Zheng Yimen Ancient Architecture - Zhu Yuanzhang named it 'The First Family of the South of the Yangtze River'

Zheng Yimen ancient architectural complex is located in the northeast of the basin in Pujiang County, Zhejiang Province, and is the residence of the Zheng family of Zheng Zhai. The Zheng family flourished for more than 300 years, and Zheng Zhai has gone through the Song, Yuan, and Ming dynasties. Fifteen generations lived and ate together, with the number of people reaching more than 3,000 at its peak. After that, the Zheng family continued the tradition of living together in smaller groups, which lasted until the late Qing dynasty, spanning more than thirteen generations. Originally named 'Chengen Li', the Zheng family established their residence here in the early Northern Song dynasty, and it was renamed to San Zheng and Renyi Li during the Southern Song dynasty. In the Yuan dynasty, it was renamed to Zheng Yimen due to being honored twice as 'Xiaoyi Men', and in the Ming dynasty, it was named 'The First Family of the South of the Yangtze River' by Zhu Yuanzhang. Centered around the Zheng family ancestral hall, which faces east and west, the complex covers an area of 5,000 square meters, with a building area of 2,463 square meters. There are also over 50 other buildings and ancient relics from the Yuan and Ming dynasties, including the site of the Dongming Academy, Changqi Gongci, and Changsan Gongci. Inside the ancestral hall, there are nine cypress trees planted by Song Lian that are 648 years old. Yimen is famous for its tradition of living together in the spirit of filial piety and righteousness, which began during the Southern Song dynasty and declined in the third year of the Tianshun reign of the Ming dynasty (1459). After that, the Zheng family continued the tradition of living together in smaller groups, which lasted until the late Qing dynasty, spanning more than thirteen generations. The Pujiang Zheng family is known for managing their household with filial piety and righteousness, and for valuing agriculture and education. At its peak, more than 3,000 members of the family shared 'one pot of rice'. In the eighteenth year of Hongwu of the Ming dynasty (1385), the founder of the Ming dynasty, Zhu Yuanzhang, personally bestowed the title 'The First Family of the South of the Yangtze River'. Their family instructions, which include 168 articles, were organized by Song Lian and became the blueprint for the statutes and decrees of the Ming dynasty.