Chen Academy, commonly known as Chenjiaci, is located in Zhongshan No.7 Road, Guangzhou.

Chen Academy was founded in the 14th year of Guangxu in Qing Dynasty (1888) and completed in the 20th year (1894).

Chen Academy is the largest, luxuriously decorated and well-preserved traditional Lingnan ancestral temple building in Guangdong, and is known as the "Pearl of Lingnan Architectural Art". It concentrates on the decorative arts of Guangdong folk architecture, and skillfully uses the decorative arts such as wood carving, brick carving, stone carving, gray sculpture, pottery sculpture, copper and iron casting and painting. This is a splendid hall of folk decorative arts.

There are as many as 284 architectural sculptures and ornaments in Chenjiaci, including 58 stone carvings, 57 wood carvings, 57 gray sculptures, 58 pottery sculptures, 4 brick carvings1piece, copper-iron castings 13 pieces and murals.

Chenjiaci is a national key cultural relics protection unit.

Chenjiaci is also the seat of Guangdong Folk Arts and Crafts Museum, which is a national first-class museum.

In addition to the long-term exhibition of Guangdong traditional sculpture art, Guangdong ivory sculpture art, Guangdong embroidery, Centennial Chen Academy, old Guangzhou home, etc., a museum has also been set up.

Various Guangdong folk handicrafts, such as Shiwan art pottery, Guangzhou woven gold colored porcelain, Chaozhou gold lacquer wood carving, Guangzhou embroidery and colored etched glass, are also exhibited from time to time.

Since 265438+20th century, Chen Academy has been selected as one of the "Eight Scenes of Yangcheng in the New Century" in the name of "the Ancient Temple of Prosperity", and has become the most cultural and artistic museum and famous tourist attraction in Lingnan area.

Extended data

The ancestral temple is a place where China people worship their ancestors and handle clan affairs, and it is also an important symbol of clan social status and economic strength.

In order to show that Chen was the first surname and famous family in Guangdong in the Qing Dynasty, and to provide temporary residence for Chen's children to study, take exams, handle lawsuits and discuss affairs in Guangzhou, the provincial capital.

1888, 48 Guangdong Chen gentry and celebrities, including Chen Changchao, Chen Zongxun, Chen Lanbin and Chen, jointly sent letters such as "Establishing Chen's Academy in Guangdong Counties" and "Articles of Association for Establishing Chen's Academy" to Chen in all parts of the province, inviting Chen gentry and celebrities to send people to Guangzhou to discuss the construction of Chen's Academy.

It can be learned from the letter that the surname of Chen in Chenjiaci is a "gentry", including Wu Lanbin, a famous diplomat in the late Qing Dynasty, prime minister and minister of state in the Qing Dynasty, and Chen, a famous Guangdong gentry who used to be the editor of imperial academy.

Temple, you have to have a lot of money to support.

Just to buy the real estate for the construction of Chenjiaci, with a total area of about 36,600 square meters, it cost 2 169 1 yuan 38 cents.

The source of funds for the construction of Chenjiaci benefited from the lofty status and popularity of Chen Lanbin, Chen and other late Qing celebrities in southern Guangdong society. As soon as the proposal was put forward, the Chen clan responded positively, and even the overseas Chinese surnamed Chen gave generously after hearing the news.