Kijiang Ancient Town has a long history and is located on the south bank of Quanzhou Bay.
As early as the Song Dynasty, Kaijiang was already a port with dense residents and frequent sailing ships. During the Yuan Dynasty, maritime trade was unprecedentedly prosperous.
Hongjiang is the City of Light, the gateway to the largest port in the East, and the starting point of the Maritime Silk Road. The crossing with Lukang began in 1784, and the Qing Dynasty established a crossing port here. , and established a Coastal Defense Office in Kaijiang. The jurisdiction of the Coastal Defense Office is now the Quanzhou area, and all ships crossing Taiwan must enter and exit from here.
Recalling the past heyday of the ancient town of Kaijiang, we found the best witness to this period of history.
On the southwest side of Shishi Lake in Shishijiang River, there is an ancient ferry made of huge stones with a dike of 30 feet, nine feet wide and one foot and five feet high. It is called Linluan Ferry, also known as "Tongji". bridge".
Thousands of sails once competed here and sailed to all countries. In an era when maritime trade between China and foreign countries was unprecedentedly prosperous, it also became an important port on the Maritime Silk Road.
The ancient wharf stands on the vast sea, closely connected with the natural rocks. The huge stones are arranged in an orderly manner, solid and firm, and the memories of countless sailors have been left on it. footprints.
According to historical records, Zheng He’s fleet docked here before setting sail. After liberation, the "iron anchor" left behind by Zheng He's fleet was found in the mud at the ferry. Today, it has been brought to the "Maritime Communications Museum" for collection and has become an important cultural relic witnessing the starting point of Quanzhou's "Maritime Silk Road".
Not far from Linluandu, there is a weather-beaten pavilion named Zaijiao Pavilion.
The "Zaiboring Pavilion" is an arched stone pavilion with four flat columns and a flat top. It was built in the Ming Dynasty by the soldiers and civilians in the area of ??Kaijiang to commemorate "Zeng Ying, the imperial censor". The three words "Zai Jie Pavilion" and the inscription were written by Zhang Ruitu, a great scholar and calligrapher in the Ming Dynasty.
During his tenure, Zeng Ying was honest and dedicated to the public affairs, governed carefully, opened up shipping, and "giant ships went to sea" to allow residents to go to sea for trade; he strengthened coastal defense, allowed people to live and work in peace and contentment, and made Xingquan Road prosperous.
However, the Liusheng Pagoda can best witness the prosperity of the Maritime Silk Road.
On Jinchai Mountain in Shihu, Kaijiang Town, there stands a majestic tower, which can be called a masterpiece in the world's maritime history - Liusheng Pagoda.
This tower is a granite imitation wood loft-style structure with five octagonal floors, facing south, 47 meters around the base and 36.06 meters high. It is beautifully carved and majestic.
The name of the Liusheng Pagoda is said to come from the Buddhist "Six Victories". In the second year of Jingyan in the Southern Song Dynasty, the pagoda was destroyed by the Yuan army. According to legend, in 1276, Duanzong of the Southern Song Dynasty was supported in Fuzhou. He was forced by the Yuan army and fled to southern Fujian. He was blocked by Pu Shougeng and failed to enter Quanzhou City. He once took refuge in Shihu and built a palace here. Later, he went to the sea from Shihu. , died in Guangdong. Shihu was looted by the Yuan army, and the Liusheng Pagoda was not spared either. The pagoda we are looking at today was rebuilt by Ling Huifu, a wealthy businessman from Kaijiang in the second year of Emperor Shun of the Yuan Dynasty.
Today, it is still so sacred in our hearts. It led people of that era to work hard across the ocean and became the unique scenery of this city.
The Hajiang River and Shihu Lake under the Liusheng Pagoda were important outer ports of Quanzhou in ancient times. They stood on the seaside and were historical witnesses of the prosperity of overseas transportation at that time. According to legend, there were 18 ferries here at that time, and nearly a hundred ships from Asia and Africa were berthed here, and sea traffic was flourishing. In the early Qing Dynasty, it became the central wharf for cross-ferry between mainland China and Taiwan. The Liusheng Pagoda has been weathered for more than 800 years. It is like a red candle holding up the sky, radiating light, illuminating the maritime "Silk Road", paving the way for the navigator Zheng He's fifth voyage to the Western Ocean, and guiding the close exchanges between compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait. When people slowly climb to the top of the tower, they can overlook the vast strait and the boats traveling back and forth.
Cultural exchanges when the "Maritime Silk Road" flourished were the most open and free era in history, and it was also the era when Chinese culture was most prosperous.
Yesterday’s Six Victory Pagodas pointed out the direction for the ancients to sail. Today, they are like the sun and moon shining brightly, guiding the progress of the Shishi people. This spirit of “love to fight, dare to win, dare to be the first in the world” It is the spirit of competition, enterprising, adventurous and creative contained in the Chinese nation. Fight hard to compete, dare to take the lead, be fearless of heaven and earth, dare to venture, dare to try and dare to take risks.
Back then, they crossed the sea and opened up dozens of sea passages to all continents and seas, creating their own piece of the sky.
The economic prosperity and cultural prosperity of port cities are the result of exchanges with foreign cultures and the absorption of foreign civilizations. Foreign art, religion, customs and other cultures have been integrated into Chinese society.
After hundreds of years or even longer spread, the local cultural system of southern Fujian has shown the characteristics of diversity. A peculiar phenomenon makes us have to think about such issues. Various religious conflicts continue. How come they can go their own ways and live in peace and harmony in southern Fujian despite the collision?
The gods of Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism are complementary to each other. This also reflects the compatibility that maritime cultural exchanges bring to us in this region. Harmony, integration, and progress.
Many religious temples have been built in Kaijiang. One village alone has nine temples and ten palaces.
In Dongyue Temple, three gods are enshrined: Emperor Dongyue, Master Guanyin, and Emperor Wenchang.
The Five Princes Mansion, known as the "Protector of the Straits", enshrines five gods including "Prince Da" and the "Jin Zaixing" prince ship, attracting a large number of Taiwanese believers to come to worship.
The gods worshiped by compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait come from the same origin.
The years pass by and the stars change.
More than a thousand years later, the ancient town of Kaijiang is showing a scene of economic and cultural prosperity.
This is one of the birthplaces of Nanyin, a hometown of lantern fans, and a unique folk custom in the country and even the world - the Water Splashing Festival on the Sea.
The Nanyin of Kaijiang has a long history.
It follows the scales and music structure of the elegant music of the Sui and Tang Dynasties, absorbs the characteristics of the Tang Dynasty opera, and incorporates Kunqu opera, southern Fujian ballads, etc., into southern sounds. The mixture is rich in the local flavor of southern Fujian and shows its ancient oriental style. The unique style of music with brilliant colors.
This ancient and extremely vital artistic wonder exudes a charming fragrance and remains enduring to this day.
Speaking of lantern riddles, people have to think of Kaijiang.
As early as the Guangxu period of the Qing Dynasty, one of the earliest lantern riddle societies in Fujian Province, "Tan Hu Tower", was established. During festivals, riddles are often played and riddles are exchanged with Taiwan, Xiamen and other places.
Over the past few years, Kaijiang mysteries have been carrying out extensive activities to promote the development of local mysteries and have achieved remarkable results.
The lion dance team of Xiqian Village in Kaijiang Town is famous at home and abroad for its cultural lion performances, and has been invited to perform in Japan, Hong Kong, Macau and other places.
However, the most famous folklore activity in Kaijiang is the Water Splashing Festival on the Sea.
“Splashing water on land in Yunnan and splashing water on the sea in Chongjiang River” is a traditional folk activity that has long been famous around the world.
The Dragon Boat Festival, held every year on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, is one of the oldest traditional festivals of the Chinese nation. The Han people from the Central Plains migrated southward to develop Fujian, bringing with them the Dragon Boat Festival custom of commemorating Qu Yuan in the Central Plains. This was combined with the "Dragon Son Festival" of the Minyue people to form the traditional Dragon Boat Festival customs of the Eighth Fujian.
The Dragon Boat Festival in Shishi City’s Hajiang River has even more unique customs. During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, Kaijiang River was the main entrance of Quanzhou, across from Lukang, Taiwan. Every Dragon Boat Festival, people from the two places dress up in costumes, race boats and splash water on the river, and mingle with each other in friendship, gradually forming a unique custom in the country and even the world.
On the day of the Dragon Boat Festival, the ancient ferry on the Kaijiang River was bustling with people, and people from all directions flocked to the seaside. I saw hundreds of boats racing across Quanzhou Bay. People filled up seawater with various ladles and buckets, chasing each other and splashing water. It was a lively scene. People regard this water as "auspicious water" and "happy water", and let this holy water be drenched with rain for auspiciousness, happiness and prosperity...
With the joint efforts of people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait, we advocate Next, the Dragon Boat Festival Water Splashing Festival in the sea, which had disappeared for many years, was revived. It is held every year and becomes more and more popular. Not only women are also boarding the boats, but also neighboring fishing villages are sailing to participate. This has greatly improved the reputation of the cultural ancient town of Kaijiang and promoted the development of tourism in the hometown of overseas Chinese. Especially through the water-splashing activities, the exchanges and friendship between compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait have been enhanced.
Taiwanese compatriots come here in droves to seek their roots, pay homage to their ancestors, communicate and invest... just like the craze of the Water Splashing Festival, one wave after another!
At the same time as the "Sea Dragon Boat Race Invitational Race", there are also "Sea Splashing", "Hong Kong, Taiwan and Overseas Lantern Riddles Exhibition", "Onboard Nanyin Singing", etc., forming a gorgeous and spectacular scene. "Strait Love" folk custom picture. During the festival, the entire ancient ferry is immersed in a rich sense of nostalgia and intoxicating local accents, which makes compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait linger and reminisce about this rhythmic movement of life for a long time. Blood is thicker than water, and the Dragon Boat Festival Water-Splashing Festival in Hajiang River shows true love, passion and love across the Strait!
Looking at the ancient town of Kaijiang, it has a long history and culture, and the inherited customs and customs give this era a bit of charm. Although everything in the past has become fading history, what is left to future generations is a huge wealth.