CONGXI Temple

CONGXI Temple

Congxi ancestral hall is located in Jiaotou, Jinsha management area, Caitang Town, Chao'an District, Chaozhou City, Guangdong Province. It was built by Chen Xunian, an overseas Chinese living in Johor Island, Malaysia. It started in 1870 and finished in 1884, which lasted for 14 years.

Traffic information

Transportation: take Chaoshan highway to Jinsha village, Caitang Town, about 2km to Jinsha village. When you get to the entrance of the village, ask the local people to lead the way.

Route navigation: enter from Caijin road of Chaoshan highway, and then enter directly along the market direction. Self driving friends had better avoid the time when villagers go to the market to buy vegetables (8-10 AM), otherwise it is difficult to pass the village road.

brief introduction

Sitting from the east to the west, Xigong temple has a width of 31.22 meters and a depth of 42.25 meters. It is a two-way courtyard layout. There is a patio between the front hall and the back hall. There are porches on both sides and Baoxia in the back hall, forming a pattern of four halls facing each other. The back hall has a width of three rooms and a depth of three rooms.

The dazzling architectural decoration makes the whole building more magnificent. A pair of exquisite stone lions are arranged in front of the first entrance to the gatehouse, and the roof truss of the gatehouse is double-sided hollow stone carving. And the most amazing is the four walls inlaid on the stone wall of the gatehouse

The four stone carvings are respectively based on the subjects of scholars, agriculture, industry and commerce, fishing, firewood, farming and reading, and flowers, birds, insects and fish. The zigzag composition is well used in each of the four stone carvings to concentrate the people, events and objects in different time and space on the same picture and concentrate the story. The most dramatic moment.

A picture of "fishermen, woodcutters, ploughers and readers" shows 25 characters, either interspersed in pavilions, or wandering in the winding paths of the mountains, or casting nets to catch. Or herding cattle, with different and lifelike expressions. "Flowers, birds, insects and fish" win by nature, which originates from life and is higher than life. The birds that spread their wings, the fish that leap, the lotus that grow fat, and the flowers that bloom in full bloom are all vivid and beautiful, and their artistic attainments are extremely high.

About Chen Xunian

The Chaozhou wood carvings in the temple are also exquisite. The first roof truss, the Baoxia in the back seat and the zhongcao roof truss are decorated with Chaozhou golden lacquer wood carvings in Lingxi, showing the brilliant artistic effect. Chen Xunian (1827-1902), also known as Yuyi, was born in Jinsha township of shangpudu (now Caitang Town, Chaoan County), Haiyang County in Qing Dynasty. When he lost his father in his early years, his family was poor.

Poverty and humiliation made Chen Xunian, 17, decide to go abroad to make a living. In 1844, Chen Xunian, a penniless man, ventured into a red headed boat bound for the Malay Peninsula and came to Johor state (now Johor state of Malaysia) alone. At first, he and many Chaozhou native villagers cut through thorns and thorns in the primeval forest, opened up mountains to reclaim wasteland, and experienced hardships in the human world. Later, he changed his career to selling cloth. Then there was an economic crisis in the Sultan of Johor, and he was rewarded for discovering a new tin mine.

After becoming rich, Chen Xunian met abuga, a Johor aristocrat (the overseas Chinese called him tianmenggong, whose mother is said to be from Chaozhou) and became a brother with him. The Chaozhou speaking aristocrat succeeded the Sultan of Johor in 1862. In 1864, he handed over 10 ports to Chen Xunian. At the age of 39, Chen Xunian became the largest port owner on the Malay Peninsula. Chen Xunian's hometown is commonly known as Shalong, so he is called old Shalong port in the largest port of Johor's capital, Xinshan. Since 1868, Chen Xunian became the most famous rich businessman in Nanyang. He was awarded the title of "senior minister" by the Sultan of Johor. Up to now, there is a "Chen Xunian Street" in Johor's new hill to commemorate his achievements.

With the development of his career, he gradually shifted the focus of his career to Singapore, which is developing on a large scale. When Chen Xunian moved from Johor to Singapore, he invited craftsmen and transported raw materials from Chaozhou. According to the style of congxigong Ci, he built it between kelimensuo road and Binglang Road, which was listed as the fifth ancient building in the country. In June 1984, Singapore issued a stamp with the physical map of the only tidal ancient building in Singapore. This is not only the glory of Chen Xunian's family, but also the pride of Chinese people. The building is now a Salvation Army public service facility and is open to the public free of charge.

Chen Xu died in his hometown at the age of 75.

On May 25, 2006, Congxi temple, as an ancient building of the Qing Dynasty, was approved by the State Council to be listed in the Sixth Batch of national key cultural relics protection units.

Address: Jinsha management area, Caitang Town

Longitude: 116.65422058106

Latitude: 23.472640991211

Ticket information: market price: 5.0 yuan