Jing She Tang in Yigang Village, Tonglu, Zhejiang

Jing She Tang is located in a small alley on the west side of Yigang Old Street (a county-level historical and cultural district). According to the homeowner, it was built in the seventh year of the Daoguang reign of the Qing Dynasty (1827) by the ancestor of the resident Li Laiyuan (the fifth-generation grandson). The first two sections are named Jing She Tang, and the rear section is named Lianqing Tang. During the land reform, Jing She Tang was allocated to other residents, and a wall was built between the second and third sections, dividing the building into two parts. The rear part is now inhabited by Li Laiyuan. The building faces west and covers an area of 491.5 square meters. It has a double-sloped, hard-mountain roof with horse head decorations and a stone-framed gate. The first section has three rooms and two hallways, with a width of 14.3 meters and a depth of 5.1 meters (six purlins and three columns). It also features a double-sloped, hard-mountain roof. Stairs are located against the wall in the side rooms. The courtyard is paved with stone slabs, and the two-story side wings have double-sloped, hard-mountain roofs and ornate decorations. The second section's floor is 0.16 meters higher than the first, with a depth of 7.8 meters (seven purlins and three columns). The front pillars support a flat-topped corridor with latticework, and stairs are located in the side rooms. The beams in the main room are carved. The courtyard is ornately decorated, with elaborate corbels, beautiful cross-shaped dougong brackets, and intricately carved flower beams and brackets. Over 200 different forms of the Chinese character for "longevity" are carved throughout. The courtyard is paved with stone slabs in an elaborate manner. The third section has three rooms, two hallways, and a front corridor. It has a depth of 10 purlins and six columns, with two-story side wings flanking the courtyard. It is a key cultural relic protection unit in Tonglu County.