Local: Not a cultural heritage unit, a ancestral temple building in Cangnan, Wenzhou will be demolished, attracting attention | Ancestral Hall | Unit
Recently, an online post about "Cangnan Huang's Ancestral Temple in Wenzhou, Zhejiang will be demolished" has aroused heated discussion on the Internet, and related topics have been widely spread on many online platforms, such as Tiktok Short Video.
Pengpai News reporters noticed that some online posts claimed that the Huang Clan Ancestral Hall is located in Doumentou Village, Lingxi Town, Cangnan County, Wenzhou City, and stated that the building is a historical building.
Huang Family Ancestral Hall, Doumentou Village, Lingxi Town, Cangnan County
On the afternoon of August 5th, a reporter from Pengpai News learned from the Culture, Radio, Television, Tourism and Sports Bureau of Cangnan County that the Huang Clan Ancestral Hall rumored to be demolished is not a cultural relic protection unit, but a newly built building. Therefore, there is no such thing as "demolishing historical buildings". "If it is a cultural relic protection unit, the approval process for its demolition is very complex.".
In addition, a village official from Doumentou Village told a reporter from Pengpai News that the Huang Clan Ancestral Hall has undergone multiple demolitions, and the above-mentioned building was completed in 2016.
The Pengpai News reporter noticed that according to the information provided by the Cangnan County Government website, in recent years, Cangnan County has successively issued relevant documents such as the "Interim Management Measures for the Approval of Clan Ancestral Hall Construction in Cangnan County" and the "Notice on Strictly Implementing the Six Strict Measures for Ancestral Hall Renovation", which have stipulated the approval procedures for some old ancestral halls that are indeed dangerous houses, need to be built or demolished, or need to be relocated due to urban construction needs. They have firmly controlled the construction of new ancestral halls, strictly controlled according to the requirements of the documents, strengthened monitoring, and seriously dealt with unapproved new construction of rural ancestral halls and illegal expansion of ancestral halls. At the same time, actively explore and carry out the renovation of rural ancestral temples.
In 2021, the Natural Resources and Planning Bureau of Cangnan County listed three issues regarding local ancestral temple architecture in response to suggestions from local people's congress representatives:
There are many ancestral temples. Due to the cultural traditions and residential characteristics of Cangnan County, the phenomenon of ancestral temples is widespread in various regions, with ancestral temples built in almost every village, and even in some villages with more surnames, there are multiple ancestral temples.
The ancestral temple has a large scale. In recent years, with the development of the economy and the improvement of people's living standards, the phenomenon of ancestral temple reconstruction has become more and more common, and the scale of ancestral temples has also become larger and larger. The number of floors in the building has increased from one to two, and the internal facilities have gradually expanded from a single hall to include structures such as stages, activity rooms, and conference rooms.
The use of ancestral temples is low. Ancestral temples are mostly idle and not frequently used, except for important ceremonies, ancestral banquets, or occasional theatrical performances.
In response, the Natural Resources and Planning Bureau of Cangnan County has listed specific measures to address the problem:
Establish a sound approval mechanism and strengthen orderly management. Establish a management system for ancestral temples, improve relevant management policies, and crack down severely on illegal construction of ancestral temples. Any illegal construction or expansion of ancestral temples will be dealt with severely and will not be tolerated. At the same time, strict control shall be exercised. Ancestral temples that require renovation, reconstruction, or relocation shall be submitted to the local township government for review and approval by relevant county departments before implementation.
Intensify law enforcement efforts and strengthen the effectiveness of supervision. Each township should further strengthen the daily investigation of ancestral temples, understand the basic situation of ancestral temple construction, and provide timely information support to law enforcement departments. The relevant departments such as the County Ethnic and Religious Affairs Bureau, County Asset Planning Bureau, and County Comprehensive Administrative Law Enforcement Bureau should strengthen law enforcement inspections and daily patrols on newly built and renovated ancestral temples; We must resolutely stop and demolish rural ancestral temples that are being illegally constructed, and curb them in their early stages.
Strengthen publicity and education to enhance the awareness of the masses. The healthy development of Cangnan Ancestral Temple is based on the improvement of the quality of the people. We should actively carry out various thematic propaganda to enhance the understanding and support of all sectors of society for the governance of ancestral temples; Guide the general public to cultivate a good sense of ancestor worship and root seeking, continuously accept the influence of excellent civilization and culture, and improve their quality and cultivation. Make the phenomenon of ancestral temples more reasonable, enrich the culture of ancestral temples, and deepen the significance of ancestral temples.
