The opening hours of Zheng’s Ancestral Hall: 8:30-17:30
Introduction to the attractions of Zheng’s Ancestral Hall:
Puyuan Zheng’s Ancestral Hall was first built in the Song Dynasty. According to legend, it was built by Jin Shigong, the eighth descendant of Zheng Shanggong, an imperial official who moved to Puyuan from Xingyang, Henan. It was rebuilt in the 20th year of Daoguang in the Qing Dynasty (1814). It was destroyed during the Cultural Revolution and underwent large-scale renovations in the autumn of 1996. It is currently one of the best-preserved ancestral halls in East China. The ancestral hall has a unique shape, narrow in front and wide in back, resembling an ancient ship. There is a thousand-year-old cedar tree in front of you on the right. It is ten feet tall and has a trunk six inches thick. It has a hollow belly and lush branches and leaves. The villagers regard it as a god and it is known as the "Spirit Qiang". Legend has it that the ancestor of the Zheng family took a rest here during the imperial court. He dreamed that he was riding in a huge boat, with countless followers and a rudder full of treasures. When he woke up, he thought it was a good omen, so he made a last wish to use this tree as a mast for the boat and build a temple. Like a boat, the family will be filled with descendants and talented people, becoming a prominent local family.
The four characters "Zheng's Ancestral Hall" on the gate are strong. It is said that in ancient times, only the ancestral halls of emperors and relatives could be built in this way. The entire ancestral hall is a three-entry Chinese classical palace building, with carved beams and painted buildings, and is magnificent. The main hall of the ancestral hall enshrines the statues of Zheng Nangong, the prince-in-law of the Northern Song Dynasty, Chao Fenggong, the ancestor, and their wives Zhao and Lu. On the left is the statue of Zheng Jin and his wife, who built the temple and protected carp. On the right is the statue of Zheng Jiugong who performed good deeds and finally died. On both sides, the dragon head ancestral tablets collected from past dynasties are displayed in sequence, like a "family tree". The base of the dragon head ancestral tablet is made of various wood carvings such as "Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea" and "Journey to the West". The top is a hollow dragon head wood carving, which is exquisite in craftsmanship and exquisitely carved. During the Cultural Revolution, the people of Puyuan village hid these dragon head ancestral tablets in the walls or caves outside the village to avoid damage. At present, after restoration, it has become the most complete ancestral dragon head tablet in East China.
There are also many plaques and couplets in the temple, which are full of gold and color and have excellent calligraphy. Hanging high in the main hall is Weng Zhengchun, the champion of the Ming Dynasty and the Minister of Rites, "accumulating algae and flowing fragrance". In the second entrance hall, there are also the "Mingde Weixin" of the Provincial Military Region Commander Ren Yonggui, the "Xianlin Famous Family" of Huang Shisu, the governor of Ningde County in the Republic of China, and the "Senior Citizen of Excellent Virtue" of Sa Zhenbing, the Governor of Fujian Province and Navy Commander in the Republic of China. Waiting for a plaque inscribed by an important person. There are also several types of plaques: some are of great artistic value, such as "Wen Kui", which is engraved in original characters written by Shisong, the Minister of War in the Xuantong period of the Qing Dynasty.
In terms of "filial piety" and "jie", "filial piety mai Qian Lou" and "filial piety move the sky" are said to be the death of Zheng Xifan Gong for his father, and "Yun Zhen Baicui" is said to be the Ye family. Children who have been widowed for sixty years have become pure and pure. In addition, there are other praises for chaste women such as "Fragrance is lost during the festival", "Fragrance flows smoothly during festivals", etc.; or it is said that families live in harmony, such as "Five generations under one roof", "Five generations under one roof", etc.; the last one The category is to praise family stories, such as "A long history", "Xingyang family", etc. It can be said that every plaque has a story. Although most of them are related to the feudal system, stories such as filial piety and family harmony are still worthy of reference by future generations.
There are also couplets hanging on the pillars of the ancestral hall, most of which praise ancestors, and the calligraphy is relatively exquisite and smooth. Moreover, some large couplets are made of a whole piece of sandalwood and are quite old. Some also have a story, such as "Sacrificing one's life to save one's father is not considered suicide, but destroying one's body and destroying one's body can really raise one's body." This is also the story of Duke Xi Fan. A couplet on the stage: "Occasionally, I come to the music to chat and relax. I want to ask who is outstanding on stage." It brings a bit of the true meaning of life.
Every year on the third day of the third lunar month, the door of the ancestral hall is opened and the family tree is brought out for the villagers to read and view. At the same time, perform "social drama" for three days. Before the play, the whole village gathers together to discuss some major village affairs. The form is relatively grand, much like "democratic centralism". The entire ancestral hall is full of strong cultural atmosphere. When you wander inside, you will be attracted by the profound connotation of ancient Chinese clan culture and will never forget to leave.