Baqiu Ancient Town: Gontan

Author: Shi Fu Deng Xiao Jia Deng Xiao Jia Photography
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-09-01
Features: As authors of culture, we remain committed to protecting ancient towns with both attention and dedication. We are willing to contribute our efforts by publishing this series of illustrated books on Chongqing's ancient towns. This collection consists of 8 books, each featuring 100 to 150 photographic images, accompanied by 50,000 to 60,000 descriptive words to introduce a historic and cultural ancient town in Chongqing. We aim to achieve a balance where the realism and presence of the images bring depth and transcendence to the text within a specific temporal and spatial framework. Meanwhile, the text stimulates divergent thinking, allowing the visual and intuitive nature of the images to be interpreted from multiple dimensions. If this aspiration is largely fulfilled, this series will not only help people understand, appreciate, and protect ancient towns but also contribute to enhancing cultural awareness, promoting tourism development, and advancing urban construction. Moreover, when a certain ancient town inevitably disappears, this series can serve as a historical record. Disappeared ancient towns cannot be reborn, cloned, or replaced, making the remaining ones even more precious. Most of Chongqing's historic and cultural ancient towns are built near mountains and water, reflecting the unique architectural style of the Baqian region while absorbing cultural influences from areas such as Huguang, Jiangsu, and Zhejiang. They embody the humanistic pursuit of harmonious coexistence between people and nature. From the grand selection of sites based on fengshui principles to the intricate details of mountain walls, roof ridges, eaves columns, and door lattices, every residential, ancestral hall, guild hall, temple, theater, enclosed gate, overpass pavilion, cobblestone street, half-side street, and wind-and-rain bridge exudes simplicity and practicality. The dou-fu houses, suspended wooden structures, and corridor-style wind-and-rain courtyards, in particular, showcase ingenuity amidst spontaneity. The architectural art seamlessly blends with the natural environment, creating a lively and captivating charm. For centuries, the descendants of indigenous multi-ethnic communities and migrants from other regions have thrived in these areas, weaving countless beautiful and profound stories. Under the relentless pressure of modernization, they face the risk of disappearing at any moment. However, as long as they endure, the cultural heritage they carry—such as architecture, history, art, and folk customs—remains visible. They are far more than just a means for urban dwellers to seek simplicity and relaxation in nature.