Jinggang Ancient Town – The Confluence of Two Rivers

This exhibition hall is a treasure trove of original calligraphy works by Mao Zedong, along with masterpieces by renowned figures like Guo Moruo, Zhou Enlai, and Hu Qiaomu. It also houses rare calligraphy pieces from over 30 other historical figures, such as He Long, Zhu De, and Peng Dehuai, who were not primarily known for their calligraphy. Some of these works are the only surviving examples of their handwriting. Visitors can appreciate the artistry of these calligraphies while also reflecting on the personalities and legendary lives of these historical figures.

The Genealogy Exhibition Hall displays a rich collection of genealogies, which are documents that record the lineage and history of clans. These genealogies contain valuable information on demographics, sociology, ethnology, economics, biographies, local customs, and systems. Jinggang is home to many families, some of which have resided in the area for generations. During the late Yuan and early Ming dynasties, Hunan experienced widespread warfare, leading to a significant decline in population. As a result, many immigrants moved to Jinggang, where they played a key role in the town’s development. The exhibition hall showcases the origins, clan names, and migration histories of 139 families in the Jinggang area, offering insights into the town’s rich cultural heritage.

Yangsi Temple is dedicated to Yang Yao, a leader of a peasant uprising during the Southern Song Dynasty. In 1130, during the reign of Emperor Gaozong, Yang Yao, who was the youngest among the leaders, joined the uprising led by Zhong Xiang. After Zhong Xiang’s death, Yang Yao, along with Xia Cheng and Zhou Lun, established a stronghold at Zimu City. He was chosen as the supreme leader, known as the “Great Sage Heavenly King,” and even used this title to mark the years. His forces, numbering 200,000, engaged in both farming and military activities, dominating an area from Yueyang in the east to Ding and Li counties in the west, Gong’an in the north, and the borders of Changsha in the south, repeatedly defeating the Song army. In 1135, he was betrayed by Huang Zuo and Yang Qin, captured, and eventually sacrificed his life. Yang Yao was widely respected for his advocacy of equality and wealth distribution, and a temple was erected in his honor. To avoid attracting the attention of the imperial court, which might have disapproved of honoring a peasant rebel, the temple was named Yangsi Temple. Yang Yao, who was considered a water deity due to his attempted drowning during his capture, is venerated here, with offerings made to him throughout the year. The temple is especially crowded during the festivals on the 6th day of the 6th lunar month and the 19th day of the 9th lunar month, when thousands of devotees come to pay their respects.

Hongtai Fang, located at the end of Baojian Street in Jinggang Ancient Town, was built in the seventh year of the Yongzheng reign during the Qing Dynasty and is the best-preserved brothel site in Changsha since the Qing era. Now serving as a museum of brothel culture, Hongtai Fang showcases the history and evolution of this aspect of Chinese culture over thousands of years. Through paintings, calligraphy, carvings, ceramics, and various artifacts, the museum provides a comprehensive account of the rise and fall of brothel culture. The exhibits also highlight the resilience and strength of women, celebrating famous courtesans such as Su Xiaoxiao, who committed suicide by swallowing a golden hairpin, Li Shishi, who resisted the Jurchen invaders, Liang Hongyu, who beat the war drums against the Jin forces, Du Shiniang, who angrily sank her treasure chest, Chen Yuanyuan, the courtesan who captivated a kingdom, Pan Yuliang, the renowned beauty of Wuhu, and Xiao Fengxian, who was both talented and beautiful.

Bayuan Hall, also known as Ningxiang Guild Hall, is located on Baojian Street in Jinggang Ancient Town. It was built in 1861 during the 11th year of the Xianfeng reign in the Qing Dynasty. Initially, it served as a hub for managing Ningxiang’s ships and grain sales, as well as a resting place for Ningxiang natives visiting Jinggang, providing a venue for socializing and maintaining community ties. The guild hall stands about 4 meters high and features an ancient wooden theater with a stage of over 20 square meters. Local folk artists perform traditional operas, ballads, and shadow puppet shows, preserving the authentic rhythm of Jinggang’s cultural heritage. Within the hall, there is also an exhibition of old photographs of Jinggang, offering a glimpse into the town’s transformation over the years.

The Tao Cheng Memorial Room is dedicated to Tao Cheng, originally named Liu Taoying, who was born in Jinggang in 1893. In the 1920s, her husband, Ouyang Mei, served as the Secretary-General of the Hunan Provincial Federation of Trade Unions. Following the “Ma Ri Incident” in Changsha in 1927, the family relocated to Wuhan, where Tao Cheng and her children joined her husband in the revolutionary cause. She later wrote a book titled “My Family,” which sold over 6 million copies and became a prominent resource for promoting revolutionary ideals and traditions. The book was adapted into the film Revolutionary Family by the Beijing Film Studio. Tao Cheng devoted her entire life to the revolution, earning her the title of “Revolutionary Mother.” She passed away in Changsha on July 11, 1986. Her former residence, located on Baojian Street in Jinggang Ancient Town, is an old-fashioned earthen brick house.

The Shadow Puppetry Art Museum, covering nearly 300 square meters, is a two-story facility dedicated to the traditional Chinese art of shadow puppetry. The first floor serves as the exhibition hall, displaying shadow puppets from the Ming and Qing dynasties, as well as characters from various regional styles, along with the props and musical instruments used in performances. Visitors can also find original shadow puppetry scripts and Gongche notation, an ancient form of musical notation comparable to modern scores. Shadow puppetry, recognized as an intangible cultural heritage of China, boasts a long history, believed to have originated during the Han Dynasty, developed during the Tang Dynasty, and reached its peak during the Song Dynasty. The art form spread widely during the Ming and Qing dynasties. Shadow puppetry, also known as “shadow play” or “lantern shadow play,” is a folk theater that uses silhouettes made from animal hides or cardboard to tell stories.

The Former Site of the Hunan Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China is located on Baojian Street in Jinggang Ancient Town. Hunan was one of the earliest regions in the country to establish Communist Party organizations. Several early Communist Party members from Jinggang and its surrounding areas, including Liu Chouxi, Zhou Bingwen, He Zhangjie, Zhou Yili, Guo Liang, Li Canying, Yuan Zhongxian, and Tan Xilin, joined the party in the early 1920s. The main hall of the site features a statue of a young Mao Zedong, created in 1964 by Professor Wen Chuzhong from the Central Academy of Fine Arts, depicting Mao during his student days at the First Normal School. The site also houses valuable revolutionary relics, such as ration coupons for grain, cloth, and transportation, as well as agricultural tools and everyday items used by farmers in the 1960s and 1970s, including cotton hammers, fire blowers, bamboo hats, raincoats, and wooden clogs.