Shanxi is located in the middle reaches of the Yellow River, on the eastern edge of the Loess Plateau, and it is named because it is located in the west of Taihang Mountain. It is bordered by a towering barrier of thousands of miles in the east, Lvliang, a meandering and turbulent natural graben of the Yellow River in the west, the vast desert beyond the Great Wall of Inner Mongolia in the north and the fertile soil of Yuan Ye on both sides of Fenhe River in the south. Sandwiched between the Yellow River Canyon and Taihang Mountain, this side is a fertile soil in the shape of mulberry leaves. Magnificent mountains and rivers, unlimited scenery and outstanding people. One side of water and soil raises one side of people, and the winding Yellow River water and ancient yellow land have nurtured profound ancient culture, architectural culture, commercial culture, decorative culture, folk culture, food culture and Buddhist culture in Shanxi. Shanxi's cultural heritage is so profound that it is unthinkable not to travel. No wonder some people joked that they stepped on culture as soon as they landed in Shanxi. This joke is also combined with the composition 1 The original composition is not exaggerated. We didn't know it was true until we traveled here. From north to south, Shanxi is connected by splendid cultures-the Buddhist culture of Wutai Mountain Buddhist Temple in northern Shaanxi, the folk culture of Shanxi Merchants Courtyard in Jinzhong, and the Huaihuazu culture of Hongdong in southern Shanxi. There are not only ancient sites and Buddhist shrines in Shanxi, but also many revolutionary historical sites, and the human landscape is dotted. The scenic Mount Hengshan in Beiyue, the picturesque Wudang Mountain and the majestic Hukou Waterfall in the Yellow River are also fascinating. I really walked into Shanxi and saw another world. We only visited some scenic spots in Jinzhong and northern Shanxi, but we also saw the true face of Shanxi for the first time. We have visited the luxurious Qiao Family Courtyard, the majestic Pingyao ancient city, the towering and steep Yanmenguan, the breathtaking and fantastic Hanging Temple, the towering and spectacular Yungang Grottoes, and the large-scale Wutai Mountain Buddhist holy land, all of which have left indelible marks on our minds. Whether listening to the tour guide or seeing the scenery on the spot, we are immersed in the historical and cultural atmosphere and have experienced a long history and culture. When we are in close contact with natural landscape and human landscape, we hear and witness its historical ups and downs and realistic appearance, and our thinking is condensed in the long and profound historical sky. The extraordinary creativity of our ancestors, the patriotic spirit of bravely and tragically fighting the invading enemy, and the courage, wisdom and brilliant achievements of Shanxi businessmen who dare to be the first in the world all deeply shocked and lamented us!
Chinese civilization "seeing Shanxi from the ground"
As soon as we arrived in Shanxi, the local tour guide introduced us: "Chinese culture has been going on for five thousand years, seeing Shanxi on the ground and Shaanxi underground." This is the first time we have heard that Shanxi and Shaanxi are closely linked and have a long history in creating Chinese national civilization. Moreover, the history and culture of Shanxi are visible on the ground.
Let's look at Shanxi from a historical perspective first. What kind of place is that? The history of Shanxi tells us that the long history of Chinese civilization and Shanxi merchant culture has made Shanxi one of the birthplaces of Chinese civilization. It is said that there is a Zhongtiao Mountain in the south of Shanxi and a Huashan Mountain in the east of Shaanxi. The combination of the two forms the origin of the name "China". Shanxi is a place that creates history and records. According to records, as early as 6.5438+0 million years ago, the legendary ancestors of China, Yan Di and Huangdi, came to Shaanxi to work, build mountains to control water and cultivate fields to grow grain, and created a series of ancient cultures in the Central Plains, and interpreted many myths and legends such as "Fools move mountains" and "Jingwei fills the sea". China is one of the earliest civilized countries in the world, rich in ancient myths, and Shanxi is also the birthplace of ancient myths. The legendary three sages, Yao, Shun and Yu, all established their capitals in southern Shanxi. The first dynasty of China, Xia, was located in the south of Shanxi and the west of Henan. During the Qin, Han, Wei and Jin dynasties, Shanxi has always been a strategic fortress to shield the capital. During the Sui, Tang and Five Dynasties, Taiyuan was the northern capital of the Tang Dynasty. During the Northern Song Dynasty, Shanxi was the main area contested by Song and Liao Dynasties. In the early Ming Dynasty, the Ming Dynasty organized large-scale population migration for many times, which made Shanxi people move from "Hong Tong Sophora japonica" to the whole country. In the Qing Dynasty, Shanxi merchants dominated the business for 200 years, and Shanxi banks spread all over the country, creating a precedent for China's modern banking industry and being famous all over the country.
In the long and splendid history of mankind, Shanxi has performed a series of earth-shattering heroic historical dramas, and also shaped a series of colorful historical figures. In terms of heroic historical dramas, Shanxi has had very influential historical events in ancient and modern times. Shanxi is located in the Loess Plateau, which is a whole uplift, with mountains on both sides and a series of beaded basins in the middle. There are mainly Taihang Mountain, Hengshan Mountain, Wutai Mountain, Taiyue Mountain, Zhongtiao Mountain and Luliang Mountain. North and South Beaded Beads in Datong, Xinxian, Taiyuan, Linfen, Yuncheng and Changzhi Basins. In ancient times, there was an emperor who made a surprising statement: "Take the world, take Shanxi first;" Get Shanxi, get the world. "It can be seen that Shanxi has an important strategic position and has always been a battleground for military strategists. Liu Bang, the British leader of the Western Han Dynasty, led 300,000 troops to March in, sweeping the army of Shanxi and preventing the Huns from setting foot on the Central Plains. Tang Gaozu and his son rose up and captured Chang 'an. Later, Li Shimin ascended the throne and established the Tang Dynasty. Datong Yanmenguan was built in the early Tang Dynasty to prevent Turkish invasion, and it was the gateway from the Great Wall to the Central Plains. Yang Jiye, a famous anti-Liao star in the Northern Song Dynasty, led his troops to stay in Yanmenguan for a long time and bravely fought against the invading enemy, leaving an epic and soul-stirring farewell song. Mu is a heroine praised by people from generation to generation. The Yangjia Ancestral Temple in Daixian County was built in Yuan Dynasty to commemorate Yang Jiye, a famous anti-Liao scholar in Song Dynasty. There have been many wars in Yanmenguan area in ancient and modern times. During the period of War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression, Lin Biao and Nie Rongzhen led the Eighth Route Army 1 15 Division to carry out a flat-level annihilation war; He Long and Guan Xiangying led the Eighth Route Army 120 Division to ambush Yanmenguan; Liu Bocheng and Deng Xiaoping led the Eighth Route Army129th Division to burn down Yangmingbao Airport, all of which happened near Yanmenguan, which dealt a heavy blow to the Japanese invaders. We climbed the Yanmenguan Gate Tower, looked from a distance and closed several passes. The path is winding and rugged, and the weather-beaten Great Wall still exists, which is the war trace of today's ancient battlefield. Looking closely at the confrontation between the two peaks around Yanmenguan, it is like a gate standing at the highest place. This is a real person guarding it, and 10,000 people can't force it. Yanmenguan terrain is steep and dangerous, and the geese pass through the city gate hole, hence the name. It is not difficult to understand why there have been many wars in ancient and modern Yanmenguan area. In terms of historical figures, influential emperors and generals, heroes and writers and artists have emerged in Shanxi. Some people say that "Shanxi is a famous place", which is worthy of the name. Jin Wengong Zhong Er and meson push in the Spring and Autumn Period: Lian Po and Xun Kuang in the Warring States Period; Wei Qing and Huo Qubing, famous soldiers in the Han Dynasty; Guan Yu, a warrior of the Three Kingdoms, and Zhang Liao, a general; Wu Zetian, the first empress of the Tang Dynasty in China, and Di Renjie; Poets Wang Bo, Wang Zhihuan, Wang Changling, Wang Wei, Bai Juyi, Liu Songyuan; Sima Guang, a historian of the Song Dynasty, was a famous anti-Liao scholar and a heroine Mu. Yuan Haowen, a writer in Jin and Yuan Dynasties, and Guan Hanqing, a great dramatist; Luo Guanzhong, a litterateur in the Ming and Qing Dynasties, is one of the outstanding representatives. The history created by Shanxi, historical events and historical figures at all times and in all countries are scattered in various books. During this trip to Shanxi, we focused on the history of Shanxi, especially those we have never heard of before. It is impossible to know without entering Shanxi. This is indeed a very rare learning opportunity.
Let's look at Shanxi from the ground again. What other Chinese civilizations with historical value remain? Since ancient times, history has condensed on the yellow land, creating a series of records in China. According to statistics, there are Paleolithic ancient human cultural sites in Shanxi alone, and 255 sites have been discovered, accounting for more than half of the total number of similar sites in China. There are 35,000 ground cultural relics, ranking first in the country; Among them, there were more than 450 wooden buildings before Yuan Dynasty, especially before Liao and Jin Dynasties, accounting for 70% of similar buildings in the same period in China. The murals of temples and tombs cover more than 2,400 square meters, ranking first in China. Among the magnificent ancient buildings in Wutai Mountain Buddhist Holy Land, nanzenji and Beiju Temple are the oldest existing wooden structures in the Tang Dynasty. Sagata of Buddha Palace Temple in Yingxian County is the oldest wooden pagoda in China. Hengshan Hanging Temple was a wooden structure building in the Northern Wei Dynasty. And the ancient buildings of Jinci, colorful murals of Yongle Palace and so on, which preserve many colorful figures. The temples, pagodas and murals in Shanxi are not only numerous, but also have a long history and high attainments. Pingyao, the most intact ancient city in China, is listed as a "world cultural heritage"; Yungang Grottoes in Datong, one of the "Three Sages of Grottoes" in China, has been listed as "World Cultural Heritage". Known as the "crown of martial temples" in China, Jiezhou Guandi Temple; Four courtyards of Qiao, Qu, Cao and Wang in Shanxi merchants. In the west, people call architecture "history written in stone". The historical and cultural relics left on the ground in Shanxi, whether wooden buildings or stone buildings, are the historical witness of Chinese civilization and the milestone of China's 5,000-year cultural accumulation. There are countless Chinese civilizations in Shanxi, which have lasted for thousands of years. This is the precious wealth left by our ancestors to future generations, the historical and cultural treasure of the Chinese nation, and what we are proud of in the world. It can be said that Shanxi is a microcosm of the long history of the Chinese nation, from which we can get a glimpse of the 5,000-year history and culture of China.
Courtyard culture of Shanxi merchants
Drive southbound from Taiyuan 1 hour, and arrive at Qixian, a historic city in the Central Plains. We went to Qiaojiabao Village, Dongguan Town, and visited the Qiao Family Courtyard, a wealthy businessman in Jinzhong.
In A.D. 1755, the Qiao Family Courtyard was built in the middle of Qiaojiabao Village. From the appearance, it faces the street on three sides. The courtyard is surrounded by fully enclosed brick walls as high as 10 meter. There are streams, watchtowers and pavilions on the wall, which look like a castle. Entering the cave-shaped gate of the city gate, it is a stone-paved passage with six courtyards, 19 small courtyards and more than 300 houses on the north and south sides of the passage. Gorgeous decoration, painting, wood carving, stone carving and brick carving are exquisite. And there are more than 1000 hidden things, including those from Empress Dowager Cixi. That's when Eight-Nation Alliance captured Beijing, Empress Dowager Cixi fled to the west and traveled all over Shanxi. The Qiao family donated 65,438+20,000 silver. Later, when Empress Dowager Cixi returned to Beijing, she did not forget the help of the Qiao family at the time of crisis, and presented two national treasures-the rhinoceros full moon mirror and a pair of chandeliers carved in Kowloon and covered with ebony in South Africa. We stood in front of these two national treasures and looked at them. Although they are out of date after more than 100 years of vicissitudes, they are still well preserved. I thought of the rich financial resources of the Qiao family at that time, the plight of Cixi when she fled to the west, and then kowtowed to the western powers and signed the "Xin Chou Treaty" which humiliated her power and country. These two national treasures also provide evidence for the shameful history of the Chinese nation. Visiting this luxurious Qiao's compound will remind us of how rich its owner is. This is the residence of Qiao Zhiyong, the third generation descendant of the Qiao family and a famous commercial capitalist in China. Qiao Zhiyong used to be a farmer. In order to change his poor life, he left the yellow land to start a business by selling tofu, and later mainly engaged in grain, coins, pawn and other industries. In China, especially in large and medium-sized cities in the north, there are almost all businesses run by the Qiao family. Financial resources are increasing year by year, so it is rich in the world. The Qiao family started their business in the early years of Qianlong in the Qing Dynasty, and their business was brilliant for five generations. In Qiao Zhiyong, the rich merchants of the Qiao family reached their peak. After four dynasties of Jiaqing, Daoguang and Xianfeng to Tongzhi for 80 years, its financial resources and influence played an important role in the domestic business community. The Qiao family became a well-known businessman in China, and Qiao Zhiyong was a typical representative of Shanxi people who got rich by doing business. In the 1940s, it finally declined under the attack of imperialism and bureaucratic capital. The rise and fall of the Qiao family lasted for more than 200 years.
There are six courtyards in Shanxi-Qiao Family Courtyard in Qixian County, Qu Family Courtyard in Taigu County, Cao Family Courtyard in Taigu County, Wang Jia Courtyard in Lingshi County, Kong Xiangxi Family, one of the four chaebol in China, and Changjia Garden in Jinzhong City, which are collectively called Jinzhong Courtyard. The Qiao Family Courtyard we visited is only one of the smaller ones, and its area is several times larger. These courtyards are different from each other, and their layout ideas have their own characteristics. The residential buildings in the courtyard are the display of Shanxi merchants' culture and constitute the courtyard culture of Shanxi merchants. The quadrangle building of Shanxi merchants is a high-level architectural art and commercial culture, and it is a perfect combination of architectural culture, commercial culture, folk culture and decorative culture. This reflects the superb level of architectural designers at that time and the high level of local construction industry, and reflects the artistic pursuit of architecture by the hospital owners. We walked into the jstars courtyard and saw a small courtyard in the courtyard. There is a yard in the yard, but it's different. There is also a big garden in the north yard, with flowers, trees and rockery pavilions in the space. This layout of the Qiao Family Courtyard is a novel idea based on the traditional quadrangle style in China, which reflects the architectural culture of that historical stage. The art of painting, decoration and carving of stone, wood and brick in architecture reflects the superb artistic level of local folk artists and sculptors, as well as the commercial culture, decoration culture, China folk culture and local folk customs at that time. Qiao Family Courtyard is a magnificent residential complex, which reflects and represents the living form of feudal families, embodies the unique style of residential buildings in northern China, and fully displays the courtyard culture of Shanxi merchants, which is representative. The courtyard culture of Shanxi merchants is undoubtedly the embodiment of Shanxi people's brilliant achievements in fighting the sea for many years. Shanxi people first did business in China. People joked: "When a stone falls to the ground, nine out of ten people are in business." Then, why did Shanxi people give up their pursuit of official career and are keen on doing business? This was determined by the historical conditions at that time. From the national and social background, after the establishment of the Ming Dynasty, people needed to transport food, salt and other necessities to set up border towns to resist foreign invasion. Shanxi's geographical location is close to the frontier, which provides opportunities for people to do business. In terms of personal life, the people lived in poverty and hardship at that time, and the pursuit of official career was very risky. Only when they get rich in business can they change their personal destiny. Therefore, "learning to be excellent is business" has become the direction of people's efforts, and the pursuit of personal wealth is the goal of struggle, thus forming a good business atmosphere for Shanxi people. But Shanxi people also understand the importance of cultural knowledge, and businessmen also want their descendants to study. However, the purpose of reading is not to pursue fame and gain, but to serve business. This is a new consciousness different from other places after the change of Shanxi people's concept of leaving the yellow land to do business. Jinzhong people realized the important role of cultural quality in business, selected outstanding talents to join in business, and gradually formed a group of Confucian businessmen with higher cultural quality from generation to generation. This is the foundation and root of Shanxi businessmen's dominance in business and the construction of composite culture for hundreds of years. There has been a saying among the people: "Henan people have money to wear satin, and Shanxi people have money to go to Gai Lou." In the eyes of Shanxi people, the high-rise compound is a decent family. Therefore, if you have money, you must build a house first. Therefore, from poor to rich, generations of wealthy businessmen in Jinzhong have built luxury houses. Today, Shanxi's unique tourist landscape attracts Chinese and foreign tourists to watch. In particular, Zhang Yimou, a famous film director, chose the Qiao Family Courtyard as the shooting scene and made the film "Hanging Red Lanterns High", which made Shanxi, China, a residential complex famous at home and abroad. As soon as I entered the Qiao Family Courtyard, I saw a large-scale movie poster of "Red Lantern Hanging High" on the south wall of the passage, and red lanterns were hung everywhere, adding a rich flavor of life. It seems to reproduce the life scene of the old Qiao family, enter the scene of the movie, and have an immersive sense of reality and history.
The earliest financial center and the first private bank in China.
Drive south from the Qiao Family Courtyard for half an hour, arrive at Pingyao Ancient City in Jinzhong City, and feel the charm of Shanxi composition (). This is an ancient city with a long history of more than 4000 years. It is one of the four most complete ancient cities in China (Xi 'an, Jingzhou, Pingyao and Xingcheng). It is also a famous historical and cultural city in China and is listed as a "world cultural heritage".
The ancient city wall of Pingyao was built in the Western Zhou Dynasty more than 2,800 years ago, with a height of10m and a thickness of 5m. The whole ancient city pool is square, surrounded by a turret, 3000 cribs and 72 enemy observation towers. It is said that it was built according to the number of 3000 disciples of Confucius and 72 sages. There are six doors at the city gate, an urn outside and a moat 4 meters deep and wide outside the wall. We walked in from the west gate of the ancient city, and the guide led us to the gatehouse first. Standing on the gate overlooking the whole city, it looks like a tall and magnificent castle. There are still many ancient cannons protecting the city in Wengcheng, and the muzzle is aimed at the outside of the city. We stood in front of the ancient fortress, imagining that the ancient city had considerable defense forces. There are a large number of houses, temples and shops built in the late Qing Dynasty. The rigorous and changeable layout of residential buildings and exquisite and quaint architectural techniques reflect the architectural art level of the Qing Dynasty. The city consists of 4 main streets, 8 small streets and 72 alleys. There are more than 3,700 well-preserved quadrangles, of which more than 400 are of high value. We walked down the gate house and came to a street in the Ming and Qing Dynasties, which is the best preserved street in the ancient city. On both sides of the street, there are rows of commercial shops; Pedestrians on the street are bustling from south to north, and there is a scene of peace and prosperity for the country and the people. We walked along the street, admiring antique shops, selling a wide range of goods, and ancient signboards and titles full of calligraphy charm, especially the Gushi Tower, which is more than 18 meters high in the distance, as if we had returned to the ancient city of Pingyao in the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Now this street is not only a commercial street, but also a street selling famous and special products. Pingyao is a big county of cultural relics in Shanxi, where the cultural relics market is very prosperous, and it is still an antique street. The tour guide told us: "Pingyao's specialties are beef and lacquerware." Pingyao beef was famous in the world as early as the middle of the Ming Dynasty, and it has a history of more than 400 years. Due to the good water quality in Pingyao, beef is famous for its tender meat and unique flavor. It is rated as a famous brand product by the state and sells well at home and abroad. Tuiguang lacquerware is a famous product in Pingyao County, which originated in the middle of Tang Dynasty and has a history of 1200 years. Old artists have inherited the traditional crafts since the Tang and Song Dynasties, and their products are excellent, and now they have sold well in 28 countries and regions around the world. Interested in cheap beef, choose vacuum packaging to take back; Exquisite and expensive push lacquer ware, because it is inconvenient to carry, few people care about it.
The ancient city of Pingyao, during the 9th century 18- 100, was once the center of world wealth, with many banks and businessmen, and was called "Little Beijing". In the middle of Qing Dynasty, the number of banks began to rise from Pingyao and reached its peak in the late Qing Dynasty. Ming and Qing Street in Pingyao was a famous financial center in Asia at that time. At that time, there were 5 1 banks in China, 43 in Shanxi and 22 in Pingyao. Shanxi merchants once dominated the financial sector in China, while Pingyao almost occupied half of the national banking industry. In Shanxi merchants, Pingyao people, with their shrewd wisdom and enterprising spirit, devoted themselves to business activities, worked hard to accumulate wealth and build their own business kingdom, creating an extremely brilliant page in the business world. Ming metabolism Zhao Shuan's "Five Miscellanies" said:
"The rich in the house, Jiangnan pushes Xin 'an, Jiangbei pushes Shanyou (Shanxi), Shanyou or salt, or silk, or reselling, or millet is richer than Xin 'an."
Yu, a famous contemporary cultural scholar, believes that the earliest commercial development places in China are Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou. It dawned on me when I came to Shanxi. He wrote "Shaming Shanxi" and said:
"In the most prosperous era in Shanxi, the center of wealth was not in Taiyuan, the provincial capital, but in Pingyao, Qixian and Taigu. Among them, Pingyao is the most. "
At that time, there were many firms and banks in Pingyao, merchants gathered, traffic was busy, silver bells kept ringing, financial resources continued, and wealth increased day by day. The silver cellar is full of silver, which is countless. It can be seen how rich and prosperous Pingyao was in those days.
Visiting Pingyao ancient city, apart from a street in the Ming and Qing Dynasties and the county government in the Qing Dynasty, what shocked us most was Rishengchang draft bank. The earliest bank in China appeared in Shanxi, which was unheard of in our lifetime. Rishengchang Bank was founded in the fourth year of Daoguang in Qing Dynasty (AD 1824). It is a famous bank in Qing Dynasty, the first bank in China and the first private bank in China. This is the earliest banking facility in China, and it is known as the "country grandfather" of the banking industry in China.
Rishengchang Bank is located in the West Street of Pingyao Ancient City. There is a passage between the houses facing the street and the shops on both sides. The courtyard enters the courtyard three times, and the house behind it is a place to store property. The overall layout of the house is ingenious and unique. We have been to the counter room, the accounting room, the letter room, the treasury and the ticket office (where we handle the business of the Jiang team), and they are all the same. Poetry banners, various seals, bills of exchange, letters, horizontal plaques and other objects hanging on the wall have been preserved. We were amazed at the wise minds of Shanxi people and opened the first private bank in China, amazed at its smart operation. The concrete operation of the draft bank has three inspirations for modern people. First of all, there are strict rules for recruiting apprentices, paying attention to character and the spirit of hard work. Secondly, the owner's frugal style, the two offices only have a small shack of 10 square meter, and there is no luxury. Third, strict management. We admire the courage of the bank owner. He is the earliest banker in China, and we deeply feel his lifelong efforts and loyalty. Lei Lvtai, the founder of Rishengchang Bank, is a courageous and knowledgeable business tycoon. His life is full of legends. From obscurity to occasional appreciation, and then to great achievements, it has experienced twists and turns. When he was young, his father died early and his family was very embarrassed. He gave up the opportunity to study and came to Pingyao to start his apprenticeship. He has been to several stores, but none of them have received the attention they deserve. Later, he went to work in a company, which is a place that ordinary people don't want to go. His wisdom and ability are regarded as a business talent. Therefore, he was recommended to work in another company and was entrusted with a heavy responsibility. Since then, his fate has improved. Work conscientiously and diligently, from the semi-colon deacon and foreman to the position of general manager, and step by step from the grassroots to the highest leadership position. Rishengchang Bank, which he opened, created a century-old glory in the heyday of 109. More than 40 semicolons are set up below, covering more than 20 commercial ports and important towns across the country. Rishengchang people have traveled all over the country, even doing business with foreign banks in China. As the founder of the first bank in China, Lei Lvtai founded the first private bank in China. He made outstanding contributions in his life. In the history of China's financial development, this unprecedented pioneering work has written a brilliant chapter that is earth-shattering and makes people cry. At the end of the Qing Dynasty, foreign forces invaded, domestic society was in turmoil and wars continued. With the rise of the banking industry, the number of banks was gradually replaced and then closed down on its own. The rise and fall of Rishengchang draft banks, like anything in the world, is a historical necessity in the process of time. However, Rishengchang Bank, the first private bank that pioneered China's modern banking industry, appeared. Lei Lvtai, a famous business tycoon, wrote a brilliant chapter of epoch-making finance. He proved with indisputable facts that Shanxi was the earliest developed city in China, regardless of business or finance. In the modern history of China, Shanxi was a pioneer in commerce and finance. The brilliant achievements of Shanxi merchants set an example for the business circles in China. The experience and lessons of the rise and fall of Shanxi merchants provide valuable reference for the development of modern commerce in China today, which is of practical significance to the prosperity of economy and international exchange of commerce.