Guide to visit Qi Baishi’s former residence in Xiangtan
The former residence of Qi Baishi in Xiangtan is a place that many tourists are unfamiliar with, but a generation of masters was born here. As one of the greatest painters in modern China, Qi Baishi has very high artistic attainments. The following is provided for you Specific strategy guide.
Xiangtan, a prefecture-level city under the jurisdiction of Hunan Province, is referred to as Tan. It is also called "Liancheng" or "Tancheng" because of its abundant Xianglian. It has jurisdiction over five counties (cities) and districts: Xiangtan County, Shaoshan City, Xiangxiang City, Yuhu District and Yuetang District. Xiangtan was established as a county in the Southern Dynasties, more than 1,500 years ago. It is an important birthplace of Huxiang culture and the cradle of China's red culture. It is known as "Little Nanjing" and "Golden Xiangtan". "Central Hunan has beautiful scenery, and there are many heroes in the world." The great man and master of Xiangtan is as bright as the stars. Xiangtan has won honors such as China's Excellent Tourism City, National Garden City, and National Civilized City. How can such a place with outstanding people not produce great people?
On May 1st, Labor Day, the weather in Xiangtan was clear and the sun was shining brightly. At 8:30 in the morning, I went to the former residence of Baishi alone. My friend did not go with me because he had other official duties.
The former residence of Qi Baishi is about 3 hours away from the hotel next to the Qi Baishi Memorial Hall in Yuhu District where I live. Although taking a taxi can be faster, it lacks the fun of traveling, so I chose to take the bus.
As I inquired about the route to my former residence, both junior high school students and old people came up with ideas for how to get there. Their words revealed their familiarity and respect for Mr. Baishi! After 3 hours of bumpy rides, I finally pointed at Qi Baishi on National Highway 107. Get off at the huge sign at the former residence.
As soon as I entered the entrance of Xinghua Village, I saw a boulder more than 20 meters long and about 3 meters high. It was written "Qi Baishi Cultural Tourism Zone" and the head of old man Baishi with his silver beard was engraved on it. The Holy Land has arrived.
A new 5-meter-wide asphalt road leads to the destination. You don’t need to ask anyone to go in. The Baishi Town Government of Xiangtan County has signs on the signs. There are signs on the walls or signs along the way from time to time. Texts and pictures about the old man Baishi appeared, and he passed by Yangmei Garden, Tianfei Palace, Ginkgo Garden, Baishi Farmhouse, etc., and finally arrived at Xingdoutang, where his former residence was located.
From October 1, 2014, the admission fee for Qi Baishi’s former residence will be adjusted from 5 yuan to 15 yuan, which is mainly used for the maintenance of the former residence and other expenses. I took videos while sightseeing, quietly savoring and thinking carefully.
The former residence was built in the Xianfeng period of the Qing Dynasty. It is also known as the Qijia Old House, the Xingtang Old House, and the Xingdou White House. The former residence faces east from the west, with Bauhinia Peak at its back, Xingdou Pond on the right, and rice fields on the left. There is a fragrant lotus pond in front.
Baishi’s former residence looks like a very ordinary and typical farmhouse mud brick thatched house, facing east and west, with an earth-wood structure and a thatched roof. It is a typical rural building of Hunan civilians in the late Qing Dynasty and the early Republic of China. It covers an area of about 200 square meters and the total area is about 2,000 square meters.
In 1993, it was listed as a cultural relic protection unit by Hunan Province. In May 2006, the State Council promulgated it as a national key cultural relic protection unit. There are three main rooms, two miscellaneous rooms, and a main room in the middle. There is a plaque with gold letters on a black background hanging above the door: Qi Baishi's former residence. There are two wing rooms on each side. But it is surrounded by tall and lush trees, with square farmland in front and willows planted around the field edges. On January 1, 1864, Qi Baishi, a world cultural celebrity and master of modern Chinese painting, was born in the south main room of this cottage and lived here for 36 years.
The furnishings of the former residence restore the bedrooms of Qi Baishi and his first wife Chen Chunjun, his parents’ bedroom, firewood room, dining room, etc., allowing people to feel Qi Baishi’s early life and daily life. There are also Qi Baishi’s carpenter’s tools, actual carved objects, and paintings. Works (replicas) and colorful textual and graphic material introductions, etc.
Everyone knows Qi Baishi’s achievements and status in modern Chinese painting circles: he is an outstanding painter, calligrapher and seal carver in the history of modern Chinese art and culture. The Ministry of Culture awarded him the title of "People's Artist" in 1953 and 1955. He won the International Peace Prize in 1963 and was listed as a world cultural celebrity in 1963. The soil and water cultivate a person, and the feng shui cultivates a generation of talents. I believe that the emergence of outstanding figures is closely related to their own efforts, but also closely related to local customs, landscapes and aura. A netizen's poem goes: "There are three houses on the iron fence, and the pen is as busy as farm equipment. The cattle are not resting in the inkstone field, and the setting sun shines on the east chamber." This is a true portrayal of his hard work, and it is located in Longtang, surrounded by greenery and the good location of Qi Baishi's former residence. Feng shui also nourished his spirit.
Qi Baishi was born in a poor peasant family. When he was young, he only attended private school for half a year, then dropped out of school and stayed at home, cutting firewood, herding cattle, and farming, doing everything. He learned carpentry at the age of 12 and carving at the age of 15. By the age of 20, he had become a skilled carving expert. His carpentry career had an important influence on his unique Chinese painting art in his later period. His achievements show that he can be regarded as a model of self-taught talent. , worthy of all of us to learn and imitate, research and draw lessons from.
Outside his former residence, the introduction sign to Qi Baishi’s grandfather’s tomb reads: “Qi Baishi’s grandfather Qi Wanbing, the tenth eldest, is known as Qi Shi Ye. My grandfather used furnace tongs to draw words on the ashes or drew with his fingers. I went to school to teach the young Qi Baishi to learn the calligraphy, and Qi Baishi never forgot it." It can be seen that Qi Baishi's success is not only due to his hard work, but also to some extent due to his superhuman memory.
Qi Baishi had deep feelings for his former residence and the fertile soil that raised him up to become a man. He once left this poem: "A hill of sweet taros in the late autumn and cool autumn should be regarded as the home of a poor family." The grain is in a warehouse. Don’t think the flavor is thin when you arrive. Simmer the cow dung on the stove and it will be fragrant.”
Seeing things and thinking about people, I can’t help but feel something. The success of the master Qi Baishi is not unrelated to his poor birth and simple and natural inner world. In today’s era, there are abundant materials, comfortable life and advanced information, but on the contrary, Without a master, it is worthy of our reflection.