Travel through ancient towns in China-Changsha Tongguan Kiln
UP ChinaTravel
2024-08-02 23:53:43
0Times

Changsha Tongguan Kiln is located near Shizhu Lake, Dingzi Town, Wangcheng District, Changsha City. It refers to the porcelain workshops in Shizhu Lake and Tongguan areas in Tanzhou (now Changsha) in the Tang Dynasty. Changsha Tongguan Kiln began in the early Tang Dynasty and flourished in the middle and late Tang Dynasty, and declined in the Five Dynasties. It has a history of more than 200 years and has a history of more than 1000 years. It is one of the three major export kilns in the Tang Dynasty of China, which is as famous as the Yue Kiln in Zhejiang and the Xing Kiln in Hebei. It is the birthplace of colorful underglaze ceramics in the world. Changsha Tongguan Kiln was extended from Yuezhou Kiln. From the Eastern Han Dynasty to the early Tang Dynasty, Yuezhou Kiln products have always been mainly celadon, but the quality of its products is not as good as that of Yue Kiln. After the "Anshi Rebellion" in the Tang Dynasty, a large number of kiln workers who moved from the north gathered here to burn ceramics together with local residents, forming the Tongguan Kiln. Because it is located on the bank of Shizhu Lake, it is also known as Shizhu Kiln. There were many famous porcelain kilns in the Tang Dynasty. There were celadon represented by Zhejiang Yue Kiln in the south and white porcelain represented by Hebei Xing Kiln in the north, forming a production pattern of blue in the south and white in the north. Influenced by the three colors of the Tang Dynasty, Changsha Tongguan Kiln absorbed Persian, Islamic and Buddhist art, and gradually created and formed a unique underglaze color ceramic process. It was unique among the famous kilns, and the porcelain industry began to show a three-pronged confrontation. The creation and burning of underglaze color left a rich and colorful page for Changsha Kiln in the history of Chinese ceramics. Although Changsha Tongguan Kiln emerged late, it has developed rapidly. Its products not only sell well in China, but also sell well to East Asia, South Asia, and West Asia, reaching as far as northeastern Africa. When recording the grand production and operation of Changsha Kiln at that time, Hunan poet Li Qunyu wrote in his poem titled "Shizhu":"Ancient bank pottery is used as a tool, and Gao Lin is burned. Fireworks in Pukou, Hunan Province, smoke and clouds in Dongting. Smoke flies in the wild, explosions can be heard in the distant sky, and the terrain is penetrating. I am afraid that Zhu Rong's tomb will be hit." In 1998, a German salvage company discovered and salvaged a Tang Dynasty shipwreck near a large black reef in the waters of Belitung Island, Indonesia. It was named "Batuhitam", which translates into "Blackstone" in Chinese. This merchant ship, which is constructed of Arabic sewing techniques, carries Chinese goods shipped to West Asia and North Africa via Southeast Asia. In addition to gold and silver utensils and bronze mirrors, there are also more than 67000 pieces of Chinese porcelain. The producers are from Changsha Kilns, Yue Kilns, Xing Kilns, Gongxian Kilns, etc., of which about 56500 pieces are from Changsha Tongguan Kilns. It can be seen that Changsha Kiln already occupied an important share in China's ceramic export market at that time and had established its prominent position in the history of Chinese ceramics development.

Changsha Tongguan Kiln was gradually forgotten after the Song Dynasty. After more than a thousand years of dust, it was not until 1956 that it was rediscovered in the cultural relics census of Hunan Province. After five excavations by the cultural relics department, a total area of about 500,000 square meters has been discovered, including 46 Longyao sites, 19 mud mining sites, as well as market sites, dock sites, cargo areas, living areas and tomb areas. Well preserved, it is a milestone for studying the history of Chinese ceramics development. In January 1988, the Changsha Tongguanyao Site was designated by the State Council as a national key cultural relic protection unit. In 2006, it was listed as one of the country's 100 major site protection projects. Currently, it is organizing the application for World Cultural Heritage.

Today's entire Tongguanyao Cultural Tourism Scenic Area should include three areas. The first is the Tongguan Kiln Ruins Park Scenic Area, centered on the No. 1 Dragon Kiln Ruins in Tanjiapo, which mainly shows tourists the processing and production techniques of Changsha Kiln; the second is the Tongguan Ancient Town Ceramic Art Industry and Cultural Tourism Base, which is an ancient town that has existed for more than 1000 years. The main attractions are the history and culture of the ancient town, some ancient kilns and modern ceramic processing factories; The third is Xinhualian Tongguanyao Ancient Town Scenic Area. This is a newly built scenic spot in recent years. This project was built by Xinhualian Cultural Tourism Development Company with an investment of 10 billion yuan. It relies on the thousand-year-old Tongguan Kiln site, with historical culture as its soul, ceramic culture as its root, and Tang style and ancient charm as its shape, reproducing the style of the prosperous times of the Han and Tang Dynasties. The three areas are like three pearls shining on the east bank of the Xiangjiang River, forming a historical and cultural attraction with distinctive characteristics that integrates natural mountains and rivers, historical relics, leisure and entertainment, showing people the long and splendid Huxiang culture.

The main attractions of Tongguan Kiln Ruins Park Scenic Area include: Tanjiapo No. 1 Kiln, the Ruins Gate Tower, Menghui Tang Cultural Corridor, Changsha Kiln Ceramics Experience Hall, Juehua Tower, Changsha Tongguan Kiln Museum, etc.

The main attractions of Tongguan Ancient Town include: Gulong Kiln (Waixing Kiln, Gongxing Kiln, Yixing Kiln, Renxing Kiln), ancient kiln ruins (Yaotouchong, Fanjiayao), ancient markets (Tongguan Old Street, Shigang Old Street), ancient ruins (Wuchu Bridge, Sizhou Temple, Mica Temple, Shoufeng Pavilion, Dongshan Temple, Wangye Temple, Yidu Hall, Yidu Pavilion, etc.).

Xinhualian Tongguanyao Ancient Town has a construction area of 1.1 million square meters, covering 8 major museums, 5 performing arts centers, 3 star-rated hotels, 20 B & Bs, 18 cultural attractions and 4 parent-child amusement projects. As a newly invested and constructed tourist attraction, it is large-scale, well-constructed, and rich in connotation, and has many remarkable points.

Transportation: Transportation from Changsha City to and from Tongguan Ancient Town Scenic Area is still relatively convenient. We start from the north gate of the Botanical Garden, take Bus No. 938 to get off at Tianxin District Government Station, transfer to Metro Line 1 to Kaifu District Government Station, transfer to Bus No. 913 to get off at Jingyang Community Station, transfer to Bus No. W113 to reach the three scenic spots of Xinhualian Tongguanyao, Tongguanyao Heritage Park and Tongguan Ancient Town.

Changsha Tongguanyao Ruins Park Scenic Area, this is the "gate building" of the Ruins Park.
The relic museum of Tanjiapo No. 1 Kiln
Tanjiapo No. 1 Longyao Site
Layer upon layer ceramic products are hidden in the soil buried for thousands of years
Ceramic products on display after manual excavation and sorting
This is the ceramic cultural sample placed in the Ceramic Experience Hall
In the Ceramics Experience Hall, tourists view the exhibits.
Near the entrance of Tanjiapo No. 1 Kiln Site, there is a "Dream Back to the Tang Dynasty" cultural corridor. It takes the history and ceramic culture of Changsha Kiln ceramics as the theme, and uses the craftsmanship and decoration techniques of Changsha Kiln ceramics to fire a piece of ceramic porcelain. The porcelain plate works reproduce the porcelain production process of Changsha Kiln and the living scenes of kiln workers in the form of prints, vividly reflecting the historical features of Changsha Kiln.
The five-story Juehua Tower is built on the top of Juehua Mountain. Climbing the tower, you can overlook the Xiangjiang River in the north and have a panoramic view of the entire ruins park.
On the side of the sinking boat, thousands of trees are in spring. The ceramic ruins that have been sleeping for thousands of years radiate the brilliant light of Huxiang civilization to the world. At the foot of Juehua Mountain, wisps of autumn light pass through the trees, countless spots of light shine in front of your eyes, and patches of reeds sway in the light and shadow.
Tongguan Ancient Town is located to the north of the Ruins Park, about 4 kilometers apart and is accessible by bus lines.
Most of the buildings in the ancient town were built in the 1950s and 1960s
Former site of Shoufeng Pavilion. In the fourth year of the Tang calendar (769 AD), Du Fu, a poet of the Tang Dynasty, left Shu in his later years, tracing the Hunan River and going to Leiyang. Due to the strong wind, he anchored his boat in Tongguan and wrote "Tongguan Zhu Guarding the Wind". The poem says: The sails of Chu fall at night, shelter from the wind between Xiangzhu. Hydroponics soak the grass first, and spring fire burns the mountains. The clouds are dark in the morning, and the waves are thin in the retrograde direction. Two white cranes flew over, but they were difficult to climb in the past. In memory of Du Fu, Tongguanguan once built a "Fengshou Pavilion" in the old street and carved a monument to this poem. Unfortunately, both the pavilion and the monument have now disappeared, becoming a major deficit in the culture of the ancient town for thousands of years.
The image of ceramic works is vivid and vivid.
There are many ceramic experience halls on the old street, which is a playground for children.

Leaving Tongguan Ancient Town, we come to the newly completed Xinhualian Tongguanyao Ancient Town Scenic Area. It is at the southernmost tip of the three scenic spots and is also the first scenic spot to arrive from the direction of Changsha City. Its north gate is about 1 kilometer away from the Ruins Park, 5 kilometers away from Tongguan Ancient Town, and about 25 kilometers away from Kaifu District Government Station of Changsha Metro Line 1.

Picture taken from the propaganda column of Xinhualian Tongguan Kiln Scenic Area
Under the "Tongguan Pavilion", many young Danqing enthusiasts gathered.
The little painter wrote vividly, and a "Bronze Official Pavilion" appeared on the paper.
Porcelain paintings introducing ceramic art are hung on the promenades on both sides
The "Fire Palace" sign in the distance is dazzling
Looking up to the sky, the "Tongguan Pavilion" is magnificent.
There are few tourists on Chu Street
The service hall building of the scenic spot is also extraordinary
Courtyard buildings are well arranged
The Shizhu Tower stands tall in the distance
Turning around, I saw the door of Xinhualian Tongguan Kiln in front of me. The door was three-floor and two-span. A large number of tourists are entering the scenic spot.
There is a giant pottery jar bonsai on the square in front of the visitor center, and water gurgles out from the mouth of the jar.
In the service hall, tourists waiting to enter the park are bustling.
There is an open-air pool built on the south gate square of the scenic area, and in front of the pool there is a model of the merchant ship "Blackstone".
The "Blackstone" was salvaged from the vicinity of Belitung Island in Indonesia in 1998. The merchant ship was built using Arabic sewing technology. It was beautiful in shape and processed with the real product in a ratio of 1:0.8.
The "Heishi" model in the square is integrated with the Tongguanyao building complex behind it, which has both spatial echoes and close internal connections.
Tickets are available to visit the scenic spot. All tickets are 198 yuan/person for adults, half price is 100 yuan/person for 65 - 70 years old, and people over 70 years old are free of charge. After checking in and entering the scenic spot, the first thing that comes into view is this landscape, called "Tongguan Twelve Hours".
The check-in platform is commanding high, and buildings on the other side of Shizhu Lake are faintly visible.
Take the elevator from the check-in platform to a small square. On the south side of the square are the Robot Museum and 3D Cinema, and on the north side are the "Shunzi" Archway and Shunzi Ancient Street.
There is a "sundial" model on the east side of the square
The "Shizhu Tower" stands on the island in the center of the lake
"Dahongchang Buzhuang" is a historical site. Guo Liang was born in Tongguan on December 3, 1901. He was introduced to join the Communist Party of China by Mao Zedong in the winter of 1921. He served as secretary of the Hunan Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China and led the workers 'movement in Hunan. In January 1923, he returned to Tongguan to lead the pottery workers 'anti-tax struggle, forcing Changsha County to cancel the "kiln door tax" and "license tax." Dahongchang Buzhuang was Guo Liang's contact point when carrying out underground revolutionary activities in Tongguan.
Cheng Pu was born in Fengrun, Hebei Province, and was the head of the twelve tiger ministers of Wu at the end of the Han Dynasty. Cheng Pu served as a commander in the west. During this period, he built a city north of Shizhu Lake to confront Liu Bei's regime. The ruins are now in Juehua Mountain. The ancient town regards Cheng Pu as its patron god, and temples are set up to worship him and honor him as the city god.
Ouyang Zhi is the great-grandson of Ouyang Xun, the "Kai Sheng", and the first Jinshi in Hunan. According to the "Hunan General Chronicles" of Guangxu of the Qing Dynasty, Ouyang Zhi was a scholar in the 18th year of Kaiyuan in the Tang Dynasty (AD 730). During his tenure as the chief historian of Yuezhou, he built the "Jinshi Court" at the foot of Shizhu Mountain.
Emperor Shun, one of the Three Emperors and Five Emperors, was the common ancestor of the Chinese nation, one of the founders of Chinese morality and an important founder of Chinese civilization. Emperor Shun practiced the throne for thirty-nine years. He died in Cangwu Mountain during his southern tour and was buried in Jiuyi. Cangwu Mountain is today's Jiuyi Mountain. This is the statue of Emperor Shun on the right side of the gate of the Hall of Fame.
Emperor Yan, the ancestor of Chinese civilization, the ancestor of agriculture, medicine, commerce, and music, was the founder of tea culture. Emperor Yan went south to search for food and medicine, and finally discovered primitive rice in Hunan, ushering in the process of Chinese agricultural civilization. After his death, he was buried in the Yan Emperor Mausoleum in Yanling County, Zhuzhou City. This is the statue of Emperor Yan on the left side of the gate of the Hall of Fame.
The Huxiang Hall of Fame must be very interesting, so you have to ignore it.
Zhou Dunyi was the founder of Confucian Neo-Confucianism in the Song Dynasty, a litterateur and philosopher. His "Love Lotus" is well known to all ages.
In China's modern history, talented people from Huxiang have emerged in large numbers. From 1955 to 1965, China awarded or promoted a total of 10 marshals of the People's Republic of China, 10 generals of the People's Liberation Army, 57 generals, 177 lieutenant generals and 1359 major generals. Among the 245 generals above lieutenant general, 73 are from Hunan, accounting for 28.7%, including 3 marshals, 6 generals, 19 generals, and 45 lieutenant generals; among the 1359 major generals, 129 are from Hunan, accounting for 9.5%.
Li Qunyu, also known as Wenshan, was born in Lizhou and was the first of the "Three Poets of Hunan" in the Tang Dynasty. Wenshan once wrote the poem "Shizhu", which depicts the grand firing of Changsha Kilns in the Shizhu Lake area. He was the first person to inspect and record Changsha Kilns. In the middle of the Five Dynasties, kiln people built the "Wenshan Cottage" in Shizhu to express the virtue of pottery with jade.
Dusi was a military institution in the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Tongguanyao Ancient Town controls Dongting in the north and Changsha in the south. It has an important geographical location. At the beginning of the rise of the Taiping Rebellion, Zeng Guofan commanded his navy in Shizhu to attack Jinggang. Later, the court established a Dusi in Tongguan to protect Changsha, and the place name of Dusi Po, an ancient town of Tongguan, remains to this day.
Although this is a newly built "ancient town", it has a grand conception and meticulous construction, which is still relatively ornamental for fun.
Look how beautiful this look is
This leads to the museum complex
There is a "Liuyang Steaming Restaurant" here
"Junsheng Theater" has regular performances
A plaque reading "hairpin to receive martial arts" hangs on the door of the Zeng Ancestral Temple. Among them,"hairpin" refers to a decoration worn by officials and similar to official hats. Different patterns represent different official positions. "Taking over martial arts" was also an early official position, and it also meant inheritance. These words express the good expectations and wishes of Zeng's ancestors for their descendants.
Hunan people like to eat tofu, and even created the "stinky tofu" of the northern and southern civilizations. The tofu commonly eaten by people in Hunan is South tofu. Unlike the harder North tofu, South tofu contains more water and has a soft and dense taste. The tofu shop displays the entire process of making handmade tofu by ancient methods such as cleaning soybeans, soaking, steaming, and ordering.
Exquisite carving, but unfortunately we don't understand the story contained in it.
Children's Embroidery Building. Embroidery Tower was the residence of the ladies of the old family, also known as the boudoir or boudoir. The surname of Tong in Shizhu is Shuxiang Family. In the 16th year of Guangxu of the Qing Dynasty, Tong Wenzhao returned from business in Suzhou and Hangzhou. He built a mansion in Shizhu. He once had more than 40 houses, but now only the Embroidery Tower is left. It is rumored that Wen Zhao got his daughter Mingzhi in his later years. Ming Zhixi's poems and Fu are based on Li Qingzhao's model, with a graceful style. In the winter of the twenty-fourth year of Guangxu, Ming Zhi was embroidering balls in the building when she suddenly heard a commotion among the crowd in front of the building and saw a graceful young man riding by on a white horse. The servant girl later learned that the young man riding a white horse was Xu Hengfu from a neighboring county who passed the examination. So, Ming Zhi threw the hydrangea ball with her hand, and Hengfu took it with her leaping horse. A marriage was completed. This story became a good story in Shizhu.
In ancient times, due to inconvenient transportation, people and property were difficult to protect themselves during the journey. Escort agencies came into being. Escort agencies were divided into water and roads. In the late Qing Dynasty and early Republic of China, there was a ship boss in Shizhu with the surname Zhu. He built a water escort agency to protect the commercial road with swords and swords and traveled all directions with integrity. The Escort Agency means "there will be a time when the wind and waves break and waves", hence the name "Changfeng Escort Agency". The commercial road it protects runs through Dongting, reaches the Yangtze River to Nanyang, and is at its peak for a time. The boat gang and escort agency are combined into one, unique to Shizhu.
Suddenly, I saw several ancient prisoners and soldiers walking by. I saw the prisoner walking forward with his head unkempt and his face covered in cangles. The two officers and soldiers behind him were holding a sword and shackles, and they were murderous, attracting tourists to stop and watch. It turned out to be a seasonal performance arranged by the ancient town. It was just that the performer was a little giggling, so the whole plot seemed too funny.
Here is the so-called museum group. In addition to the Changsha Ceramics Museum, there are also the Embroidery Museum, the Coin Museum, the Wine Culture Museum and the Mineral Specimen Museum.
This is the lobby of Changsha Kiln Museum
Enter the exhibition hall on the first floor of the Ceramics Museum from here
The picture indicates the countries and regions to which Changsha kiln ceramics are sold

In fact, on November 2, we only visited the Xinhualian Tongguan Kiln Scenic Area, but the Ruins Park and Tongguan Ancient Town Scenic Area were visited two years ago. My experience is that the scenic area is too big to be seen all at once; the history and technology of ceramic processing are too complex to be easily understood.

Part of the information comes from Baidu

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