The Decorative Art and Evolution of the “Xuan” in Ancestral Halls of Southern Anhui

Numerous well-preserved ancestral halls dating back to the Ming and Qing dynasties are found throughout Southern Anhui, China. Among the architectural elements in these ancestral halls, the “Xuan” plays a significant decorative role. Nevertheless, scholarly research on the “Xuan” in this region remains limited, particularly in the context of the temporal and regional evolution of its decorative art. This study examines the decorative characteristics and spatiotemporal evolution of the front Xuan of 115 ancestral halls across Southern Anhui belonging to the Ming and Qing periods. Using field surveys, a combination of qualitative and quantitative analyses, and ArcGIS kernel density analysis, this study identifies key trends in Xuan evolution. Specifically, the findings indicate that the Chuanpeng Xuan emerged as the predominant style, replacing the earlier Renzi Xuan after the mid-Ming period. By the late Qing period, the primary structural components of the Xuan showed increasing standardization, while accessory elements showed notable diversification. During the commercial boom of the mid-Qing era, flood-dragon carvings and S-shaped short beams became especially prevalent. Spatially, kernel density analysis demonstrated a core-periphery distribution pattern: mainstream styles were concentrated in central counties, whereas a greater variety of stylistic combinations and niche forms emerged in border regions. These evolutionary patterns reflect the broader sociohistorical dynamics of this period, including ritual reforms during the Ming dynasty, the patronage of Huizhou merchants, innovations in carving tools, and wartime resource constraints. These findings provide diagnostic criteria for dating unidentified ancestral halls and offer a practical reference for the conservation of architectural heritage.