The hometown of Mahjong, Xiaguan Village, Ningyuan

Xiaguan Village is located about 30 kilometers southwest of City, Ningyuan County, Yongzhou City, Hunan Province. It is located in Wanjing Town on the banks of Guan River and Lengjiang River in "Shili Gallery".

On June 10, after lunch, we went to Xiaguan Village in Wanjing Town.

After getting off the bus, everyone headed straight to the sea of ​​flowers in Xiaguan Village. Layers of flowers and plants of various colors were blooming in the fields. The fiery red sulfur chrysanthemums and fresh and elegant zinnias were particularly eye-catching. They were playing various poses in the fields. Compete with the flowers.

Xiaguan Village, also known as Guanxi Village, is named Guanxi because the water of three rivers (Lingjiang, Mujiang, and Dongjiang) merge here and form a stream. "One Village" reputation. The village was built in the first year of Yongyuan of the Southern Qi Dynasty (499 AD ) and has a history of more than 1,500 years.

Among the 13 number one scholars in Hunan's history, two number one scholars were obtained from one village, which is rare in the country. The origin of "the first village in Jiangnan" may come from this. Because Li He, the first number one scholar in Lingling County, Hunan Province since the imperial examination system of the Tang Dynasty, was born here, which is also an honor. He has a wide range of interests. When he was about 28 years old, he invented "Yi Zi Opera", one of China's fifth quintessences besides Chinese martial arts, Chinese Peking Opera, Chinese calligraphy and painting, and Chinese medicine. It later evolved into the current mahjong and is even more famous all over the world. . The village is dominated by people with the surname Li, and has a population of tens of thousands . Such large-scale villages are rare in Hunan. In the village, there are the Li family ancestral hall that has been famous for centuries, the Zhuangyuan Tower that is famous throughout history, as well as many cultural landscapes such as Xiyanchi, Wenxing Pagoda, Guangwen Bridge, Yinglong Pavilion, etc. The natural scenery is also very beautiful. , picturesque scenery. It is both a "number one village" and a "mahjong village". Do you think this village is awesome?

Zhuangyuan Bridge

From the tourist service center at the south entrance of the village to the village, you must pass the Zhuangyuan Bridge. Xiaguan Village is the birthplace of the originator of Mahjong. To commemorate Li He, there is a wax figure of Li He in the Xiaguan Folk Museum, and a bridge was specially built named Zhuangyuan Bridge. This bridge is different from ordinary stone bridges. There are rows of mahjong tiles on the bridge.

Entering the village, the ancient houses are all Hui-style buildings with white walls and blue tiles. The difference is that the white walls are printed with mahjong tiles one by one, the most common one is "Fa". The street lamps visible when looking up are also hung with signs such as "60,000, 80,000, Fa...", and various mahjong elements can be seen everywhere . In recent years, this village has become an Internet celebrity village and is known as the "Mahjong Village" by the outside world. The village also holds the "Li He Cup" mahjong competition. The characteristics of mahjong have been integrated and penetrated into every corner of the entire village.

Number One Scholar Bridge
Number One Scholar Bridge
Number One Scholar Bridge
Number One Scholar Bridge

A douche school that combines Chinese and Western elements

This new-style school, built in the 25th year of the Republic of China, adopts a quadrangle-style layout. On the south side is the school gate, which is built with blue bricks. There are single-story pitched roof classrooms on the east and west sides, and a two-story main teaching building on the north side, with a hip-roofed green tile roof and a single-corridor aisle. The outside of the aisle adopts the six-column and five-coupon style. The pillars are all made of blue bricks, with white wall paint painted on the outside. Why is there such a new school that combines Chinese and Western styles at the foot of Jiuyi Mountain? It is said that during the Republic of China, a villager studied at Hunan First Normal University. After graduating and returning to his hometown, he led the villagers to build this school. Now it has become a community office.

 

Douche School
Douche School
Douche School
Douche School

Li's Ancestral Hall

There is an ancestral hall of the Li family in the village. The three ancestors of the Li family are enshrined on the altar. Li He, who is wearing court clothes, sits at the left head. The Li Clan Ancestral Hall may be the one with the widest area and the most magnificent architecture found in Yongzhou so far. The entire ancestral hall covers an area of ​​more than 2,000 square meters, and the ground is entirely paved with cobblestones. It is still an important place for villagers to worship their ancestors and hold gatherings.

Zhuangyuan Building

The Zhuangyuan Tower silently tells the story of the glory of the Tang and Song Dynasties. In the imperial examinations from the Tang Dynasty to the Qing Dynasty in 1300, Xiaguan Village gave birth to 2 number one scholars and 48 Jinshi scholars. It must be said that it is a very remarkable thing. There are outstanding people and talented people. The Zhuangyuan Building was first built in the Song Dynasty to commemorate Li He. After many wars, it was built and destroyed. It was rebuilt again in the 21st year of Guangxu's reign in the Qing Dynasty, forming the current layout. The Zhuangyuan Building faces south. The main structure is supported by sixteen wooden pillars inside and outside. There are holes on the second floor for people to climb on. A plaque with the name "Zhuangyuan Family" hangs on the eaves. Parents of children who are studying can also come here to worship and get some luck when they have time!

Zhuangyuan Building
Zhuangyuan Building
Zhuangyuan Building

Immortal Bridge

The Immortal Bridge is a stone arch bridge. There is a record of this bridge in the "Ningyuan County Chronicle" compiled during the Jiaqing period of the Qing Dynasty. There is an Immortal Well under the bridge, which was dug in the Song Dynasty. According to legend, the villagers dug it under the guidance of Immortal Lu Dongbin, hence the name Immortal Well. The water from the well comes from the rocks in the well. The water is of excellent quality. Drinking it can prolong your life.

Guangwen Bridge

Walking to the northwest entrance of the village, there is a wind and rain bridge with a brick and wood structure spanning the Lingjiang River. This is the Guangwen Bridge. It stands on the Lingjiang River through three stone piers, which are formed by criss-crossing wooden beams. A pavilion is built on the bridge, which is then paved with blue bricks. The bridge deck is flat, making it easier for pedestrians to transport goods or raise poultry. The wooden railings and benches used on both sides can not only rest and avoid rain, but also overlook the village. The existing Guangwen Bridge was rebuilt during the Guangxu period of the Qing Dynasty.

Looking to the north, Wenxing Tower is hidden on the top of a hill not far away. Wenxing Pagoda was also built to commemorate Li He, the number one scholar in the Tang Dynasty, but it was a bit far away so we didn’t go there.

Guangwen Bridge
Guangwen Bridge
Guangwen Bridge
Children running naked in the Lingjiang River embodying the original ecology of humanity

Guangwen Wind and Rain Bridge Across the Lingjiang River

For those poker players who have been indulging in the mahjong table all day long, in this early summer, can you take a step outside, come to Xiaguan Village, pay homage to the originator, meet mahjong players, change your luck, and cheer up?