Hui Prefecture ancient ancestral halls

Author: Zhang Xiaoping
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2002-09-01
Features: This is a magical land, the Cradle of Cheng-Zhu philosophy and the Land of Etiquette; it has produced the illustrious Hui-style officials who thrived for centuries, nurtured the dazzling Hui-style opera troupes, and added splendid gems to Chinese culture. It has created brilliant, ( means "frozen notes" in English, but here it seems to be a metaphor for historical heritage). It is precisely because of these past glories and brilliance that the Hui-style cultural heritage has become renowned and unique, leaving the world in awe.
Every time one enters Hui-style areas, a sense of reverence and wonder fills the heart. It is no wonder that the famous Ming Dynasty dramatist Tang Xianzu moved to say emotionally, "In my life, the most fascinating place is one I never dream of visiting—Hui-style land." Here lie countless "fascinating" places that leave one linger and feel homesick. Walking under the ancient and mysterious sky of Hui-style cultural heritage, one sometimes stops to ponder, sometimes gasps in amazement, sometimes lets emotions flow freely, and sometimes feels a deep sense of nostalgia for the past.
As one walks through Hui-style areas, bursts of joy fill the heart, and while observing the scenery, one feels a profound sense of reflection and admiration. In the villages and hamlets, the towering white-walled and dark-tiled Ming and Qing Dynasty residences clearly convey the atmosphere of Hui-style cultural heritage. The ancient bridges crisscrossing the Xin'an river system seem to show the path once traveled by countless Hui merchants on their way to the world. The solemn stone archways stand tall, telling stories of historical shifts—here lies glory, but also traces of blood and tears. The solemn ancestral halls and (branch family temples) preserve the authority of influential families who moved south from Jin since the Jin-Nan migration. On and off the mountains, schools and academies stand, allowing one to hear the sound of reading—a "city of culture," a "Southeast Zoulu," where "in no village of ten households does reading fail."
Stepping into Hui-style areas, one enters a grand scroll of Hui-style cultural heritage, where scenes flash vividly in the mind: ancient bridges, ancient roads, and in the autumn wind, the young red-capped merchant Hu Xueyan, with luggage and umbrella, strides forward like a valiant traveler, leaving the mountains behind to create miracles. Inside the stern and isolated Qing Yi Hall, young and middle-aged women, with their hair turning white, their youth fading into old age, stand motionless or full of hope or indifference. At the entrances of villages like Tangyu, Xiongcun, Choushu, and Zhengcun, along the roads and streets, stand ancient stone archways from the Yuan to Qing dynasties—some magnificent, some uniquely elegant, some soaked in blood, some shocking—each telling stories of joy and sorrow over centuries, enacting scenes of both tragedy and comedy.
Strolling through the academies of Ziyang, Zhushan, and Nanhu, one may imagine Zhu Xi explaining Confucian classics and promoting his philosophy. It was during this period of flourishing culture that Hui-style merchants achieved their lifelong dreams of becoming "" (father and son as high officials) and "" (brothers as Hanlin Academy members), protecting and supporting their trade. Walking through the villages of Xidi, Hongcun, and Tangmo, the Chengzhi Hall, Dafu Hall, and Lufu Hall, along with the "Little West Lake" of Xiaohu, showcase the former glory, wealth, and splendor. The architectural layouts and styles of Shuikou, Niuxing, and "all waters return to the hall" reveal the intelligence of the ancient Hui people. The carved beams, painted rafters, and the "three carvings" (wood, brick, and stone) are like a folk symphony, echoing through the forests and lanes.
This series will adopt the style of cultural essays to provide a panoramic cultural scan of ancient villages (including ancient residences), ancient stone archways, ancient bridges, ancient academies, and ancient ancestral halls in Hui-style culture. Accompanied by panoramic, partial, or close-up views, the goal is to create a vivid and elegant portrayal, catering to both scholars and the general public.