Historical and cultural remains of Xijing ancient road
(1) Ancient bridge.
At present, the well-preserved and representative ancient bridges along the Xijing Ancient Road in Ruyuan are Dafu Bridge in Ruyuan Town and Tongji Bridge in Da Qiao Town.
1. Dafu Bridge, built by Li Liren in Ming Dynasty, at the foot of Laling in the southwest of Rucheng Town, was rebuilt in Qing Dynasty (the exact age has been lost). The bridge runs east-west, with a length of 2 1 m, a width of 2 m and a height of 3.5 m. Single span "flat arch", arch span10m, arch vector 5m. Build bluestone (limestone) strips, lay slabs on the bridge deck, and build steps at both ends to reach the bridge from the ground. Dafu Bridge is the threshold of Xijing Ancient Road in Ruyuan history. "Records of Ruyuan County, Kangxi, Qing Dynasty" contains: "Dafu Bridge is located in two miles southwest of the county seat", "From Dafu Bridge to Laling, it is said that Guxijing Road, ... Laling reaches more than two hundred miles in Yizhang". Dafu Bridge is well preserved to this day. More than 20 meters north of the bridge is National Highway 323, which is the only way from Ruyuan to Shi Ping before the opening of the new Ru Ping Highway. Dafu Bridge is still cultivated by local villagers.
2. Tongji Bridge, commonly known as "Bridge", was built in the seventh year of Ming Zhengde (15 12), the twenty-sixth year of Qingganlong (17 1) and the twenty-ninth year (1764), and was destroyed by water. Tongji Bridge, the first-class bridge on the Xijing Ancient Road, is near the mountain of Dongzhen Bridge (the mountain at the east end of Daqiao Village) and reaches Da Qiao Pujie in the west. The bridge river spanned by Tongji Bridge was originally named "Shijiaoxi" (also called "Shigaoxi"). Now Daqiao Village used to be called "Shijiao Water", and there is a ferry in front of the village called "Shijiao Ferry". Before Tongji Bridge was built, pedestrians came and went here by boat, and people drowned every time there was a flood. In the Ming Dynasty, villager Ren Yao (now the head of Daqiao Village) built a stone arch bridge here. After the bridge was completed, Li Shengchun, the county magistrate, wrote a plaque: "People can learn from each other through calendars." . So this bridge belongs to the largest bridge in the local area and is called "Bridge". Later, the river name "Shijiaoxi" and the village name "Shijiaoshui" were gradually replaced by the established bridge name "Bridge". In the 26th year of Qingganlong (176 1), Tongji Bridge was destroyed by flood. In the 29th year (1764), Xu Sishu, a villager of this bridge, initiated it (but did not arrive), and local villagers donated money to rebuild it.
Tongji Bridge is east-west, with a length of 53 meters, a width of 6 meters and a height of 7 meters. It has two piers and three arches, the arch span is12m, and the arch vector (referring to the height from the connecting line between the two arches to the vault) is 6m. The pier is built by the method of "sleeping on the wooden foundation" (firstly, pine trees as thick as buckets are buried vertically on the riverbed of the pier, and then pier feet are built on the pine trees), and three semicircular holes are built by the method of laying arch ring stones vertically. The relationship between the holes adopts the structure of "continuous bridge", and two adjacent holes are the same arch feet, so that the arches are connected into a whole. The bearing capacity of each hole on the bridge depends on the "support" of each hole of the whole bridge and participates in the * * * interaction. The pier is equipped with a pointed water intake nozzle, the bridge deck is paved with stone slabs, fences are built on both sides, a bridge pavilion is built in the middle, and steps are built on both ends: the east end is front bridge 17, and the west end is rear bridge 14, which is smooth to the bridge deck. Tongji Bridge is one of the eight ancient scenic spots of bridges in Qing Dynasty, "Qiaoting Wenfeng". An ancient poem praised: "A strange peak was built on the stone bridge pavilion, which overwhelmed Jiangbo Zhenlong. Dew is graceful and graceful, and people are graceful. "
After the founding of New China, 1958 built the road from Ruyuan to Shi Ping and demolished the bridge pavilion. After the steps at both ends were filled, a section of concrete approach bridge was added, the bridge deck was filled with a layer of sand, and bridge railings were added on both sides. In 2005, the people's government of Ruyuan County poured concrete into the bridge to reinforce it, paved the bridge deck with concrete and built a new cement column pier bridge fence.
Tongji Bridge has lasted for more than 240 years, and it still stands, and can be used by vehicles with a load of 10- 15 tons. Tongji Bridge not only played a very important role in the normal passage of Xijing Ancient Road, but also became one of the main bridges of Ping (Shi) Ru (Yuan) Highway in the past half century after the founding of New China. Tongji Bridge is a symbol of Da Qiao's historical civilization.
② Ancient gazebo.
People are no strangers to "pavilions", which often appear in famous mountain resorts and garden villas with roofs but no walls. The "pavilions" built along the Xijing Ancient Road for pedestrians to rest have been well preserved so far, including Tiyunling Pavilion, Xiangdui Pavilion on the bridge, Guanzhi Pavilion in Wu Jiling, Xianling 'ao Program Pavilion in Xingu, Xinhan Pavilion in Houling, Leshan Pavilion in Ni 'ao, Yangzhi Pavilion in Bainiuping, Sanyuan Xushoude Pavilion, Walnut Mountain, and Jiuting in Huchong for shade and rain protection.
One of the architectural forms of these pavilions is a rectangular stone wall, a double-sloping roof with beams, and a wind-fire wall with gables on both sides, also known as the "horse head wall", which is a house-style pavilion with two gables in the door; The other is a stone arch bridge pavilion. The arch ring stone is laid vertically, with walls and doors on both sides and thick soil on the top. There are two pavilions of this style: Tiyunling Pavilion and Leshan Pavilion in Mud Depression. The existing exhibition halls are all flat rectangular single rooms with an internal space of about 30-40 square meters. Wind-volcano pavilion and arch-coupon pavilion have formed their unique architectural features, which are different from the transparent landscape pavilions common in famous mountain resorts and garden villas. The wind-volcano wall and arch-voucher construction method are adopted, which are beautiful in appearance, firm in construction and ancient, and can resist the wind and snow in the harsh climate of nature. Bainiuping is located in the cold, and it enters winter every November in the lunar calendar. "The wind and rain immediately condensed the snow to a depth of two or three feet." In order to keep out the wind and snow erosion, the pavilions are all built with rectangular stones, and the pavilions are built in limestone areas, and the main materials of the buildings are all made from local materials, thus avoiding the pain of long-distance transportation.
It is recorded in the pavilion tablet that the Xijing ancient road is the main traffic artery of the ancient Ruyuan. No matter whether it is cold or hot, merchants come and go on the road, and there is no place to rest along the way. People who come and go often lament that "the spring rain here is dripping, the summer is smoky, the autumn dew is bleak, and the winter frost is fierce." During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, villagers all over the country built pavilions along ancient roads, almost reaching five miles and one pavilion. Pedestrians "have been sheltered in the sudden wind and rain, and can enjoy the cool under the hot sweat."
The function of the pavilion is mainly for pedestrians who travel long distances to rest and enjoy the cool and shelter from the rain. Some pavilions have tea kiosks next to them, where people make tea to quench the thirst of passers-by. Heart Han Pavilion in Monkey Ridge and Guanzhi Pavilion in Wu Jiling Ridge still have "tea-giving" stone tablets. The pavilion is not only for people to rest, but also for architectural modeling. The gazebo with wind and volcanic walls looks like a stone archway, which can add beautiful scenery to its beautiful shape. There are also reliefs and stone carvings in the museum. From that moment on, the names engraved on the pavilion door, such as "Yang Zhi", "Han Xin", "Stop for a while" and "Keep Morality", are meaningful. Pavilion door hairpin, embossed stone lions on both sides, portraits of ancient gods, and the legendary Eight Immortals treasures, animals, plants and other patterns carved on the walls on both sides of the door post are full of interest. Due to the appropriate combination of building materials, building methods and selected terrain, the pavilion is refreshing and pleasant, and the breeze is refreshing. Just as the book of the stone-carved couplets in Yang Zhiting said, "It is only appropriate to talk about stopping the bright moon and occasionally hold enough breeze." The pavilion has lyrical sentences and sincere suggestions. Traveling long distances in the barren hills and mountains, the mountains are high and the roads are dangerous. There are often couplets in the pavilion to warn pedestrians: "Why not stop?" Don't waste your future when you come and go. "The inscription on the pavilion also has a congratulatory message wishing pedestrians good luck and smooth sailing, which can really make people live a long life and have endless blessings.
Over time, the ancient pavilions and pavilions have become historical relics, left on the Xijing ancient road and not seen by people. However, in its ancient body, there are rich historical and cultural traces of ancient buildings, transportation, economy and trade for reference.
(3) Economy, culture and ancient dwellings.
The opening of Xijing Ancient Road has played an unprecedented role in promoting the economic and cultural development of Lingnan.
1. Postal Store Building. For the convenience of tourists, there are five luxury houses along Xijing Road in Guruyuan. One of these five houses is Longxi House, which is located in Longnan Reservoir today. The second is Junfeng Mansion, which is about 1 km south of Shijiaotang Village in Da Qiao Town, and it is still called "Mansion House". The third is Bainiuping Mansion, which is located in Bainiuping, Da Qiao Town. The fourth is Meihua Mansion, located in Meihua Town, Lechang City. Fifthly, Wuyang Mansion is located in Laopingshi, Lechang City. In the 26th year of Emperor Kangxi of Qing Dynasty (1687), Ruyuan County Annals contained: "The old Xijing Road in the northwest of the county has been dark for a long time, rugged and hoodwinked, and travelers are afraid of it". "In the thirty-sixth year of Wanli in Ming Dynasty (1608), in June, Li pointed out that he left the country to open the road of Yizhang, from four miles west to Longxi House, from three miles to Junfeng House, from three miles to Bainiuping House, from four miles to Meihua House, from five miles to Wuyang House, and from Yizhang County. There is work and food in the east of the county, living in the northwest, and the price is given by Ju Bangjun (the magistrate Wu Bangjun). "
2. Fair market. In order to meet the needs of economic development and people's business exchanges along the Xijing ancient road, the market has quietly emerged. In the Qing Dynasty, there were Langmuqiao Fair in Longxi, Shijiao Tang Wei in Junfeng and Bainiuping. Especially in Sanyuanwei, which is located at the junction of Hunan and Guangdong, farmers and businessmen around Guangdong and Hunan provinces gather here to buy and sell every day. This farmer's market with a long history has been a relatively prosperous market from the Qing Dynasty to the early liberation.
3. Schools and colleges. The opening of Xijing Ancient Road promoted the rise of culture and education along the way. During the reign of Emperor Qianlong, there were three academies in Daqiao Village (now Daqiao Village, Da Qiao Town). The names of these three colleges are Xishi College, Bukan College and Guanlan College, and Guanlan College is still well preserved.
Guanlan Academy is located in Xinshufang Village, Da Qiao Town. It was built in the 58th year of Qing Qianlong (1793), more than 2 10 years ago. The college is located on the bank of the bridge, and you can see the rushing river in front of the main gate. The back waves push the front waves and roll forward, hence the name "Guanlan". The building of the academy is divided into four steps: the first step is to repair the door after entering the arch, the gatehouse is built as a wind-fire wall, and the top of the door is made of brick into a diamond and square wall with the word "arch repair the door" on it, and after the arch repair the door, it is called "Wei Zimen"; Two into Guanlan Gate, three into Mingde Hall, and four into Senior Hall; Three yards. As soon as I entered the yard, the floor was paved with pebbles, followed by slate. The building layout is quadrangle, with four courtyards, brick and wood structure, and two-story buildings hanging from the top of the mountain. The corridors and railings of the theater are decorated with artistic wood carvings. The words "Fu, Lu and Shou" with flowers and birds and circular seals are engraved on the veranda railing of Ruxiangyuan behind Mingdetang. The radical replacement method is adopted in seal cutting, and the idea is ingenious. The front of Mingde Hall is separated from the Ruxiang Courtyard by a partition fan. The building is beautiful and elegant, with superb architectural skills. Hanging above the lintel of Guanlan Gate, the wooden tablet of Guanlan Academy stands in the 58th year of Qingganlong (1793). The monument is 1.8m long and 0.5m wide, red, embossed and golden yellow. The word "Guanlan Academy" is written in regular script, and its brushwork is vigorous and dignified. Mission Hills Academy was founded by Xu Jingfa, the 14th student of Xu Shi's legacy in Da Qiao, and has obvious Hakka architectural features.
When the Academy was completed, a scholar planned to post couplets at the door, which had far-reaching implications. Among them, Gongxiumen couplets have always been used by later generations: "Gongnan Town is due to the north, and Xiushui Jiashan is around the households." Wei Zimen Lian: "Zi Qi came to Duoruijing frequently, and Xia Wei learned to be a celebrity." Guanlanmen couplet: "Look at Zhou Shengren's body, look at the heart of the wise before the blue." Mingde Tang Lian: "Ming follows the sun and the moon, beautiful as a flower." Often based on years of book history; Depei Gankun is not suitable for bullfighting. " Senior Tang Lian: "The heart is a gentleman, the ambition is handsome, and the heart has its own goodness; Rich is brave, artificial city, rich is prosperous, and evil forces invade. " Daqiao Village has been thriving since it was established in Xuande period of Ming Dynasty. In the Qing Dynasty, there was a poem describing the eight scenic spots in Da Qiao: "The Xijiang River runs through Xia Xiaoyun and winds around a hundred villages. Shuixiu Mountain was called Sheng Di in Qing Dynasty, but it is rich and far away without a temple. At that time, Daqiao Village had hundreds of families, developed culture and education, and talented people came forth in large numbers. By the early years of the Republic of China, there were more than 50 people, including Guo Sheng, Zeng Sheng, Guo Jianzi, China students, Gong Sheng, etc. 150, including dozens of officials with more than seven grades.
4. Folk houses. Along the Xijing ancient road, there are many villages, all of which are inhabited by Hakkas and belong to the layout of Hakka enclosed houses. The architectural features of these villages are as follows: 1. Take the surname as the settlement point, and build a ancestral hall or ancestral hall (also known as "Xia Ting" by Hakkas) and a small gate for a surname as an independent village. Tingxiamen Gate must be the axis of a family with the same surname in the same village. Tingxiamen Gate is a public activity place in the village, where weddings and funerals are held. 2. There is a shrine on the front wall of the main hall building (called "Prince's Hall" in some places), and the Guanyin Buddha statue is enshrined in the middle of the shrine, and the tablets of ancestors of past dynasties are placed on the left and right sides. Third, the residents in the village must extend to the left and right sides with Xiamen Gate as the axis, and carry out planning and construction according to the requirements of geographical feng shui. Four, between households with walls * * * eaves, wall beam. Five, most villages have wide doorways in front of them, and there are ponds outside them. 6. Every household has a fixed square table, and there is a big stone cave in the main hall. It is solemn and sacred to treat this square table as something at home. The tops of square tables are mostly made of cypress. From cutting down trees to hiring carpenters to placing square tables, dates should be chosen. After the square table is placed, you can't move it casually.
Among these ancient houses along the Xijing Ancient Road, the oldest existing villages can be traced back to the middle of the Ming Dynasty, such as Da Qiao Laowu Village in Da Qiao Town, which was built in the Xuande period of the Ming Dynasty (1426- 1435), with a history of more than 560 years. Shijiaotang Village in Da Qiao Town was founded in the Ming Dynasty (1436- 1449), with a history of more than 550 years. These ancient houses are precious physical materials for us to study the Xijing ancient road and Hakka culture today.