Collected Illustrations of the Three Realms: Architecture

Collected Illustrations of the Three Realms: Palaces and Dwellings, Volume 3

Behind it is the Fasting Hall A hall used for ritual purification and quiet reflection before performing ceremonies.. Behind the Fasting Hall is the Residential Hall, which is the place where the Kong family receives brothers and guests. Directly behind the Residential Hall is the Family Shrine. From the gate to the east of the Guest Quarters, heading straight north, is the Baofeng Hall of Affairs original: Baofeng Shishi Ting. This served as an administrative office for the family's titled heads..

Directly behind this hall is the Hall of Grace and Celebration original: Enqing Tang.. This hall was the location where the Vice Censor-in-Chief original: Zhongcheng-gong; a high-ranking supervisory official. while governing the prefecture, and the retired Minister original: Zhizheng Shangshu. would gather with both the internal and external relatives of the Kong clan. The scholar Mr. Shi Shoudao of Culai Shi Jie (1005–1045), a famous Northern Song dynasty educator and philosopher; "Culai" refers to the mountain where he taught. composed a stele inscription to commemorate this place.

At the northeast corner of the hall's foundation is the Hall of Twin Cassias original: Shuanggui Tang. In Chinese culture, "plucking the cassia" is a metaphor for passing the difficult imperial examinations.. During the Huangyou era 1049–1054, under the reign of Emperor Renzong of the Song Dynasty., brothers of the forty-fifth generation of the family were awarded their degrees in the same year; they both studied together at this location, which is why it was given this name.

The various residential quarters are all arranged behind the Ancestral Hall, as well as to the east and west of the Hall of Grace and Celebration. From the rear of the Ancestral Hall through these various residences, the structures were formerly designated as Imperially Maintained original: Chixiu. This term refers to buildings constructed or repaired by direct decree of the Emperor using state funds.. In recent times, those supervising the renovation of the Ancestral Temple have not dared to use public funds to build or decorate private residences. Excluding these residential quarters, the courtyards, halls, and corridors of the Ancestral Temple total three hundred and sixteen gates In traditional Chinese architecture, "gates" or "bays" (men) are used as a standard unit to measure the size and scale of a building..