Shangping Village

Shangping Village

Shangping Village is located in the northeastern part of Jianning County, within the territory of Xiyuan Township. It borders Lichuan County of Jiangxi Province to the west, sits at an elevation of 760 meters, and is situated in a mountain basin. Historically known as Liulongjing or Chuxiabao, it is 30 kilometers from the county seat. The village comprises six villager groups, with 154 households and a total population of 634, covering an area of 16,786 mu, including 1,646 mu of cultivated land and 3,000 mu of bamboo forest. Shangping Village is a nationally recognized traditional ancient village, one of Fujian Province's third batch of historical and cultural villages, and also one of the revolutionary base area villages.

Shangping Village has a long history. Since the time of Yang Gandun, the grandfather of Yang Gandun—the founding ancestor of the Yang clan in Shangping—migrated from Gushi County, Guangzhou, Henan to Fuzhou with King Min, following political turmoil under King Min's rule, Yang Gandun moved from Fuzhou to Shangping to establish the settlement. This history spans over 1,000 years. The documented history of Shangping Village can be traced back to the late Tang Dynasty (according to the Shangping Guanxi Clan Genealogy).

The entire village of Shangping is surnamed Yang. Here, the landscape is picturesque with clear mountains and beautiful waters. In front of the village are the Four Symbols guarding the entrance, behind it are the Two Silkworms weaving cocoons, while a jade belt-like stream winds through the village center, accompanied by the Seven Stars surrounding the Moon.

As a descendant of Yang Zhen, the Han Dynasty Grand Commandant (also known as the Confucius of the Western Pass), Yang Gandun upheld his ancestors’ teachings. He chose to live in seclusion in Shangping, building a home rooted in farming and scholarly traditions. Later, an official road connecting Jianning to Jiangxi passed through Shangping, making it a key transit hub and lodging stop for officials, dignitaries, merchants, and traders traveling between Jianning and Jiangxi. The village quickly flourished. By the Qianlong era of the Qing Dynasty, the population had grown to over 3,000. Over more than 1,000 years, generations of the Yang family diligently farmed and studied here, creating a thriving civilization and establishing Shangping Village as a prominent and respected clan across the region.

Cultural relics and historic sites in Shangping Village. Among the most representative ancient structures are the Five Generations Under One Roof Memorial Archway, the Yang Family Ancestral Temple, the Shezu Temple, the Ancient Schoolhouse, the Ancient Fragrant Garden, the Sima Mansion, the Daifu Mansion, and the Deshui Garden.

Folk customs in Shangping Village include the God Banquet Festival, where villagers of all ages participate en masse, with loud cheers, drumbeats, fluttering colorful flags, and fireworks, creating a spectacular scene. There is also the Grain Worship ceremony and rituals to expel evil spirits and pray for favorable weather and abundant harvests.