braces is considered among the best in China. It is said that a similar pair exists in Hangzhou’s Hu Qingyu Tang, but their wood quality cannot compare. Inside a display case, there is a dagger belonging to Chiang Chung-cheng (Chiang Kai-shek). Mr. Chiang was the president of the Whampoa Military Academy at the time, with Comrade Zhou Enlai serving as the political commissar. Every graduate of the academy who rose to the rank of regimental commander or above was presented with one of these daggers by Mr. Chiang.