Xu Fan Village Zhu Clan Ancestral Hall in Tonglu, Zhejiang

Also known as "Shenhui Hall," the Xu Fan Zhu Clan Ancestral Hall serves as the ancestral hall for the Zhu family of Xu Fan Village. Initially constructed during the Wanli to Tianqi periods of the Ming Dynasty (1615-1625), Shenhui Hall has undergone multiple periods of decline and restoration due to wars and other factors. Particularly after enduring over half a century of weathering, the ancestral hall had lost some of its former grandeur, exhibiting signs of age and decay. The Shenhui Hall we see today was renovated by members of the Zhu clan after the Qingming Festival in 2020, presenting a completely revitalized appearance. Shenhui Hall is a brick-and-wood Hui-style ancient building, facing southwest and situated on a northeast-facing slope. It features a spacious courtyard, white walls and dark gray tiles, a double-sloped gable roof, and opposing horsehead walls. The structure is three rooms wide and three rooms deep, with a total width of 14.9 meters and a total depth of 33.1 meters, covering a total area of 493.19 square meters. The name "Shenhui" translates to "respectfully proclaiming beauty," originating from the *Book of Documents*, specifically the *Canon of Shun*: "Shun respectfully praised the five constant virtues—righteousness of the father, kindness of the mother, friendliness of the elder brother, respectfulness of the younger brother, and filial piety of the son—and the people all followed them." Approaching Shenhui Hall, the first things to catch the eye are the exquisitely carved patterns adorning the crossbeams, lintel beams, friezes, brackets, and corbels above the front pillars of the main gate. The flowing beauty of these carvings is truly captivating. The main gate is designed in a gatehouse style, flanked by angled wing walls. Above the lintel, a plaque bears the inscription "Zhu Clan Ancestral Hall" in large characters. A close look at the facade of Shenhui Hall reveals not only the exquisite carving skills of the artisans of the time but also offers a glimpse into the wealth and status of the Zhu ancestors, as well as their aspirations for future generations. The first room of the ancestral hall is the front hall, with a three-column, five-purlin main hall in the center and four-column, six-purlin side rooms on either side, all under a double-sloped gable roof. Beyond the front hall lies a rectangular courtyard paved with green stone slabs from Chun'an tea gardens. The courtyard's central well area is paved with fist-sized pebbles arranged in a copper coin pattern. Corridors with two columns and three purlins under a double-sloped gable roof flank the courtyard. The second room, also known as the middle hall or passage hall, is about 10 centimeters higher than the first room. The central area features four columns and nine purlins, while the side rooms have five columns and nine purlins against the back wall. Between the main columns stands a screen wall, above which hangs a black plaque inscribed with the three gilded characters "Shenwei Tang" (Hall of Careful Details). Portraits of the founding ancestor Zhu Shigui and his wife hang on the screen wall. In front of the wall sits a long narrow table, accompanied by an eight-immortal table, armchairs, a tea table, and flower stands, all crafted from precious rosewood, exuding an antique charm. Behind the screen wall, doors on either side lead to the third room, while narrow passageways along the back walls of the side rooms connect to the ancestral shrine in the third room. A noticeable, indented crack remains on one of the main columns on the right side of the second room, starting from the bracket above and extending down to the base of the column, as if a piece of "flesh" had been torn away. It is said that this was caused by a sudden thunderstorm on September 5, 1964, which also struck two people seeking shelter in the ancestral hall. Passing through the middle hall, one enters the third room, which houses the ancestral shrine, commonly known as the "Hall of Shadows." This is where the ancestral tablets are enshrined, the most important part of the ancestral hall. The floor of the shrine is five steps higher than the courtyard. The central area has three columns and five purlins, while the side rooms have four columns and five purlins. Corridors with double-sloped gable roofs are located on both sides of the courtyard. The ancestral shrine in the third room was newly constructed during the recent renovation. Originally, Shenhui Hall had only two rooms, with the ancestral tablets placed in the back hall behind the screen wall in the second room. The construction materials used in Shenhui Hall are substantial and carefully chosen. The beams and columns are well-proportioned and regular, with thick columns and large beams, all of uniform cross-section. The columns rest on exquisite large green stone bases. The roof structure employs both beam-lifting and column-and-tie construction methods. The central three columns use the beam-lifting method, while the four columns along the side walls use the column-and-tie method. The wooden beams in the beam-lifting structure and the tie beams in the column-and-tie structure appear similar in form but serve different functions. The beams bear weight, while the tie beams primarily provide stability. In the column-and-tie framework, some columns are shortened and rest on the tie beams, reducing the number of supporting columns while maintaining the appearance of one purlin per column. The Xu Fan Zhu Clan Ancestral Hall is listed as an Immovable Cultural Relic of Tonglu County.