Xinzhou ancient city

Xinzhou ancient city

Xinzhou ancient city is located in Xinzhou City, Shanxi Province. Xinzhou City was founded in 215 A.D. in the 20th year of Jian'an in the Eastern Han Dynasty, and has a history of more than 1800 years. Xinzhou ancient city is a city built according to the traditional planning ideas and architectural style of the Chinese nation. It embodies the historical and cultural characteristics of the Chinese nation and is the crystallization of the wisdom and perseverance of the ancient Chinese working people. In the past dynasties, most of them were prefectures and prefectures, dangerous fortresses, outstanding people, merchants, and military strategists. Xinzhou has a long history of culture and traditional art. It is known as "the hometown of wrestling" and "the ocean of folk songs". They also brought up many influential figures in the history of the Chinese nation, such as ban Jieyu, Yang Jiajiang, Yuan Haowen, Bai Pu, SA Dula, Xu Jishe and so on.

Historical evolution

During the revolutionary war, it was the birthplace and central hinterland of the Shanxi Chahar Hebei and Shanxi Suiyuan revolutionary bases. Bethune, an international communist fighter, once established a "model ward" in Wutai County. The famous "Xinkou campaign", "Pingxingguan battle" and the burning of Yangmingbao airport took place in Xinzhou. This land also gave birth to the older generation of proletarian revolutionaries such as Gao Junyu, Xu Qianjin, Bo Yibo, etc. Xinzhou was called "Xiurong" in ancient times. Since the Neolithic age, human beings have been active for nearly 1800 years. In the spring and Autumn period, most of them belonged to Jin, and in the Warring States period, they belonged to Zhao. In Qin and Han Dynasties, it belonged to Taiyuan County, Yanbei county and Taiping County; in Sui Dynasty, it belonged to Xinxing County and Yanmen County; in Tang, Five Dynasties and Song Dynasty, it belonged to Dingxiang County and daizhou Yanmen County; in Jin, yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasties, it belonged to Xinzhou, daizhou and baodezhou. It is said that emperor Gaozu of the Han Dynasty went north to fight against Xiongnu, and his troops were trapped in Pingcheng (today's Datong). When he broke through the siege, the army withdrew to the South and got rid of the pursuit at Xinkou. Gaozu was happy and smiling, and the six armies were happy to return. Because "Xin" was connected with "Xin", the name of Xinzhou came into being.

Since the Tang and Song Dynasties, there has been a state government, known as "the key of northern Shanxi", which has been a must for military strategists. Xinxian district was established in 1949. In 1970, it was renamed Xin county. In 1978, it was renamed Xin county administrative office. In 1983, Xin county was changed to Xinzhou City (county-level city), which was renamed Xinzhou administrative office. In 2000, with the approval of the State Council, Xinzhou administrative office was changed into Xinzhou City (prefecture level city).

In 1937, beichengmenlou City, which was damaged by Japanese invaders' planes, was an ancient military fortification facility to protect the political center and the main pass. Xinzhou City is an old city with both. It was built in 215, the 20th year of Jian'an in the Eastern Han Dynasty. It was set up in Xinxing County (now on the west side of Mahui Village) and Jiuyuan county (now Xinzhou City) in the same year. "Reading Fang Yu minutes": "(Xinzhou northwest 50 Li Xiurong city." Cihai: "Xiurong, the name of an ancient county, is located in the northwest of Xinxian County, Shanxi Province. Kaihuang of the Sui Dynasty moved Xinxian county to the present day, which is the seat of Xinzhou." Yuan He Zhi: "Liu Yuanhai was born with a sense of God and was beautiful, so he was named." So it's called Xiurong. Zhili annals of Xinzhou: "the city of Xinzhou was built in the 18th year of kaihuang (598) of Sui Dynasty. It was named for Xinkou in the north of the state." In fact, Xinzhou City was built as early as the 20th year of Jian'an in the Eastern Han Dynasty, but it was only repaired by kaihuang in the Sui Dynasty. In the area of top mountain in the west of Xinzhou City, the shape of the mountain is beautiful, and the strange rocks are flying in the sky. Its Ren has nine, so it is named Jiulong. Kowloon stretches out to the Bank of the Muma river. When it is near the Muma River, Kowloon is integrated to drink the Muma river. Xinzhou City is located at the end of the nine taps. Xinzhou and Taiyuan, the provincial capital, are close to each other. It is the reliable rear of Piantou pass, Ningwu pass and Yanmen pass. "Between the three passes and Xinzhou, they form horns and fans, which can even make one breath. "Three passes are like fingers, Xinzhou is like palm, advance is like palm, make fingers fast and powerful, retreat is solid as fist, unbreakable." Therefore, the inscription on the gate tower of Nancheng reads "three passes are always necessary". Xinzhou is located in the north of Xinkou and in the south of Shiling and Chitang pass. The ancient city of Xinzhou is built in the central area, with jiulonggang on its back and Muma River on its west. It has a panoramic view of the mountain and water. The ancient city is a solid fortress which is easy to defend but difficult to attack. The North-South street in the city is the only channel to the north of Taiyuan. Therefore, the old city of Xinzhou is "the throat and gateway of northern Shanxi", and the plaque on the gate tower of northern Shanxi is "the key of northern Shanxi". Because of its unique geographical location, Xinzhou ancient city has always been an important military strategic place for military strategists.

The old city of Xinzhou "crosses Xigang, which accounts for half of the city and is the tableland of Jiulong". "In October of the 26th year of the Wanli reign of the Ming Dynasty, after the completion of the Xinzhou City wall, there were four city gates and eight cave gates. The city gates of the cave gates were opposite and connected with each other." It is also recorded that "jiugongzhucai was first built in April of the seventh year of Tongzhi and will be completed in October of the ninth year of Tongzhi in about three years. As a result, Chiduo Siwei, Loulu Chonghuan In the seventh year of Tongzhi, it was repaired and shared more than 60000 taels of silver. On the wall, crenels were added, gatehouses were rebuilt, and doors were built to form multiple walls. Today, the old city of Xinzhou is a relic of the Tongzhi restoration. The gate tower is a military facility that must be built for guarding and commanding in ancient times. "In the old days, there were many robbers. In Zhuzhou County, there were city towers. The robbers were on all sides of the main road, so they were captured and sent." "The great works of Si Lou can be displayed on the top, banned at home and abroad at the bottom, publicized near and encouraged far away." It can be seen that the gate building is not only magnificent, but also has its actual military use. On the west side of the city gate, there is a road for people to climb, which is called the road of plagiarize or the road of horse. Generally, it is a slope with fence walls on both sides and a door at the starting point to prevent miscellaneous activities. There are battlements on the wall, also known as battlements. The buttress is called the crenel between the buttresses, and the buttress hole is set on the buttress. "The battlements should not be too high. If they are too high, they will not be able to throw stones. If they are too narrow, they will hinder the attack of thieves. Each of them has its own hanging hole (i.e. pile hole). If the thief is far away, he will be at the battlements. If he is near, he will be at the hanging hole. " Battlements are the small walls on the top of the city wall, which were built earlier than the wall with bricks.

Xinzhou old city wall plane protrudes many piers, called horse face. The appearance of horse face is set from the tactical point of view. "If you attack a city, the horse's face is long, which can reflect the attack from the city. If the horse's face is dense, it can reach the target. If the enemy comes to the city, it can reach the target from all sides. Xinzhou old city is a square polygon with a circumference of nine miles and 20 steps. The city wall zigzags and undulates along the slope in a curved shape. The inner side of the city wall is in the shape of gentle slopes. In case of enemy's situation, the army and the people swarmed to the end of the city wall. The northwest corner of the city wall is obtuse, and the southeast corner has the lowest height, which is the embodiment of "the sky is not satisfied with the northwest, the earth is not satisfied with the Southeast" in urban architecture.

building structure

North Gate

The north gate is "Gongchen gate", which was built in the 24th year of Wanli in the Ming Dynasty (1596). The tower is 28 meters high, 7 rooms wide and 4 rooms deep. It is surrounded by corridors, double eaves and three drops of water. It has a Xieshan roof and a plaque of "lock key in northern Shanxi" hanging under the eaves. There are no columns in the building, the beam structure is simple, and the connection is strict, which fully reflects the wisdom of the ancient Chinese working people. The red pillars and blue tiles of the whole tower are magnificent and spectacular, which has a high value of cultural relics protection.

South Gate

The south gate is called "Jingxian gate", which was built in the 24th year of Wanli in Ming Dynasty (1596). The building has 7 rooms in width and 4 rooms in depth, with double eaves at the top of the hill, four corner cornices and three floors of stairs. The idea is exquisite. There is no column in the building, with thumb steps. The plaque of "three passes" is hung in the middle of the three floors of eaves. It was demolished in 1972 and rebuilt in 2002.

East Gate

The east gate is called "Yongfeng gate", which was built in the 24th year of Wanli in Ming Dynasty (1596). The plaque of the city tower is "Xianjia Hebei". The castle was destroyed in 1945.

west gate

Ximen is "Xinxing gate", which was built in the 24th year of Wanli in Ming Dynasty (1596). The plaque of the city tower is "nine peaks standing upright". The castle was destroyed before liberation.

wall

Xinzhou City Wall was built in the late Eastern Han Dynasty, expanded in Tang and Song Dynasties, and became a complete city in the late Qing Dynasty. The city wall is 2190 feet in circumference and 4.2 feet in height, all of which are built with bricks and stones. During the war of liberation, Yan Xishan dug trenches and built blockhouses, which caused great damage. After liberation, due to the urban construction, the city walls were gradually demolished, and there are still ruins in the southeast, northwest and four sides.

Main buildings

Xiurong Academy

Xiurong Academy was founded in the 40th year of Qianlong reign of Qing Dynasty. At that time, Xin county was called Xiurong County, so it was named as the first university in Xinzhou City. To the east of the former academy is Wenchang temple. Later, the Academy was gradually expanded, and Wenchang temple was built in the Academy. On the west slope of the Academy, three scenic pavilions were built successively: the central quadrangle Pavilion, the South octagonal pavilion and the North hexagonal pavilion. The hexagonal pavilion is the largest of the three pavilions, with each side about three meters long and the pavilion about nine meters high. The hexagonal pavilion, formerly known as liaowuge, is the highest point in the city. Standing on the pavilion, you can overlook the whole city. There is a brick arch in front of the original six corner Pavilion, which is called "the road of heaven". It is intended to take scholars from the Academy. Through the road of heaven, it can ascend the pavilion of few days and become prosperous.

Confucious'Temple

The Confucian temple was built in the fifth year of Hongzhi in the Ming Dynasty (1492). It faces south from the north. On the top of the painted glass wall, the Dragon flies and the Phoenix dances. The three entrance gate, the star gate and the single eaves top Dacheng hall are still standing. The hall is 7 rooms wide and 5 rooms deep. There is a huge statue of Confucius in the wooden pavilion. On March 8, 1977, Dacheng hall was destroyed in a fire.

Yuan Yishan ancestral hall

Yuan Yishan ancestral hall, located in the north and South streets of the city, is divided into two courtyards. Due to the widening of the road and the reconstruction of the old city, the gate of the ancestral hall has been demolished. However, the overall structure still retains the original appearance of the ancestral hall. In 2010, yuanyishan ancestral hall was rebuilt.

Ancient bell tower

It is located in the ancient bell Park in the east of the city. According to the inscription of the bell, the big bell was cast in the period of 1161-1189.

News of the ancient city

Nancheng

Chinese PinYin : Xin Zhou Gu Cheng