Page 54 - JCAU-7-2

Journal of Chinese
Architecture and Urbanism Shan-Shaan Guild Hall on Great Tea Route

Figure 4. A map showing the old roads that passed within the vicinity of the Shanxi-Shaanxi Guild Hall. Source: Drawing by Yixin Wang based on Gong
(1991) and oral histories.
A B paintings, and hollowed-out patterns. These elements
not only exhibit artistic excellence but also convey a
sense of auspiciousness and sacredness. Collectively, they
prominently embody the merchants’ consciousness of
embracing business integrity and honesty.
In addition to the existing buildings, historical
Figure 5. Courtyards and screen wall of the Shanxi-Shaanxi Guild Hall.
(A) The courtyard layout of the Shanxi-Shaanxi Guild Hall. Source: Jia documents indicate that an east compound was added
County People’s Government. (B) Spatial alignment of the screen wall during the reconstruction in the Jiaqing period. This
with the Shanxi-Shaanxi Guild Hall. Source: Photo by Yixin Wang (2022). compound reportedly included an inn, stables, and a
barn (Cheng, 2010). However, the existence and specific
significant hall in the complex. The hall once housed a functions of these facilities remain unverified. Based on the
statue of “Guan Yu reading the Spring and Autumn Annals results of the semi-structured interviews, it is suggested that
at night (关公夜读春秋).” the east courtyard, located beside the Spring and Autumn
The esthetic value of the Shanxi-Shaanxi Guild Hall, may have been used for storage, accommodation,
Hall lies in its combination of commercial culture and entertainment, and business negotiation. The Jia County
architectural artistry. Constructed with brick, stone, and Cultural Relics Bureau used detection equipment to
timber building materials, the complex reflects the refined investigate the area and found that the fence on the east
construction techniques of the Ming and Qing dynasties, side of the guild hall is slightly farther from the Spring and
while also showcasing the financial strength of Shanxi- Autumn Hall’s west wall than previously thought, possibly
Shaanxi merchants (Figure 7A). The architectural design indicating the presence of a former eastern courtyard. This
features vibrant and intricate wood carvings (Figure 7B), courtyard is speculated to have a parking area and kitchen
stone carvings, brick carvings (Figure 7C), clay sculptures, for Shanxi-Shaanxi merchants. The parking yard likely

Volume 7 Issue 2 (2025) 7 https://doi.org/10.36922/jcau.4582