Ancient villages in Huanglong ancient town, Hubei Province

Huanglong ancient town

Old streets and alleys are like old wine. After years of precipitation, they become more mellow, like old people who have experienced vicissitudes. They have a long history and charm, showing a rich historical and cultural heritage. The mottled door tells the vicissitudes of history, and the dim and weathered blue tiles on the eaves of the door are also covered with years of sadness, while the exquisite carvings on the eaves still show the elegance and style of the past. Listening to those ancient legends or stories, the century-old time of the old street seems to reappear.

At the foot of Qinba Mountain, the blocked river and the stubborn river meet together, like a moat, embracing a century-old town. Legend has it that one summer, heavy rain every day caused the blocked river to skyrocket. Two dragons, one white and one yellow, swam from the upstream to the downstream of the blocked river, with the white dragon in front and the yellow dragon behind. After swimming in this place, the rain stopped, Bailong swam away first, but Huanglong ran aground here. When the water receded, a sandbar appeared where Huanglong ran aground. The blue river drew a beautiful arc there, and Youlong shook his head and left. Later, this place was called "Huanglong Beach", and the ancient town on this beach was also named "Huanglong Ancient Town".

The prosperity of Huanglong ancient town is closely related to blocking the river. "In the gatehouse county, the capital of Yedafu, the drum is like a golden palace. I asked you why you can't go to Huanglongtan. I can't go abroad without anything. " A jingle once spread in northwest Hubei province reflects the development and prosperity of river blocking shipping at that time.

Due to the convenience of the riverside, it attracted a large number of businessmen from south to north and some foreign missionaries. In order to facilitate business contacts, businessmen set up business halls here according to different places of origin, including Shanshan Guild Hall, Jiangxi Guild Hall, Wuchang Guild Hall and Huangzhou Guild Hall. The Catholic Church was born in Huanglongtan. For a time, merchants gathered in the ancient town, shops were numerous, and the market was prosperous, which became the commercial, cultural and shipping center in the mountainous area of northwest Hubei at that time. The water blocking the river gave birth to the ancient town culture, nourished the ancient town people and witnessed the rise and fall of the ancient town. Nowadays, the barrier of the river has long since disappeared, leaving only ships drifting in twos and threes, just like this ancient town is quiet and silent under the shadow of a mountain.

The development of land transportation has seriously impacted the ancient town of Huanglong, which was born of water. With the disappearance of the terminal, capital began to flow out. Time has passed, and the noisy trumpets of the past have long gone away like running water blocking the river, leaving only this mossy slate and a century-old house deep in the alley.

Huanglong Ancient Town is divided into four parts: Qian Jie, Houjie, Shang Jie and Hejie. The four ancient streets together form a unique and magnificent Huanglong ancient architectural complex, which shows its infinite charm to the world.

Well-preserved are the halls of ancient chambers of commerce. Huanglong ancient town belongs to Huguang area, and Wuchang Hall bears the brunt. It is the largest, highest specification and most special building in the ancient town. The whole building is majestic, large-scale, with thick and upright columns, symmetrical left and right based on the central axis, distinct layers, unified and harmonious style, hard-topped and horsehead eaves. The wall tiles were fired in "E County" of Yang Wen. The main building is a brick-wood structure, with doors, theaters, worship halls, main halls and other buildings from front to back. The buildings were built in batches, with the completion dates of 57 years in Qianlong, 24 years in Jiaqing and 25 years in Daoguang respectively. The exact time of building the theater, quadrangle and gatehouse is unknown.

The gatehouse was built in the 24th year of Jiaqing, facing the street, with an overall area of about 200m2. The plane layout is a three-column and nine-purlin girder structure, with double eaves and hard mountain grey tiles, and the highest point of the four-level wind-fire wall and the horse-head wall is about 9 m. As the entrance and exit of the building, the hall in the middle of Ming Dynasty is the link between the internal and external space of the building.

Opera House, also known as "Music House", was a place for people's entertainment in ancient times. On holidays, all kinds of dramas are staged. Unfortunately, 1983 was demolished, and now a red brick building has been built on the original site, which has completely changed the integrity of the whole Wuchang guild hall.

The worship hall is opposite to the theater, with a courtyard in the middle, about 24 meters wide, three floors deep, about 7.8 meters deep, four columns and nine purlins, eaves gallery structure and girder frame, about 7.8 meters high. There is an inscription on the main girder: The first year of Daoguang in Qing Dynasty (1845), the auspicious day of Yuedong in Mengdong, was jointly established by all the gentry and businessmen in Hefu, Wuchang. According to textual research, Baidian and Lelou were initiated by Yu Yu (a local gentry and businessman in Huanglongtan in Qing Dynasty) and jointly donated by the gentry and businessmen in Wuchang Prefecture.

The main hall and the worship hall are symmetrical and consist of the main hall and the side hall. Brick-wood structure, hard top type, frame is a combination of hanging beam and cross bucket. The delicate patterns on the horse head wall are faintly visible. The total width of Ursa Major Hall is13m, and it has three depths, with a depth of about 8.2m and a height of about 7.9m.. All the columns and beams are made of big wood that is difficult for one person to hold together. The bottom is a stone base with a diameter of about 60 cm, and the ears are on both sides. In front of the main hall, there is a corridor that communicates with the wing rooms on both sides, and the arched door that communicates with each other reads six Chinese characters: "Mid-week rules, moment of compromise", which is vigorous and powerful. The height of the wing is lower than that of the main hall, and there are patios. There is an ancient well in the east courtyard, and the water quality is clear so far.

On the main beam of the main hall are: "The year of Qing Dynasty, the year of Ren Zi (1792), the auspicious day of Meng Dongyue; Awarded the inspector of Huanglong Town Branch of Yunyang County, Hubei Province, and xxx, the first bricklayer in Hefei. There are four ancient locust trees behind the main hall, more than 20 meters high. Two people finally hugged each other, and then they were cut. According to the on-the-spot investigation and relevant data records, it is confirmed that the main hall of Wuchang Guild Hall is "San Lv Academy", and the building complex of Wuchang Guild Hall is newly built and expanded on the basis of "San Lv Academy". Wuchang Hall is probably the office of the Inspection Department, the General Political Department and Huanglong Tantang in Yunyang County. Wuchang Guild Hall plays a unique role in the history of Huanglong Town, with multiple uses and bearing a lot of historical information. It records the historical context of the economic culture of Huanglongtan.

Adjacent to Wuchang Hall is Huangzhou Hall, which belonged to Huguang at that time. Therefore, the geographical location of the two guilds is relatively close, which also reflects the exclusiveness of local business gangs. Huangzhou Guild Hall, also known as Huangzhou Temple and National Protection Palace. It was built by Huangzhou merchants. It is to carry out trade, safeguard our interests and protect the rights and interests of Huangzhou businessmen; Institutions that carry out activities such as offering sacrifices and praying for blessings are a combination of temples and halls. Huangzhou merchants worship the "emperor" and are also known as "blessed owners", so Huangzhou Guild Hall is also known as "the emperor's palace".

Huangzhou Club is located in the street of Huanglong Town, facing south, with an existing construction area of about 340 square meters. The whole building is well-preserved, quadrangular, surrounded by bricks with the word "Huangzhou". The wind and volcano walls and ladder frames are exquisitely built, with single eaves and hard hills and brick eaves and brick bases.

The front hall is 3 rooms wide and the back hall is 4 rooms wide, all of which are supported by five beams and paved with small blue tiles on hard hills. There are patios and wings. On the main beam of the main hall, the words "clearing the road at noon, Huangzhou, Hubei Province" can be seen vaguely, but it has been in disrepair for a long time and its handwriting is mottled.

There are many blue bricks engraved with the word "Huangzhou" scattered on the street. It is even built on the wall of a house 0/00 meter away from the guild hall/kloc.

The shop set up by Huangzhou merchants in Huanglongtan is called Tongchang. A large number of daily necessities are shipped out of Hankou, and mountain products, medicinal materials and other local products are shipped out of the mountains. The trade of materials has built a bridge between the mountainous area and the outside world, brought foreign culture and information, and accelerated the development of Huanglongtan.

Go along the street to the end near the river, and you can see Jiangxi Guild Hall. It is an organization established by Jiangyou Commercial Group and a symbol of Jiangyou Commercial Group. Its halls were all over the country at that time. The word "Jiangxi" on the wall is engraved with the ownership of the house. However, due to disrepair, the roof of the main hall completely collapsed, leaving only the wing slightly intact.

According to records, Jiangxi Guild Hall was once a "righteous school" during Guangxu period. During the Republic of China, it was also the workshop of Huanglongtan garage. Jiangxi Guild Hall has played different roles in various historical stages of Huanglong ancient town and played an important role in the development of the ancient town. Today, although it has been weather-beaten, it still stands tenaciously in this desolate corner, showing its dazzling light to tourists.

The old man who is also closely related to Jiangxi Guild Hall is Shanshan Guild Hall. The guild hall is located in the middle of Qian Jie, the ancient town of Huanglong, facing south. The overall structure of the hall was seriously damaged, and the drainage facilities on the east and north walls and patio were well preserved. The remaining wall tiles are engraved with the word "Shaanxi". The remaining tiles are exquisitely crafted and meticulous. The wisdom of the ancients can be seen from the workmanship of the wall bricks, and the original appearance of the Shanshan Guild Hall can be imagined in the remaining buildings.

The four halls, like four bright pearls, are embedded in the ancient town of Huanglong, which is blocked by rivers. At the same time, it was also a symbol of the strength of several big business gangs at that time. In the long history, there have been merchants from all corners of the country gathered here, with many shops and prosperous markets; However, as time goes by, the years have left a mark of the past on the ancient buildings, moss has covered the blue tiles, wind and rain have damaged the walls, and the commercial center has long since ceased to exist. Occasionally, three or two tourists pass by here and make a few sighs.

Of course, the foreign businessmen in the ancient town are not limited to these, and the locals also played an important role in that era. The Yu family is one of the representatives, and the Yu family is the most popular name in the ancient town. The famous residence No.64 in the ancient town is the former residence of the Yu family. No.64 Mansion is located in Shangjiemeizi Cliff, Huanglong Ancient Town, which is called "Shimen" by local people and adjacent to Wuchang Guild Hall in the west. It is an ancient building with the largest area, the most special style and the largest number of courtyards in the ancient street dwellings.

Residential building 64 covers an area of nearly 2 mu, with 6 courtyards and 5 patios. The whole house is a brick-wood structure, and the beam frames of the house are all frames with a single eaves and a double eaves, and the top is covered with small blue tiles. There are carved blue bricks on the lintel of the side door, and a large area outside the side door is the back garden. Unfortunately, things have long changed. Xiangyun is faintly visible under the eaves, with smooth curves, euphemistic and moving, and horse-headed walls at both ends, with concise and bright lines and clean. Exquisite wood carvings and exquisite decorative components show the exquisite craftsmanship of craftsmen and the taste and attention of homeowners. This antique, elegant and quiet old house has experienced the change of dynasties, wars and vicissitudes of the world. Although shabby, it is still dignified and solemn. Standing quietly at the highest point of Huanglong old street, there may be vivid and ancient stories hidden behind the broken bricks, which can't help but make people think.

In addition to this magnificent mansion, there are many unique small courtyards in the ancient town, and the "barber shop" by the river has also shown a delicate side after transformation. The barber shop is located in Qianjie. Sitting facing south, it is a typical building with a small tile-headed wall and a small courtyard with four waters returning to the hall. According to local conditions, small and elegant, Pu Shu and solemn.

It is recalled that from the late Qing Dynasty to the Republic of China, a businessman named Zhao Changshan operated dry goods, roasted seeds and nuts, and daily groceries here. In the 1950s, the land reform was taken over by the collective. 1955 or so, which is the warehouse and office of Grain Institute. From 1970 to 1980, served as the office of Huanglong police station. From 1980 to 1984, it was the temporary office and residence of Huanglong handling station, and then it was idle or lived by villagers. Around 20 10, Huanglong Town residents run barber shops here. So it was finally named "Barber Shop".

Back to a hundred years ago, it was still a barren land, and the original street was not where it is now. But on the other side of the river, it is called "Dongwan" now, and it was called "Old Shop" in ancient times. There is only a temple above the old shop.

Temple is an indispensable and important building, and it is a place where ancient business gangs gather and people live. Cultural inheritance, spiritual sustenance, folk and official governance are all closely related to temples. The number of temples and the prosperity of incense are symbols of the prosperity of a place. Huanglongtan temples recorded in Tongzhi Yunxian Annals include Shuifu Temple, Guandi Temple, Bailong Temple, Sanyi Temple, Huangzhou Temple, Kuixingge Temple and Dinghui Temple. There are statues in the halls of Wuchang, Shanshan and Jiangxi, also called temples. At the same time, there is a Catholic church in Huanglongtan. The number of ancient temples in Huanglongtan is amazing, and the phenomenon that Taoism, Buddhism and foreign churches live together reflects the openness and tolerance of Huanglongtan.

With the changes of years and times, the temples recorded in historical materials have long lost their former scenes, and even some of them can't find the slightest trace. The only one that has survived, with constant incense and existing inscriptions, is Sanyi Temple.

The temple was built by the river, facing the estuary. Sacrifice to the Lord God: "Liu, Guan and Zhang". It consists of a worship hall, a main hall and a wing, forming a courtyard. The main hall and the worship hall are both beam-lifting frames, brick and wood structures with single eaves and hard roofs, covering an area of about 1 mu. Due to years of disrepair, partial damage and repeated repairs, the overall structure has been quite different from the original appearance. The main hall is about 15m wide, 7m deep and 6m high. The worship hall is about16m wide, 8m deep and 6m high. The middle court is rectangular, the west wing of the court does not exist, and the house is occupied. There are five stone carvings in the courtyard, which record the major events that Sanyi Temple experienced from Qianlong period of Qing Dynasty to Guangxu period, and have important archaeological value. Today, the courtyard still recites Buddhist scriptures every day, and the incense is flourishing. When people are in it, it seems that they have traveled through time and space and returned to the ancient town of Huanglong, where there are many shops and bustling markets.

Looking back, it seems that everything has settled and everything has changed. Who can always insist on this eternal prosperity?

Looking around, the green river is quietly leaving, the majestic Huanglong Dam is blooming, strolling through the ancient streets, stepping on the bluestone tablets that record history and crossing the winding alleys. A feeling of winding paths leads to a secluded place strikes my heart, and there seems to be a loud song in the sparkling river; In the gorgeous crimson light, I seem to see the bustling scenery of the past.