The hometown of Zhou ancestral farming culture at China Qingyang Farming Culture Festival

In 2002, the Chinese Folklore Society named Qingyang City as the "Hometown of Zhou Zu's Farming Culture"

From the Kongjia Period of the Xia Dynasty to the Kangding Period of the Shang Dynasty, the ancient public His father moved south to Qishan, and Zhou's ancestors passed it on to Qingyang for 12 generations, which lasted for more than 400 years. The Zhou people taught people how to farm in Qingyang, creating a precedent for the farming culture of the Zhou Dynasty. They changed Qingyang from a nomadic area mainly based on animal husbandry to a semi-agricultural and semi-pastoral area mainly based on agriculture, which had a great influence on the subsequent economic and cultural development of Qingyang. Had a huge impact. Qingyang is a typical Loess Plateau landform, with mountains, rivers, and plains, and crisscrossing ditches, beams, and hills. This unique and diverse topography determines the diversity of agricultural production in Qingyang. That is: grain, cotton, oil, hemp, silk, sugar, vegetables, tobacco, fruits, medicines, miscellaneous goods, everything you need, and various agricultural, forestry, animal husbandry, and sideline production items are complete. Many production projects have a development history of thousands of years since ancient times.

1． Continuation of planting of crop varieties

The crops mentioned in "The Book of Songs·Bīn (bīn) Wind·July" include wheat, sorghum, corn, rice, millet, millet, soybeans, gourds, hemp, grapes, leeks, Amaranth, etc., are still grown in Qingyang City. The white melon seeds (gourd seeds) produced in Taibai, Heshui County are very famous and sold at home and abroad. Taibai Township is a famous rice town in the city. The rice produced here is sweeter and better than Ningxia japonica rice. Archaeologists have discovered that Aoliu and Xinbao villages in Ning County have stored grains that were carbonized 5,000 to 6,000 years ago, proving that millet was cultivated here during the Neolithic period.

2. The inheritance of agricultural activities in terms of seasons and production technology

Although agricultural activities in Qingyang today have made incomparable progress compared with ancient times, in some aspects they still inherit and develop the activities of the early Zhou Dynasty. For example, in the "July" chapter, there are descriptions of beating dates in August, harvesting rice in September, bringing grain into the warehouse in October, picking melons and eating melon pulp in July, and picking all the gourds in August. These are all the same as today's farming seasons. . For example, the customs of sending meals to the fields during the busy farming season, building a field in September (that is, planting crops in a piece of land in spring and summer, and building a field in autumn and winter), weaving doors with firewood, and using thatch and rope to tie crops are all customs that continue to this day. .

3． The development and inheritance of domestic livestock

The development of agricultural production is inseparable from the raising and breeding of livestock. After the Zhou people arrived in Beibin (bīn), they began to raise pigs and gradually trained wild boars into domestic animals. There is a saying in "Gong Liu" about "holding pigs in prison", which means keeping pigs in pig pens. There is a saying in "July" that "If you talk privately, you will be imprisoned; if you offer a pig to the public," it means to keep the little pigs to yourself and give the big pigs to the public. Because Gong Liu advocated that every wealthy household raise pigs, pig raising later became a symbol of family. The development of agriculture has promoted the development of cattle, donkey and sheep breeding. So far, Qingyang Donkey and Zaosheng Ox are famous both inside and outside the province. Sheep raising is almost the main family business of people in the north. The activity of killing lambs at the beginning of winter every year to offer sacrifices to the mountain gods and celebrate the harvest has continued since ancient times.

4. The planting of economic forests has been passed down from generation to generation

The planting of economic forests in Qingyang area has a long history, with not only a wide variety of varieties, but also considerable economic benefits. Quite a few economic forest varieties come from the planting and cultivation of Zhou Xianmin.

① Mulberry: As far back as the time of Emperor Xuanyuan, the Yellow Emperor ordered his concubine Yuan Yuan to plant mulberry and raise silkworms. Lei Zu taught the people to plant a large number of mulberry trees, raise silkworms, spin silk and weave silk. The woven silk is smoother and finer than linen, and then dyed with colors, it is made into clothes that are dazzling and loved by everyone. During the Pre-Zhou Dynasty, mulberry planting and silkworm rearing were vigorously developed in Qingyang. In the "July" chapter, there are poems such as "The woman holds a basket, follows her little steps, and seeks soft mulberries" and "Silkworm moon strips of mulberries", which means: The girl carries a bamboo basket and walks along the path beside the wall, picking the soft mulberries. mulberry leaves. From January to March every year, people start pruning mulberry trees, cutting off the high branches, and letting people climb the short branches to pick the young mulberries. Therefore, mulberry trees are native trees in Qingyang City. From the Zhou Dynasty to the present, for thousands of years, the people of Qingyang have been in the habit of planting mulberry and raising silkworms. The city has more than 30 varieties of local grass mulberry and introduced Hu mulberry, sweet mulberry, Liao mulberry, Wubao mulberry, Lotus leaf white, Kirkuso, etc., with a cultivation area of ??more than 10,000 acres and more than 10 million plants. Zhengning County has the largest area, reaching more than 4,000 acres.

②Plum: Plum is a native tree species in Qingyang. There is a poem in the chapter "July" that says, "In June, you eat Yu and drink wine." Yu means Yu Li, and the fruits are sweet and sour. Graft plum branches onto apricot and peach branches to produce plums that are sweeter than apricots and peaches. Plum trees are widely distributed in Qingyang City, and the people call them plum plums.

③Peach, pear, and jujube: When Gong Liu visited the Kingdom of the Queen of the West, he brought back many fine peach, pear, and jujube tree species. These tree species later became the dominant economic forest species in Gubindi, and are also local famous and high-quality products in Qingyang City today. Huanggan peaches from Jiulongchuan in Ning County, golden dates from Malian River, pears from Jingchuan and Binxian are all famous inside and outside the province. There are more than 10,000 acres of peach trees in Qingyang city, with an annual output of more than 2 million kilograms; there are more than 8,000 acres of pear trees, with an annual output of 1.9 million kilograms of pears. There are also 500,000 acres of apricot trees, with an annual output of 5 million kilograms of fresh apricots. In short, the economic development of Qingyang City is closely related to the entrepreneurial foundation laid by Zhou ancestors here. As we build socialism with Chinese characteristics, we must never forget the arduous entrepreneurial history of our ancestors. Zhou Zu's hundreds of years of activities in Qingyang left us with a rich farming culture, and its unique folk culture and numerous cultural relics are of great value.

1.

Cave dwelling culture is the most prominent local folk culture in Qingyang area

After Zhou ancestors arrived in Qingyang, due to the creation and large-scale promotion of cave dwellings, not only villages were spread across the Loess Plateau, but also some important towns, military strongholds, and pass points. The village has also been transformed into cave dwellings. This accommodation pattern began in ancient times and lasted for more than four thousand years until the founding of New China. Our ancestors came out of these cave dwellings and moved towards the country and civilization. Therefore, cave dwellings have become one of the birthplaces of Chinese civilization and an important cradle of the Chinese nation. During the Pre-Zhou Dynasty, the earthen cave dwellings found throughout the Longdong Loess Plateau were simple in shape and of various types, including Yazhuang Courtyard, Dikeng Courtyard, half-dark and semi-dark Village Courtyard, etc. The two types of cave dwellings, the sunken pit village and the semi-open cliff village (also known as Ming Zhuangzi), are dug differently due to different terrains, but their common characteristics are economical, dry and solid, warm in winter and cool in summer. Cleanliness and hygiene. Since people settled in these caves, agriculture, animal husbandry, handmade textiles, metal smelting, etc. have all developed, their materials have increased, their lives have been secure, and the population has increased year by year. As time goes by, the layout of cave dwellings continues to develop and change. By the Ming and Qing Dynasties, loess cave dwellings were the most popular. It’s a foregone conclusion. As of 1985, cave dwellings accounted for 71.47% of the city's rural residential construction area. For thousands of years, people have built cave dwellings, and cave dwellings have nurtured the people. To this day, the stories, legends and customs of cave dwellings are spread throughout the city. In Shuigouyuan Village, Waxie Township, Ning County, there is a thousand-year-old cave dwelling, covering an area of ??more than 200 square meters, with one door and five windows. The cave can accommodate a hundred people for meetings. There are still cave dwellings like this in some towns. These cave worlds silently show people a profound cultural heritage.

The cave dwellings in Qingyang have aroused great interest and attention from people around the world. In the 1960s, several Japanese guests visited the Loess Plateau in eastern Longxi and were fascinated by the ancient loess cave dwellings here. They concluded that in addition to rich cultural heritage, these cave dwellings are also an ideal place for health care. Because the temperature and humidity in the earth kiln are moderate, there is no big difference throughout the year; the air is fresh and purified, and there is no environmental pollution; more importantly, it can protect against radioactive elements, making it truly an excellent place for health and longevity. In June 2002, during the first China Xiangbao Folk Culture Festival, the Chinese Folklore Society named Qingyang City the "Hometown of Cave Dwellings".

2. Zhou Zu and local folk customs formed

No matter food, clothing, travel, entertainment, funerals, weddings, festivals, birthdays, etc., they are all unique and magical with endless charm. For example, in the Dragon Boat Festival in May, there are three main activities in celebrating the Dragon Boat Festival since ancient times: first, making and wearing sachets. The custom of making sachets is very ancient. The Yellow Emperor's Internal Classic says that a sachet is a sachet, which is used to hold medicine and spices. It is also used to hold currency. It is worn on the chest and cannot be stolen by others. In the Zhou Dynasty, it continued to be called sachet. Due to the development of embroidery technology, the shape of the sachet started from the purse and has changed in many ways, but the villagers have always called it "playing work" and "purse". Some girls sang little songs while embroidering purses, so folk songs with the theme of "embroidering purses" appeared. During the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia Border Region, Wang Tingyou, a peasant poet in Xinzheng County, adapted "Embroidered Purse" into "Embroidered Gold Plaque", which became a famous revolutionary song popular in the border region and later throughout the country. On the morning of the Dragon Boat Festival, children all put on sachets. Many children had sachets hung on their shoulders, front and back, and flower ropes made of five-colored threads were tied around their wrists and ankles. They played and even walked. The neighboring households are full of childishness and festive joy, and also display the women's exquisite craftsmanship, with a strong folk flavor. The second is to cut mugwort, sell mugwort, and put mugwort on every door. Because mugwort is a kind of insect repellent, when its leaf stems are burned, the smoke released can drive away and kill mosquitoes. In addition, it is also a kind of herbal medicine. After being boiled into soup, it can clear away heat and reduce inflammation. After being burned, it can be used for acupuncture to relieve pain and dispel cold. Around the Dragon Boat Festival, various pests such as mosquitoes and poisonous biting insects become active, so people use spices and medicines, such as mugwort, to prevent diseases and eliminate harm and protect people's health. The third is to drink realgar wine, which can also repel insects. The fourth is making and eating rice dumplings. The latter two customs were introduced from the south. Drinking is based on the story of the white snake drinking in "The Legend of the White Snake" to illustrate that wine can cure poisonous snakes and drinking can prevent poisonous snake bites. Eating rice dumplings is to commemorate the patriotic poet Qu Yuan. Qingyang folk culture, represented by the Dragon Boat Festival, has a long history and extraordinary charm, making Qingyang full of magic and vitality.

3． Zhou Zu’s ruins in Qingyang

Zhou Zu’s mausoleums: Bumi Mausoleum located in Hatbox Mountain east of Qingyang City, Ju Tao Mausoleum of Zhou Laowang located 60 miles west of Qingyang City, located in Jiulong, Ning County There are nine tombs of Zhou ancestors in Sichuan. There are more private tombs. The excavated pre-Zhou tombs include:

The Turugou tomb in Shijiazhuang, Xihuachi Township, Heshui County: facing north. A ruined tomb from the early Zhou Dynasty was discovered in the Western Zhou tomb area. The tomb is 1.3 meters wide, 1.5 meters deep and 1.7 meters long. Two pieces of pottery were unearthed in the second floor of the clay platform: a red pottery Ge with sand and rope patterns, a milky pouch with three legs, a single ear, and a straight mouth; the other is a gray pottery square fold-shoulder jar with a lid and polished body. Smooth, painted in vermilion and white pastels.

Bajiazui Tombs in Xifeng District: In the autumn of 1984, when Bajiazui farm workers were digging a kiln, they dug a pit 2 meters deep into the Xianzhou Tomb, and found slab ash and human skeletons. Some pottery was produced, three of which are collected by regional museums. The texture of the pottery is sand, red pottery and sand-gray pottery, with milky bag feet, cord patterns and additional pile patterns on the abdomen.

Pre-Zhou cultural relics: The pre-Zhou cultural relics discovered in the city are mainly the Jiuzhan site in Haozui Township, Heshui County, which is located on the platform on the north bank of Heshui River. In 1984, provincial and county museums and Peking University expert and professor *** jointly excavated the Jiuzhan site. Nearly a thousand pieces of pottery, 1 copper knife, and 1 copper ornament were unearthed from 80 earthen pit tombs. Carbon 14 dating shows that the absolute age is 3370 years ago, proving that it is definitely a cultural relic of the Zhou and Shang dynasties. There are 66 Western Zhou cultural sites in the city, of which Ning County has the most, with 39 sites. The focus is on the ruins of Tan Layu Village in Zaosheng Township, Ning County, which covers an area of ??180,000 square meters and is a provincial cultural relic protection unit. In the Shuangcheng ruins of Ququ Town, Huanxian County, in addition to pottery and stone tools, one urn coffin and tile coffin tombs, three brick tombs, and one bronze tripod and one bronze lid were also unearthed. At the Miaotouzui site in Lijiasi Village, Pengyuan Township, Xifeng District, one bronze bucket, one bronze steamer, and two bronze axes were unearthed. Three bronzes were unearthed from the Hantan Miaozui site in Wenquan Township, Xifeng District. The Shang Dynasty white jade Dage unearthed in Yelin Village, Dongzhi Township, Xifeng District, is actually a pre-Zhou artifact, because Dongzhi was originally a place where Zhou people lived at that time. The whole body of this weapon is bluish-white, with zero brown spots. It is slightly curved in the shape of a triangle, with a sharp forward edge, a central ridge and an edge. There is a hole on the inner side near the rail. There is a small tooth-like protrusion on the inner end, and the upper surface of the inner side is inscribed with " The word "chen". The animal's face pattern is engraved with the three characters "Zha Xu Wu" vertically in the middle of the front of the column. The handwriting is slender, the workmanship is exquisite, and it is 38.9 centimeters long. From then on, Yu Ge can see that the culture of the Pre-Zhou Dynasty has developed to a level close to the culture of the Central Plains.

4. Remains of the ancient relics of the early Zhou Dynasty

Bucheng City: Today's Qingyang County, there are four gates in the southeast and northwest, and the city wall is built with steps and cut earth.

Gongliu Yi: Located in Miaozuiping, west of Ning County, it was announced as a provincial cultural relic protection unit by the Gansu Provincial People's Government in September 1981.

Xijigou: It originates from the northeast of Gaolouyuan in Qingyang County and flows to Liangjiaping. It flows to the Malian River in the south and is about 10 miles long. It is the residence of Gong Liuzi.

Shengshui Pond: At the mouth of Liubagou in Qingcheng County, there is the ruins of Tiansheng Temple. Today, the pond is full of clear water, and there are huge horse hoof prints on the bottom.

Gongliu Ancient Temple: Located in Gaojia'ao Village, Wenquan Township, 80 miles southwest of the county, it is commonly known as Gongliu Temple or Laogong Temple. According to legend, Gong Liu managed the land here, and later generations built a temple because of drinking water and remembering the source. Every year on March 18th of the lunar calendar, for the Gong Liu Temple Temple Fair, local people and people from Changwu, Xunyi, Bin County, Shaanxi and other places come from afar to hold a grand commemoration of Gong Liu's birthday.

Zhou Mian Palace: Located in Beiguan, Qingcheng County, it is now called Beiguan Imperial City. Xingjiao Temple has a bronze statue with characters cast at this site: the site of "Zhou Di's Palace" no longer exists.

Zhou Zu Garden: Huayuan Village, 20 miles south of the county, is said to be the place where Zhou Zu planted flowers.

Huapo: Located 10 miles east of the county seat, it is said that there are peonies, peonies, tea leaves and other flowers with fragrant fragrance, making it a traditional garden.

Yanqing City: 35 miles north of the county, it is said to be the place where Gong Liu Zhao was born, and the ruins still exist.

Tianzi'ao: 70 miles northeast of the county. The land is near Dongling (i.e. Ziwu Ridge), with a deep ditch on the west side and a flat center with lush trees, suitable for livestock afforestation. According to legend, it was the site of Ju Tao's nomadic afforestation.

Gongliuzhuang: To the east of Fanjia’s old village, 50 miles northeast of the county, there are several acres of remaining land that no one dares to cultivate, and it is called Tianzizhang. According to legend, it is the birthplace of Zhou Zu.

Zhou Zu Temple: In the south of Qingcheng County, it worships Zhou Zu. At the beginning of Jiajing period of Ming Dynasty, Puhaixiu, the prefecture. There used to be statues and two murals of 37 kings under King Wen. In the fifth year of Shunzhi, Li Yuefang, the prefect, built the square and inscribed it with the words "Zhao Zhou Sacred Ancestor" and "Emperor Line Wang Feng".

Zhou Jiubangmufang: on Qingyang South Street. The three rooms of the wooden workshop are 10 meters high. The wooden workshop is connected to the top by four pillars. The upper part of the pillars is built with five and a half layers of overlapping arches, supporting the roof of the wooden workshop. The top tiles have a ridge, and the ridge tiles face lotus flowers. There is a plaque in the middle under the eaves, with three characters "Zhou Jiubang" in regular script on the surface. In September of the 18th year of Hongzhi's reign in the Ming Dynasty, Hao Yijian, the prefect of Qingyang and the former supervisory censor. In the Xinsi year of Guangxu in the Qing Dynasty, the prefecture's Japanese temple was rebuilt. In the 28th year of Guangxu's reign, the prefect Qinglin rebuilt it. This square is a county-level cultural relic protection unit.

Song Chengtian Monument: Located outside the west gate of Luochuan City, Zhengning County. It was built in the second year of Xiangfu in Dazhong of the Song Dynasty (1009 AD). Li Wei, a member of the Ministry of War and a member of the Ministry of War, wrote an article according to the imperial edict, and Yin Xigu, a minister of the Hanlin Imperial Academy, entrusted the imperial edict to the emperor. On the forehead of the stele, the seal inscription reads "Stele of Chengtian Temple in Ningzhou during the Great Song Dynasty". The inscription reads: "The upper reaches of Luochuan is actually a town belonging to Pengyuan. The weather is lush and verdant. The original Xi (xí) is hidden. The people are loyal and loyal, and the customs are diligent in farming. Xuanqiu is in sight, and there is the hometown of Xiong Detao. Bin The land is divided into borders, and it is the land of Liu Jide." In September 1981, the Gansu Provincial People's Government announced it as a provincial cultural relics protection unit. This monument has been moved to the courtyard of the County Cultural Center.

Houji Terrace: Located 30 kilometers northwest of Zhenyuan County, with dozens of steps around it, it is said to be the place where Houji taught people to farm.

In addition, there are Houji Dun, Houji Temple, Zhanshan Bay, Langcleu Valley, Jiuling Water, etc.