Twenty-Eight Constellations Wells

Twenty-Eight Constellations Wells

The Twenty-Eight Constellations Wells are a cultural heritage site protected at the provincial level in Zhejiang Province.

The Twenty-Eight Constellations Wells are located in Wuma Subdistrict and Lianchi Subdistrict, dating from the Yuan to Qing dynasties.

(The Twenty-Eight Constellations Wells include Hengjing Well, Songtaishan Immortal Well, Songtaishan Octagonal Well, Sanpailang Ancient Well, Liandanjing Well, Xianqiantou Ancient Well, Bailuan'an Well, and Yongningfang Well, totaling 8 ancient wells.)

The most historically significant ancient wells in Wenzhou are the Twenty-Eight Constellations Wells, dug during the Jin Dynasty when Guo Pu selected the site for Yongjia Prefecture. According to the "Wenzhou Prefecture Annals" (Hongzhi Edition of the Ming Dynasty), when Guo Pu chose the location for Yongjia Prefecture during the Eastern Jin Dynasty, he climbed a small hill in the northwest (now known as Guogong Mountain) to survey the terrain and noticed nine peaks standing like the Big Dipper. Guo Pu believed that building the city walls around the hilltop would prevent invaders from entering the “dipper” formation, making the city easier to defend and secure. Therefore, he built the city walls around the mountain and dug twenty-eight wells corresponding to the positions of the “Twenty-Eight Lunar Mansions” in the sky.

The “Twenty-Eight Constellations Wells” embody the symbolic meanings of “emulating the heavens,” eternal longevity, and an unending water source. These Twenty-Eight Constellations Wells are respectively: Octagonal Well, Bailuan'an Well, Hengjing Well (Tianxiu Well), Jigu Mountain Liè Spring, Jigu Mountain Yi Well, Liandanjing Well, Sanpailang Ancient Well, Tielan Well, Tunqianjie Well, Immortal Well, Yongningfang Well, Kuibi Well, Jie Well, Shuangqiang Well, Jiansong Well, Tianning Temple Ancient Well, Haitan Mountain Foot Well, Gui Well, Sanguan Temple Ancient Well, Balun Well, Prefecture Office Ancient Well, Xianqiantou Ancient Well, Jinsha Well, Tian Well, Dao Office Ancient Well, Guogong Mountain Rock Well, Yingxian Well, and Shishuiliao Ancient Well.

However, with the popularization of tap water, many wells gradually ceased to be used for drinking, were forgotten, or were filled in. Today, only 11 of the Twenty-Eight Constellations Wells remain well-preserved.

Octagonal Well

Alias: Bagua Well, Songtaishan Foot Well

Location: The Octagonal Well is situated at Songtai Square at the eastern foot of Songtaishan.

Profile: In April 2000, the Octagonal Well was listed as part of the fourth batch of municipal-level cultural heritage sites in Wenzhou. In 2010, it was incorporated into the Twenty-Eight Constellations Wells and listed as part of the sixth batch of municipal-level cultural heritage sites in Wenzhou.

Description: The Octagonal Well gets its name from its octagonal well curb. The well walls are also octagonal, built with granite blocks, with an inner diameter of 2.2 meters. The well curb consists of eight bluestone slabs joined together, with carvings of peonies and the “white deer carrying a flower” motif on the outer surface. The well is about 5 meters deep.

Bailuan'an Well

Location: At the foot of Shuimen, on the western foothills of Haitan Mountain

Profile: Listed as part of the sixth batch of municipal-level cultural heritage sites “Twenty-Eight Constellations Wells” in 2010.

Description: Originally located within Bailuan'an, hence the name. However, after several cycles of rise and decline, its area has shrunk compared to before, and now the well lies outside the temple. The inner wall of the well is built with block stones, forming a circular shape with a diameter of 1.1 meters. The well curb is hexagonal, formed by six bluestone slabs joined together. The well is 5.25 meters deep, and its water source comes from Haitan Mountain. The water is clear and cool, suitable for use.

Hengjing Well

Alias: Tianxiu Well

Location: In front of House No. 52, Hengjing Lane

Profile: In 1992, Hengjing Well was listed as part of the third batch of municipal-level cultural heritage sites. In 2010, it was incorporated into the Twenty-Eight Constellations Wells and listed as part of the sixth batch of municipal-level cultural heritage sites in Wenzhou.

Description: The walls of Hengjing Well are built with blue bricks laid in a staggered pattern to form a cylindrical shape, with an inner diameter of 1.5 meters. The well curb is hexagonal, made of six bluestone slabs joined together. The outer side of the well curb is carved with patterns, while the inner side of three adjacent bluestone slabs is inscribed with the well name “Tianxiu” and the dates of multiple renovations. The well is 6.5 meters deep.

Jigu Mountain Liè Spring

Alias: Jigu Mountain Foot Liè Well

Location: Western foothills of Jigu Mountain, within Zhongshan Park

Profile: Twenty-Eight Constellations Wells

Description: During the Qing Dynasty, the characters “Liè Quán” (Cool Spring) were carved on the rocks beside this well, from which it gets its name. The well was dug into the rocks beside Xie Pond, with square stone blocks used for the walls and granite slabs placed on top. The well curb is made of bluestone in an open diamond lattice pattern, topped with bluestone slabs. The well is 2.8 meters deep.

Jigu Mountain Yi Well

Alias: Xie Pond Lane Ancient Well

Location: Situated at the southwestern foot of Jigu Mountain in Zhongshan Park

Namecard: “Twenty-Eight Constellation Wells”

Description: The well has a circular plan, built with block stones, and measures 1.5 meters in diameter. Between the well curb and the wall is a circular rim made of arched bluestone slabs. The well curb has an octagonal plan, formed by eight bluestone slabs joined together. Originally, the outer side of the original well curb was inscribed with the text: “The monk Li Qing of Kaiyuan Temple respectfully donated over thirteen strings of cash to renovate this charitable well, install the well curb, and construct the barrel and other elements, hoping to bring blessings — repaying the four kinds of grace above and supporting the three realms below. Dated the twenty-seventh day of the eleventh month in the year of Jiawu during the Zhihe era.” Unfortunately, the original well curb was destroyed during the Cultural Revolution.

Alchemy Well

Alias: Rongcheng Well

Location: East side of No. 1 Qian Tou, at the western foot of Huagai Mountain

Namecard: Listed in 2010 as part of the sixth batch of municipal cultural heritage sites under “Twenty-Eight Constellation Wells.”

Description: Legend says that the ancient Taoist Rongchengzi practiced alchemy and cultivated immortality on Huagai Mountain, drawing water from this well, hence its name. The well wall is circular and built with block stones. The well curb is hexagonal, made of blue bricks with a plastered surface, and is about 6 meters deep.

Qian Tou Ancient Well

Location: East side of No. 1 Qian Tou, at the western foot of Huagai Mountain, 12.5 meters west of the Alchemy Well

Namecard: Listed in 2010 as part of the sixth batch of municipal cultural heritage sites under “Twenty-Eight Constellation Wells.”

Description: The well wall is circular and built with block stones. The well curb is carved from a single piece of granite, with an octagonal exterior and a circular interior. The well is about 5 meters deep. It still provides ample water with fair quality and remains a common daily water source for nearby residents.

Sanpai Fang Ancient Well

Location: West end of Sanpai Fang Lane, at the northern foot of Songtai Mountain

Namecard: Listed in August 2005 as part of the fifth batch of municipal cultural heritage sites in Wenzhou, and incorporated into “Twenty-Eight Constellation Wells” in 2010 as part of the sixth batch.

Description: The well wall is circular, built with granite block stones, measuring 1.4 meters in diameter. The water source is perennially abundant. The well curb is hexagonal, formed by six unadorned bluestone slabs joined together with mortise and tenon joints. The well is about 6 meters deep.

Iron Railing Well

Location: North side of Xingwenli Building, No. 23 Tiejing Lan

Namecard: Listed in 1997 as part of the fourth batch of provincial cultural heritage sites in Zhejiang Province.

Description: Named for its iron well curb. The lower ring of the curb was cast in the Northern Song Dynasty, while the upper ring was added in the Southern Song Dynasty. In the first year of the Xianfeng reign during the Qing Dynasty, fifteen arched bluestone slabs were added around the iron well curb, with the rim laid flat using nine sector-shaped bluestone slabs. The shape of the well curb features an arched shoulder, bulging belly, upturned lip, and flat rim. The neck of the well is built with irregular block stones, the body is drum-shaped with bluestone walls, and it is about 5 meters deep.

Tun Qian Street Well

Location: Inside No. 160 Tun Qian Street

Namecard: Twenty-Eight Constellation Wells

Description: The well curb is carved from bluestone, featuring an outer hexagon and inner circle in the style of a Sumeru pedestal, with a waist carved in bas-relief using the “reduced-level ground” method. Two well curbs are joined with dovetail tenons, and the outer hexagons all have shallow carvings. The well wall is circular, enclosed with small blue bricks. This well was once filled in 1935, then reused, but was filled again in 1975 due to pollution from wastewater of the nearby Wenzhou Soap Factory, and later re-excavated. It is now no longer in use.

Immortal Well

Alias: Upper Well on Songtai Mountain

Location: Summit of Songtai Mountain

Namecard: Listed in April 2000 as part of the fourth batch of municipal cultural heritage sites in Wenzhou, and incorporated into “Twenty-Eight Constellation Wells” in 2010 as part of the sixth batch.

Description: Named after the high monk Suchi of the Tang Dynasty who practiced Buddhism on Songtai Mountain and drank from its waters. The well wall consists of two sections: the upper part is square and built with strip stones, while the lower part is round and built with block stones. The well curb is circular, carved from a single piece of granite in a cylindrical shape.

Yongningfang Well

Location: Yongningfang Well is situated at the western foot of Haitan Mountain, within the area of the ancient Yongningfang neighborhood.

Profile: In 2010, this well was listed as part of the sixth batch of municipal-level cultural heritage protection units under the name “Twenty-Eight Constellation Wells.”

Description: The well’s wall is hexagonal in shape, built with granite slabs. The well curb is also hexagonal, formed by joining six relatively regular granite slabs. The inner wall of the eastern-facing well curb features an incised inscription bearing the characters for “Qianlong Reign of the Great Qing.” The well is 6 meters deep.

On June 12, 2010, it was included in the sixth batch of municipal-level cultural heritage protection units of Wenzhou City.

Further reading:

· Sixth Batch of Municipal-Level Cultural Heritage Protection Units of Wenzhou City

· Seventh Batch of Provincial-Level Cultural Heritage Protection Units of Zhejiang Province