Tongji Bridge

Tongji Bridge

Spanning the Luoshui River and connecting the Jinyu street in the north, it was built in the Ming Dynasty and rebuilt three times in the 38th year of Jiajing (1559), the 2nd year of Longqing (1568) and the 9th year of Wanli (1581). In the sixth year of Tianqi (1626), Li Shiwen, the Secretary of the Ministry of household affairs, once again initiated the fund-raising and reconstruction, and named it "Tongji Bridge", which means "there will be relief after the bridge is opened". Later generations carved couplets on the stone pillars beside the bridge: "through the parade of the seven fortresses, the tourists can find the spring, and they can drink horses at the ferry head; through the traffic of thousands of people, the curved bridge crosses the water, and is known as the Chuihong at the end of the village", and there are Nanji Guanyin temple and Tongyun society. In the early years of the Republic of China, the river course near Tongji Bridge was silted up, and there was very little traffic. After the liberation, Foshan road was expanded many times, the river under Tongji Bridge was changed into underground ditch, and the bridge deck was changed into main road. There was no sign of "bridge" in this area.

Tongji Bridge

Tongji Bridge has a long history in Foshan. It is the first large wooden bridge built in Foshan. According to the research of experts, it was a wooden footbridge built by the villagers in the early stage.

It's a pity that the Tongji Bridge in the past has been hard to find with the change of time, which makes the practice of "Tongji" in vain every year. In order to protect historical and cultural heritage and promote traditional culture, Foshan municipal government spent 17 million yuan to restore Tongji Bridge on January 18, 2001. The restored Tongji Bridge has beautiful architecture and profound cultural heritage.

Tongji Bridge is 32 meters long and 9.9 meters wide. The Baogu stones at both ends of the bridge set off the windmill with auspicious clouds and bats, reflecting the symbol of Tongji Bridge folk custom - windmill. Carved on the bridge is the artifact of the eight immortals who are said to hold when they cross the sea, implying that the citizens pray for disaster relief and peace when they cross the bridge. In the upper part of the bridge column, an elephant's head is used to "arch" out a fruit basket, in which there are pumpkins and peaches, meaning "elephant embracing peace". The ancient Tongji Bridge has 9 STONE levels at the head of the bridge and 13 at the end of the bridge, reflecting the idea of "nine out and thirteen back". Now it is also reflected in the new bridge: replacing steps with anti-skid strips, placing 9 at the north end of the bridge and 13 at the south end of the bridge. It not only improves the safety factor of bridge crossing people, but also reflects the idea of bridge crossing enterprise happiness. The water area under the Tongji Bridge is 2000 square meters, and there are hydrophilic steps, Zhiyu Pavilion and Yueyu Pavilion, which are based on the ancient poem "fish are happy, people are happy, spring is clear, heart is clear".

On the archway of Tongji Bridge, there is a wooden tablet of "Tongji" hanging high

The left wing League is "a bridge for thousands of people to come and go, a rainbow at the end of the village."

The right couplet is "the parade through seven fortresses", where the free travelers can find the spring and drink horses at the ferry

The couplet summarizes the style and features of the original Tongji Bridge, but the reconstructed Tongji Bridge is far inferior to the original bridge. There is no boat like weaving, no setting sun reflecting the bridge like rainbow. Most importantly, it is just a scenic spot to commemorate the original bridge, without the sincere and cordial feelings of the original bridge. However, the wind of "xingtongji" is flourishing.

Tongji Bridge Square is a 7300 square meter park with Tongji Bridge, gate building and North-South square as the main axis, water under the bridge and surrounding greening. The main body of the gate building is made of green brick with arched openings on both sides. Shiwan doll design is used on the ridge of the gate to show the charm of Foshan fine arts ceramics. The picture depicts the prosperity of the ancient Tongji Bridge, including God of wealth, lion dance, and selling windmills. There is a dragon and a phoenix on both sides of the figure, implying that the dragon and the Phoenix are auspicious. Under the gate tower doll house, there is a gray carving of "bats step on double money", which means wealth with "blessing" and "money".

Xi Xing Yi Jing, ancient bridge broken track, but the wind of "line Tongji" long prosperous

The proverb "Tongji, no closure" is well known in Foshan, which means that if you go to Tongji, there will be no worries and worries, and everything will go smoothly. "Tongji", a folk activity, reposes the good wishes of Foshan people. From the night of the 15th to the 16th of the first month of the lunar calendar every year, no one came out to organize. For the sake of a common hope, Foshan was surrounded by thousands of people and walked the same bridge. People from some villages and towns near Nanhai, Sanshui, Gaoming and Shunde also came to participate in the "Tongji trip". From the end of Ming Dynasty to the beginning of Qing Dynasty, every family will help the old and the young. From early morning to night, they walk across Tongji Bridge from north to South with windmills, wind bells and lettuce. It has lasted for more than 400 years.

To help

In the Guangzhou Foshan metropolitan area, the most distinctive and influential lantern festival activity is the spontaneous activity of "offering relief without closing the door" in Foshan. On the night of the Lantern Festival, hundreds of thousands of people gathered in front of the Tongji Bridge in Foshan, calling friends, or the whole family, each with a small windmill, to join the crowd. Shi Shi ran walked over the arch of the Tongji Bridge, reciting "Tongji, no closure", praying for the turn of the day. This custom originated in the Ming Dynasty and has a history of several hundred years. Now, the influence of the Lantern Festival custom has been extended to the whole Pearl River Delta and Hong Kong and Macao. It has become an annual event of the whole Pearl River Delta.

The growing influence of xingtongji is related to two key factors: one is the embodiment of Lingnan folk custom and Guangfu culture, the other is the embodiment of blessing culture. This cultural imprint has long been branded in the minds of local residents in the Pearl River Delta. With the full support and praise of Foshan local government, and the active participation and operation of Foshan media group in recent years, it has become a common cultural event and a positive and healthy folk custom for local people.

Xing means walking in Cantonese, and Tongji means Tongji Bridge.

But in the south of Foshan City, there used to be a river near Nanpu Park, Tongji River, on which there was a bridge called "Tongji Bridge". The river is gone now, and the bridge is still there. On this day of every year, people come here to cross the bridge, burn incense, throw lettuce and turn the windmill.

From the end of Ming Dynasty to the beginning of Qing Dynasty, every family in the four townships of Foshan will help the old and the young on the 16th of the first lunar month. From morning to night, they will walk across Tongji Bridge from north to South with windmills, wind bells and lettuce, praying for peace and prosperity in the coming year. For more than 200 years, Foshan people have continued the custom of practicing Tongji for generations. Moreover, there is a saying that "if you go to Tongji, there will be no closure". "Cover Yi" is a Cantonese dialect, which means no worry, no decline. On the 16th of the first month of every year, Foshan people have a custom of "xingtongji".

Tongji Bridge was built in the Ming Dynasty, named in 1626, more than 400 years ago. It is known as "Chuihong at the end of the village" of Foshan's eight old scenic spots. After the Republic of China, Tongji Bridge was demolished, but the custom of Tongji remained unchanged, and people still walked across the bridge every year. It was not until 2001 that Foshan municipal government reconstructed Tongji Bridge in line with the public opinion to continue the custom of Tongji.

According to records, Tongji Bridge was built in the Ming Dynasty, and got its name in 1626. At the beginning, it was an arch bridge with mixed wood and stone. When it was completed, it was named "Tongji Bridge". Because the location of the bridge is located in the upstream of Foshan, which is just the outlet of the river. When Li Shiwen, the Minister of the Ministry of household, returned to Foshan, he initiated a fund-raising to repair the bridge. During the construction of the bridge, he asked for the opinions of the elders in the villages and those in the lower reaches of the river. He used the method of mixed wood and stone, which not only made the structure of the bridge majestic and strong, but also did not block the water in the lower reaches, which was beneficial to the people.

When did the saying of "no shelter" prevail? "Xingtongji" puts forward: "in the reign of Emperor Qianlong, the wind of xingtongji became more and more vigorous, and it was on the 16th day of the first month. From early in the morning to midnight, families, with their children and daughters, hold paper windmills, wind bells and small lanterns in their hands and rush to Tongji Bridge, then go home by a detour. " "Cover Yi" means no worries and no declining Qi. "Cover Yi" is a Cantonese dialect, also known as "Yi". It means not only suffocating, but also dark and oppressive.

The origin of "Xing Tong Ji"

The traditional custom of "Xing Tong Ji" has been popular in Foshan for hundreds of years. "Xingtongji" means that every year on the 16th of the first month, Foshan villagers walk "Tongji Bridge" in order to have good weather in the coming year.

Tongji Bridge is one of the earliest bridges built in Foshan. According to the records of Zhongyi Township in Foshan, the bridge was first built by the nearby villagers. After returning to Foshan, Li Daiwen, the Minister of the Ministry of household and a native of the Ming Dynasty, saw that the bridge was in disrepair for a long time. In 1625, he proposed to build the bridge. The next year, he built the bridge and named it "Tongji Bridge", implying that "the bridge is named after Tongji, and then there will be Ji", and "justice, and hengtun". As the bridge spans Foshan Bay, it is the only way to Shunde and Panyu, and an important channel for Foshan's business exchanges. Therefore, in order to have a good business in the coming year, Foshan businessmen went to Tongji Bridge to please Yitou. Later, it gradually became a custom, and derived the saying "Tongji Bridge, no closure".

Now, the ancient custom has gradually been given a modern color. Such as In 2000, Foshan City held the activity of "giving love and donating money to ten thousand people for Lantern Festival"; in 2005, Chancheng district culture, radio, television, press and Publication Bureau produced large-scale lettuce lamp, advocating to lead vegetables (money) back home, and used the auction proceeds of lettuce lamp as donation to Foshan welfare; in 2006, it organized a series of cultural activities of "Changxing Tongji · leading money home" - Wanjia Tongji, which is an ancient custom New cultural connotation has been injected into folklore. Now, the activity of "Xing Tong Ji" plays a great role in promoting the construction of a famous cultural city, creating a city's cultural card and building a harmonious society.

The ancient Tongji Bridge, with nine stone levels at the head and 13 at the end, reflects the meaning of "nine stone levels and thirteen stone levels"

Chinese PinYin : Tong Ji Qiao