What are the meanings of "Yan School" and "Fang Chuan" in southern Fujian?

These striking Chinese characters can be seen everywhere on the threshold plaques of some ancient buildings in southern Fujian: Taiyuan Yan School, Qinghe Yan School, Longxi Yan School, Kaimin Chuan Xiang, Jiumuchang Chuan Xiang. Do you know what they mean?

Yan School: the Origin of Surnames

Minnan has a long history, stretching for thousands of years. The development of southern Fujian is closely related to the large number of residents from the Central Plains and the North moving south in history. Such as "Longxi", "Taiyuan" and "Jiyang", these central plains place names show that the main residents of southern Fujian are central plains immigrants.

Scattered villages in southern Fujian, based on region and consanguinity, often have a certain familial nature, which enables them to develop steadily. But the same surname, even in the same village, will have different derivatives. For example, the Cai family in southern Fujian has Jiyang School, Puyang School and Qingyang School.

Fang Chuan: the history that is remembered.

It is understood that Fang Chuan refers to the virtue and demeanor of a typical character in a surname, or its code of conduct and prestige, which can set an example for future generations. Take Yang as an example. Many of the plaques in the Yang family are written with the words "Four Knowledge Transfers". The allusion comes from the well-known story of Yang Zhenguang, a loyal minister in the Eastern Han Dynasty: Yang Zhen went to Donglai as a satrap and passed by Changyi. Wang Mi, the magistrate of Changyi recommended by Yang Zhen, came to Yang Zhen's residence with gold in the evening and wanted to give it to Yang Zhen. Yang Zhen refused and said, "An old friend knows a gentleman, but you don't know an old friend. Why? " Wang Mi said, "Ignorance is at dusk." Zhen said, "Heaven knows, earth knows, son knows, I know, what is an ignorant person?" Wang Mi went back in shame.

In the process of the migration and development of a surname, not only branches of surnames were derived, but also many talents and heroes appeared, or experienced some memorable events or left some precious objects, and many beautiful stories are still circulating today. Compared with Yan school, the spread of incense is more regional, because the spread of incense varies from place to place, even if it is the same Yan school, the spread of incense is different. For example, Li's surname in Meilin Village, Yongning is different from "sand embankment spreading incense", "column history spreading incense" or "purple gas coming from the east".

Culture and belonging on the lintel

The lintel of Qiuzhai in Wubao generally reads "Henan Yan School", the lintel of Guohai in Shihu Village of Hanjiang River reads "Fenyang Yan School", and the lintel of Xiezhai in Jinshang County writes "Precious trees and fragrant incense". Zeng's family originated from the "Longshan Yan School", and the most common lintel is "opening Fujian to spread incense", while Dong's interesting thing is "spreading incense around the dragon". They are not just four words on the lintel, they are the inheritance and recognition of clan culture by Minnan people, and they are the constant pursuit and continuation of a sense of belonging, including kinship ~