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Nanmu Hall
It is called Nanmu Hall because all the beams and pillars were made of phoebe nanmu. It has three rooms with two open corridors, the structure of which is particular. The framework of the hall is circular, adopting the type of holding up beams and the building materials are thick and solid. There are pitch arcs sculptured slightly at two ends of beams. The hall has verandas ahead and behind. Before interior decoration, partition boards with wood-carvings are set up first and then the screen door. The two minor rooms are covered with wood-carvings falling to the ground and the surrounding walls are wrapped with boards. The pillions in the hall are thick and straight and the pillar base is alum stone, looking like the heaven being circular and the earth square. Its stitch is simple and clear and its moulding succinct. In the center of the hall there stands three round surrey. It is regular, spacious, and tolerant displaying poise and refinement. There are mountain and water paintings of the Song dynasty and a couplet hang on the screen door. The couplet was written by Jin Nong, one of the eight eccentrics of Yangzhou, which reads: “Stop not drinking even when you are drunken, if you are literature-minded, you will feel as if you were wandering in a fairyland.” on the pillars reads: “A house with fine scenery around makes one happy all the year round. A bowel of thick soup is delicious because of reading.” The framework, pillars, beams and rafters in the hall are all circular, symbolizing “reunion”. Inscriptions on the massive pillar expressed their perception of life with the aid of wine and soup. It is evident that this is the place where banquets were held and the owner and his friends got together.
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