Ancestral Threshold NO.1 – Shaanxi, China

Title of the Artwork: Ancestral Threshold NO.1 – Shaanxi, China

Year of Photography: 2006

Printing Process: ILFORD MULTIGRADE IV RC photo paper, hand-printed using silver halide process

Artwork Dimensions: Height 12 in, Width 9.5 in (the artwork is in perfect condition)

Artist’s Reflection:

This trio of black-and-white photographs, taken in 2006, documents traditional northern Chinese residential architecture at the Jiang Family Manor in Shaanxi. Through the lens, carved beams of brick and wood, moon gates, and layered courtyard layouts unfold in measured rhythm, revealing the solemnity and architectural order of ancient dwellings in northern China.

The monochrome tones highlight the interplay between lines and light, giving the estate’s antiquity a penetrating visual power. From a high vantage point, I captured a full view of the compound—feeling, for a moment, transported back to a bygone era of family prosperity. Through the lens, I sought not merely to record architecture, but to echo and preserve a fading memory of lineage and legacy.

Background Story

The Jiang Family Manor, located in northern Shaanxi Province, was constructed between the Ming and Qing dynasties. Spanning over 40 mu (about 2.7 hectares), it stands as a classic example of northern China’s ancestral residences. The patriarch, Jiang Anbang—descended from a martial champion—rebuilt the family legacy through diligence and vision, devoting over a decade to creating this meticulously structured, harmoniously laid-out estate.

His descendant Jiang Yaozu continued this legacy, sustaining the family’s business prestige while earning a reputation for generosity within the region. The manor features three main courtyards—lower, middle, and upper—with interconnected houses, embedded cave dwellings, and finely detailed brickwork. Together, these reflect the Jiang family’s cultural refinement and practical ingenuity in defense and design.

Today, the Jiang Family Manor stands not only as a model of traditional Chinese residential architecture but also as a tangible reflection of familial perseverance and generational continuity.