Tongmin’an Pass

Tongmin’an Pass

Tongmin’an Pass is a cultural heritage site protected at the district level in Xiang’an.

Tongmin’an Pass is located on Xiaoying Ridge in Xicuo Town, Xiang’an District. It is a county-level cultural heritage site dating back to the Song Dynasty.

The “Tongmin’an” Pass is also known as the ruins of the “Tongmin’an” Stone Archway. It is located on the southwestern slope of Xiaoying Ridge in the northeastern part of Hou’an Village, Xicuo Town, at the border with Nan’an. The pass lies in a ridge opening shaped like a funnel, through which the northeastern winds blow unimpeded. In ancient times, the farmlands around Shaxi were heavily plagued by windblown sand. There was a local saying: “At the seven-li mouth of Shaxi, the sand moves even without wind.” During the years 1153–1157 (the 23rd to 27th years of the Shaoxing reign in the Southern Song Dynasty), when Zhu Xi served as the chief clerk of Tong’an, he built a stone archway here and planted trees to block the sand and wind. He personally inscribed the three characters “Tong Min An” (meaning “to bring peace and security to the people”) on the archway, symbolizing “using the archway to fill the gap and bring stability to the people.” In the 12th year of the Yongzheng reign of the Qing Dynasty (1734), the stone archway collapsed. In the 33rd year of the Qianlong reign (1768), Lin Yinglong, a scholar from Maxiang, along with others, petitioned for donations and rebuilt the structure on the original site as a pass connecting Tong’an to Quanzhou. The existing stone pass runs east-west, with a north-south arched passage that is 8.60 meters long and 3.56 meters high. The arch is 2.44 meters high and 2.38 meters wide. The archway retains a stone plaque inscribed with Zhu Xi’s “Tong Min An,” though the eastern plaque is damaged. The southern plaque is 0.5 meters high and 1.63 meters long, with the inscription “Written by Zhu Xi.” To the east of the pass stands a stone stele inscribed with “Record of Changing the Archway into a Pass” by Wu Yong, the magistrate of Tong’an County at the time. The writing has faded and become blurred over time. In July 1984, the “Tongmin’an” Pass was designated as a county-level cultural heritage site by the People’s Government of Tong’an County.

Protected area: Extends 50 meters outward from the surrounding walls, covering nearby ancient banyan trees and the Dashisi Temple dedicated to Guanyin.

Xicuo Town: Located at the center of the Southern Fujian Golden Triangle and serving as the eastern gateway of Xiamen Special Economic Zone, Xicuo Town borders Nan’an City to the east, Maxiang Town to the west, Xinxu Town to the north, and Xindian Town to the south. Covering an area of 70.15 square kilometers, it has 40,000 mu of mountainous land and 27,000 mu of arable land. The town administers 16 villages (farms), with a population of nearly 40,000. It also has one national first-class health center, two middle schools (including one complete high school), and 20 complete primary schools. Under the correct leadership of the district Party committee and government, the town’s Party committee and government have led the people in pioneering efforts, focusing on economic development, bringing about fundamental changes to the town’s appearance and economy... More details about Xicuo Town++