Following Tang and Song Poetry and Classical Literature on a Tour of Yan'an
Located in Yan'an, Shaanxi, Zixing Tower.
Photograph.
Yu Jia Ao·Qishe (Autumn Thoughts)
Fan Zhongyuan (Song)
The autumn scenery of the frontier city of Yan, dating back 900 years, flowed into Fan Zhongyuan’s pen, and has been passed down through the ages. At the summer and autumn equinoxes, reporters drove from the Guanzhong region into the Shaanxi region. Upon entering Yan’an City for the first time, reporters were stunned by the lush green forests.
Upon arrival at Qingliangshan, it was noon. ‘This trip’s first stop is the Fan Gong at the mid-mountain. We local people have always remembered this hero.’ Yan’an local culture scholar Fan Gao Lin said.
For this ancient city, building a temple in the bustling market shows Fan Zhongyuan’s importance.
Following the Song-Xia Three Rivers Battle, the Song army lost all its northern lines, and Yan’an became a lone city. Soon after, Fan Zhongyuan was appointed as the Shaanxi Military Governor and Anfu Deputy, at the age of 52, he volunteered to serve in Yan’an.
‘After Fan Zhongyuan took office, he diligently governed, built fortresses and camps; recruited local militias and pacified border residents.’ Climbing step by step, Fan Gao Lin talked non-stop, ‘Once the deployment and battle strategies were improved, numerous lost territories were recovered, and his military prowess was greatly boosted.’
Immersed in the echoing battle drums of history, you unconsciously arrived at the Fan Gong. The temple’s carvings and paintings were magnificent, with a wooden structure on the front, with red lacquer under the ancient trees, dazzling and vibrant. The couplet in front of the temple wrote Fan Zhongyuan’s famous quotes: ‘Worry about the world before others, and rejoice when others rejoice.’
Opening the door, the three sculptures enshrined in the temple came into view. The middle one, wearing a red battle robe, was Fan Zhongyuan, with his loyal general Di Qing and Zhang Shiheng standing on either side. On the wall beside, Fan Zhongyuan’s handwriting of ‘Clear Spring Excursions’ and ‘Reconstruction Monument’ were engraved, along with other stone articles.
Fan Gong leaned against the majestic Qingliangshan, with bustling markets and quiet corners. Standing in front of the ancient pine tree, looking east, the Yan River flowed through the city, and the Bao Mountain echoed in the distance.
After passing through the foot of Bao Mountain, a large-scale cliff carving of 6-7 meters high and 260 meters long was eye-catching. The handwriting of scholars and artists from the Song to the Republic of China was engraved on the cliff, including Fan Zhongyuan’s inscription of ‘Jialing Shan’ with strong brushstrokes.
Fan Gao Lin introduced that the inscription was re-engraved and deepened during the Wanli years of the Ming Dynasty due to wind and rain. In addition, inscriptions such as ‘Outgoing General, Incoming Official,’ ‘Mountains Inspire Admiration,’ ‘Worry First, Joy Later,’ and ‘A Thousand Elite Troops in One’s Mind’ were all inscribed by later generations to commemorate Fan Zhongyuan.
Accompanied by the ancient pines and cypresses, climbing to the peak of Bao Mountain, the three rivers to the east, south, and north were all in sight. In 1987, a 15-meter high ‘Zixing Tower’ was rebuilt on the site.
At dusk, standing on Zixing Tower, gently brushing away the dust of history. Looking far into the distance, the mountains and forests were dyed in golden sunset, the breeze was warm and gentle. Not far away, elderly men and women were practicing martial arts and playing in the park. The great poet who once sang ‘’ also loved the land beneath his feet, just like the people in this prosperous era.’
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