2021-08-09

Weishan, you are the one I will never forget!

Wild Hooligan

I’m back home, but my heart is still in Weishan.

Weishan Ancient Kiln lies quietly at the foot of the lush green mountains in Weishan Village, in a crescent-shaped bay with small bridges and flowing water. In the past, it was raised in a boudoir and no one knew about it. Now it has long been crowned as a "National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit" and attracts tourists.

The records of the Weishan Ancient Kiln in "Liling County Chronicles" exude the ancient atmosphere of porcelain clay. The fire in the porcelain kiln was repeatedly tempered, precipitating the longevity and heaviness of Weishan porcelain industry, and Weishan became the birthplace of Liling porcelain industry. The lentil and two-bird vase that won the gold medal at the Panama International Exposition in 1915 was fired from the ancient kiln in Weishan to Liling County. With disappointment and hope, it was fired again and again, and finally stood out in the exhibition. In 2009, archaeological experts were pleasantly surprised to discover a Song Dynasty porcelain kiln and a large amount of porcelain in the ancient forests of Weishan Village, doubling the value of the ancient Weishan kiln.

The ancient kiln is the leading star of Weishan Porcelain Industry, with a calm expression after experiencing vicissitudes of life. Every green brick has a story, and every furnace door has a complex. In front of the kiln, generations of people install the kiln, light the fire, bake, and leave the kiln. The ceremony is simple and solemn. There is laughter in the fatigue, and there is happiness in the sweat. dream.

According to historical records, during the heyday of Weishan, there were more than 80 porcelain factories. Each porcelain factory had a porcelain kiln, and each porcelain kiln was a small bank. If the people of Weishan are rich, the people of Weishan will not eat overnight rice, but must eat fresh rice milled on the same day. Attracting merchants to come and go, Weishan was known as "Little Nanjing" at that time.

About twenty meters away from the back door of the ancient kiln, there is a stone cave at the foot of the mountain. In those days, cannons were fired to blast stubborn rocks, holes were dug to dig out porcelain clay, and tunnels were dug along mud veins. The holes were as deep as the mud veins were long. Wherever the mud veins go, the holes will be dug. The main cave is more than 300 meters deep, with an exit to the other side of the mountain. The entrance of the cave is at this end, and the end of the cave is at that end. The branch holes are tens of meters deep, and some are more than a hundred meters deep. Inside the cave, a mass of hot air in winter and a cool breeze in summer float gently to the entrance of the cave in the form of mist. The original clear and sweet mineral water flows out continuously all year round. Next to the cave, there is an old house with earthen walls on the mountainside, named "Shidong Family", with a couplet in red paper and black characters, "It is said that the stone cave brings hundreds of blessings, and people who accumulate good deeds receive thousands of auspiciousness." When the host comes to view the cave, no matter whether he is familiar with it or not, he will treat him with a smile and a cup of hot tea. Just as the couplet says, it shows the simplicity and goodwill of the mountain people. Such caves were the lifeline of the porcelain factory back then. Nowadays, one can be found inadvertently on the edge of mountains covered with thatch and thorns.

In front of the ancient kiln, on top of a solid stone, stands an "Old Weishan Pagoda". The tower is six levels high, which means six or six good luck. The ancient pagoda is tall and majestic, with awe-inspiring righteousness, stabilizing the landscape, blessing the prosperity and smoothness of the Weishan porcelain industry, and blessing the people of Weishan for a safe life. It has witnessed the history of Weishan yesterday and the landscape today. Weishan was reborn after suffering hardships, and the pagoda was rebuilt after wind and rain. This is the sub-tower of the ancient Weishan Pagoda. On the path next to the sub-tower, there is an ancient tower nearly three meters high, in the shape of a square pyramid. It is the mother tower of the Weishan Ancient Pagoda. It is made entirely of bluestones. It is old and steady, like a kind old mother watching over you. Be by your son's side and remind him to never forget your guardianship responsibilities. This style of building towers with mother-in-law towers is unique in Liling.

An ancient temple stands on Zhushanping in Weishan Village, known as the "Ancient Cave Heaven". According to ancient records, there are thirty-six caves in the world, and this place ranks thirteenth. Emperor Taizong Li Shimin of the Tang Dynasty ordered Yu Chigong to supervise the construction of the ancient caves. Later, the eminent monk Jianzhen received ordination here before heading east. The emperor's grace was great, eminent monks were discussing the Tao, candles illuminated the sky, incense smoke curled up, pilgrims knelt down and worshiped, and red sandalwood bells rang, resounding throughout the valley. Starting from September 19th every year, for seven consecutive days, eminent monks from all walks of life gather here, including Japan, Thailand, South Korea, Myanmar and other countries, and there is an endless stream of worshipers. The spacious millstone terrace can accommodate two thousand monks at a time to preach and discuss scriptures. Gudong Tianyuan covers an area of ??more than 3,000 acres and has a construction area of ??more than 4,000 square meters. Today's ancient cave has been rebuilt after the disaster, with red walls and black tiles, bright lights, solemnity and leisurely bells. Although it does not have the glory of the past, it can provide insight into the depth of Buddhist culture, which makes people have infinite emotions and reveries. In the seventh year of Emperor Yongzheng's reign, Liao Zhongwei, a Cantonese who was a devout man and a believer, rented a mountain from Weishan Temple to make porcelain, and invited more than 20 technicians from the same town to set up a factory to make porcelain. The Weishan porcelain industry opened a new page. Perhaps, without Gudongtian, the porcelain industry in Weishan would have started later.

This secluded mountain village is still engraved with "red marks", leaving behind the footprints of the underground party's battles. Back then, there were so many porcelain factories in Weishan, with so many workers; there was so much land and mountains, and so many farmers; the porcelain factories and the ancient cave attracted so many pilgrims and businessmen. Therefore, it has also become a focus of the struggle between the underground party and the Kuomintang. Geng Zaixiao (brother of General Geng Biao) followed the instructions of the Xiangtan guerrillas and went to Weishan to carry out underground activities and fight against the Kuomintang. Opposite the current Gudongtian Temple, by the river, the remaining earthen huts were originally two-story buildings. Opposite the Xiaocong River, Geng held up a bamboo pole and jumped across the fast-flowing river several feet wide. Bully. In order not to harm the local people, he did not go home and set up the guerrilla headquarters in Putao'ao, Weishan Village. At the red line of the Yuexingwan Group, there is a pile of five people. It was the place where the Kuomintang secretly shot the Communists. Here still lies the souls of five unknown martyrs.

When you arrive at Weishan, it would be a pity if you miss the "fun of mountains and rivers" here. In the river, you can touch stupid and plump red-finned fish, turn over small crabs under rocks, carry black shells on your back, hold up pair of tongs, and do whatever you want. You can pull a handful of fragrant celery and pull it up at will. Wild taro. Green hills are everywhere, and there is a world of wild delicacies. Chestnuts, chestnuts, persimmons, hawthorns, wild strawberries, jujubes, and kiwis. Those who know their names and those who cannot name them are all over the mountains and ridges. There are fragments of ancient porcelain everywhere on the mountain. You can hunt for treasures here. If you are lucky, you may find a chipped blue and white porcelain bowl from the Qing Dynasty, the Republic of China or after the founding of the People's Republic of China, and a complete spoon. With a mountain fruit and a piece of porcelain in hand, I experienced excitement and gained innocence.

The ancient Weishan has unique food. These delicacies are closely related to the prosperity of the porcelain industry at that time. When they were wealthy, Weishan people thought of ways to enjoy a little bit of delicious food. Weishan tofu is carefully made, using high-quality soybeans and sweet mountain spring water. It is fried and crispy but not rotten. Both sides are golden and delicious. Nowadays, the supermarket in Liling has a special counter of Weishan Tofu, and Weishan Tofu has become a special dish in the hotel menu. In front of the farmhouse, the village girl doesn't have to shout, the aroma will seduce your vision, the lamp cakes are sprinkled with sesame seeds, and the rice tofu is sprinkled with chopped green onion, making visitors fall in love at first sight, whet their appetites, and can't stop.

One journey to the mountains, one journey to the water, walking on the other side of Weishan Mountain. Weishan Reservoir stores green mountains and green water, as well as history and culture. Weishan Reservoir is immersed in the past glory of Weishan. At that time, a straight bluestone street started from the current dam and extended inwards. There were many shops on both sides, offering everything from firewood, rice, oil, salt, sauce, vinegar and tea. Many porcelain factories are located nearby. After dinner, those porcelain workers who have money in their pockets may drink two liang of grain wine and some peanuts in the shop; or they may lay out a chessboard and fight on the street. A street full of porcelain workers. There is a rice scoop ridge in the middle of the reservoir, which looks like a lying rice scoop, hence the name, but it is full of warning and meaning: only by seizing the opportunity and the rice scoop, can you have food to eat. The reservoir is full of mountain spring water, sparkling and scaly. It will give you a fresh smile when you come and give you an affectionate look back when you leave.

Where is Weishan, the birthplace of Liling porcelain industry?

She is in Weishan Village, Weishan Town, Liling City.

Whether you see it or not, whether you come or not, the ancient and simple Weishan is all here.