Dongyang woodcarving from the Qing Dynasty is a masterpiece

The residence known as 'Mashangqiao Flower Hall', also called 'Yi Jing Tang', is located in Mashangqiao, Xicun Village, Huxi Town, Dongyang City, Jinhua City, Zhejiang Province. It was the residence of the local wealthy merchant Lu Fujin, built between the 25th year of the Jiaqing era and the 10th year of the Daoguang era (1820~1830), covering an area of 1,797 square meters. The Mashangqiao Flower Hall faces south with the back to the north, consists of four courtyards, with a total of 44 rooms, occupying an area of 1,797 square meters, and the building area is 2,793 square meters. The layout is in the shape of the Chinese character '且', with the central axis sequentially comprising the gatehouse, front hall, central hall, and rear hall. On both sides of each courtyard, there are two-story wing rooms, with additional utility rooms built behind the wing rooms on the east and west sides of the first courtyard and the west side of the second courtyard. In the northeast corner of the courtyard, there is a well with the inscription 'Da Qing Daoguang Year'. The Mashangqiao Flower Hall is mainly characterized by its woodcarving decorations, integrating brick carving, relief sculpture, and light color ink painting, representing the style of Dongyang woodcarving architecture from the Jiaqing to Daoguang periods of the Qing Dynasty, and is an outstanding representative of Dongyang woodcarving architecture.