The origin of Xi 'an's name "Jishi Monster" ~ ~ ~

The chicken market turns at the east end of Dongguan Street. In fact, it was really a farmer's market at first, but it was not known to young people for a long time. According to the Old Story of Dongguan, in the late Ming and early Qing dynasties, chicken farmers concentrated on selling chickens here, forming a chicken market. The word "turning" was added after the word "city". Where it came from, there is no textual research. That's what it's called. I'm used to it. It's interesting. It is unacceptable to have no word' turn'. "

According to some old people, Dongguan was the most active place in Xi 'an at that time. There are Beijing-Guangzhou department store, cloth and cotton, soil miscellaneous, dried fruit seasoning, farm tools and utensils, meat dishes, and 72 lines have everything. Beijing Cargo Lane, Jishiguai and Paolou Street are all named after special markets, and the streets are full of traffic and noise. At that time, the exact location of Jishiguai should be at the intersection of the east end of Dongguan Main Street and Shiyuan Road, and enter Fuxing Street northward. Today's chicken market turn does not refer to any street, but generally refers to this area. Specifically, Renewal Street is the nearest. Before liberation, Fuxing Street was called the dressing room. During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, it was a place to welcome officials into Xi.

Yang Xiashan, a 79-year-old man, has been living in Jishi since 1957 left Xi 'an, Lai Su. He also has a store on the street that is newly expanded and specializes in all kinds of eyes. It is said that business is good. Speaking of the changes in the chicken market over the past 40 years, I still remember it vividly, pointing to the shops under my feet and the family buildings in the community behind me. Yang Xiashan said that it was only a grassy slope at that time, and the east side of Renewal Street opposite the shops was a shack built by fleeing foreigners. However, when he first came to Xi 'an, the corner of Dongguan Street, the real "chicken market turn", was still full of traffic. Merchants selling local products in Gansu and Ningxia still come here to trade. Although it did not have the momentum and scale of the Ming and Qing Dynasties, it lasted for many years.

Turning into the chicken market, except that the renewal street is a straight line from north to south, several alleys in the north bend outward like human meridians, and the renewal street is a bunch. Compared with the newly widened Dongguan Street, it is much narrower, but it is all hardened. Private cars often come and go on clean and tidy roads. The shanty towns on both sides have long been replaced by rows of high-rise buildings, and the commercial shops along the street can't find any traces of history. Yang Xiashan said that the only thing that can remind people of history is that the temple fairs on the first and fifteenth days of the lunar calendar are as lively as usual. Of course, this is inseparable from the Eight Immortals Temple, a Taoist shrine with a history of more than 700 years.

Baxian Temple, located in the north of Changle Square Street, is only a few hundred meters away from Fuxing Street. The incense in the Eight Immortals Temple is still very strong. Although it is in the downtown area, Wujin Taoist Temple is somewhat deserted on weekdays. Occasionally, three or five tourists come, and it is very quiet, for fear of disturbing the cleanliness here.

But outside the Taoist temple, it is another lively scene. Since the rise of Xi 'an antique jade in 1980s, this is a good place for many players to come to Taobao frequently. All kinds of antique treasures, bamboo and wood tooth carvings, antique furniture, jewels and jade articles, rubbings of ancient books, coins, ceramics, calligraphy and painting, folk handicrafts and antiques are packed to the brim. Selling food is called selling loudly among these semi-vulgar and semi-elegant businessmen. From time to time, several middle-aged women came forward and whispered, "Is it divination?". If they agree, they will turn around and enter a humble hut, and Tessa-like elders will tell you about your past lives. It will be more lively if we catch up with the meeting time. The vendors have been extending from the entrance of the Eight Immortals Temple, turning west along Changle Square Street, and then going deep into the whole renewal street. Bustling crowds and shouts come and go, forming a vivid picture of Dongguan customs.

Although there are no chickens in today's chicken market, it is far more lively and prosperous than when there were chickens.