樊城会馆的历史与现状

On the History and Current Situation of Fancheng Guild Hall

会馆是同籍贯或同行业的人设立的供聚会、寄寓之用的馆所,是民间自律、自卫、自治的组织形式。中国的会馆,兴于明,盛于清,衰微于民国。樊城会馆的设立当在明末清初,相继建有20余座会馆。目前,樊城会馆幸存仅5处,且损毁严重。

Guild hall is a place for people from same place or in the same line to gather together, it is also a type of organization of self-control, self-rule and self-defence. In China, the guild hall started at Ming dynasty, and thriving at Qing dynasty and decline at Minguo. During Ming and Qing dynasty, Beijing is the capital and merchants and scholars all gathered there, so the guild hall was built to accommodated them. In Qing dynasty, there are bout 500 guild halls in China. In Xiangyang, Xiangyang Guild Hall was built at No.5 Panjia Hutong, and in Tielaoguan Temple set another hall, Xiangyang County Hall. And at the same time, many commercial guild halls were built in many famous commercial centers in China.