The Largest Ancient Folk Residence in China - Honglincuo
 The Rectifying Heart Stone
On the ground of the pavilion that connects the second and third rows of the
compound lies a set of stones. In the centre there is piece of square stone. Its
position on the central line reveals its importance, and implies that it serves
as more than mere decoration. 
According to seniors in the family, this is called kuangxinshi, which means
rectifying heart stone. It is used as a kind of punishment towards those who
break the household rules. The patriarch orders those whose hearts need to be
'rectified' to kneel down on the stone, to repent and confess in front of the
ancestors.
The rectifying heart stone is not unique to Honglincuo. In the Confucius Mansion in Qufu, Shandong Province, folk residences in southern Anhui Province, and Zhou Zhuang near Shanghai , you can also find Kuangxinshi. Its function of
rectifying hearts faded over time, but its architectural charm lingered.
Author: Jeff
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