The Guang Yu Ancestral Hall is located in Qiangang village, China. Established by descendants of Lu Xiufu, the famous prime minister of the South Song dynasty (960-1279AD), Qiangang village has recently been listed by the Guangzhou government as one of 21 regions protected for their historical and cultural values.

Built in the Ming dynasty, either in the fourth year of the Yongle period (1406) or during the Xuande era (1426-1435), the Guang Yu Ancestral Hall has endured for almost 600 years. Records indicate that, prior to its restoration in 2002, the hall had been renovated five times, most recently in 1915. The latest alterations were only superficial and were made during the Cultural Revolution. Villagers covered some of the elaborate wood carvings of the hall with lime plaster to prevent them being destroyed by the Red Guards and officials painted proclamations (posters) onto the walls of the hall.

Although the hall was built during the Ming dynasty, its style and construction methods come from earlier eras, including the Song dynasty. The roof, for example, is an overhanging gable roof with raised purlins. Some features of the hall are unique in Guangdong province, such as the wing walls and the screen wall, and are a valuable source of information about historical north-south migration in China.

When this restoration project began in April 2000, the hall was in an extremely dilapidated condition and was not being used by the villagers. Restoration of the ancestral hall was to be the first step in preserving the cultural heritage and ancestral knowledge of the Qiangang community. The aim was to foster a sense of community pride and unity in order to revitalize cultural traditions and integrate those traditions into the modern lifestyles of the villagers. It was intended that villagers would begin to reuse the hall for worshipping ancestors and for village gatherings.

The integrity of Guang Yu Ancestral Hall is protected under the Antiques Conservation Law of the People’s Republic of China and the Law of the People’s Republic of China on the Protection of Cultural Relics (1991), as it is classified as a “special-care” building and belongs to the Lu clan.  According to article 5 of the Protection of Cultural Relics law, “the property rights of memorial buildings, ancient buildings and precious antiques, which belong to a public or private entity, are protected”. This law also specifies that the Lu clan is responsible for the usage, maintenance and repair of the building.

During a three-month survey to identify important cultural relics in Conghua city in April 2000, Qiangang village and its Guang Yu Ancestral Hall were recognized as being of particular significance. In October 2000, Professor Lu Yuanding (of South China University of Technology?) was appointed to chair and design the project to restore the hall and he instigated an archaeological and historical study of the building. In July 2001 the first draft of the restoration plan was completed and in September of that year the construction plan was finalized.

Restoration work began later in 2001 and was completed on 6 February 2002. The timing of its completion enabled the villagers to use the hall for the Spring Festival that year. In March 2002 the Conghua City municipal Government and the Conghua Bureau of Culture arranged for the project to be examined and evaluated by experts from the Cultural Relics Department and Guangdong Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology.

In restoring the Guang Yu Ancestral Hall, the aim was to preserve and restore its architectural, historical and socio-cultural values. The restoration team strictly observed the guideline of ‘authenticity’ and went to great lengths to establish the significance of various aspects of the building and determine how to best retain the building’s original structure and historical information.

In the restoration plan it was established that renovations would be in accordance with the Law of the People’s Republic of China on the Protection of Cultural Relics (1991) and with the Venice Charter. In particular, this meant that all significant remains of certain identifiable historical periods would be preserved, thus obeying the principle of not changing the original state of cultural relics. Further, replacements or repairs would be made to “integrate harmoniously with the whole but at the same time be distinguishable from the original so that the restoration does not falsify the artistic or historic evidence”.

In accordance with the desire to retain the original structure of the hall, the main wooden frame and walls were not altered in any significant way. In order to conserve historical information, changes made during previous restorations were retained, along with changes made by users of the building over its 600-year history. Evidence of the latest restoration was made distinguishable in order to guarantee that this renovation would not falsify the historical information provided by the building.

Repair of the roof
The roof was in an extremely dilapidated condition and needed extensive repairs. Recognizing the importance of protecting the authenticity of the overhanging gable roof, the rolling grass decorations and the vertical ridge, intervention was minimized. Rather than remove the purlins and replace the columns, it was decided to adopt the method of ‘Luo Jia’, which was to disassemble the roof truss of the middle bay, mark each component with a serial number, repair the damaged components then reassemble the parts. In repairing the damaged pieces, rotten inner parts of the purlins were removed and replaced and a new tenon tongue was added. Stainless steel strings were used to carefully close the tenon.

Rotten horizontal beams in the roof truss were repaired using the method of ‘grafting’ in order to preserve the original materials. Broken and split rafters were replaced using salvaged materials where possible. New materials used to replace the rafters were marked with a ‘contemporary stamp’, indicating the material and the date, as per Article 9 of the Venice Charter.

Replacement and repair of shuttle-shaped columns
Three wooden pillars in the second and third sections of the building had to be completely replaced in order to ensure the stability of the structure. Traditional materials were used in the construction of the new pillars and the original texture and color were replicated.

Timber columns that had split were repaired using customary methods with traditional materials such as wood chips, bamboo slices and epoxy. The columns were painted with Chinese wood oil to preserve the wood, protect against termites and restore the original color.

The new wood and added bamboo pieces were made to integrate harmoniously into the whole but were differentiated by adding some vermilion or pollen to the wood oil.

The red sandstone bases of the pillars were severely weathered and damaged. In order to ensure the safety and durability of the structure, these bases were replaced with new ones made in the same style and with the same material, red sandstone. The original bases were kept and placed beside the new columns for comparison purposes.

Replacement of gates and doors
The main gate and the screen door in the second section had long been lost. In consideration of the spatial integrity of the layout it was decided to reconstruct them on the basis of information and descriptions provided by elder villagers. These additions were in accordance with Article 13 of the Venice Charter, which permits additions long as they “do not detract from the interesting parts of the building, its traditional setting, the balance of its composition and its relation with its surroundings”.

Brickwork and paving
Blue bricks of the same historical period were collected from nearby sites to restore the walls of the structure and the original types of bonding mix and mortar were used. The repaired section was made to integrate favorably with the whole, but was marked so as to be distinguishable.

The hard-rammed red sandstone soil floor was reconstructed using traditional hand operated ‘frog’ ramming tools. In order to ensure the correct color of the floor, experiments were carried out with different mixes of red sandstone soil and lime.

Ash moulds and decorations
The documented ash moulds and colored decorations were restored according to their original appearance. Parts which were not documented and non-traceable retained an aged appearance and the historic markings on old materials were kept. 

Mobilizing resources and people
The two main sources of financial resources were voluntary donations from villagers and government contributions.  The restoration project brought the Qiangang villagers together and raised community pride and unity.

Conservation methodology and materials
The conservation team felt restoration does not necessarily equate with unity of appearance but that it was more important to portray the authentic history of the building. For example, the notices marked on the gable during the Cultural Revolution were not erased during the restoration. After consultations with experts from the Department of Cultural Relics and Guangzhou Culture Bureau some centralized and integrated wall notices were retained.  Now, after restoration, the various parts of the building’s brick wall portray the complete time line of the building from the Ming and Qing dynasties right up to the present day.

It was endeavoured to use traditional craftsmanship, materials and construction methods in the restoration process. For example, traditional materials such as bamboo slices were used in the repair of timber columns.

In order to differentiate between original and new materials, replacement materials were marked. The tone of the wood oil used on new materials in the columns, for example, was adjusted by adding vermilion or pollen. Similarly, efforts were made to record new elements in the repair of the roof.

Determining appropriate reuse
The hall was traditionally a place of ancestral worship and a community gathering place during festivals but had fallen into disuse. Restoration of the building enabled the revitalization of cultural traditions and recreated a central gathering place for Qiangang villagers. The hall is now a popular community center and is currently used for its intended purposes, including gatherings during Lunar New Year and clan meetings. The hall has therefore been successfully integrated with the modern lifestyles of the villagers.

Since the restoration of the hall, alterations and additions to the building have been forbidden. Painting on the walls and hanging of objects are prohibited. However practical improvements in the practice of traditional ceremonies have been encouraged. For example, the burning of candles and ignition of fireworks are only carried out at the light well and front yard and are supervised in order to ensure safety.

Lessons learned: do’s and don’ts.
The application of certain new technologies and methodologies were found to assist in prolonging the lifespan of traditional materials without affecting the authenticity and original form of the building. For example, all timber materials and bamboo strips used in repairs were first steamed (with brine) in order to eradicate impurities and moisture. These materials were then aired to ensure they had elasticity comparable with existing parts. By frying the bamboo sticks and nails in kerosene and peanut oil, enzymes were eliminated and rigidity was improved.

In order to ensure that the Guang Yu Ancestral Hall and its surroundings were not damaged by the construction process, certain environmental factors were taken into consideration. Water was sprinkled on the construction waste and the road was paved with pebbles in order to to ensure minimize dust and air pollution. Similarly, water pollution was avoided by ensuring that waste water was recycled and sewage was correctly disposed of. Measures were also taken to minimize noise pollution in accordance with the regulations of the Noise Limit for Construction Sites (GBJ2523-90) law. 

For ongoing repairs and maintenance, villagers established the “Guang Yu Ancestral Hall Restoration and Management Fund” with community donations. A community representative was elected to take part in the “Fund Management Committee” allowing active input by the villagers.

Community
The project has served to raise awareness of the importance of preservation of local knowledge and techniques and has revitalized cultural traditions. The listing of Qiangang village by the Guangzhou Government as one of 21 regions protected for their heritage values, has strengthened community pride and raised interest in restoring other buildings in the village. The restoration of the ancestral hall will be followed by the restoration of the four entrance buildings and guardhouses. In a place well known for its lychee growing, the project has brought opportunities to further enhance the economic foundations and sustainability of the village.

Conservation practice
The project also raised awareness in other nearby villages of the need to preserve their ancestral heritage, such as Deng village and Mu Lan village in Shen Gang town. These villages have restored the Deng Shi Ancestral Hall and the Wu Yue Temple respectively.

In the midst of the rapidly changing Pearl River Delta region, the restoration of Guang Yu Ancestral Hall stands out as an exemplar for local heritage conservation. The cooperation of the villagers, government agencies and technical advisors has overcome the challenge of limited funding, resulting in a building which displays thoughtful choices in restoration and a high quality of traditional craftsmanship. By consciously adhering to the principles of the Venice Charter and the Nara Document of Authenticity, the project team has successfully demonstrated methodical rigor and sensitivity in documenting, assessing and interpreting the building’s heritage value. The widely inclusive and transparent approach to mobilizing support for the restoration project ensures that this historic building will continue to play a key role in the community for many years to come. In carefully preserving the layers of historical change seen in the building, the Lu clan ancestral hall has not only become a living record of the history of Qiangang village, but has also recaptured the sweep of Chinese history from the Song Dynasty to the current People’s Republic of China.