Lingnan Culture
Historically, it is said that "south of the Five Ridges, since before the Li and Tang Dynasties, the reputation of cultural relics is far less than that of the Central Plains" [33]. One of the important reasons is the inconvenient transportation. This situation has only changed since Zhang Jiuling of the Tang Dynasty opened a new road in Daqingling Ti and Dameiguan. Since then, Dagengling Road has become the main transportation line in the north of Guangdong. In addition, in the Tang Dynasty, Guangzhou emerged as a world-class trade port and was also the starting point of "Guangzhou's connection with the sea". Since the Sui Dynasty, the opening of the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal has improved the north-south transportation in Wuling, and the hinterland of Guangzhou Port has expanded, promoting the flow of materials and people. and cultural exchanges between China and foreign countries. Lingnan culture has been nourished and absorbed new nutrients, and has developed continuously but unevenly based on the accumulation of previous generations, changing the past cultural pattern and landscape.
1. Deepening of the cultural integration of Han and slang
Cultural formation and national integration are inextricably linked. As a result of the upsurge of immigration during the Six Dynasties, the proportion of the Han population in Lingnan increased significantly. Coupled with the above-mentioned efforts of Mrs. Xi, the integration process of Han-slang culture became faster, more extensive and more profound driven by the powerful feudal political and economic forces of the Sui and Tang Dynasties. For example, the number of Han people who immigrated to Hainan was 20,000 before the Tang Dynasty, and increased to 70,000 during the Tang Dynasty. The distribution area also gradually expanded from the northern coast of the island to the south and southeast, which are more remote, developed late and suffered from more severe miasma. In the past, Han was in the north and Li was in the south. The completion of the construction of the roundabout has formed a distribution pattern with Han outside and Li included, indicating that some Li people have been sinicized. In areas where Han and Han people live together, the production level of agriculture and handicrafts has been significantly improved. Not only are many local products on the island imported to the Central Plains as "tributes", but the products produced are also very exquisite. Wei Gonggan, the governor of Qiongshan County, ordered his slaves to "weave flowers and practice yarn", make horns, smelt gold and silver, use precious wood to build furniture and large ships, and ship them to Guangzhou for sale. This shows that Han culture has been mastered by more and more slang people, otherwise there would not be such craftsmanship. The Li people also lived in Leizhou. In the Tang Dynasty, a group of residents from southern Fujian were immigrated to strengthen the Han people and further develop the Leizhou Peninsula. Examples of ethnic migration and ethnic integration like this essentially reflect that Han culture is increasingly in a dominant position, and the boundaries of Han-slang culture are gradually disappearing here. There are also a group of intellectuals who have mastered Han culture among the Li people. For example, in the seventh year of Zhenguan (633), Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty held a banquet for all officials in the Weiyang Palace of the Han Dynasty. He once "ordered the Turkic Khan Qianli to dance, and ordered the Southern Barbarian chief Feng Dai to chant poems." . The Hu Yue family has never existed since ancient times, 〔35〕. This is said to be a good story about the sinicization of slang people.
Contribution to Kaijiang culture
p>In addition to the large number of immigrants as the carrier of the spread of Han culture in Lingnan, the role of personal history cannot be underestimated. In the minds of the Central Plains people in the Tang Dynasty, Lingnan was still a place of malaria and alienation. It became a place where the imperial court dealt with political opponents and criminals. Many of those who lost in party struggles were demoted again and again, and finally lived in Lingnan. Many of them were knowledgeable politicians or intellectuals. After arriving in Lingnan, they devoted themselves to spreading the culture of the Central Plains. , to promote the development of local culture. This kind of Han culture spread in the Bianmeni area for the purpose of developing backward areas is called "Kaijiang Culture". The cultural consequences of the Qin and Han Dynasties' march to Lingnan can certainly be said to be the Kaijiang Culture in Lingnan. The beginning of Xinjiang culture in the Tang Dynasty entered an important stage in Lingnan, and the famous figures in this process were Du Shenyan, Han Yu, Liu Yuxi, Yang Sifu, and Wang Yifang. , Han Yuan, Wei Fangzhi, Li Xiaoyi, Wei Zhiyi, Jinghui, etc., they all made their own achievements. For example, Han Yu demoted Chaozhou, drove crocodiles there, freed slaves, established schools and established religion, and promoted the change of Chaozhou customs. Han Jiang, Han Shan, Han Wen Gong Ci, Si Han Ting, Si Gong Pa, etc., named after Han Yu, all bear witness to the roots of Central Plains culture in Chaozhou. Among those who were demoted to Huizhou in the Tang Dynasty were Tongping Zhang Xi and the Minister of War, Niu Seng. Ru, the famous poet Li Shangde, etc., who also played a certain role in the cultural construction of Huizhou. In the Tang Dynasty, more senior officials were demoted to Hainan, and Li Deyu was their representative, who was demoted to Chaozhou and then to Yazhou (now Qiongshan County). He never forgot his writings in adversity and built Wangguanting Pavilion in Yazhou City. There is also a legend among the people that his descendants became Li people. As a famous prime minister, he has been commemorated and praised by Hainan people for thousands of years. The contribution to the cultural development of Hainan is inseparable.
3. The immigration of overseas culture
The first important place for communication between my country and overseas countries was Guangdong. The Maritime Silk Road sailing from Hepu Port is already very prosperous, so it is inevitable for overseas cultures to spread to Lingnan. Before the Tang Dynasty, Lingnan culture was in the formative stage and was not yet mature, so it was easier to accept foreign foreign influences. This is also one of the reasons for the diversity of Lingnan culture. During the Qin and Han Dynasties, some local products of Jisan Xiangyu were collected from the surrounding areas and ethnic groups in the South China Sea, including Xiangyao, colored glaze, Marui, crystal, etc. "Historical Records and Biographies of Huo Zhi" and "Jiao Shu and Geography" record the grand communication between Panchang and overseas. It can be said that this is the beginning of documented overseas culture entering Lingnan. According to textual research, Hainan was the earliest place to be cultivated in my country in the early Han Dynasty. Island cotton was introduced from India via Vietnam [36]. As for Chinese officials, businessmen, and envoys going out for exchanges, there is a long history of tributes from some Southeast Asian countries and regions to my country.
After the founding of New China, many Han tombs were excavated in Guangzhou. In addition to a large number of the above-mentioned items, there were also many men and women holding lamps. Their ethnographic characteristics and clothing were different from those of the Han people and the local Yue people. It may come from Southeast Asia, West Asia or East Africa [37]. This type of pottery has also been found in Xuwen, Hepu, Guixian and Wuzhou areas. From the perspective that culture mainly relies on immigrants, regardless of the true identity of these Tao Yongs, this can be regarded as evidence of the introduction of overseas culture. But it was only in the Tang Dynasty, with the development of maritime transportation, that more ethnic cultures from foreign countries moved into Lingnan, greatly enriching the cultural connotation of Lingnan. This mainly includes Buddhist and Islamic cultures, crop varieties, special materials, utensils, etc. For example, in the Tang Dynasty, Lingnan produced various types of ceramic products, such as tiles, slabs, tube tiles, masonry and other building materials, most of which had designs of sitting Buddha or lotus petals attached to them. Buddhist temples, pagodas, sculptures and other buildings sprang up in large numbers. Bodhi trees and sweet apples related to the introduction of Buddhism also settled in Lingnan. Islamic mosques, pagodas, and religious houses where Muslims gather together appeared in Guangzhou. The famous Islamic supplement psoralen was also introduced along with other imported products. There are also many people wearing strange clothes, with "nickel ears pierced through the chest and so on, who are extremely profound" Bubie also travels on various transportation roads and rests in which inn. Only in Lingnan are such foreign cultural landscapes more likely to appear.
4. Contrast in Cultural Development
Social development in Lingnan during the Sui and Tang Dynasties was still very unbalanced. Advanced developed areas coexisted with backward areas, and individual advanced economic strongholds were surrounded by large areas of wilderness. This centrality of regional development is also reflected in culture, forming a large regional contrast and becoming an important feature of the development of Lingnan culture during this period.
The Dageng Ridge Road was opened, "and then people from the south of Wuling came out, wealth and goods became available, the teachings of the Central Plains were getting closer, and the customs were changing day by day" [39]. This is the result of the Central Plains culture going south along the transportation lines. It mainly includes certain areas in northern Guangdong, Xijiang and the Pearl River Delta. The area of ??slash-and-burn cultivation and fire-cultivated marshland has also decreased in these areas. The 9th-century Arab geographer Ibn Kaur al-Dabey listed the four major commercial ports in China at that time, including "Guangfu" (Guangzhou). Fruits are produced in these areas. Vegetables, rice, barley, sugar cane, etc. have gradually kept pace with the development of agriculture in the Central Plains; the ceramics produced have colorful glazes; the fiber fabrics such as kudzu, hemp, banana, bamboo, and cotton produced are unique and cherished by the people of the Central Plains. You can show off your purchases; there are many types of wines made, among which lychee wine is a treasure and was praised by the poet Bai Juyi; cities and towns are also prosperous in these areas. Guangzhou used to be called the "Thatch City", and the Tang and Song Dynasties aspired to be the governor of Guangzhou. "New Book of Tang? Song Jingzhuan" states that the Song Dynasty "taught the people of the Song Dynasty to build blockades with pottery tiles, which buildings should be built", replacing thatched houses and introducing the architectural culture of the Central Plains to Lingnan. . Wei towns such as Jinli, Longjiang, Rongqi, Guizhou, Huanglian, Beishui, Maqi, Xiangshan and Qingqi emerged in the Pearl River Delta. Buddhist culture was also formed in Huineng as a cultural landscape. Shaozhou was very prosperous. During the Tianbao period of the Tang Dynasty, "Shaozhou had a population of 31,000 households with imperial status, 3,700 people who had their hair cut off and served as temple officials, and more than 400 people who built temples as jingshes" (40). That is, there are less than 10 households in District 1. It can be seen from this that the cultural tone of this type of area is very strong, which is of course the result of internal and external cultural exchanges. In contrast, the coastal lowlands, the Dongjiang River, Hanjiang River Basin and Hainan Wuzhishan area do not have a variety of wildlife. The animals are abundant, wild elephants are infested, and crocodiles are infested. This is where "all have carved hooves, chiselled teeth, and embroidered faces and noses for drinking." Many chronicles say, "Since the Ling Dynasty, there have been more than 20 counties south of the Ling Dynasty. Dampness is prone to miasma, especially people who die young... Pushing knots and squatting is an old custom" [42], and the indigenous culture still has a certain advantage. This kind of regional contrast just shows that the various components of Lingnan culture were still in the midst of fierce collision and integration at this time.
1. Lingnan
Lingnan is located in the southernmost part of China, on the southern border of my country, on both sides of the Tropic of Cancer. It has a subtropical monsoon climate and is one of the Five Ridges (Dageng Ridge) in southern my country. , Qitian Ridge, Dupang Ridge, Mengzhu Ridge, Yuecheng Ridge) is the general name for the area south of it. It borders the South China Sea to the south, Yunnan and Guizhou to the west, and Fujian to the east.
Lingnan has beautiful mountains and rivers, with green mountains and green seas, and a unique environment and scenery. The climate is hot and humid, and flowers bloom all year round.
2. Lingnan Culture
What is Lingnan Culture? First of all, Lingnan culture is closely connected as a geographical and political concept. It is based on the culture created by Lingnan people in the Lingnan area. Lingnan culture can be divided into broad and narrow senses. Lingnan culture in the narrow sense was formed during the Ming and Qing Dynasties, represented by the formation of the three Lingnan cultures. From then on, Lingnan culture truly had its own independent style and spirit, and was different from southern culture.
After the formation of Lingnan culture, it developed comprehensively in all aspects of politics, philosophy, academics, art, economy, craftsmanship, and social life, and reached its peak in the late Qing Dynasty.
Reform and opening up and the rapid economic development provided conditions for the rise of local culture, and cultures in various places began to revive. In this trend, Lingnan culture developed the fastest. Hong Kong entered the new culture in the 1970s and 1980s. During this period, the take-off economy combined with Lingnan-style Cantonese culture and Cantonese lifestyle to form the modern stage of Lingnan culture.
The important status of Lingnan culture is first reflected in the handicraft industry. In the middle of the Qing Dynasty, the Lingnan silk weaving industry rose rapidly. There were tens of thousands of weavers in Guangzhou and Foshan, and the quality exceeded that of Jiangnan. "Jinling It is inferior to Jiangsu, Jiangsu and Hangzhou." It is known as "Guangsha is the best in the world".
Guangzhou's mahogany furniture is one of the three major furniture schools along with "Jingzuo" and "Suzuo". The "Guangzhou Bell" of the Qing Dynasty was the most important work of craftsmanship in the Qing palace.
In terms of arts and crafts, Lingnan culture began to brew and grow in the Ming Dynasty. By the late Qing Dynasty, Lingnan arts and crafts began to be perfected and formed an independent style and system. "Guangcai" originated from folk painting in Guangzhou during the Ming Dynasty. Shiwan miniature sculptures, which flourished in the Qing Dynasty, were famous works at that time. Guangzhou's ivory carving, Guangzhou embroidery, gold and silver crafts are all famous at home and abroad.
Lingnan culture is the forerunner of the political, ideological, and cultural revolution and development of modern China. From Hong Xiuquan’s Taiping Rebellion, the Kangliang Reform to the National Revolution led by Sun Yat-sen, Lingnan culture has always been the main leader of Chinese culture and an important part of modern China. The main driving force and main leader of the political revolution. Therefore, the essence of Lingnan cultural spirit is the spirit of fighting, revolution, and innovation.
It is precisely because of the advanced and innovative nature of Lingnan culture that it has successively created its own, such as the distinctive Lingnan Painting School, Lingnan Gardening, Lingnan Drama, Lingnan Architecture, etc.
3. Lingnan Architecture and Decoration
Lingnan Architecture and Decoration are a unique branch of Chinese architecture. For thousands of years, through the hard work of successive generations of architects and craftsmen, Lingnan architecture and decoration have been fully utilized. Taking advantage of the natural resources of the South and combining it with the life characteristics of the people in the South, a unique style of architectural art has been formed, which occupies an important position in the architectural forest of our country. It is displayed on the land of southern China with its concise, simple, transparent and elegant style.
1. The formation of Lingnan architectural decoration
Lingnan architectural decoration has formed its own unique style, which is closely related to the local geography, environment, climate, people's living habits, economic conditions and cultural literacy. and other factors are closely related. The unique natural environment has a mild climate all year round and is like spring all year round. The air is humid and rainy, the plants are luxuriant and evergreen, the flowers bloom all year round, and the environment is fresh and beautiful. Due to the climate, people like the outdoor environment and activities. It is close to overseas and is quickly affected by foreign culture and ideas. It is rich in products and various architectural decorations. Materials vary. Due to the influence of various factors, a unique architectural decoration style has gradually formed, fully demonstrating the climate, habits, materials, environment, economy, and culture here. The characteristics of Lingnan architecture usually include: functional features of heat insulation, sunshade, and ventilation; the top of the building is often made into a multi-layer slope roof; the exterior facade colors are mainly dark gray and light colors; and the square columns are use.
2. Characteristics of Lingnan architectural decoration
Lingnan architectural and decorative space organization is relatively free, has no special formula, does not pursue strict vertical axis symmetry, and relies on topography and scenery. Corridors are used as a means to organize indoor and outdoor spaces, organically combining architectural spaces of different elevations, different scales, and different functions into an organic whole, forming connected winding corridors, fountains and pools, and rockeries and stacked stones. The buildings are well-proportioned in height, and the large and small spaces are organized in an orderly manner. The layout and decoration style of the building are very free and natural. Due to the mild climate, people's activity space moves outward. Therefore, open spaces such as terraces, corridors, and open halls are fully arranged. People move from the closed indoor environment to nature, forming the free and smooth decorative space of Lingnan architecture. , open characteristics.
4. Lingnan Gardens
Lingnan gardens are mainly rooted in the folk. The landscape composition is appropriately handled according to the needs of life content, adaptable to changes, and the various facilities are realistic and effective, and comply with people's wishes. The ancient garden craftsmen in Lingnan integrated multiple cultural categories, eclectic and flexibly absorbed the northern, southern and foreign garden arts, making the garden layout appear free and eclectic.
Lingnan gardens have distinctive features: first, they are light, transparent, simple, and small in size; second, they are exquisitely decorated and gorgeous, with extensive use of folk crafts such as wood carvings, brick carvings, ceramics, and gray sculptures. . Doors, window panes, flower-covered windows, etc. are all carefully carved and inlaid with tinted glass to create patterns. Under the action of color, light and shadow, they look like pieces of exquisite and clear woven cotton. Third, the layout form and local components are influenced by Western architectural culture. For example, traditional Chinese architecture uses Roman-style arched doors and windows and Baroque capitals, uses strips of stone to build regular pools, and has cast-iron flower racks outside the halls, etc., which all reflect the characteristics of Lingnan culture that is compatible with both China and the West. Practical and comprehensive, exquisite and beautiful.
Lingnan culture is an important part of the excellent culture of the Chinese nation. Geographically speaking, Lingnan culture is roughly divided into three major parts: Pearl River culture, Guangxi culture and Hainan culture. The Guangfu culture, Chaoshan culture and Hakka culture, which belong to the Pearl River culture, are the mainstay. This is the main body of Lingnan culture. Among them, the Cantonese culture in the Cantonese dialect area, that is, the Cantonese classical area, especially the Cantonese culture since modern times, is a typical representative of Lingnan culture. Guangzhou, as the center of Guangfu culture and Lingnan culture, has a long history. Starting from the Neolithic period four to five thousand years ago, there was the Baiyue culture before the city was founded, the fusion of Han-Vietnamese culture and the fusion of Chinese and Western cultures after the city was founded. It has continuously formed its own unique style and distinctive regional cultural characteristics. From archaeological relics to documentary records, from historical site culture, architectural culture, folk culture, garden culture, commercial culture, religious culture to various cultures and arts, there is an open humanistic consciousness, especially the consciousness of change and commercial consciousness. , pragmatic consciousness and civilian consciousness, reflecting Guangzhou people’s open concept, compatibility concept and reform concept.
Traditional culture and art, from Cantonese, Cantonese opera, Cantonese music, Cantonese folk art, Lingnan calligraphy, Lingnan painting school, Lingnan poetry, Lingnan architecture, Lingnan bonsai, Lingnan crafts to Lingnan folk customs and Lingnan food culture, all reflect the rich connotation and content of Lingnan culture. Unique and colorful local characteristics of Lingnan. Since the beginning of the history of Lingnan civilization, Guangzhou has been the political, economic and cultural center of the Lingnan region for thousands of years and a representative of Lingnan culture.
Guangzhou’s culture and art, including literature, drama, film and television, music, calligraphy and painting, folk crafts, garden architecture, etc., all have strong Lingnan regional cultural characteristics. Among them, Cantonese opera, Guangdong music, Lingnan painting school, Lingnan architecture, Lingnan gardens, Lingnan crafts, etc. are typical representatives of Lingnan cultural styles and schools.
Cantonese opera is the most representative local opera in Guangzhou and enjoys the reputation of "Red Bean of the South". Cantonese opera is popular in the Cantonese-speaking areas of Guangdong and Guangxi and the two special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macao. Cantonese opera is also often performed in Southeast Asia, Europe, America, Australia and other areas where overseas Chinese and Chinese live. Cantonese Opera is a fusion of some northern opera types, mainly Geyang Opera, Kun Opera, Hui Opera, Xiang Opera, etc., and Guangdong local folk tunes such as Nanyin, Yue Gu, Muyu, Dragon Boat, etc. The accents are mainly Bangzi, Erhuang and Xipi. Eclectic, easy-to-understand, and beautiful music are the main characteristics of Cantonese opera.
Guangdong music, also known as Cantonese music, is a shining pearl of Chinese folk music. Cantonese music originated from Guangzhou and the Pearl River Delta region. It is a kind of folk music that absorbs the essence of ancient music from the Central Plains, Jiangnan minors, Kunqu opera, etc., and combines it with local folk songs and ballads. Like Cantonese opera, it also has obvious fusion characteristics. Due to its melodious and melodious tunes, Cantonese music is loved not only by Cantonese people, but also by people across the country and even foreigners. Therefore, there has always been a saying that "wherever there are overseas Chinese, there are Guangdong music friends." Among them, "Backgammon", "Rain Beats the Plantains", "Pinghu Qiuyue" and other famous Guangdong music pieces have become popular classics in the music world and are often performed in various concerts.
The Lingnan School of Painting is one of the modern Chinese painting schools, founded by Gao Jianfu, the brothers Gao Qifeng and Chen Shuren, the "Three Masters of Lingnan". In their early years, they studied under the flower-and-bird painter Ju Lian and studied in Japan. Later, on the basis of Chinese painting, they integrated Japanese and Western painting methods to create their own style, focusing on sketching and painting more Lingnan scenery, with bright colors and a completely new look. Many people learned from it, and they were called the Lingnan School of Painting. The Lingnan School of Painting was born with the rise of national and democratic consciousness in modern China. It has the innovative spirit of the times and is a reformist school of Chinese painting. Gao Jianfu, Chen Shuren and Gao Qifeng, the founders of the Lingnan School of Painting, all followed Mr. Sun Yat-sen in the revolution in their early years. The second generation descendant of the Lingnan School of Painting. Contemporary painters Zhao Shao'ang, Guan Shanyue, Li Xiongcai, Yang Shanshen, etc. have inherited and developed the fine traditions and styles of the Lingnan School of Painting, created a large number of outstanding works, and cultivated a large number of talents.
Guangzhou carving, Guangcai and Guangxiu are famous Lingnan folk handicrafts both at home and abroad.