Eternal Three Gorges: The Century-Long Great Rescue of Cultural Relics

Author: Wang Fengzhu
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2003-09-01
Features: The Three Gorges is a natural, harmonious landscape gifted by nature, as well as a place with a rich historical and cultural heritage. With the construction of the Three Gorges Dam, the magnificent and picturesque scenery and the diverse cultural landscapes of the Three Gorges will be submerged in the slowly rising Yangtze River. To rescue and protect the historical and cultural treasures on both banks of the Xiajiang, the state has invested a significant amount of funds and manpower, launching the Three Gorges Cultural Relics Rescue Project, a monumental undertaking as remarkable as the Three Gorges Dam itself. Wang Fengzhu and Yu Xiyun co-authored The Eternal Three Gorges: A Century of Cultural Relics Rescue, which comprehensively reflects the basic conditions of the protection and rescue of cultural relics, historical sites, and cultural landscapes in the Three Gorges region since the 1990s. Through text and images, it preserves the historical and cultural information stored in the Three Gorges for millennia, ensuring that the Three Gorges remain eternal. First and foremost, the work demonstrates a profound humanistic spirit and social responsibility. Some cultural landscapes on both banks of the Xiajiang are treasures of Chinese civilization, showcasing the creative power of the Chinese people and irreplaceable resources. Here, one can find the origins, roots, foundations, and belonging of culture. Certain historical sites and cultural relics have even become eternal symbols of lofty,, or sacred things (e.g., Qu Yuan and patriotism), representing a shared, long-standing cultural sense of belonging and reverence among the Chinese people. The authors speak for the Three Gorges with a deep sense of historical responsibility, the keen insight of a writer, the conscience of a historian, and the identity of cultural protectors and rescuers. Through detailed historical records and abundant primary sources, they present some major discoveries in the Three Gorges cultural relics rescue project, solve mysteries, uncover past stories, trace origins, and address significant questions in the fields of history and archaeology, providing strong theoretical and historical support for further research. They also offer convincing perspectives on certain issues, leaving readers with ample space for reflection and inspiration. For example, in the article The Lao Guan Temple Culture, the author introduces some archaeological findings and compares them with the contemporaneous remains on Zhongbao Island in terms of the variety, shape, and geographical distribution of artifacts, concluding: "These two cultures, apart from inheriting some early cultural elements, show little influence from the Central Plains and surrounding regions, indicating that the Later Zhou Dynasty had seemingly lost control over the Three Gorges area." The text in the book is objective and straightforward, precise and clear; when describing, the writing is brilliant and exquisite; when elaborating, the insights are profound and penetrating. The deep historical context, on-site records of excavation and protection, and the expertise of scholars blend with the literary charm and refined interests of the author, creating a tapestry of emotional insights and comprehensive explanations. History and reality intersect, the civilization of the Three Gorges collides with world civilization, and our vision is drawn by the words and images in the book, taking us on a journey between history and reality, breaking through one historical after another to contemplate the development of human civilization as a whole. Its artistic spirit constructs a vast aesthetic space. The profound cultural heritage of the Three Gorges and the author's scholarly background work together to create a model suitable for reading, reflection, and reference. Its even greater significance lies in the fact that the cultural relics of the Three Gorges have not historically "disappeared" with the 135-meter water level rise but have deeply persisted in another form, extending into the future with a new face and exerting a profound influence on later generations. While providing historical materials, the author also stimulates our reminiscence and imagination about the Three Gorges submerged in the river and our more fervent expectations for its future. The book implicitly opens up possibilities for literary and historical exploration. Through it, we also gain insight into the author's profound reflections on historical sites and humanistic observation, and we can sense the author's strong sense of social responsibility, historical awareness, and modern consciousness. The richness of the text and the authority of the materials are also commendable. The authors selected several entry points, offering both panoramic scans (e.g., volume) and focused perspectives, covering everything from ancient times to the present, touching on politics, economy, literature, religion, art, history, geography, hydrology, archaeology, folklore, and transportation. It is almost a summary of the historical development of the Three Gorges region over thousands of years, a bird's-eye view and a deep reflection. The authors, with their comprehensive knowledge spanning past and present, meticulously sifted through vast amounts of information, thoroughly organizing and refining the cultural relics of the Three Gorges, filling gaps, consulting numerous sources, carefully verifying and cross-referencing existing materials, distinguishing truth from falsehood, and exploring and thinking from the singular to the whole, from the partial to the comprehensive, from the perceptual to the rational, from the historical dynamics reflected in the relics to new sustainable development approaches such as rescue excavation, restoration, and relocation. This powerfully expands the rich connotations of building a cultural ecosystem. In chapters like The Three Arches of Zhongzhou Through Millennia and The Eternal Qu Yuan Temple, the materials are abundant and the textual research meticulous, demonstrating the author's solid skills in textual criticism. The author also clearly outlines the evolution of relics such as the Arches and Qu Yuan Temple, as well as customs like the Dragon Boat Festival, revealing their underlying cultural significance to the readers. Each title in the third volume consists of seven characters, corresponding to each other in a seamless and majestic flow. For example, the numerous photographs of cultural relics and inscriptions are outstanding, these relics being uniquely created by the Chinese people and towering, timeless treasures. In summary, the two authors, with their unique perspective, cautious and meticulous approach, and grand vision, have woven a magnificent humanistic landscape. The book is meticulously planned, with an elegant and profound design, and the printing and production are exquisite and. Mr. Lai Bingwei, the planner, strives to assert his individuality in the vast sea of books, constantlying new topics and often attracting attention with his originality. The joint efforts of the publishing house staff and the authors have ensured a rigorous text structure, reliable editing and proofreading, and flowing, captivating text accompanied by exquisite images, making the essence of the Three Gorges vividly apparent. It not only provides convenience for reading, appreciation, and research but also expands our visual and psychological space; it is both practical and collectible, with a unique charm and brilliance, and a good cultural positioning, offering readers a high-quality spiritual feast. This book, in the form of authoritative materials and visuals, comprehensively reflects the basic conditions of the protection and rescue of cultural relics and cultural landscapes in the Three Gorges region since the 1990s. Through underground archaeological findings, it explores the ancient civilization of the Three Gorges region, and through surface cultural relics, it introduces the history, geography, politics, economy, transportation, and folk customs of ancient Three Gorges, presenting readers with the beautiful scenery and splendid historical and cultural heritage of the Three Gorges.