History and Culture of Jinzhong, Shanxi

1. What are the humanistic characteristics of Jinzhong

Jinzhong is a typical area of scattered ethnic minorities, which is basically characterized by large dispersion and small concentration.

There are 26 ethnic minorities, including Hui, Manchu, Meng, Yi, Tu, Russian, Oroqen, Tibetan, ****er, Zhuang, Siberian, Hani and Tujia. Jinshang culture is a cultural form formed with the whole of Shanxi as a background and centered on commerce and trade.

It started with the Jin merchants making their mark in the Chinese market and becoming the dominant ones, and then continued through the Ming and Qing dynasties to the Republican period, where a series of cultural phenomena were linked to commerce. In terms of historical roots, Jinshang did not first arise in Jinzhong.

It has a sequential advancement from the south to the north of Jin. By the beginning of the Qing Dynasty, the Jinzhong merchant gang replaced the dominant position of merchants in southern and southeastern Jin, and became the most outstanding representative of the Jin merchants.

The business activities of Jin merchants created the business culture of Jinzhong. From the concept of business, value orientation, professional ethics to the way of operation, organization and management means and even technical methods such as bookkeeping, bead counting, secret deposit, etc., a whole set of ethical culture and institutional culture was formed.

This is the most essential meaning of the culture of Jin merchants. In addition, the survival and development of Jin merchants has led to a series of cultural phenomena due to the dominant position of Jin merchant activities in all walks of life. " (Taigu City, Pingyao Ancient City, Qixian Famous Historical and Cultural City and Yuji Old City) "Six Houses" (Yuji Changjia Manor, Qixian Qiao Family Residence, Dui Family Residence, Lingshi Wang Family Residence, Taigu Cao Family Residence and Taigu Kong Xiangxi Residence). Jinzhong is also the distribution of folk culture and intangible culture: "Cold Food Festival" originated in Jiexiu, the legend of the Cowherd and the Weaving Maiden originated in Heshun, the legend of Shouyang is the hometown of the Shouxing, Zuoquan small flower opera, Qitai rice-planting songs, Yushe king whip and other folk culture nourishes the people who live and work on this piece of land.

Two days before the annual Qingming Festival in the lunar calendar, known as the Cold Food Festival, which originated in Jinzhong and spread throughout the country one of the festivals. The reason is that during the Spring and Autumn Period, the minister of the State of Jin, Jie Zi Tui, was burned to death in Mian Shangyi (present-day Jiexiu), and the Duke of Jin, y saddened, ordered the whole country not to allow cooking on this day, and to fill up the hunger with dry food or cold food.

After the Qin and Han Dynasties, it gradually became a local custom and spread outward. During the Tang and Song dynasties, many literati and scholars used the Cold Food Festival to eulogize Jie Zi Tui's high moral character of "not speaking of wealth".

At the same time, because the two days before the Qingming Festival coincides with the "one hundred and five" (105 days after the winter solstice), so the folk also put the Cold Food Festival as the ghost of the wedding with the dry funeral or the burial of the temporary house festival. Tang Dynasty poet Yao He wrote in the "Cold Food", "this morning one hundred and five, out of the house rain first sunny".

Until the Ming and Qing dynasties, the cold food festival still continue the custom of dining cold food, to memorialize the jiezi push. Then again, this day can be arbitrary construction of earth, folk demolition of houses or build bridges and pave the way, are to be dug beforehand in this day digging land, shovel wall, to show that the project has begun, to be formally constructed in the future, the other gods will not intervene.

2. What is the history of Jin in Shanxi

History Jinzhong City belongs to Jin in the Spring and Autumn, and Zhao in the Warring States.

After the Qin and Han Dynasties, it was under the jurisdiction of Taiyuan County and Taiyuan Prefecture. Jinzhong was founded in 1949 as Yuji Prefecture and renamed Jinzhong Prefecture in 1958.

In 1970, it was changed to Jinzhong District, and in 1999, Jinzhong City was established at prefecture level.

Yuji Prefecture, Jinzhong Prefecture, Jinzhong Area In 1949, Yuji Prefecture was established, with the special office in Yuji County. Under the jurisdiction of Yuji, Pingding, Yu County, Shouyang, Qixian, Taigu, Jiexiu, Lingshi, Pingyao, Xiyang, Heshun, Zuoquan (formerly Liao County), Yushe and other 13 counties and Yangquan Industrial and Mining District.

In 1951, the former Yangquan Industrial and Mining District was reorganized as Yangquan City, under the provincial jurisdiction. The original Fenyang Prefecture belongs to Xiaoyi, Fenyang, Wenshui, Jiaocheng, Qingyuan, Xugou and other 6 counties into the Yuji Prefecture.

19 counties. In 1952, Qingyuan, Xu ditch 2 counties merged to set up Qingxu County (stationed in Qingyuan County).

The original Xingxian Prefecture belongs to Fangshan, Lishi, Linxian, Zhongyang and other 4 counties into the Yuji Prefecture. Fangshan County moved to Ohdong.

Yuji prefecture jurisdiction over 22 counties. In 1954, Yuji County Chengguan District was reorganized into Yuji City, under the provincial jurisdiction.

Lishi, Fangshan 2 counties merged, renamed Lishan County (stationed in the original Lishi County). Yuji area under the jurisdiction of 21 counties.

In 1958, Yuji Prefecture was changed to Jinzhong Prefecture. The original province under the jurisdiction of the Yuji, Yangquan 2 cities under the leadership of the Jinzhong Specialized Agency.

The abolition of Yuji, Shouyang 2 counties, and into the city of Yuji; the abolition of Qingxu, Jiaocheng, Wenshui 3 counties, Qingxu County into Taiyuan City; Jiaocheng County into Taiyuan City and Fenyang County; Wenshui County into Fenyang County. The 3 counties of Pingding, Xiyang and Yu County were abolished and incorporated into Yangquan City.

Zuoquan County was abolished and incorporated into Heshun County. Revoke Qixian County and incorporate it into Taigu County.

Revoke Lingshi, Xiaoyi 2 counties, and merged into Jiexiu County. Withdrawal of Li Shan, Zhongyang 2 counties, the merger of the establishment of Li Shi County (stationed in the original Li Shi County).

The abolition of Yushe County, Wuxiang County, and into the Southeast Area of Jinjiang. Jinzhong Prefecture under the jurisdiction of 2 cities and 7 counties.

In 1960, the restoration of Xiyang, Yu County, Shouyang, Zhongyang, Wenshui, Jiaocheng, Zuoquan, Yushe 8 counties. Jinzhong Prefecture jurisdiction over 2 cities, 15 counties.

In 1961, Yangquan City changed to provincial jurisdiction. Restored Pingding, Qixian, Lingshi, Xiaoyi 4 counties.

Jinzhong Prefecture under the jurisdiction of 1 city, 19 counties. In 1963, Yuji City was abolished and Yuji County was restored.

Jinzhong prefecture jurisdiction over 20 counties. In 1970, Jinzhong Prefecture was renamed Jinzhong District.

Yangquan City was reorganized under the leadership of Jinzhong District. The Jinzhong District is located in Yuji County.

Yangquan City and Yuji, Shouyang, Yu County, Pingding, Xiyang, Heshun, Zuoquan, Yushe, Taigu, Qixian, Pingyao, Jiexiu, Lingshi, Xiaoyi, Fenyang, Wenshui, Jiaocheng, Zhongyang, Lishi, Linxian County, and other 20 counties under the jurisdiction of Yangquan City. In 1971, the city of Yuji was restored, and Yuji County was moved to Changning.

Linxian, Jiaocheng, Lishi, Fenyang, Wenshui, Xiaoyi, Zhongyang and other 7 counties to the Luliang region. Jinzhong area under the jurisdiction of 2 cities, 13 counties.

In 1972, Yangquan City was changed to provincial jurisdiction. Jinzhong area under the jurisdiction of 1 city, 13 counties.

In 1975, Yuji County was moved to Yuji City. Jinzhong area under the jurisdiction of 1 city, 13 counties.

Fenyang Prefecture In 1949, Fenyang Prefecture was set up, with its special office in Fenyang County. It had jurisdiction over 9 counties, including Fenyang, Jiaocheng, Wenshui, Qingyuan, Jinyuan (stationed in Taiyuan), Xugou, Xiaoyi, Zhongyang and Shilou.

In 1951, Fenyang Prefecture was abolished, and seven counties, including Lingshi, Xiaoyi, Fenyang, Wenshui, Jiaocheng, Qingyuan and Xugou, were assigned to Yuji Prefecture; Shilou County was assigned to Linfen Prefecture; Zhongyang County was assigned to Xingxian Prefecture; and Jinyuan County was withdrawn and merged into Taiyuan City. (: "Chinese People's * * * and the country's political region history (1949-1979)" Shi Weilei ed.) September 24, 1999, the State Council approved (State letter [1999] No. 124): (1) the abolition of Jinzhong District and county-level Yuji City, the establishment of prefecture-level Jinzhong City.

Municipal people *** in the newly established Yuji District. (2) Jinzhong City, the establishment of Yuzi District, the former county-level Yuzi City administrative area for the administrative area of Yuzi District.

District people *** in Dongshuncheng Street. (3) Jinzhong City jurisdiction of the former Jinzhong area of Taigu County, Qi County, Pingyao County, Lingshi County, Yushe County, Zuoquan County, Heshun County, Xiyang County, Shouyang County and the newly established Yuzi District.

The city of Jiexiu in the former Jinzhong region is under the jurisdiction of Shanxi Province. It is located in the central part of Shanxi Province, at the geographical coordinates of 111°23′-114°28′ East and 36°39′-38°06′ North.

The region has 2 cities and 9 counties under its jurisdiction, with a total area of 16,376 square kilometers. After 48 years of development and construction, Jinzhong region's economic and social strength has been increasing, and the level of development of urban areas has been greatly improved.

Now has gradually formed a textile, coal, machinery, chemicals, food and other specialized categories of the more complete industrial system. Jinzhong is a warm temperate continental monsoon climate, dry monsoon in the spring, high temperature in the summer, high in the fall, relatively cold in the winter, the climate is clear throughout the year, the temperature difference between day and night is large.

The region is rich in diverse tourism resources, a full range. The natural and cultural tourism resources in the region are beautiful and colorful, exquisite and rare.

Traditional specialties and products are famous in China and abroad. The ancient city of Pingyao, a national historical and cultural city, is located in the region.

In terms of humanities tourism resources: Qixian Folklore Museum, the former residence of Kong Xiangxi, Pingyao, the "world's first ticket number", "Rishengchang" ticket number, Pingyao Zhenguo Temple, Yuji Chenghuang Temple, Taigu White Pagoda, and other exquisite and unique, famous both at home and abroad. Natural tourism resources are Jiexiu Mianshan, Lingshi Gypsum Mountain, Heshun Yunlong Mountain, Zuoquan Ma Tian scenery, and Heshun Heshan Qizi, is regarded as a "kind of stone" of the Lingshi and other natural landscapes of the majestic, mountainous, birdsong, flowers, pleasant scenery.

In addition, such famous specialties as paper-cutting in Jinzhong, Pingyao Beef, Taigu Cake, Taigu West Claw, Pingyao Push Light Lacquer, Hongshan Ceramics, Qixian Glassware, Yushe Gum, and "Turtle Set" Wine, etc., all add luster to the development of Jinzhong's tourism industry.

3. Historical and cultural characteristics of Shanxi

Jin language is used in most parts of Shanxi, Zhongyuan official language is used in most parts of Jinnan, and Jilu official language is used in Guangling County. Jin is the only non-official dialect in northern China. The most important feature that distinguishes Jin from Official Chinese is the retention of the incoming tones. Most Jin languages have five tones. The tones of Jin have a very complex succession of tones. The ancient turbid tones of Jin are now pronounced with a flat tone and a non-aspirated tone for the words "sei yin" and "sei fu" (塞擦音). The Jin language retains many features of the ancient Chinese language.

Shanxi is one of the birthplaces of Chinese opera, known as the "cradle of opera". During the Han Dynasty, the sprout of opera appeared in Shanxi; during the Northern Song Dynasty, a variety of local theater was active throughout Shanxi - these local theater is the prototype of Chinese opera; during the Yuan Dynasty, Shanxi became the center of the national opera art, and the Yuan Dynasty theaters found in the country are basically in Shanxi.

Shanxi is one of the earliest regions where the folklore of festivals appeared. Chinese history has long practiced the summer calendar, which is the calendar used by the historical Xia Dynasty. The southern part of Shanxi Province was one of the birthplaces of the Xia Dynasty, and the northern part of the province was inhabited by Hu and Han people for quite a long period of time, resulting in the formation of local characteristics of festivals and folklore.

Extended information

Shanxi is known as the "Museum of Ancient Chinese Architecture", the well-preserved ancient buildings on the ground before the Song and Jin Dynasties account for more than 70% of the country. Ancient human cultural sites, the ancient city of the emperor, the temple, grottoes and tablets, sculpture and murals, ancient pagodas and tombs, Buddhist and Taoist shrines, dangerous fortresses and passes, as well as revolutionary relics, historical sites, etc., from the north to the south, constitutes the ancient and modern humanistic landscapes of Shanxi.

By the end of 2013, Shanxi Province has 452 national key cultural relics protection units. Wutai Mountain in Xinzhou is one of the four major Buddhist shrines; Datong Yungang Grottoes is one of the three major Buddhist grottoes; Datong Beiyue Hengshan is one of the five mountains in China; Hengkong Temple is the only remaining temple in China that combines Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism; Pingyao Ancient City in Jinzhong is one of the three surviving ancient cities; Yuncheng Xiezhou Guandi Temple is the largest martial arts temple.

Huangcheng Xiangfu, Qiao Family Residence, Dui Family Residence, Wang Family Residence, Li Family Residence, Taigu Sandotang, Chang Family Manor, Shen Family Residence, Mengmen Ancient Town, and Kong Xiangxi's former residence are representative of Shanxi's residential houses.