I have been to Dasheng Spinnery Factory in Tangjiazha, Nantong many times, mainly to see the old site of Dasheng Spinnery Factory and to run the Zhang Jian Marathon. The landmark building of Dasheng Spinnery Factory is the Dasheng Wharf beside the canal at the entrance of the factory. The wharf There is an archway with the inscription "Da Sheng Horse Head", and there are many stories worth knowing.
Dasheng Wharf was built in 1907 and was mainly used for the freight of raw materials and products of Dasheng Cotton Mill. Water transportation was relatively developed in that era. In 1895, Zhang Jian planned to establish the Dasheng Cotton Factory and chose Tangjiazha in the northwest of Nantong. This was based on urban planning considerations of "one city, three towns" and the need to facilitate water transportation. The factory gate was built beside the canal, making transportation in and out absolutely convenient. Building an archway beside the canal is also an important symbol of the cotton mill.
The words on the wharf archway were inscribed by Zhang Jian himself. On the side facing the river, it says "Dasheng Matou", and on the side near the factory door it says "Utilize welfare students". The "big horse head" on the outside is mainly to identify landmarks for passing ships, and the "utilization of welfare" on the inside shows that he was ordered to set up a factory, make full use of materials, and enrich the people. The wharf archway was demolished in the 1970s and rebuilt after the new century. Whether it was a mistake or intentional, the words on both sides of the archway changed to "大生马头".
Note that it is "Dasheng Horse Head", not "Dasheng Pier", and there are only three dots in the character "horse". There is a story in it.
Let’s talk about “horse head” first. Why is there no word “stone” next to it? In ancient times, there was no "stone" in the "yard" of the wharf, but a "horse" for riding. This is because in the past, people often traveled on horseback. When they reached the river, they had to dismount and then take a boat, so everyone called the place where the boat stopped "horse head" . In the Ming Dynasty, because the pier was built with stones, it gradually evolved into a "pier". Later, in the Qing Dynasty, it was written back as a "horse" riding a horse. It is said that this is because the Qing Dynasty conquered the world on horseback. A dock with stones would be regarded as a stone in front of the horse, which became a "horse stumbling block", so to avoid taboo, "horse head" was used. So the above is not a typo.
Besides, it is a three-point horse, not a four-point horse. Here are three allusions to explain.
First, there is an ancient Chinese stele with three points written in the character "horse" because of the convenience of calligraphy, so this is not Zhang Jian's own invention.
Secondly, when Zhang Jian wrote the three-dot question "horse", many people asked him if there was a dot missing. Zhang Jian explained: "Build a dock, bring the ship to the shore, and stop and unload the three dots." , to be stable." Since then, Nantong has had another saying - the dock must have three legs to be stable!
Third, there is a legendary little story. ?In 1895, Dasheng Cotton Mill was prepared for construction, and production started in May 1899. After several years of operation, it has begun to take shape. After the archway was completed, Weng Tonghe's nephew came from Changshu to Nantong, entrusted by his uncle, to congratulate Zhang Jian. Zhang Jian took him to the canal to visit Dasheng Pier. Weng saw that there were only three dots in the character "horse" and asked why. Zhang Jian sighed for a long time and said: "Although the machines in the factory have been turned on, there are still difficulties in capital turnover. This horse only has three legs. It is really difficult to expect it to ride all the way!" After hearing this, Nephew Weng also He sighed sadly, and then said: "When I go back and report to uncle, let him give you help and support, this horse will definitely run fast and far." Soon after, Zhang Jian received financial support from Weng Tonghe, and his turnover was relatively comfortable.
Later, some people said that with Weng Tonghe’s knowledge and research on Han steles, he would not have known that the three points of the ancient Chinese character horse were a convenience in calligraphy. How could the student Zhang Jian use this as an excuse to express his feelings. Just because of the deep teacher-student relationship between the two, Mr. Weng fully supported Zhang Jian in accomplishing his career, which was his inner wish. This allusion later became a good talk about Dasheng and has been passed down to this day.
On both sides of the archway, there are engraved couplets that Weng Tonghe sent to Zhang Jian to congratulate Dasheng for starting production: The cardinal's movement reaches the heaven and the earth, and his clothes and quilts reach all over the southeast of me.
The water transport of the Tongyang Canal is no longer as busy as it used to be, and the Tai Seng Pier has also lost its bustle. However, when you walk through the archway of the pier, you will be reminded of the bustle and bustle of the past, and the stories worth telling.
August 11, 2021
Zhou Jie in Shanghai