Abstract: Yixian County Hall in Beijing was founded mainly with private capital, of which the major source was the donation from both the officials and merchants, but not excluding the limited support from the local government, at this point, the government and the folk society showed a certain mutual support and complement. The management of Yixian County Hall had its own charter, however, it lacked compelling force. Since the founding of the Hall, its purpose had been established as serving the scholars who were taking examinations and the officials who were waiting for their assignments. Yixian Country Hall focused on imperial examinations, so its nature was a kind of imperial examination hall. Yixian County Hall played a significant role in enhancing regional identity, serving the imperial examinations, and uniting the people, which was helpful for local elite groups to stand out.

Key words: Yixian County Hall; region identification; The Four Local Chronicles of Yixian County; He Zongxun Diary