This compound was built in the late Ming and early Qing dynasties
It covers an area of over 3,000 m2 and has more than 70 rooms
I bought it in an auction in July, 1997
I’ve invested around 4-5 millions
The renovation lasted for 16 years
At that time Pingyao (in Shanxi) was an impoverished county
Such a large-scale compound, even the government couldn’t afford to renovate it
So it was on sale to the public
But nobody wanted to buy it in the auction, I was the only one
My name is Geng Baoguo and I make lacquerware
I bought the compound at the price of over 1 million
That was indeed an enormous number for a craftsman like me
20 years ago, it was really something if your family has an annual income or saving of 10,000
I obtained a loan
Then borrowed some from my relatives and friends
That’s how I bought it
I make lacquerware
I’ve been doing this for 55 years
So my goal is to make the compound one of my works
And to apply what I’ve learn throughout my life to it
There are 4,000 ancient compounds in total in Pingyao
Among them, this compound occupies the best position and could be the home of a four-grade official in ancient China
It was an ancestral property of Ji Yugang
Who was the keeper of Rishengchang (sunrise over prosperity) Bank
In Pingyao it has the largest scale, largest area and longest history
It has 3 halls, 2 courtyards and 1 hallway
The main hall consists of 5 house caves with 7 beams above
Such a structure is called “Wu Jian Qi Jia” (five rooms and 7 frames)
The compound was collapsing when I bought it
Especially on the second floor, the grasses on roof were lush
You could see sky in the house
I didn’t have enough money
So when I earned some, I invested the money into it
I spent 10 years only on civil construction and wood structure
For the later 10 years I did the decoration
Until now I continue repairing little by little
In order to restore the original ancient style
I found sculptors and digging workers
Who know about ancient architecture
The carpenter has been working for us for 20 years
He’s been renovating the compound
Maintenance of the door lasted around 4-5 months
The stone carvings or brick carvings I bought for this compound
They are all from the Ming dynasty or Qing dynasty
I’ve been practicing calligraphy for decades
The plaque “Gao Shan Yang Zhi”(A man of virtue receives respect and awe) in the main hall
I finished it all by my own, from writing to crafting to carving
There were many tales about the compound
Most of which were about ghosts
In order to make it look more auspicious and joyous
I did some paintings
Our Hexi paintings
The gold used is all genuine gold, 24K
The old traditions of Pingyao are also the traditions of our whole Chinese nation
In the past, the elder brother lived in the east wing and the younger brother in the west wing
Now it’s the same
My elder son lives in the east with his family and the younger son in the west
I live in the principal room with my wife
We occupy 5 house caves
It’s warm in winter and cool in summer
An art editor working for Feng Xiaogang
Said to me when he visited the compound
That he had seen a lot of ancient compounds in Shanxi
But this one was the top, the best
I’m 70 years old this year
People asked me
“Master Geng, why don’t you renovate it into a hotel? You can make a good fortune from it”
But I can’t give up my lacquerware
You should do something and leave your trace throughout your lifetime