Which province has the largest number of ancient buildings in China?

Shanxi

In the eyes of ancient architecture enthusiasts

It's a magical

A fascinating place

(The Great White Pagoda and Wuye Temple in Wutai Mountain, Shanxi Province, photographer @翟鸿宇)

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Existing in Shanxi

Among the 28,027 ancient architectural relics

Wooden structures before the Song, Liao and Jin dynasties accounted for about

75%

The wooden structures of the Yuan Dynasty accounted for about

80%

The only remaining

Four Tang Dynasty wooden structures

all

Located in Shanxi

This place is called

“A Treasure House of Ancient Chinese Architecture”

(The above data comes from the third national cultural relics survey, and the figure below is a schematic diagram of the distribution of ancient Chinese buildings. Map by @Zhang Wei/Planet Research Institute)

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Why does Shanxi have

So many rare ancient buildings?

01

Create a home

first

we need to

From this land

Shanxi has rich and extensive coverage

Loess layer

Excavation for the hole can reach

The wall can stand 10-15 meters without falling down

(Loess hills in Lingqiu, Shanxi, photographer @崔永江)

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Unique loess resources

It allowed our ancestors to dig holes in the earth to make kilns.

Created one of China's earliest man-made homes

Cave

The earliest existing cave dwelling site in China

It was born in Shanxi during the Yangshao period 5,000-7,000 years ago.

But loess is better than wood

Under the same pressure

More prone to collapse

People have gradually found out through long-term practice

Arched structure

Cleverly transfer some of the pressure

Converted into side thrust

Greatly enhanced the safety of the cave

(Please watch in horizontal mode, schematic diagram of the force analysis of the sunken cave, drawn by @杨宁/Planetary Research Institute)

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Mountains and hills

It accounts for more than 80% of Shanxi's area

Therefore, the cave

Relying on the mountains and stacked in layers

(Cave dwelling in Lijiashan Village, Qikou Town, Shanxi Province, photographer @朱金华)

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Rich loess and coal resources

It also makes it possible to produce a large number of bricks and tiles.

As people continue to pursue the solidity of their homes

Durable bricks and tiles are popularized in thousands of households

The earliest existing brick-and-wood residential building in China

It was born in Shanxi during the Yuan Dynasty.

Cave dwellings and brick-wood houses

Can also be mixed and matched

The lower floor is built as a brick cave.

The upper floor is built of brick and wood

Commonly known as "Xia Yao Shang Fang"

People are still on the platform above the cave

Build a parapet wall similar to a railing

Preventing falls

Multiple caves and houses surrounded

Courtyard

It is where the family lives.

According to the relationship between inside and outside

Houses are given different names

The elders or the owner of the house live in the main house

The younger generation lives in the wing rooms and ear rooms

Guests or servants sit at the back

To demonstrate the status of the head of the family

The main house is often in the courtyard

The tallest and most spacious building

(Sketch of a narrow courtyard in Jinzhong, Shanxi. A narrow courtyard is a type of compound courtyard. Map by @杨宁/Planet Research Institute)

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Loess, bricks, tiles, wood, etc.

Abundant building materials to adapt to different terrains

Create different main room styles

Some main rooms are prominent and secondary rooms are set back.

Like the wings of an official's black hat

People call it "Gauze Hat Wing"

Some take advantage of the situation to build a two-story courtyard

Like a loft rooftop

(Sketch of some residential buildings in Shanxi, drawn by @杨宁/Planet Research Institute)

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also

Shanxi merchants traveled around in Ming and Qing dynasties

Establish ticket offices and clubs in various places

This kind of vision that travels all over the country

More Shanxi residential buildings

A collection of various architectural elements

Horse Head Wall in Huizhou

It is not difficult to see in the folk houses in southern Shanxi.

The population in southern Shanxi is relatively dense

The horse head wall plays a role in fire prevention.

Also more beautiful

(The horse head wall of the Li Family Courtyard in Wanrong County, Shanxi Province, photographer @李平安)

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Curved walls commonly seen in Suzhou gardens

Winding along the terrain in Shanxi

Soft and graceful appearance

Enriching the level of landscaping

(The curved wall of the Li Family Courtyard in Wanrong County, Shanxi Province, photographer @李平安)

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Western architectural style

It is also common in Shanxi

(The Western-style gatehouse of the Li Family Courtyard in Wanrong County, Shanxi Province, photographer @李平安)

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Merchants and wealthy families also spent huge sums of money

Connect multiple courtyards into

Compound

Qiao Family Courtyard and Li Family Courtyard

Wang Family Courtyard and Cao Family Courtyard

All of this type

The officialdom even imitated the imperial city

Layout of residence into inner city and outer city

And built a building over 30 meters high

125 soldier caves and 16 courtyards

Like a giant castle

This is the Chen family building complex in Jincheng, Shanxi Province during the Ming and Qing Dynasties.

It is called the Imperial City Prime Minister's Mansion

(Please watch in horizontal mode, the Imperial Palace of Jincheng, Shanxi, photographer @石耀臣)

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The courtyard is not only used for living

It can also be converted with the function

Transformed into academies, government offices, ancestral halls, theaters, etc.

They have various forms

The pursuit of artistic conception is also different

College

Or built in a scenic location

Enjoy the beauty of forests and springs

Or build pavilions and gardens

Everywhere is a scene, a world of its own

(Jinxi Academy in Taiyuan, Shanxi, photographer @田卓然)

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Stage

Usually open on multiple sides

So that people can stop and watch

Existing opera stages in China before the Yuan Dynasty

All in Shanxi

(Please watch in horizontal mode, Water Mirror Terrace at Jin Temple in Taiyuan, Shanxi Province, photographer @田卓然)

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Countless courtyards are combined together

Or form a village

It can be along the contour

Blending with the mountains and hills

It is called "Hanging Village"

(Please watch in horizontal mode, Hanging Village in Ningwu, Shanxi, photographer @邬红波)

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Or it may constitute an ancient city.

For example, the ancient city of Pingyao in Shanxi

There are "four main streets and eight small streets" in the city.

The road network of "72 centipede alleys"

Exquisite archways are dotted in between.

The majestic and towering city walls surround it

(Panoramic view of Pingyao Ancient City, photographer @石耀臣)

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There is also the ancient city of Datong in Shanxi

The building is very square and regular.

(Please watch in horizontal mode, panoramic view of Datong Ancient City, photographer @傅鼎)

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As the residence of the princes of the Ming Dynasty

There are one dragon wall, three dragon walls and five dragon walls scattered around the city.

And the only Nine Dragon Wall outside of Beijing

Precious

(The following is the complete Datong Nine Dragon Wall, photographer @赵斌)

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······

More than 600 ancient cities and villages

On the land of Shanxi

Standing quietly

A home for all living beings

However

Shanxi's geographical location

The people here are destined to live a stable life.

Make great efforts

At the same time, it gave rise to more ancient buildings with corresponding functions.

02

Defending the country

Northern Shanxi

In the agricultural and pastoral interlaced zone

Agricultural and nomadic lifestyle

Coexist here

Between ancient settlements of all sizes

Fight for territory and survival resources

(Shanxi is located in the interlaced zone of agriculture and animal husbandry, map by @Zhang Wei & Long Yanling/Planet Research Institute)

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Shang Dynasty onwards

The settlement further grew into a state

The complex topography of Shanxi

Providing shelter for many countries

The Fang State that only appears in oracle bone inscriptions

There are more than ten

Many nomadic states

Hostile to the Shang Dynasty

Including Shanxi's Yuanqu Mall and Dongxiafeng Mall

They built a double wall

Greatly improved the defensive function of the city

(The "Fangguo" mentioned above refers to the feudal tribes and states during the Xia and Shang dynasties in China. In the oracle bone inscriptions unearthed from the Yinxu site, the tribal state was referred to as "X Fang", so it was called "Fangguo"; the following is the ruins of Yuanqu Shangcheng, which has been submerged by the Xiaolangdi Reservoir of the Yellow River. The village in the picture is Jinguduo Village. The photographer is @李平安, and the annotation is @龙雁羽/星球研究院)

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Rammed earth for building city walls

A large amount of gravel is also added

Increase its hardness and toughness

in this way

The city wall has a history of more than 3,000 years

Still remains on the ground

Its sturdiness is amazing

(The gravel mentioned above is the calcareous nodules in the loess layer or weathered red soil layer. The picture below is a schematic diagram of the wall making process. Map by @杨宁&张靖/Planetary Research Institute)

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These countries that trouble merchants

In the Spring and Autumn Period

Almost all of it was incorporated into the territory of Jin

But the war has not ended

In Jin

Zhao, Wei, Han, Zhi, Fan, and Zhonghang

Seize power with the monarch of Jin

For example, Duke Jing of Jin and the Zhao family fought for power

Then a play called "The Orphan of Zhao" was staged.

The three kingdoms of Zhao, Wei, and Han that ultimately won

Divided up all the territory of Jin

It is called "Three Families Divide Jin" in history.

The three families guarded against each other and built high walls

This is one of the early Great Walls.

(Hanzhuang Great Wall in Xinzhou, Shanxi, built by the State of Zhao during the Warring States Period and rebuilt in the Sui Dynasty, photographer @崔永江)

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Afterwards

Shanxi gradually became

One of the most intensive war zones in China

Liu Bang fought against the Huns here

Cao Cao conquered Wuhuan here

Xiongnu, Xianbei, Jie, Qiang, Di

When the Hu tribes were established one after another

Former Yan, Western Yan, and Later Yan

Eastern Wei, Western Wei, Northern Wei

Former Qin, Later Qin, Later Zhao

Northern Zhou, Northern Qi, Xia

······

Here you come and I fight endlessly

(Please watch in horizontal mode, unknown war relics near Bailanggou Village, Pinglu, Shanxi, photographer @烏蘇)

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The one who had the most profound impact on the war

The first is Shi Jingtang of the Later Jin Dynasty to the Khitan Liao Kingdom

Cession of the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun

Among them, Yunzhou (now Datong)

Established as the Western Capital of the Khitan Liao Kingdom

More than 400 years later

Recovering the mountains and rivers has always been

The Greatest Dream and Desire of the Central Plains Dynasty

Shanxi has also become a place where countless people risk their lives

The bloody front

(The former Xijing of Liao Dynasty, today's Datong, Shanxi, photographer @亂言)

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Song-Liao Confrontation Period

Yanmen Pass becomes the focus of contention

The story of "Yang's Generals"

Played here

(Yanmen Pass, in Yanmen Mountain, about 20 kilometers north of Dai County, Xinzhou City, Shanxi Province, photographer @杨东)

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Yuan-Ming transition period

The famous general Xu Da of the Ming Dynasty and the general Wang Baobao of the Yuan Dynasty

Leading troops to fight in Taiyuan

As the war intensified

Shahukou, Shahuguan, Shahubao

Other names appear in Shanxi

Today's "Shahukou" originated from this

There are also various unknown war relics.

In Shanxi

It can be found everywhere.

(War relics remaining in Wangmangling, Lingchuan County, Jincheng City, Shanxi Province, photographer @杨国启)

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The Yellow River's natural barrier

(The Pianguan Great Wall ruins located in Laoniuwan are one of the three outer passes built in the Ming Dynasty. On the river bend high ground at the bottom of the picture, there is a circle of Great Wall ruins along the contour line. Photographer @崔永江, tagged @龙雁羽/星球研究院)

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On the Buddhist holy land

(Please watch in horizontal mode. Yungang Fort above the Yungang Grottoes is one of the fort ruins in the Ming Dynasty Great Wall system of Datong. Photographer: @爬长城的toby)

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In the dust of the collapsed city wall

How many thrilling pasts are hidden

A heroic journey

(Huamenbao in Tianzhen, Shanxi, one of the forts in Datong Town of the Ming Great Wall, photographer @路春雷)

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To adapt to war

People use bricks

Make the city wall more durable

And set up horse trails and walking trails

In order to quickly transport troops in large quantities

(Sketch of part of the city wall, drawn by @杨宁&张靖/Planetary Research Institute)

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Set up loopholes, crenels, and stone holes

In order to use guns, cannons and stones to attack the enemy

(Sketch of city wall defense, drawn by @杨宁&张靖/Planetary Research Institute)

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Set up enemy towers and enemy buildings

In order to garrison and store weapons and food

(Hollow enemy tower diagram, map by @杨宁&张靖/Planetary Research Institute)

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With the support of these architectural forms

The Ming Dynasty set up 5 types of military castles

Arranged according to military rank:

Town City-Road City-Acropolis-Suo City-Fort City

Forming a strict border defense system

For example, Datong Town

There are 10 acropolises, 7 cities and 583 fortresses.

(Please watch in horizontal mode, a diagram of the Ming Dynasty's frontier defense system, drawn by @杨宁&张靖/Planetary Research Institute)

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So far

Shanxi, a land of war, has

The Great Wall, forts, important towns, and passes

and other facilities for confrontation and game

A more imaginative construction

It comes from people’s spiritual world

03

Gods' Blessing

Shanxi

As one of the birthplaces of Chinese culture

Has a very diverse

Local beliefs

Dragon King Hall, Water God Temple, Hou Tu Temple

Dongyue Temple and other nature worship

Many more

(Guangling Water God Temple in Shanxi, photographer @Huang Xuefeng)

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Not only the mountains, rivers and land each have their own gods

The ancient saints are also in heaven

The story of Yao, Shun, Yu, Tang, Fuxi and Nuwa

Widely spread in Shanxi

Among them, the Huozhou Wahuang Temple, which is dedicated to Nuwa

It has the largest existing mural of Nuwa in China.

The ancestors of the Yangtoushan area in Gaoping, Shanxi

A large number of

Yandi Palace, Yandi Temple, Yandi Mausoleum, etc.

Formed a rare community of Yandi worship

(Yandi Mausoleum, Shanxi, photographer @石耀臣)

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The wheel of history rolls forward

Confucius, Bian Que, Li Bing, Hua Tuo

Wu Zetian, Sima Guang and other legendary figures

Appearing in temples

In Shanxi, where wars are frequent

People have a special admiration for heroes

Wei Qing and Huo Qubing of the Han Dynasty

Guo Ziyi and Yuchi Jingde of the Tang Dynasty

Yang Ye and Di Qing of Song

There are temples dedicated to

Especially Guan Yu

After the "official certification" of his status as a martial saint

Places for worship are found throughout Shanxi's cities and towns.

The largest Guandi Temple in China

Located in Jiezhou Town, Yuncheng City, Shanxi Province

It is called "Jiezhou Guandi Temple"

(Xiezhou Guandi Temple, photographer @翟鸿宇)

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As the national gods and goddesses gradually took shape

Shanxi folks even began to create new gods

To ensure the "practicality" of the gods

Jia Zhuangyuan, Cui Fujun, Jellyfish Goddess, etc.

Ascended from a native of Shanxi to a god

Accepting visits from everyone

Local officials who have made some achievements

Also worshiped in

Dou Dafu Temple, Hu Dafu Temple, Xun Dafu Temple, etc.

Bless the land and water

(Dou Dafu Temple in Shanglan Village, Taiyuan, Shanxi Province, photographer @姚腾飞)

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Based on local beliefs

Absorbing the magic of immortals and the teachings of Laozi and Zhuangzi

Born

Taoism

More systematic and theoretical

More favored by the rulers

For example, Genghis Khan

I highly respect the Quanzhen Sect of Taoism

And built a lot of Taoist temples

Even the palace

It then took another hundred years to build

Finally, the Ruicheng Yongle Palace was built

On the 500-meter-long central axis of the building

Wuji Gate, Sanqing Hall, Chunyang Hall, Chongyang Hall

The main buildings are arranged in layers, majestic and magnificent.

(Ruicheng Yongle Palace, photographer @李如国)

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On the walls and archways of each hall

The museum is full of exquisite murals from the Yuan Dynasty

The total area is more than 1,000 square meters

Second only to Dunhuang in China

Among them, the mural "Chao Yuan Tu" in Sanqing Hall

For the best work

Arrangement of characters in the picture

Guided by the Azure Dragon and White Tiger

The main figures are Nanji, Dongji, Ziji and other eight people.

The twenty-eight mansions, the twelve stars, etc. are unfolded in sequence

There are more than 280 immortals lingering around the main statue.

Coming in

(Murals of the Yongle Palace in Ruicheng, image from @Wikimedia Commons)

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Taoism has a rich heritage in Shanxi

In the Tang Dynasty, there was a temple of King Guangren in Ruicheng

It is the earliest existing Taoist building in China.

In the Song Dynasty, there were the Jincheng Jade Emperor Temple and the main hall of the Erxian Temple.

In the Jin Dynasty, there was the Jade Emperor Hall of Haotian in Taifu Temple in Fenyang

There were Longshan Grottoes in the Yuan Dynasty

It is the largest Taoist grotto group in China.

In the Ming Dynasty, there was the Taiyuan Chunyang Palace

Hengshan Mountain

It was also used as a Taoist temple.

Pavilions and towers are scattered among the mountains

Some are perched on the top of the mountains

Some are ethereal in the clouds

This is exactly what countless Taoists and laymen

The longed-for “paradise”

(Gusao Cliff of Hengshan Mountain, the Northern Mountain of Datong, Shanxi Province, by photographer @jianwangdexingshejie)

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Compared with Taoism

Buddhism

As a leader among foreign religions

It was introduced in the Han Dynasty and became popular in the Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties.

During this period, he settled in the Central Plains

Hu people

Believe in and promote Buddhism

Initially, it implied a rivalry with Confucianism and Taoism.

Its architecture is directly modeled after the birthplace of Buddhism

grotto

One of them is

The Northern Wei regime established by the Xianbei people

The first caves to be built with royal power

The five large caves are dominated by five large Buddhas.

Carved on the cliffs of Mount Wuzhou

The monk Tan Yao presided over its construction.

Later generations called it "Tan Yao Five Grottoes"

(One of the five Tan Yao Grottoes, a large Buddha with a high nose and deep eyes, especially the root of the nose is extremely high and has an exotic color, photographer @王宁)

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As the excavation work deepened

On the cliff face that is more than 1,000 meters long

About 200 caves

About 59,000 statues gradually took shape

People call it "Yungang Grottoes"

(Please watch in horizontal mode, Yungang Grottoes, photographer @张伟)

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Later, the Northern Qi regime excavated

Mengshan Giant Buddha and Tianlongshan Grottoes

Equally outstanding

Flying celestial musicians, bodhisattvas and arhats

Thousands of people, thousands of faces, colorful

(Statues inside Cave 19 of Yungang Grottoes in Datong, Shanxi Province. For reference only. The picture and text are irrelevant. Photographer: @熊可)

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After Buddhism was introduced into the Central Plains

Buddhism and Traditional Chinese Wooden Architecture

Fusion

Buddhist Temple

Gradually replaced the status of grottoes and towers

It became a missionary center and was built on a large scale.

Nanchan Temple was built more than 1,200 years ago

It is the oldest existing wooden structure in China.

It has experienced at least 8 earthquakes of magnitude 5 or above

Still Standing

(Nanchan Temple in Xinzhou, Shanxi, photographer @石耀臣)

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The East Hall of Foguang Temple was built more than 1,100 years ago

With the help of the noblewoman Ning Gongyu from Chang'an

Create an exceptionally elegant atmosphere

The main hall consists of column grid layer, bracket layer and roof frame layer.

The three-layer structure

The huge bracket arch protrudes 2.02 meters outward

It is the longest-standing ancient building.

A display of the elegance and grandeur of Tang Dynasty architecture

(Schematic diagram of the structure of the East Hall of Foguang Temple in Wutai Mountain, Shanxi Province, drawn by @杨宁&张靖/Planet Research Institute)

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Yingxian Fogong Temple was built more than 900 years ago

Built by Liao nobles

Among them, the Sakyamuni Pagoda (Yingxian Wooden Pagoda) is a masterpiece of divine craftsmanship.

There are 54 types of brackets and 480 flowers in them.

The interior of the wooden tower also creatively sets up a dark structure

The dark layer is to the wooden tower like the bamboo joint is to the bamboo

Helped the tower survive more than 40 earthquakes

More than 200 rounds of gunfire

And countless lightning strikes

It is a miracle that it has survived till now

(Schematic diagram of the structure of the Yingxian Wooden Pagoda, drawn by @杨宁&李江飞/Planetary Research Institute)

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The Manjusri Hall of Foguang Temple was built more than 800 years ago.

Shows a different inner beauty from the "predecessors"

It adopts the "reduced column method" compared to the 12 golden pillars in the East Hall.

There are only four golden pillars in the 550㎡ space of Wenshu Hall.

The whole space is open and gorgeous

The only remaining case in China

also

There is also the Pingshun Dayunyuan of the Five Dynasties

Pingyao Zhenguo Temple and Pingshun Longmen Temple

The Bhagavad Gita Hall of Huayan Temple in Liao Dynasty

The Great Hall of Shanhua Temple in Datong during the Jin Dynasty, etc.

These buildings are very old and contain a lot of treasures.

If it is placed in other provinces, it can be the best

In Shanxi, it is just a drop in the ocean

(Huayan Temple in Datong, Shanxi, photographer @熊可)

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As Buddhist temples blossomed everywhere

Buddhism also flourished in China

Tiantai Sect is one of them.

As the earliest indigenous Buddhist sect

The earliest existing Buddhist temple of the Tiantai sect

Pingshun Tiantai Temple in Shanxi

The monks discovered the Qingliang Mountain mentioned in the Buddhist scriptures.

Very similar to Mount Wutai in Shanxi

They came to Mount Wutai to establish their own sects

India, Nepal, Sri Lanka

Myanmar, Vietnam, Japan, South Korea

The monks of other countries

They also went to Mount Wutai for pilgrimage

History books call it

"Ten thousand saints came to Mount Wutai, and the founders of the sects... There are 360 ​​large temples and countless hermitages (small Buddhist temples)"

(Please watch in horizontal mode, Mount Wutai, photographer @jianwangdexingshejie)

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So far

Taoism is centered on Mount Hengshan

Buddhism is centered on Mount Wutai

The religious radiation area is basically formed

The two compete for followers

Until reaching a

The perfect balance and harmony

For example, Jinci

From the temple dedicated to the ancestors of the Jin State during the Spring and Autumn Period

Gradually evolved into a place where immortals gathered

Jade Emperor, Sakyamuni

Guandi Saint, Gongshu Luban

All have a place here

(Indoor statues at Jin Temple in Taiyuan, Shanxi, photographer @石耀臣)

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The fusion and collision of religions

Enriched the spiritual world of Shanxi people

It also inspires endless imagination and creativity

The earliest existing dragon-shaped column in China

Wrapped in the Holy Mother Hall of Jinci

On the front porch eaves

(Panlong Jinzhu, photographer @Lu Weiping)

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The cross-shaped stone bridge in front of the Notre Dame Cathedral

It is called "Uonuma Hiro

The only one in China

(“Flying Bridge over the Fish Pond”, photographer @李如国, tagged @龙雁羽/Planetary Research Institute)

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The Hanging Temple

In a temple

At the same time, Laozi, Confucius and Buddha are worshipped

It is a unique temple that integrates Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism

The beams that support the building penetrate into the rock mass

Each beam can bear several tons of weight.

The palaces, terraces and pavilions are all built on the beams.

The intuitive feeling is like "hanging in the air"

(Hanging Temple in Datong, Shanxi, photographer @石耀臣)

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There are also from Nepal, India and other places

The White Pagoda came from Tibet

Like a visitor from the snowy land

(Big White Pagoda of Mount Wutai, Shanxi, photographer @小蓝懂鱼)

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A multitude of religious deities flourished

The buildings and palaces are gorgeous and varied

Heaven and earth have given Shanxi such a wonderful creation

Also very generous

Dry climate deep inland

Rugged terrain surrounded by mountains and water

For the preservation of a large number of ancient buildings

Provides more possibilities

but

Surviving ancient buildings

Can't escape the ravages of time

04

end

Winter comes and goes, sun rises and moon sets

Time on ancient buildings

Leaving deep and shallow "scars"

Wind, frost, rain and snow can all become

Ancient building "killer"

Howling wind

Weathering and cracking of wooden columns and beams

The depth of the cracks is shocking

(Cracked wooden pillars in the East Hall of Foguang Temple in Wutai Mountain, photographer @石耀臣, tagged @龙雁羽/Planet Research Institute)

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Heavy rain

The earthen walls are decaying and the bricks are peeling off.

Ancient buildings are like Lingchi

Very vibrant plants

Often grows on rooftops

Roof waterproofing

A mixture of soil and grass

It is not uncommon to see roofs with lush vegetation

(Datong Three Dragon Wall with grass growing on the roof, photographer @黄雪峰)

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······

In summary

Only ancient buildings in southern Shanxi

Nearly 80% of them are facing wall collapse

A series of problems such as rammed earth sinking and beam distortion

(The main building of the Sanjieyi Temple in Dongyangcheng Village, Fenyang, is facing collapse. Photographer @杨虎)

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The ancient building protection workers who witnessed all this

In addition to the grief

Just speed up

Carry out rescue work on ancient buildings

At the beginning of the founding of New China

The first generation of architectural experts and scholars in Shanxi

Established a professional building protection agency

The Yunuma Flying Bridge at Jin Temple in Taiyuan

More than 40 protection projects including Datong Nine Dragon Wall

Implemented during this period

1970s

Three major cultural relics protection projects

The Yungang Grottoes fissure grouting reinforcement

Renovation of the main hall of Nanchan Temple in Mount Wutai

The Pilu Hall and the West Side Hall of Hongdong Guangsheng Temple were restored

During this period,

(April 19, 2017, the Yungang Grottoes in Datong, Shanxi, which are under repair. The picture and text are irrelevant and are only for illustration. Photographer @陆伟平)

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Reputable

Ruicheng Yongle Palace

Also during this period

Relocated due to the Sanmenxia Water Conservancy Project

Ruicheng Yongle Palace has a large

Extremely precious murals from the Yuan Dynasty

The removal and restoration of the murals

There was no precedent at the time

600 years

Make it extremely fragile and easily broken

Construction workers must be extremely careful

They figured out how to remove, pack, and transport

Multiple processes such as reinforcement and installation

Each process has been repeatedly inspected

To transport the required wood

They drifted on the Yellow River for three days and three nights

To move the mural intact

They are fully focused and work tirelessly

It took nearly 10 years of effort

341 murals

Successful remote recovery

This is indeed a great feat of relocating ancient buildings in my country.

Since the reform and opening up

Large-scale demolition and reconstruction swept across the country

Pingyao Ancient City

Like other cities in China

Urban construction

Break open old walls and demolish old houses

Plan to build four modern streets

Li Youhua, then director of the Pingyao County Cultural Relics Management Office

To protect the ancient city wall

Lying in the gate of the city that is about to be demolished

Using flesh and blood to stop destruction

Buy precious time

Afterwards

Li Zhengyun from the Provincial Cultural Relics Management Committee

Zhang Chouliang, Chai Zejun and others from the Institute of Ancient Architecture

Running around

Petition for the protection of Pingyao Ancient City

Ruan Yisan from Tongji University got the news

Come to Pingyao

The purpose is to preserve the old city and build a new one

Make new plans

finally

Efforts of all

Blooming at the World Heritage Conference

Pingyao is included in the World Cultural Heritage List

The story of "saving Pingyao from the sword"

It also set off a trend of protecting ancient cities and ancient buildings in China

With local regulations

And the protection system is gradually improving

Jiexiu Aoshen Tower and Daixian Bianjing Tower

Hanging Temple dangerous rock reinforcement treatment, etc.

Restoration of more than 500 ancient buildings completed

(2016 Hanging Temple dangerous rock reinforcement project, scaffolding from the foot of the mountain to the top of the mountain, photographer @雾雨川)

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The Notre Dame Hall of Jinci

The Great Hall of Huayan Temple in Datong

Ancient building projects that “restore the old to its original state”

Regarded as a model by the State Administration of Cultural Heritage

Nationwide promotion

After entering the new century

The state concentrates its financial and human resources

Start of Shanxi Early Architecture Protection Project

For areas with dense ancient buildings such as Yuncheng and Jincheng

105 wooden structures are being specially protected

Taking the Yingxian Wooden Pagoda as an example

Experts introduce GPS and other technologies

8 measurement lines and 72 monitoring points were set up

Form a scientific monitoring and protection system

(Wooden tower monitoring, photographer @苏李欢)

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certainly

The road to ancient building protection

The road ahead is long and arduous

A heavy rain in 2021

About 1,700 immovable cultural relics were damaged

Professionals are scarce and financial resources are limited

Many problems are exposed to the public

(During the heavy rain in 2021, the outer bricks of a wall of Jinshiyuan in Xizhonghuang Village, Xiangfen County, Shanxi Province fell off. Photographer @马毅敏)

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And the desire for money

Let the speculation of ancient building components

Repeated bans and hard to prevent

(The theft of ancient building components continues despite repeated bans. Map by @杨宁/Planet Research Institute)

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Protection of ancient buildings in Shanxi

There will be no end

Generation after generation

Experts and scholars who are seeking knowledge

One after another

Protection personnel on the front line

Protecting with practical actions

Those ancient buildings that have stood for thousands of years

Towards the next millennium

(After the heavy rain in Shanxi in 2021, staff members were repairing the collapsed slope protection of Yuanyang Temple in Qianyuan Mountain, Hongdong County, Shanxi Province. Photographer @马毅敏)

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the ancients

The desire to live and work in peace

The bravery of defending the country

Faith in worshipping gods

Created so many rare ancient buildings in Shanxi

Today

You must take responsibility

Introducing innovative technology

Meticulous restoration

Persistent protection

Protecting ancient buildings in Shanxi

Protecting the Chinese nation's thousands of years of cultural heritage

Protecting thousands of years of creativity

(A complete map of ancient buildings in Shanxi before the Yuan Dynasty. The buildings in the picture are simplified and not true to scale. Map by @杨宁&龙雁玲/Planet Research Institute)

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This article was created by

Written by: Lingjun

Editor: Director

Image: Grateful Heart

Map: Zhang Wei

Design: Yang Ning, Long Yanling

Cover Photographer: Shi Yaochen

Reviewed by: Chen Jingyi, Zhang Jing, Ding Jiaxin

Expert Review

Wu Rui, research curator at Shanxi Provincial Institute of Conservation of Ancient Architecture and Painted Sculptures and Murals

Wang Jinping, professor at Taiyuan University of Technology

Cui Yuanhe, professor at Taiyuan University of Technology

【References】

[1] Wang Jinping, Li Huizhi, and Xu Qiang. Ancient Architecture of Shanxi[M]. Beijing: China Architecture & Building Press, November 2015.

[2] Shanxi Provincial History and Records Research Institute. General History of Shanxi[M]. Taiyuan: Shanxi People's Publishing House, 2001.6

[3] Shanxi Ancient Architecture Protection Institute. Collection of Research and Protection of Shanxi Cultural Relics and Buildings [M]. Beijing: China Architecture & Building Press, 2011.9

Planetary Research Institute

Focus on exploring the extreme world from a geographical perspective

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