Dingkwan Ancestral Hall

Detailed record of Dingkwan Ancestral Hall (鼎琨黄公祠) , Sanbao Village (三宝村), Xinhui County (新会县), is branched from the Wong Clan Main Ancestral Hall (黄氏太祖祠).

View of Dingkwan Ancestral Hall (鼎琨黄公祠) (photo: kc wong)

Dingkwan Ancestral Hall (鼎琨黄公祠) is located in Sanbao Village (三宝村), Tianhe Town (天河乡), Xinhui County (新会县), Guangdong Province (广东省). It was built in 1931 (民国二十年) as written on the fresco. Dingkwan Ancestral Hall with two main buildings is called a "two-jin (二进) ancestral hall", the width of the ancestral hall is three-bay wide (三间).

In 1988 (丁卯), major restoration of the ancestral hall and repair of the village roads were done. In 1991 (辛未), the road (泰来里) link to the ancestral hall and village from the main road was built. In 2004, the platform for placing the ancestor tablet and Jinshi plaque (进士匾额) in the ancestral hall were rebuilt. The original flagpole stones in front of the ancestral hall has been destroyed. Two cypress trees were planted in front of the south facing ancestral hall with a pond , and a old big banyan tree beside the road not far from the ancestral hall. Dingkwan Ancestral Hall was used as a meeting place during the Cultural Revolution.

Drawing of Dingkwan Ancestral Hall.

"two-jin (二进) ancestral hall": starting from the entrance, the first jin (一进) is the Front Hall, followed by a open space patios with two side corridors, the second jin (二进) is the Main Hall with space for the ancestors tablets.

Location of painting and calligraphy in the Dingkwan Ancestral Hall.

The main entrance of Dingkwan Ancestral Hall. (photo: kc wong)

A horizontal plaque at the front entrance of the ancestral hall (#1), written "Dingkwan Ancestral Hall" (鼎琨黄公祠) in golden ink on a red background。

The front entrance of the ancestral hall has a door couplet (#2), written "broad legacy of ancestors, Wong family reputation" (千顷世泽，江夏家声), the upper right section written "congratulate the Dingkwan Ancestral Hall is rebuilt and completed" (鼎琨祖祠重修落成志庆), the lower left section written"22nd generation descendants Lezhi (乐志) & Wenguang (文光)" (二十二传裔孙乐志文光贺).

The main hall of the ancestral hall.

Horizontal plaque (#3), the golden ink written "Jinshi"(进士) on a red background, the upper right section written "The emperor's edict Chaozhou Prefecture (潮州府) Confucianism Professor (儒学教授)" (钦命潮州府儒学教授), the lower left section written "the 3rd rank 79th place Wong Hin Cheong (黄显章) in the Palace Examination( 殿试) in the 1st year of Emperor Jiaqing (嘉庆) 1796 (丙辰)" (嘉庆元年丙辰科殿试第三甲第七十九名黄显章立). The 15th generation ancestor was Jinshi (进士) in the imperial examination in the Qing Dynasty.

Generation poem (字辈联) (#4) "aspiring to learn from the ancestors merit (志学祖功业), emulate a person of virtue (思齐嘉国贤), pass on is main matter (传成维本务), offer help have a great reputation (济世有裕芳)", the top right inscribed "Congratulations Dingkwan ancestral hall is rebuilt and completed" (鼎琨祖祠重修落成志庆), the lower left inscribed "20th generation granddaughter Huang Wanxia (黄晚霞)" (二十传裔孙女黄晚霞鞠躬), located in the front stone pillars of the main hall.

This generation poem is used as one of the chinese character in the first name for descendants. The 17th generation ancestors' first name using the first chinese character "Zhi" (志), the 18th generation ancestors' first name using the second chinese character "Xue" (学), the 19th generation ancestors' first name using the third chinese character "zu" (祖), and so on.

The main hall of the ancestral hall is named "Xin Geng Tang" (心耕堂).

The horizontal plaque (#5), written "Xin Geng Tang" (心耕堂) in golden ink on a red background. This ancestral hall is a branch ancestral hall from the Wong Clan Main Ancestral Hall.

Ancestral couplet (#6), on red background golden ink written "Spring Breeze Daya Can Contain Things" (春风大雅能容物) "Autumn Water Articles Will Not Dust Dust" (秋水文章不染尘). Inscribed "Wang Wanxia (黄晚霞), 20th generation granddaughter, June 19, 1987" (二十传裔孙女黄晚霞鞠躬，一九八七年六月十九日), located at the back stone pillars of the main hall.

Ancestral couplet (#7), written "Ancestral Temple Rebuilt and Achievement for Future Generations" (祖祠重修千秋业绩启后世) with red background in black ink. inscribed "Dingkun Ancestral Temple Rebuilt and Completion Celebrating" (鼎琨祖祠重修落成志庆) is located on the east wall of the main hall. "Nianzu Degong Temple Happy to Refine Guangfang to Stay Later Generations" (念祖德公祠喜重光芳留后世), inscribed "Dingkun Ancestral Temple was rebuilt and completed and celebrated" (鼎琨祖祠重修落成志庆), located on the east wall of the main hall. "The prosperous descendants of generations pass down the Yao clan" (子孙昌盛万代相传耀宗亲), Inscribed "??" is located on the west wall of the main hall.

(photo: kc wong)

Couplet (#8) "It's hard to get rid of the vulgarity without study poems and books" (不事诗书难脱俗) and "Able to stay faithful and filial, the good name will be passed down forever" (能全忠孝亦留芳). Fresco "Five members of the clan have been enrolled in the imperial examination" (五桂联芳), 1931 (民国二十年). Located on the north wall on the east side of the main hall.

(photo: kc wong)

Couplet (#9) "Family filial piety and friendship" (家传孝友情多适), "Enjoy fun of the music and book" (座拥琴书乐有余). The fresco of "Kong Rong was four years old, he let his pears be eaten by his brother" (融四岁能让梨图), 1931 (民国二十年). Located on the north wall on the west side of the main hall.

Tablets dedicated to the 12th generation ancestors and beyond.

Ancestor tablets:

The top row are the ancestor tablets for "12th generation ancestor Dingkwan Wong Gong" (十二世祖鼎琨黄公之神位), "12th generation ancestor Wong Mu" (十二世祖黄母安人之神位), "13th generation ancestor Wong Gong Xianxi" (十三世祖黄公羡溪之神位), "13th generation ancestor Wong Mu" 十三世祖黄母安人之神位). The position of the ancestral tablets are placed by generation from top to bottom. Ancestor tablets of the recent generations ancestors are placed on shelves at the lower front rows

Drawing of ancestor's tablet position . (This picture can be seen clearly on the computer)

Drawing of the ancestors for our genealogy branch. (This picture can be seen clearly on the computer)

"Four Poems (峭山公遗诗四首) on the west corridor wall of the Patios" (#29)

天井左侧走廊刻有《峭山公遗诗四首》（#29）

《八句诗》

骏马登程往异乡

任从随处立纲常

年深外境犹吾境

日久他乡是故乡

朝夕莫忘亲命语

晨昏须荐祖宗香

唯愿苍天垂庇佑

三七男儿总炽昌

《内八句诗》

一脉流传满异方

八言遗嘱实非常

子孙敦本追前境

世代寻源仍故乡

鼎案碎金遵命语

牲仪腥热荐馨香

宗功祖列垂庇佑

三七男儿俱克昌

《择家传诗》

梅花岗上旧华堂

阀阅久传江夏黄

百里花开留正绩

千年翰苑擅文章

绵绵世泽贻孙子

赫赫家声自汉唐

一看谱牒应起敬

令人远仰昔高阳

《并旧家诗》

峭祖年来娶三妻

官吴郑妣廿一儿

兴家分居各离去

回用报命生亲谊

我年八九难共寓

落叶九洲共根枝

不论贫贱与富贵

相逢需念初分时

The east hall of Dingkwan Ancestral Hall.

The east hall on the east side of the ancestral hall is the female ancestral hall, which worships the concubines of the ancestors of the past. some distant ancestors tablets are placed here too.

Ancestral couplet (#30) "Accidental Wind and Rain Shocking Flowers" (偶然风雨惊花落), "Rebuilding the Ancestral Temple Waiting for the Moonlight" (重修祖祠待月明), the upper right section inscribed "The Dingkun Ancestral Temple is rebuilt and completed" (鼎琨祖祠重修落成志庆), the lower left section inscribed "The 20th generation granddaughter Wong Wanxia Ju (黄晚霞), June 19 1987 (丁卯)" (二十传裔孙女黄晚霞鞠，丁卯年六月十九日), it was located on the east and west walls of the East Hall.

Ancestor tablets:

The top row is "The Godship of Xiuping Weng and Huang Gong, the Position of Dingquan Huang Gong, and the Position of Panxi Huang Gong" (秀屏翁黄公之神位，鼎铨黄公之位，盘溪黄公之位).

The second row: the 15th generation ancestor concubine (十五世祖考列位庶室之位), the 16th generation ancestor concubine (十六世祖考列位庶室之位), the 17th generation ancestor concubine (十七世祖考列位庶室之位), the 18th generation ancestor concubine (十八世祖考列位庶室之位), the 19th generation ancestor concubine (十九世祖考列位庶室之位).

The west hall of the ancestral hall is vacant.

The frescoes and calligraphy in the ancestral hall by Lao Cuixi (老粹溪) from Sanshan Village (三善村), Panyu County (番禺县), Guangdong Province (广东省).

Fresco on the east wall (#10)

Fresco on the east wall (#11)

From the Tang Dynasty Zhang Zhongsu (张仲素),

秋天一夜静无云

The autumn night is extremely quiet, there are no clouds in the sky,

断续鸿声到晓闻

listening to the intermittent sound of swan goose until dawn. (It's cold in autumn)

欲寄征衣问消息

I want to send some clothes to my husband. I asked the news to find out Juyan City,

居延城外又移军

where my husband is located, now the army troops is moving (where should I send the clothes).

Fresco on the east wall (#12)

Fresco on the east wall (#13) A picture of orange and wine listening to oriole (柑酒听黄鹂图),

It is about the hermit Dai Yong (戴颙) during the Northern and Southern Dynasties, a metaphor for outing in springtime。

Fresco on the east wall (#14)

Fresco on the east wall (#15) Three masters talking about soldiers (三杰谈兵图).

It is about the three famous generals Zhang Liang (张良), Xiao He (萧何), and Han Xin (韩信) when the Western Han Dynasty (西汉) was founded.

Fresco on the east wall (#16)

月照虚窗摇鹤影

风囗翠囗撞琴声

为善最乐。

Fresco on the east wall (#17) Lin Bu with Crane (林逋放鹤图).

It is about Northern Song Poet Lin Bu (林逋) lives in a secluded mountain in the West Lake, never be an official or marry for life, but love to plant plums and raise cranes.

Fresco on the west wall (#18)

Fresco on the west wall (#19)

Du Mu's (杜牧) Poems in Tang Dynasty.

远上寒山石径斜

In late autumn, I walked along the winding mountain road.

白云生处有人家

In the cloud-filled place, I could see a few houses faintly.

停车坐爱枫林晚

I couldn't help but docked because the beauty of the maple forest in the evening really attracted me.

霜叶红于二月花

The maple leaves that had been beaten by the frost were even redder than the flowers in February.

Fresco on the west wall (#20)

Fresco on the west wall (#21) Prince Jin (王子晋) ascends the fairy.

Fresco on the west wall (#22)

潮满溪流隐，波光渔涌闲。

翠浮云五色，清吐月三处。

Fresco on the west wall (#23) Fu Sheng Fu Jing (伏生傅经图).

It is about the "Shangshu" (尚书) that was kept privately collected by Fusheng (伏生) after Qin burned the book. a metaphor to teach academics.

Fresco on the west wall (#24)

五凤二年、鲁卅四年六月四日成。

Fresco on the west wall (#25) The white geese exchanged characters（白鹅换字图）.

This is the story of "Calligrapher Wang Xizhi's (王羲之) Calligraphy for White Goose".

Fresco on the west wall (#26)

Fresco on the west wall (#27)

The Zen Master Fa Zhao (法昭禅师) of the Tang Dynasty said:

同气连枝各自荣

Brothers are like branches of the same tree.

些些言语莫伤情

When interacting, the speech should be soft and harmonious, and never speak aggressively,

hurt your feelings.

一回相见一回老

When you see each other and get old,

能得几时为弟兄

how long can you be a brother.

The meaning of the poem is clear and it is enough to inspire brotherhood.

Fresco on the west wall (#28)

There is a flagpole stone in front of the ancestral hall, "graduated Juren (举人) in the Provincial Examination in the 53th Year of Emperor Qianlong 1788 (戊申) " (乾隆五十三年戊申科举人) . This is the 15th generation ancestor Wong Hin Cheong (黄显章 ) who was passed the Guangdong Provincial Examination in 1788. The has been verified in document "Guangdong Local Chronicles, Volume 81, Imperial Examination List 19" (广东通志卷八十⼀选举表十九).