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.

The Premier Family of the South | A model of integrity among the clans of western Zhejiang since the Southern Song Dynasty

The Zheng family of Zhengzhaizhen, Pujiang, has been prosperous and harmonious since the Southern Song Dynasty, with many members serving as officials, renowned for their integrity and diligence. The family was honored by the founder of the Ming Dynasty with the title "The Premier Family of the South". During my visit, a member of the Zheng family vividly shared the origins of their lineage by the roadside, making for a pleasant chat. To navigate to Zhengzhaizhen, at the entrance there are nine stone archways strung together on the outskirts of the town. The archways indeed look as unimpressive and common as seen in online videos, but the park where they are located is filled with the lively atmosphere of a small town square, with stalls, singing, dancing, and live broadcasts, which I quite enjoyed. Walking into the old street, there's a creek that still retains some ancient charm, but the buildings on both sides are obviously old-style houses refurbished for tourism development, filled with a commercial tourism tone, yet not fully developed. If you come with the mood to stroll through an ancient town, you are likely to be disappointed. I walked around the nearby area, and apart from a few paid attractions and some small temples, there really aren't many old relics left in the town. Of the four paid attractions, besides the Zheng family ancestral hall with the plaque "The Premier Family of the South" at the entrance, there are two hall buildings and a clean governance culture exhibition hall. The Zheng family ancestral hall itself is certainly worth a visit. It's not as lavish as imagined, but one can still feel the long-standing heritage of a large family. The most touching part is the several ancient cypresses with their strong and vigorous branches, always evoking a sense of the passage of time. Also, the wood used for the beams and columns is not as thick and robust as many large traditional buildings in western Zhejiang, giving a rare overall impression of clarity and moisture. However, the other two hall buildings seem to be there just to justify the ticket price, representing a very common style of ancestral hall in the mountain villages of western Zhejiang, without any special highlights. Compared to Dongyang Luzhai, which also has a ticket price of 65 yuan, it's worth questioning. In conclusion, the trip to Zhengzhaizhen is merely for the architectural style of the ancient town and might not even fill a two-hour itinerary. Fortunately, less than ten kilometers away, there is a Songxi ancient village, a truly well-preserved and distinctive ancient village, even worth a separate visit.

Pujiang Jiangnan First House Xianhua Mountain Day Tour Guide

🌸⛩Jiangnan First House·Zheng Yimen ❤️Walking along the Bailin Creek, looking at the small bridges and flowing water, it seems to understand how the 'Jiangnan' in 'Jiangnan First House' came about. There are many locals living in the village: grandpa sunbathing, grandma drying quilts, uncles and aunts chatting, there are also markets nearby, and places for prayers and blessings, which are very touching. Tour time🕐: about 2-2.5h Ticket price💰: Platform ticket 55 yuan (need to book 1h in advance); On-site ticket 65 yuan Parking fee💰: Small passenger car 10 yuan, large passenger car 20 yuan 📈Tour route: Walk along Bailin Creek: 'Jiangnan First House' Jiudaopaifang→Xiaogan Spring→Tianshen Pavilion, Changsan Gongci (marriage customs display, mystery of Jianwen Emperor's whereabouts)→Zheng Clan Ancestral Hall→Jingbiao Paifang→Changqi Gongci (place of cohabitation and eating)→Jiushi Cohabitation Stele→Clean Government Education Base Tickets are required for Zheng Clan Ancestral Hall, Changsan Gongci, Changqi Gongci, and Clean Government Education Base 🗻Xianhua Mountain Ticket price💰: Platform 50 yuan (need to book 1h in advance); On-site 60 yuan Parking fee💰: 10 yuan on weekdays, 20 yuan on holidays and weekends 📈Tour route: East Line→West Line 🕐About 4h 🕐About 2h up and down the East Line Donggao Xinyue Memorial Hall→Danliu Stone Wall→Tianmen→One Finger Peak→Maiden Peak→Qiushan Corridor→Gold Coast→(West Line)→Laughing Mouth→Diamond Coast→Big Bell Peak→Couple Rock→Jigong Rock→Test Stone→Zhaoling Palace 🍀Facing Zhaoling Palace, the right hand is the east line, the left hand is the west line You can start with the west line, it may not be easy to find the route down the west line. The west line is more complex, with cement board roads and iron ropes for climbing up and down🧗‍♀️(almost 90 degrees vertical). Suggestions: 1⃣Mountain climbing cane, pick one as soon as you see a wooden cane; 2⃣You can bring gloves for winter climbing, the railings are a bit cold; 3⃣Ladies can mainly wear trousers; 4⃣The uphill road is a bit rugged, with continuous turns.🚨Please slow down and pay attention to safety! It's best to have an experienced driver with you. (The last picture is a straw painting, not embroidery!)

In Pujiang County, Jinhua, Zhejiang Province, there used to be a large family. Because several generations of people have ruled the world with Xiaoyi, they were named as the first in Jiangnan by Zhu Yuanzhang of Ming Taizu. This first home, Zhengzhai Ancient Town, located more than ten kilometers away from the east of the county town, enters the ancient town and will be shocked by a large archway group. The nine archways stand in the entrance of the ancient town, each with its own Sources and stories, as they walk through, are like walking in the long rivers of ancient times. The once-famous big family, now only a few Ming and Qing dynasties, such as Zhengs Ancestral Hall, Changqigong Temple and Old Buddha Society, are still well preserved. Approaching the ancestral hall, the halls of the architectural style of the Ming and Qing Dynasties are adorned with a number of plaques and joints written by famous celebrities, with high artistic value and cultural value. In the courtyard, there are all kinds of cypresses, all of which are strange in shape and strong in branches. Some of them are said to have been planted by Song Song, the first of the Ming Dynasty.

The first building in Pujiang Jiangnan is a cluster of main architectural landscapes centered on the Zhengs Ancestral Hall. It is located in Zhengzhai Town, 12 kilometers east of Pujiang County. The scenic area is characterized by rich ancient family culture and Ming and Qing architectural complexes. Qingshan Courtyard Ancient Town, Xiaoqiao Liushui People is a group of unique ancient town style attractions. There are a lot of arches in the old house of this family. Now, in order to make people understand more, they have specially built nine buildings on the road leading to the first village in Jiangnan. Into the streets of the Zheng family, you can see the south of the bridge, which was part of the Zheng family. Now because of the separation, some foreigners have also lived here. people. This river runs through the village. There are shops and inns on both sides of the river. It is also slowly built here, trying to become a model of the ancient town of Jiangnan.