Page 55 - JCAU-7-2

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

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Figure 6. Courtyards of the Shanxi-Shaanxi Guild Hall. (A) Interior view of the first courtyard toward the theater; (B) Front view of the Main Hall;
(C) Front view of the Spring and Autumn Hall. Source: Photos by Yixin Wang (2022).

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Figure 7. Commercial culture and architectural artistry of the Shanxi-Shaanxi Guild Hall. (A) Reinforced building corners using locally sourced red stone
strips. (B) Carved architrave (efang; 額枋) of the theater building. (C) Brick carvings on the flying roof eaves of the Bell Tower. Source: Photos by Yixin
Wang (2022).

accommodated wagons and camel caravans managed by Beyond Guan Gong worship, the Great Tea Route
the hall’s administrators, while a separate courtyard south brought significant population movements and cultural
of the street outside the hall served visiting merchants. diversity to Xiguan Street, where the guild hall is located.
However, some argue that the existence of an east courtyard This influx also led to the emergence of Daoist, Buddhist,
would disrupt the symmetry of the guild hall’s central axis. and Islamic religious sites. According to oral history
and field research, a Daoist temple called Ten-Direction
5.1.4. Religious Courtyard (十方院) is situated 500 m east of the guild hall.
Respecting deities is a fundamental function of the Shanxi- Further east, 150 m away, stands the Buddhist Temple of
Shaanxi Guild Hall. Since Shanxi-Shaanxi merchants the Mother of the Five Dragons (五龙圣母庙), and near
traditionally worship Guan Yu, the Shanxi-Shaanxi Guild the historical Jia County wall lies the Xiguan Mosque
Hall is often referred to as the Guandi Temple. Guan Gong (西关清真寺) (Figure 8).
10
was revered by the merchants not only as a symbol of
loyalty and righteousness but also as a figure to mitigate 5.1.5. Trade
homesickness and alleviate fears associated with market The location of Shanxi-Shaanxi Guild Hall in Jia County
risks. His virtues encouraged ethical business practices was chosen based on principles of Chinese geomancy
and supported the development of economic and trade (fengshui; 风水). To its south flows the Yinrujicheng
undertakings (Li & Cao, 2011). The influence of Guandi River, believed to bring wealth and good fortune to the
culture in Jia County is evident in the two painted clay merchants. To the northwest stands the Funiu Mountain
statues of Guan Gong, located in the Main Hall and the (伏牛山), reflecting the ancient wisdom of site selection
Spring and Autumn Building of the guild hall. Large- based on environmental conditions.
scale rituals during important festivals, such as the Spring The map of Jia County (Figure 2) highlights Xiguan
Festival, contributed to the recognition and acceptance Street, where the guild hall is located, as the primary
of Guandi as a deity by the local population (Guo & east-west trade route in the region. This advantageous
9
Jiang, 1975). location established the street as an important
commercial hub. Since the 5 year of the Shunzhi era
th
9 On New Year’s Day, the people of Jia county pay homage to (1644 – 1661) in the Qing dynasty (1648), a vibrant
the Confucian Temple (文庙), the City God Temple (城隍 street market has operated in Jia County. Until 1978,
庙), the Chidi Temple (赤帝庙), and the Guandi Temple (
关帝庙) after worshipping their ancestors and parents. In 10 In the 34th year (1908) of the Guangxu era (1875–1909)
addition to folk worship practices, the Qing government during the Qing dynasty, four mosques were located
provided an annual donation of 40 taels to the Guandi (Guo on North Street, Xiguan Street, Zhongtou town, and
& Jiang (1975). Sanlangmiao village.

Volume 7 Issue 2 (2025) 8 https://doi.org/10.36922/jcau.4582