The Classic of the earliest tap water project in China —— Hongcun Water System in South Anhui

(Drinking Water World Magazine)

More than ten years ago, by chance, I came to Tunxi at the foot of Huangshan Mountain in southern Anhui. After visiting Xidi Village, a famous ancient residence in yi county, a friend said that there is another ancient village in Taohuayuan-Hongcun, which is 5 ~ 6 kilometers northeast of the county seat and is worth visiting. After I went there, I was very excited and impressed so far.

Hongcun is really different. The village plan looks like a cow. The village has beautiful mountains and rivers, pleasant climate, lakes and mountains, unique features, integrating human landscape and natural landscape, and is an ideal place for people to live. A bluestone road leads people into the village. There are more than 0/00 families in the village/kloc, with winding paths and deep courtyards. The village is surrounded by towering old trees. Two of the ancient trees are over 400 years old. Poplar is flourishing, the crown is like a big umbrella, and the trunk of ginkgo tree is vigorous and powerful, like a sword, heading straight for the blue sky.

It is said that Hongcun was the place where Wang lived in the Southern Song Dynasty. According to legend, the Wangs suffered many fires 500 years ago, so they paid great attention to the layout of water system when planning to expand the village.

In the center of Hongcun, there is a half moon lake with an area of several acres. This is Yuetang, called "oxtail", commonly known as Yuetang. It complements the surrounding dense ancient residential buildings in Ming and Qing dynasties, forming a unique Jiangnan garden landscape, giving people a quiet and quiet aesthetic feeling.

In the mid-Yuan Dynasty, the ninth grandson of Wang Yanji, the ancestor of Wang in Hongcun Leigang, was a well-known philanthropist. Scholars from all directions often come here one after another. Among the many guests, there are many teachers of Yin and Yang and Mr. Feng Shui. One day, after everyone had finished eating, Wang Xuanqing invited him to climb Leigang Mountain behind the village and overlook the beautiful scenery of Hongcun Mountain to get famous poems. After climbing the mountain, one of the believers, Yin Yang Shi, was surprised by the geographical location of Hongcun. Because his master was considerate, he said to Wang Xuanqing, "There are natural caves in the village, and springs are inexhaustible in winter and summer. The foundation of this house should be expanded, and the fire of C-D should be locked with the sunny water of A. He also said that if it is expanded into a pond swamp, the Wangs will develop and prosper. Hearing this, Wang Xuanqing was very convinced, but at that time, because he made many friends and did more good deeds, he had little savings left, and he was too old to run such a huge project. Therefore, this matter has to be recorded in the genealogy and passed on to future generations, so that future generations can complete this important task according to the wishes of their ancestors. It was not until the Yongle period of the Ming Dynasty 500 ~ 600 years ago that the Wang family in Leigang was passed down to this generation. Wang Siqi is an able person in the family. He is well-read, versatile, proficient in piano, chess, calligraphy and painting, and still believes in the theory of Yin and Yang Feng Shui. This year, according to the rules of the family, it was the turn to take charge of the sacrifice in the ancestral temple of the king, and the family genealogy spread to him. So, naturally, he discovered the past recorded by his ancestor Xuan Qinggong.

Maybe it's because our ancestors suffered from Zhu Rong several times, or maybe it's because the village is in danger of being burned because of the rapid development at this time. At this time, the genealogy recorded that "there is a natural cave in the middle of the village" caused Wang Siqi's deep thought. If it is imported from the west, it can not only prevent fire, but also be used as a quiet place for drinking, washing, watering. However, earlier, he also heard from his predecessors that this spring is connected with Long Mai, which is a stroke spring in the village and should not be moved; This spring is only a few steps away from the ancestral temple of General Wang, and Siqi dare not treat it lightly. Therefore, he went to Haiyang (now Xiuning County) three times, invited Mr. He Keda, who is known as a Buddhist, to make three field trips, and invited the elders of the same clan to plan together to "read all the mountains and rivers and examine the context carefully". After repeated discussions, he finally worked out the village layout and water system planning centered on springs. That is, "the Xixi River is diverted to dig a pit around the village house, and the river is long and ditch-shaped, flowing through ten curved ridges" and strung in an artificial pond. Unfortunately, Wang Siqi didn't realize this grand plan in his lifetime. In Wang Shengping's generation, in order to follow the ambition of his ancestors, he took out a project to invest his life.

Since Wang Shengping invested in the expansion of the Moon Marsh in the village, it seems that the Wangs really made a fortune in response to Mr. Feng Shui's wonderful plan to dig the cow-shaped marsh and lake. With the passage of time, Guyuyang Road, which connects the north and south traffic, quietly changed its course and passed by the village.

Due to the rise of Huizhou merchants, yi county, like other counties in Huizhou, is another great development period after the Southern Song Dynasty. The Wang family in Hongcun also has many talents who are good at going abroad to do business and get rich. Like many Huizhou merchants, they "seek food and clothing in all directions". After enduring humiliation, working hard and striving for strength, I went back to my hometown to buy land to build a house and build a ancestral temple. For a time, the development speed of Hongcun was amazing. During the Wanli period, Hongcun's population grew rapidly, houses were built intensively, and its scale became increasingly large. In addition, ancestral halls and branch shrines in each room and hall have been built one after another, so the moon marsh and water cellar dug and expanded before 150 are obviously not enough. It is not enough to store A's "internal yang water", and "Nanshan scorching sun" is still a hidden worry in people's hearts. Nearly 200 mu of newly reclaimed land outside the village is also irrigated without water, and the contradiction between water sources is increasingly prominent.

At this time, the elders of the Wangs remembered that their ancestors once said that the Moon Marsh only stores "sunshine water inside" and "the new stream is surrounded by the south, with a hundred acres of fertile land". If we can "store" the external sunshine water again, our future generations will be luckier. " So, this is a big deal.

Before Wanli Ding Nian (1607), the patriarch of the Wang family was called on to raise funds, and hundreds of acres of paddy fields were expropriated in the south of the village, which connected large and small stone pits and dug dozens of feet deep, opening up a huge "belly"-shaped pond with an area of18,000 square meters. Surrounded by masonry, it is named Nanhu because it is located in the south of the village.

The construction of Nanhu Water Conservancy Project was undoubtedly a huge project at that time. What is particularly commendable is that when the designer dug the South Lake, he also paid great attention to the comprehensive improvement of the village, so that the buildings such as houses, academies and ancestral halls formed a whole with the water system such as Shuizhen, Yuetang and Nanhu. The whole South Lake is semi-circular. On the back of the bow is the south bank of the lake, which is divided into two layers. Plant a poplar and a weeping willow every five feet to form a shade far away from the hazel forest in Leigang Mountain behind the village. The bowstring part is the north bank of the lake, adjacent to the village. Paved bluestone slabs are uniform, and Huizhou ancient buildings with different styles are built on the shore. The freshly painted blue tiles are in harmony with the red flowers and green trees on the other side. There are thin dikes in the lake, and colorful bridges connect the two banks, dividing the South Lake in two. Lakes are connected, and ships are connected from east to west. Fish and lotus are planted in the lake. In summer and autumn, lotus leaves are graceful and fragrant, and their poetry often makes tourists linger.

After the completion of Nanhu Lake, four bridges were built on Xixi River. At this time, the totem of the cow jumped out and a wonderful cow-shaped village was born. Four wooden bridges with stone piers are like a bucket arch, and the high Leigang Mountain is like a bull's head. When the Yushan River was blocked, a "tripe" with nine twists and thirteen bends grew, which passed through the village, entered thousands of households, then flowed into the "tripe" in the moon marsh in the heart of the village, and finally merged into the South Lake named "tripe". Hongcun, what a cow-shaped water town.

With the completion of the South Lake, villagers can drink water, wash, water flowers, raise fish, grow vegetables and flowers and recuperate without leaving home. In recent years, experts agree that this is the earliest "tap water" project in China.

Now it seems that Hongcun's water system engineering design is very scientific. No matter ponds, lakes, wells and fish ponds, there are "ox intestines" running through them, and clear water flows all day long, crystal clear. People walking on the bluestone road beside the stream or standing on the delicate small stone bridge can clearly see the reflection of high walls and deep courtyards in the water and the fish swimming in groups. When the smoke from kitchen chimneys rose in the morning light, the rural villagers and playful children who moved by the stream in twos and threes dispersed an idyllic tranquility and peace.

How to make good use of Hongcun's "tap water", Wang's ancestors also set rules. Before 8 o'clock in the morning, it is time for families to carry water for drinking. After 8 o'clock, the villagers can wash in the "cow intestines". Hundreds of years have passed, and the ancient tradition is still continuing, but there are many tourists, painters and poets coming here by the "ox intestines".

Since the Nanhu Lake was built more than 400 years ago, there have been three historic reorganization and dredging projects. During the Tongzhi period, Wang Huaiyuan donated money to repair the disease, but it was not fully effective because of the war. In Guangxu for more than 20 years, the lake was silted up again, and Wang Duanping once made a rectification, but he was not completely satisfied. The most important time was in the second year of Xuantong in Qing Dynasty (19 10), when Wang Ziren came back from the curtain tour, he became interested in it. Advocate planning and spare no effort. "However, just when Wang Ziren started to work, he died of illness." Fortunately, with more support from the sages of the clan, everyone would be more active. "The renovation project has finally come to a successful conclusion.

Today's South Lake, after the founding of New China, has been renovated several times and basically remains the same. Here, the four seasons are clear and blue, the clear water is rippling, the distant mountains are close to trees, and the white walls are blue tiles, reflecting the bottom of the water. As the main tourist attraction of Hongcun, it is not only a must in the Peach Blossom Garden, but also a perfect combination of science and poetry in the construction of rural villages in China. There was a poem that praised: "Green mountains and green waters are priceless. Who leads a hundred schools of Biquan? " Wash out the white wall, reflecting the June flowers of Jiangnan Lake. "

1992 10, Yang Zhenhuai, Minister of Water Resources of the State Council, and relevant experts visited Hongcun. Minister Yang and his party visited Hongcun, focusing on the village layout and the characteristics of water system development and utilization. Accompanied by relevant experts from provinces and cities, they first listened to the introduction and report of relevant personnel from counties and towns. When he learned that Hongcun had brought a natural mountain stream into the village, he followed a one-kilometer canal and crossed the hall like a bull's-eye. The canal passes through the half-moon moon pool in the center of the village, commonly known as the "cow's belly", and finally flows into the South Lake, which is known as the "cow's belly". When it integrates irrigation, sanitation, fire fighting and other functions, he praised: "Working people use their wisdom and hands to integrate landscape villages and make pastoral articles in Chinese paintings live." When he saw that the canal was well protected and the canal water was clear as blue, he also said, "Hongcun villagers can consciously abide by the village rules and regulations, clean and hygienic, and have a high level of moral cultivation." Minister Yang especially appreciated the triangular small slant hall of Chengzhitang. In front of the small hall is a beautiful woman overlooking a square pond a few feet away. The canal is introduced by culvert and flows out of Shimen. Washable, fish lotus, cultivate temperament; It can also adjust the temperature, clear the heart and cool down.

Next to Yuetang levee, several village girls are joking and washing. Minister Yang praised Yuetang River for its quiet and vibrant water quality. There is silence in the movement, so it looks like a beautiful watercolor painting. He also told Hao Chaojia, director of the Anhui Provincial Water Resources Department, that it is necessary to summarize the characteristics of the water system in Niuxing Village, Hongcun, so as to absorb the essence and transform it into a new one.

In the mansion of Wang Dinggui, one of the few richest men in the original Huizhou merchants, Chengzhi Hall, with magnificent buildings and extraordinary momentum, was inscribed by Minister Yang Zhenhuai. He marveled at Hongcun's ancient water conservancy and ancient culture, and wrote: "Hongcun, an ancient town, has exquisite water conservancy."

During the period of 1997, Mr. I.M. Pei, a world-famous architect from China, came to Hongcun for sightseeing and praised Hongcun's ancient architecture and artificial ancient water system. He said: "The most exquisite thing about Hongcun's artificial water system is that the water is alive, the running water is not rotted, and it is still alive, which is faster than Suzhou gardens. This kind of water system design hundreds of years ago, its flow and slope are designed so brilliantly that it is worth studying. " He also wrote an inscription for Hongcun: "The architectural cultural relics of Hongcun in Yixian County are national treasures."

In February 2000, Dr. Naoko Dahe, an expert from UNESCO, an expert from the International Council of Monuments and Sites and a professor from Chiba University in Japan, visited Hongcun. He said: "The uniqueness of Hongcun lies in the beautiful landscape around the lake, which is a typical urban landscape in China. It can be said that Hongcun is a unique water street landscape in small towns. " Hongcun's unique man-made ancient water system and rows of ancient buildings bear the splendid Huizhou culture.

On June 28th, 2000, at the 24th meeting of the Presidium of UNESCO, Xidi and Hongcun, the ancient villages in southern Anhui, China, were named as the witness of ancient human civilization, the typical works of traditional characteristic buildings and the shining model of the combination of man and nature.

On June 30th, 2000, Hongcun and Xidi, as ancient villages in southern Anhui, were officially listed in the World Cultural Heritage List at the meeting of all UNESCO member states held in Cairns, Australia. Among the 28 World Heritage Sites in China, there are two in Huangshan City. Xidi and Hongcun, the village carriers of Hui culture, have become the world cultural heritage and the only ancient villages in China. And evaluate Hongcun's street layout, architectural decoration, overall housing and water supply and drainage system are unique.

The authoritative evaluation of UNESCO fully affirms and highlights the artificial ancient water system in Hongcun, which is a precious world cultural heritage.

In recent years, an endless stream of experts and scholars have visited Hongcun for sightseeing. They all admire the charm of Hongcun Moon Marsh, the charm of South Lake and the charm of the whole ancient water system.

On May 1 1 2002, Mr. Qu, member of the National People's Congress Standing Committee (NPCSC), chairman of the Environment and Resources Protection Committee of the National People's Congress and "the father of environmental protection in China", visited Hongcun and spoke highly of Hongcun's unique and scientific artificial ancient water system. He said: "The planning and construction of Hongcun is worth learning from the city, where there is the most reasonable and civilized material cycle of human beings, which is the epitome of a civilized ecology.

In July, 2002, Professor Wu, an 80-year-old academician of China Academy of Sciences and chairman of urban planning society of china, came to Hongcun and wrote an inscription for Hongcun: "In good order, every household flows, and Gu Lou is fragrant".

A clear mountain stream meanders day and night between the old houses in Hongcun, flows through the moon pool in the heart of the village surrounded by ancient houses, flows to the beautiful South Lake, and flows to the green fields, presenting a beautiful pastoral landscape painting to the visiting tourists. While they are amazed, they all want to know the historical origin and the whole project of Hongcun ancient water system. The ingenious and unique water system design is full of wisdom and strength of Hongcun Wang's ancestors. It is the landmark building of Guhong Village, not only the pride of Hongcun people, but also a typical representative of Huizhou ancient culture.