Wuyue Culture (The Spirit of China and the Water Towns of Jiangnan)

Author: Liang Baiquan
Publisher:
Publish Date: 1998-12-01
Features: represents the long-standing Chinese culture, which has always been composed of cultural units from different regions through long-term integration, exchange, and combination. The distinct cultural characteristics of each place continuously inject new elements into the Chinese cultural body. Located in the southeastern part of China, the Wuyue culture, with its abundant lakes and river networks, is represented by its elegant, refined, and delicate cultural atmosphere, becoming an indispensable part of the formation of Chinese culture, and increasingly important as time goes on. This water-town culture, over the millennia, has established a prosperous and blessed land with abundant resources and outstanding talents, thanks to the crisscrossing river channels and the boundless ocean. Wuyue corresponds to the modern provinces of Jiangsu and Zhejiang, as well as Shanghai, with surrounding areas including southern Shandong, eastern Henan, Anhui, and eastern Jiangxi. This region is also known as the famous Jiangnan in Chinese history. The term "Wuyue" dates back to the Spring and Autumn Period, when two powerful states—Wu (located in what is now Jiangsu) and Yue (located in what is now Zhejiang)—were renowned as hegemonic powers in the Central Plains. Thus, later generations referred to this area as Wuyue. The Wuyue region, located in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River, is famous as a water-town in China. Due to this characteristic, an interesting myth was once circulated in ancient times: Genggong and Zhuanxu fought for supremacy, during which Genggong, in anger, struck the Unstable Mountain, causing the pillar supporting the sky to tilt and the rope connecting the land's corners to break. As a result, the sky tilted to the northwest, with the sun, moon, and stars gathering there; the southeastern land became low-lying, and all rivers and streams flowed toward the southeast (from Liezi·Tangwen). Although this story is mythical, the crisscrossing rivers and waterways of the Jiangnan region are a fact. In addition to the Yangtze River, a major river in China, there are Taihu Lake, formed by meteorite impact or the closure of shallow seas, the Qiantang River, originating from the Huangshan Mountains in southern Anhui, and the Huai River, winding between the Yangtze and Yellow Rivers. Civilizations in the world often emerge and develop in river valleys and water sources. Therefore, these interconnected waters—the lake (Taihu), two rivers (Yangtze and Qiantang), two seas (Yellow Sea and East China Sea)—with their diverse forms, undoubtedly serve as the mother of Wuyue culture. The ancients also recognized the importance of these water systems, hence Taihu Lake is known as the "Nurturing Mother of Wuyue." According to ancient records, the Wuyue region has been inhabited by primitive peoples for a long time, including Taizu, Shaohao, Genggong, and Chiyou, followed later by Dongyi, Jingman, and the Baiyue tribes. Archaeological evidence shows that human traces appeared in the area of Tangshan Town in Nanjing as early as 300,000 years ago. Around 10,000 to 5,000 years ago during the Neolithic Age, Wuyue culture flourished here. It cultivated the world's earliest cultivated rice, significantly impacting the development of agriculture in southern China afterward. China's most famous craft—the lacquerware—also emerged during this time. Jade discs and jade tubes, after being introduced to the Central Plains, became the most important ritual vessels during the Shang and Zhou dynasties. Another notable era in the Wuyue region was the rise of the states of Wu and Yue during the Spring and Autumn Period. Among them, the character for Wu in the state of Wu was phonetically and semantically similar to the ancient character for "fish," leading some to believe this was related to the Wu people's residence in water-rich areas, showing the profound influence of water on the region. In the late Spring and Autumn Period, King Fuchai of Wu...