History and Culture of Jinzhong, Shanxi

1. What are the humanistic characteristics of Jinzhong?

Jinzhong is a typical area where ethnic minorities live scattered and mixed. The basic characteristics are large dispersion and small concentration.

There are 26 ethnic minorities including Hui, Manchu, Mongolian, Yi, Tujia, Russian, Oroqen, Tibetan, ***er, Zhuang, Xibe, Hani and Tujia. Shanxi merchant culture is a cultural form formed with the entire Shanxi as the background and business as the center.

It started with Shanxi merchants becoming prosperous and dominant in the Chinese market, starting from the Ming and Qing dynasties, and continuing to the Republic of China, a series of cultural phenomena with commerce as the link. From a historical perspective, Shanxi merchants did not originate in central Shanxi.

It has a sequential advance from southern Shanxi to the north. By the early Qing Dynasty, the merchant gangs in central Shanxi replaced the dominant position of merchants in southern Shanxi and southeastern Shanxi among Shanxi merchants and became the most outstanding representatives of Shanxi merchants.

The business activities of Shanxi merchants created the business culture of Jinzhong. From business philosophy, value orientation, professional ethics to business methods, organizational management methods, and even technical methods such as bookkeeping, abacus, and secret key, a complete set of ethical culture and institutional culture has been formed.

This is Shanxi merchant culture in the most essential sense. In addition, due to the mainstream status of Shanxi merchant activities in all walks of life, the survival and development of Shanxi merchants have driven a series of cultural phenomena.

From the ancient city of Pingyao being designated as a World Cultural Heritage by UNESCO in 1997, to the Pingyao International Photography Exhibition gaining more international influence every year; from the popularity of the movie "Raise the Red Lantern" , to the popularity of the TV series "Qiao's Courtyard" and the sensation of the drama "The Beginning of Autumn"; the "four major cities" (Taigucheng, Pingyao Ancient City, Qixian Historical and Cultural City and Yuci Old City) that carry the rich connotations of Shanxi merchant culture ) "Six Courtyards" (Yuci Changjia Manor, Qixian Qiao Family Courtyard, Qujia Courtyard, Lingshi Wang Family Courtyard, Taigu Cao Family Courtyard, Taigu Kong Xiangxi Courtyard). Jinzhong is also a distribution center for folk culture and intangible culture: the "Cold Food Festival" originated from Jiexiu, the legend of the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl originated from Heshun, the legend of Shouyang is the hometown of the longevity star, and folk culture such as Zuoquan Xiaohua Opera, Qitai Yangge, and Yushe Overlord Whip Nourish the people who live and work on this land.

The two days before the Qingming Festival in the lunar calendar every year were called the Cold Food Festival in ancient times. This is one of the festivals that originated in Jinzhong and spread throughout the country. The reason was that during the Spring and Autumn Period, Jie Zitui, a hero of the Jin Kingdom, was burned to death in Mianshangyi (today's Jiexiu). Jin Wengong was deeply saddened and ordered the whole country not to light fires for cooking on this day, and to use dry food or cold food to satisfy their hunger.

After the Qin and Han Dynasties, it gradually became a local custom and spread outwards. During the Tang and Song Dynasties, many scholars used the Cold Food Festival to praise Jie Zitui's noble character of "not talking about wealth".

At the same time, because the two days before Qingming Festival coincide with the "One Hundred and Five Days" (105 days after the winter solstice), the Cold Food Festival is also regarded as a ghost festival for ghost marriages, dry funerals or temporary burials. . Yao He, a poet of the Tang Dynasty, once wrote in "Cold Food": "Today it is one hundred and fifty, and the rain has begun to clear when I leave the house."

Until the Ming and Qing Dynasties, various places still continued the habit of eating cold food during the Cold Food Festival to commemorate Jie Zitui. Furthermore, construction can be started at will on this day. When people demolish and build houses or repair bridges and pave roads, they must dig the ground and shovel walls on this day in advance to show that the project has begun. When the construction officially starts in the future, other gods will Will not intervene. 2. What is the history of Jinzhong, Shanxi?

Historical evolution Jinzhong City belonged to Jin in the Spring and Autumn Period and to Zhao during the Warring States Period.

After the Qin and Han Dynasties, it was under the jurisdiction of Taiyuan County and Taiyuan Prefecture. The Jinzhong area was established in 1949 and was called Yuci Prefecture. In 1958, it was renamed Jinzhong Prefecture.

In 1970, it was changed to Jinzhong area. In 1999, the prefecture-level Jinzhong City was established.

Yuci Prefecture, Jinzhong Prefecture, and Jinzhong Area The Yuci Prefecture was established in 1949, with the special agency stationed in Yuci County. It governs 13 counties including Yuci, Pingding, Yuxian, Shouyang, Qixian, Taigu, Jiexiu, Lingshi, Pingyao, Xiyang, Heshun, Zuoquan (formerly Liao County), Yushe and Yangquan Industrial and Mining Area.

In 1951, the former Yangquan Industrial and Mining Zone was renamed Yangquan City and was directly under the jurisdiction of the province. Six counties including Xiaoyi, Fenyang, Wenshui, Jiaocheng, Qingyuan and Xugou, which were formerly part of the Fenyang Prefecture, were included in the Yuci Prefecture.

It governs 19 counties. In 1952, Qingyuan and Xugou counties were merged to form Qingxu County (based in Qingyuan County).

Fangshan, Lishi, Linxian and Zhongyang counties under the original Xingxian Prefecture are included in the Yuci Prefecture. Fangshan County moved to Gedong.

Yuci Prefecture governs 22 counties. In 1954, Chengguan District of Yuci County was renamed Yuci City, under the direct jurisdiction of the province.

Lishi and Fangshan counties were merged and renamed Lishan County (based in the original Lishi County seat). Yuci Prefecture governs 21 counties.

In 1958, Yuci District was changed to Jinzhong District. The two cities of Yuci and Yangquan, which were originally under the direct jurisdiction of the province, were placed under the leadership of the Jinzhong Special Administrative Office.

The two counties of Yuci and Shouyang were abolished and merged into Yuci City; the three counties of Qingxu, Jiaocheng and Wenshui were abolished and Qingxu County was merged into Taiyuan City; Jiaocheng County was merged into Taiyuan City and Fenyang County; Wenshui County was merged into Fenyang County. The three counties of Pingding, Xiyang and Yuxian were abolished and merged into Yangquan City.

Zuoquan County was abolished and merged into Heshun County. Qi County was abolished and merged into Taigu County.

Lingshi and Xiaoyi counties were abolished and merged into Jiexiu County.

The two counties of Lishan and Zhongyang were abolished and merged to establish Lishi County (based in the original Lishi County).

Yushe County was abolished and merged into Wuxiang County in the Southeast Shanxi Prefecture. Jinzhong Prefecture governs 2 cities and 7 counties.

In 1960, 8 counties including Xiyang, Yuxian, Shouyang, Zhongyang, Wenshui, Jiaocheng, Zuoquan and Yushe were restored. Jinzhong Prefecture governs 2 cities and 15 counties.

In 1961, Yangquan City was transferred to the provincial government. The four counties of Pingding, Qixian, Lingshi and Xiaoyi were restored.

Jinzhong Prefecture governs 1 city and 19 counties. In 1963, Yuci City was abolished and Yuci County was restored.

Jinzhong Prefecture governs 20 counties. In 1970, Jinzhong District was renamed Jinzhong Area.

Yangquan City was changed to be led by Jinzhong District. Jinzhong area is located in Yuci County.

It governs Yangquan City and Yuci, Shouyang, Yuxian, Pingding, Xiyang, Heshun, Zuoquan, Yushe, Taigu, Qixian, Pingyao, Jiexiu, Lingshi, Xiaoyi, and Fen 20 counties including Yang, Wenshui, Jiaocheng, Zhongyang, Lishi and Linxian. In 1971, Yuci City was restored and Yuci County moved to Changning.

Seven counties including Linxian, Jiaocheng, Lishi, Fenyang, Wenshui, Xiaoyi, and Zhongyang will be placed under the Luliang area. Jinzhong region governs 2 cities and 13 counties.

In 1972, Yangquan City was transferred to the provincial government. Jinzhong region governs 1 city and 13 counties.

In 1975, Yuci County moved to Yuci City. Jinzhong region governs 1 city and 13 counties.

Fenyang Prefecture The Fenyang Prefecture was established in 1949, with the special agency stationed in Fenyang County. It governs 9 counties including Fenyang, Jiaocheng, Wenshui, Qingyuan, Jinyuan (in Taiyuan City), Xugou, Xiaoyi, Zhongyang and Shilou.

In 1951, the Fenyang Prefecture was abolished, and seven counties including Lingshi, Xiaoyi, Fenyang, Wenshui, Jiaocheng, Qingyuan, and Xugou were placed under the Yuci Prefecture; Shilou County was placed under Linfen Special District; Zhongyang County was placed under the Xingxian Special District; Jinyuan County was revoked and merged into Taiyuan City. (: "Evolution of the People's Republic of China and the Political Districts (1949-1979)" edited by Shi Weile) On September 24, 1999, the State Council approved (Guohan [1999] No. 124): (1) Cancellation of the Central Jinzhong District and the Political Districts Yuci City at the county level and Jinzhong City at the prefecture level were established.

The Municipal People’s Government is stationed in the newly established Yuci District. (2) Jinzhong City established Yuci District, and the administrative area of ??the original county-level Yuci City was the administrative area of ??Yuci District.

District People *** is stationed at Dongshuncheng Street. (3) Jinzhong City governs Taigu County, Qi County, Pingyao County, Lingshi County, Yushe County, Zuoquan County, Heshun County, Xiyang County, Shouyang County and the newly established Yuci District in the original Jinzhong area .

Jiexiu City in the former Jinzhong area was directly under the jurisdiction of Shanxi Province. Located in the central part of Shanxi Province, its geographical coordinates are 111°23′-114°28′ east longitude and 36°39′-38°06′ north latitude.

The whole region governs 2 cities and 9 counties, with a total area of ??16,376 square kilometers. After 48 years of development and construction, the economic and social strength of Jinzhong has been continuously enhanced, and the urban development level has been greatly improved.

A relatively complete industrial system with special categories such as textiles, coal, machinery, chemicals, and food has gradually formed. Jinzhong region has a warm temperate continental monsoon climate, with dry spring monsoons, relatively high temperatures in summer, high temperatures in autumn, and relatively cold winters. The climate is distinct throughout the year, with a large temperature difference between day and night.

The area’s tourism resources are rich and diverse, with a full range of types. The natural and cultural tourism resources within the territory are beautiful, diverse, exquisite and rare.

Traditional local specialties and high-quality products are well-known at home and abroad, and are well-known in China. Pingyao Ancient City, a national historical and cultural city, is located in this area.

In terms of humanistic tourism resources: Qixian Folk Museum, Kong Xiangxi’s former residence, Pingyao, “the best bank in the world”, “Rishengchang” bank, Pingyao Zhenguo Temple, Yuci City God Temple, Taigu Bai The towers are exquisite and unique and are famous both at home and abroad. Natural tourism resources include Jiexiu Mianshan, Lingshi Gypsum Mountain, Heshun Yunlong Mountain, Zuoquan Matian scenery, Heshun Heshan’s strange springs, Lingshi which is regarded as the “seed stone” and other majestic natural landscapes, with beautiful mountains and waters, and the fragrance of birds and flowers. , the scenery is pleasant.

In addition, such as Jinzhong paper-cutting, Pingyao beef, Taigu cakes, Taigu West claws, Pingyao polished lacquer products, Hongshan ceramics, Qixian glassware, Yushe donkey-hide gelatin, "Guilingji" wine, etc. Famous and high-quality specialties have added luster to the development of Jinzhong's tourism industry. 3. Historical and cultural characteristics of Shanxi

Jin dialect is spoken in most areas of Shanxi, Central Plains Mandarin is spoken in most areas of southern Shanxi, and Hebei-Shandong Mandarin is spoken in Guangling County. Jin dialect is the only non-mandarin dialect in northern China. The biggest feature of Jin dialect that is different from Mandarin is the retention of entering tones. Most Jin dialects have five tones. The tones of Jin dialect have extremely complex continuous tone changes. The ancient voiced sounds in Jin language are now pronounced as stops and fricatives with a flat tone and no aspiration. Jin language retains many characteristics of ancient Chinese.

Shanxi is one of the birthplaces of Chinese opera art and is known as the “cradle of opera”. The germination of opera appeared in Shanxi during the Han Dynasty; during the Northern Song Dynasty, various local operas were active in various parts of Shanxi - these local operas were the prototype of Chinese opera; during the Yuan Dynasty, Shanxi became the center of national opera art, and the Yuan Dynasty theater stages were discovered nationwide. Most of them are in Shanxi.

Shanxi is one of the areas where festival folk customs first appeared. China has long followed the Xia calendar, which was the calendar used by the Xia Dynasty in history.

The southern region of Shanxi Province is one of the birthplaces of the Xia Dynasty. In the northern region, Hu and Han people lived together for a long period of time, forming local seasonal folk customs.

Extended information

Shanxi is known as the "Museum of Ancient Chinese Architectural Art", and the well-preserved ancient ground-level ancient buildings from the Song and Jin Dynasties account for more than 70% of the country's total. Ancient human cultural sites, ancient imperial cities, Buddhist temples, grotto monuments, sculptures and murals, ancient pagodas and ancient tombs, Buddhist and Taoist holy sites, dangerous passes, revolutionary cultural relics, and historical sites, etc., from north to south, constitute Shanxi's ancient and modern cultural landscape.

By the end of 2013, there were 452 national key cultural relics protection units in Shanxi Province. Wutai Mountain in Xinzhou is one of the four major Buddhist holy sites; Datong Yungang Grottoes is one of the three major Buddhist grottoes; Datong Beiyue Hengshan Mountain is one of the Five Sacred Mountains in China; Xuankong Temple is the only remaining temple integrating Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism in China ; Pingyao Ancient City in Jinzhong is one of the three existing ancient cities; Yuncheng Jiezhou Guandi Temple is the largest martial arts temple.

Imperial City Prime Minister’s Mansion, Qiao Family Courtyard, Qu Family Courtyard, Wang Family Courtyard, Li Family Courtyard, Taigu Sanduotang, Changjia Manor, Shen Family Courtyard, Mengmen Ancient Town, Kong Xiangxi’s former residence is a representative of Shanxi’s residential buildings.