Yuci, a city that does not need a sense of existence
(Wang Qingming) What worries the native Yuci people is that since 1999, the emergence of Jinzhong City has made Yuci’s sense of existence suddenly disappear. Among the eleven prefecture-level cities in Shanxi, only Jinzhong City and Luliang City have not inherited the habit of naming them after the central city when serving as special districts, administrative offices or regions, but are directly named after regions. Many people know Jinzhong but do not know that it is an administrative name, let alone that the administrative center is located in Yuci.
But going back forty years or more, in the fading historical past, we discovered the glory of Yuci's history, at least before Zhao Xiangzi built the city of Taiyuan in 457 BC. Ci has existed since then. It was called Tushui and Weiyu in the Spring and Autumn Period, and it was called Yuci during the Warring States Period until today. It's just that the administrative name after the word Yuci has always been called a county, and the highest level was once called a city. However, in just a dozen years, it was directly downgraded from the city to the district level again, which is so small that it can't be smaller.
The demotion of Yuci affected Lishi, and they were also inseparable from each other. In other words, they were together a few years ago. At that time, most Luliang counties were under the jurisdiction of the Jinzhong Prefecture. Jianguo Later, Yuci City was abolished twice, but the location of the central city has never changed. When the city of Jinzhong was built, it should be related to the Shanxi merchant culture that emerged with the help of tourism at that time. Jintaigu and Yinqi counties, including Pingyao county, which is well preserved and fully displays the complete style of the residents since the Ming and Qing Dynasties, thus separated Fen and Pingyao. Fenyang and Xiaoyi counties were originally integrated into the historical pattern. Fenyang and Xiaoyi became part of the Luliang area, while Jiexiu and Pingyao were under the jurisdiction of Yuci City.
As a result, the existence of Yuci has been ignored with the rise of tourism, but Yuci is also remembered by people when they need it because of the development of tourism. The naming of Jinzhong City has made Shanxi merchant culture synonymous with Jinzhong. Despite the existence of Shanxi merchants such as Changjia Manor, the trinity of Shanxi merchant tourism routes in Taigu, Qixian and Pingyao has made Yuci's status very special. Embarrassing, even depressed for a while. Taiyuan people living in the provincial capital city also occasionally think of the existence of Yuci District nearby, where there are 14 A-level scenic spots.
The result of the coexistence of fourteen A-level scenic spots is that every time there is one tourist in Pingyao Ancient City, there are at least 14 tourists sightseeing in Yuci. They are two cities. Yuci has no walls or borders. It has been integrated into the Taiyuan city circle during its development. On the left is the modern city, and on the right is the traditional pastoral courtyard, rejecting the pressure and busyness of the big city. Abandoning the shrewdness and calculation of businessmen, it is like a connection between mountains and seas, taking a leisurely stroll while being blown by the wind and waves.
Yuci quickly accepted the psychological impact of administrative divisions and consciously integrated with reality. In fact, no matter how the administrative name changes, Yuci is living a quiet life. Completely different from the dialects of surrounding counties, Yuci maintains its own local dialect. Historically, Yuci was a battleground for military strategists, and various forces came and went, but in the end, the local accent did not change. Yuci people never argue about grievances or hold themselves high, but quietly watch the willows in front of the court and the smoke curling up from the kitchen stoves, guarding their homes with the most delicate life.
However, the key fact is that both Taiyuan and Pingyao are inseparable from Yuci. When the train roars towards Taiyuan, it must pass through Yuci, and some trains even have to pass through Yuci twice before heading to other places. The vast plains of Yuci force Taiyuan train formations to extend to the boundary of Yuci. The intersection of the two oldest railways in Shanxi, Tongpu Line and Shitai Line, is not in Taiyuan but in Yuci. The geographical location and topography require that Yuci Has an unshakable position.
Similarly, merchants from Shanxi must pass through Yuci, a geomantic treasure land, when entering and exiting Shanxi. Today, ancient official roads and ancient inns are still scattered in the fields of Yuci, inadvertently meeting the ancients. It’s just that many people have forgotten Yuci’s past as the origin, and focus more on looking at the scenery in the distance. Only when you are tired do you think of going home, or remembering that you should see the land and scenery in Yuci where you started.
The rural life in Taiyuan urban area still exists in Yuci; the local culture that disappeared in Pingyao still exists in Yuci. He retains the most primitive innocence and takes the initiative to forget the temptations of the outside world. Because it does not cater to the secular needs for a sense of existence, Yuci has the time, space and conditions to maintain its original innocence.