Northern Wei, Yungang

Author: Wang Jianshun
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-01-01
Features: This series of books primarily focuses on the inner world of travelers' observations and experiences, rather than the external landscapes and skylines. In these books, readers can see the author's conventional philosophical reflections, a generally solid academic background, as well as the ingenuity and keen insight evident in the author's writing. History and landscapes, landscapes and the indigenous people who built them, undergo a relatively complete historical and cultural evolution in each book. Readers can immerse themselves in this cultural emotion, either flowing with it or jumping through it, giving rise to an alternative, lingering, and reflective experience. This alternative, lingering, and reflective experience is both speculative and emotional; it is both exhilarating and indescribable. It is a cultural emotion that can no longer be newly created, replicated, or reconstructed, a sentiment that touches upon deeper emotions or psychological aspects when one sees historical sites that truly live up to their reputation. Such as the understanding of ancient architecture, the novel experience of another regional culture, and the authentic experience of the residential complexes of the Ming and Qing dynasties in Shanxi—"Confucian Merchant Family—Chang Family Manor," "Trustworthiness in the Middle Hall—Qiao Family Manor," "Red Six Great Mansions—Wang Family Manor," and "Rural Imperial City." There is also the awe-inspiring order, regulations, beauty, and tranquility preserved in the World Cultural Heritage and Historical Cities of China—"Northern Wei Yungang," "Detailed Explanation of Pingyao," and "Riding Through Yanmenguan." The immersive yet unaware experience of "Wutai Mountain Awaiting the Peak," "Jinci Dreaming," and "Hengshan Divine Craftsmanship." The profound yet silent emotion of the "Hongtong Ancestral Culture," which can be considered a World Intangible Cultural Heritage, akin to the snow-covered, unspoken of roots. Experiencing these above-ground cultural relics on the Shanxi Plateau nourishes the soul of an ancient civilization long forgotten, remembering the continuity of historical and cultural scenes. The "People Speak of Shanxi" series of books is an extremely authentic and reliable read. Its deeper meaning lies in various aspects of culture, especially in the ability to interpret beauty, ancient architectural art, and traditional culture. Each book informs readers of the origin of these beautiful and instructive landscape values. In reality, each book also allows for a mental journey. The Northern Wei period of Pingcheng (now Datong, Shanxi) was the golden age of the Tuoba Xianbei people, a time of stability, peace, and joyful development after their arduous migrations, battles, and wars. Against this backdrop and environment, the Tuoba Xianbei people created a culture that astonished the world: the Yungang Grottoes culture, the Pingcheng Ruins culture, and the Fangshan Mausoleums culture. In 2002, the Yungang Grottoes were approved and named as a "World Heritage" by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee. The Yungang Grottoes are vast in scale and majestic in, with almost all statues from the early and middle periods deeply embedded in their mouths, smiling, expressing the pride and joy of the Tuoba Xianbei people as victors.