Who can tell us the history of Jinxiang moat?

Jinxiang moat was dug for Tanghe River before the city was built here. As the old saying goes, the soldiers and horses did not move, and the food and grass went first. Therefore, before building the city wall, a moat was dug to connect the Jiangnan Canal, and then an inland river was dug to solve the problem of transporting grain. It can be seen from the inscription of Cang Qiao in Jinxiang that Cang Qiao was built in the 17th year of Hongwu (1384). It can be seen that there was an inland river in the city. The city wall was built in Hongwu for twenty years (1387), three years later than that of Cang Qiao. Before the Great Wall was built, grain and grass could reach the city directly. There used to be a suspension bridge on the moat, which was passable at ordinary times and could be hoisted to cut off land communication in wartime.

It turns out that there is only one main river from Nanshuimen to Xishuimen in the city. Macau River (north of Dingyuan Bridge); Xinyi River (north of Zhangjiaqiao); Li He (north of the wooden bridge); Canghe River (north of Dacang Bridge). At first, people used to take a boat from Lihe River in front of Zhongsuo Temple, cross Canghe River, cross the big river in front of Kuixing Pavilion, cross Xishuimen to the moat outside the city, and then reach the Jiangnan Canal.

In addition to the main road, there are some tributaries in the inland river of Jinxiang City. Jinxiang has three reservoirs. One is He Ju (now Kanchi) that still exists today. There are also two goose ponds and locust ponds, both of which are dead. After 1980s, most rivers in the city have become underground ditches. However, the river from Kuixingge to the west of Wu Yaqiao is still there, and it can be connected with the moat through the West Watergate under Kuixingge. Now this big river surrounded by stone railings and Kuixing Pavilion have formed a major leisure attraction in Jinxiang.

According to the manuscript "Jinxiangzhi" written by Xia Keyan in the Republic of China, "The moat: Dong Hao is three feet deep, four feet wide on the left and six feet wide on the right (the left and right are bounded by bridges, the same below); Nanhao is four feet deep, eight feet wide on the left and four feet wide on the right; Xihao is four feet deep, eight feet wide on the left and five feet wide on the right; Beihao is three feet deep, ten feet wide on the left and five feet wide on the right. " The moat was of great military value at that time, which can be said to be the "city wall" outside the city wall. There are ditches as deep as 20 feet at the bottom of Hao Di, so there is no need to worry about water shortage during the drought. In addition to its special military significance, it is also an important part of the Jiangnan water system. Now, a square, wide and complete moat like the periphery of Jinxiang may be rare in the whole country.

At the end of 2002, before and after the People's Government of Cangnan County declared Jinxiang Town as a historical and cultural protection area of the county, Jinxiang Town Government raised more than RMB10,000, which lasted for two years to dredge and renovate the moat outside the ring road of Jinxiang Town, and made great efforts to engrave the important contents of Jinxiang Town Records on the stone railings along the river.

There are more than 1000 inscriptions on the stone fence along the river. The first preface of "Dongmen Bridge" wrote:

My hometown is near the sea, surrounded by green waters and green mountains. It is really a treasure trove of geomantic omen. The clouds are idle and the sky is light, and the city is surrounded by nine fights; Things enrich the people and the land is good for fishing salt. In the Song Dynasty, merchants gathered and people gathered. In the Ming Dynasty, Tanghe was famous for building cities and fighting against Japanese invaders. The pattern of urban defense remains unchanged. There are seven stars in spring and gossip in the alley. The two islands of Lion Ball are far apart. Look at the clouds in Cangshan and the dawn in Japan. The wide moat, full of waves, protects the home like a mother, which is a witness of vicissitudes.

Hao Jian Road is full of silt, which is unbearable! The current government of the town committee has spared no effort in dredging, paving stones to consolidate the shore, turning turbid water into clear water and installing guardrails for beautification. Carve "golden incense sticks" on it for the audience to enjoy.

The world is long, the sea changes, the history is like smoke, and the virtues are shining. I am willing to study history with the villagers, remember the great achievements of my ancestors and bravely expand the great achievements in the future. This is a sequence.