Day school. Nanxi River - Spending Time (6)

Author: Air Couple
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-09-01
Features: Mingao was originally an ancient village, with Chen family residents dating back to the Tang Dynasty. However, as the village has grown, the number of old houses has dwindled. Among them, the innkeeper's ancestral home is the oldest, with a history of 680 years. Although the fence is now incomplete and new buildings have been added, the original appearance has been preserved.
This is a three-hall structure, with some remaining eaves tiles and original doors and windows. It is said that the house once had four plaques, but only one remains today, slanted in one corner of the main building. The plaque faintly inscribes the characters "To Cultivate Both Teeth and Virtue." It is an ancient artifact from the Qing Dynasty.
The stone laundry basin and well, carved from the side of the house, are as old as the house itself. Next to the well stands a small reclining stone Buddha, the "Well Hall Buddha," believed to be the guardian of the well. However, it is now tightly enclosed within a small square of bricks, making the space cramped. It must be quite unhappy—especially since people now use tap water and have neglected it.
At this moment, an elderly man carrying a bowl of noodles appeared. He warmly welcomed us to take photos on the stairs and, despite having half a bowl of unfinished noodles, walked barefoot in (slippers) through the village, guiding us around until we reached the former site of the village gate. The gate is gone, but a few adorable stone lions remain intact at the original location. There is also a stone bridge, with most of its 12 diverse stone carvings still in place. It is said that there were two lotus ponds beneath the bridge, but now they have turned into muddy marshes.
We climbed the mountain with sighs of regret. As we advanced along the ridge, we came across an ancient tomb, originally belonging to their ancestors. It is said that tomb raiders visited it twice in recent years but found nothing. Later, villagers who came to repair the tomb were astonished: the supposed burial place was filled with mud. So, where exactly were their ancestors buried remains a mystery.
However, every Qingming Festival, not only the people of their village but also Chen descendants from Qingtan, Lishui, and other areas send representatives to pay respects to their ancestors. So, regardless of where their true remains are, if their ancestors have spirits, they must feel some comfort.