Group of Song Dynasty Wells in Hengyu

Group of Song Dynasty Wells in Hengyu

The Group of Song Dynasty Wells in Hengyu is a cultural relic protection unit of Jin'an District.

Group of Song Dynasty Wells in Hengyu

Located in Hengyu Village, Gushan Town, Jin'an District, 400 meters from Huagong East Road. The wells are scattered across seven natural villages in eastern Fuzhou's Hengyu area (Zhijie Village, Yongshang Village, Dong Village, Dongtou Village, Chuanwei Village, Anpu Village, and Xibian Village — the cultural relic marker lists seven, while the second and third surveys say six). There are ten (as per the cultural relic marker, but the second and third surveys register nine) Song Dynasty wells, all built of stone, with well curbs carved from single stone blocks into circular shapes. Except for three wells in Anpu Village, whose inscribed dates are too faded to read, there are now seven (the third survey says six) identifiable Song Dynasty wells. Their curbs or stone basins are engraved with founding date inscriptions, as detailed below:

Zhijie Song Well: The well shaft is circular, constructed of granite, and is 8 meters deep. The well curb is carved from a single piece of granite into a circular shape. Next to the well are two circular stone basins, both inscribed. One has an outer diameter of 77 cm, inner diameter of 58 cm, and height of 45 cm; its outer wall is inscribed with “Donated by disciples Wu Yin and Chen Ge, Shaoxing Bingyin year (i.e., the 17th year of Shaoxing, 1146 AD).” The script is regular script, with characters about 7 cm in size. The other basin is inscribed with “Inscribed in the fourth month of the Xinwei year,” among other words, also in regular script, with characters about 9 cm in size.

Yongshang Song Wells: There are two wells. Both wells have circular shafts made of granite. One well is 6 meters deep; its curb is carved from a single piece of granite into a circular shape, with an outer diameter of 1 m, inner diameter of 0.71 m, and height of 0.7 m; its outer wall is inscribed with: “Donated by disciple Zheng Chu, this well curb is offered for the benefit of my deceased parents. Inscribed in the fourth month of the 10th year of Shaoxing (1140 AD).” The script is regular script, with characters 10 cm in size. The other well is 6.6 meters deep. Its curb is carved from a single piece of granite into a circular shape, with an outer diameter of 91 cm, inner diameter of 70 cm, and height of 66 cm; its outer wall is inscribed with: “Made in the eighth month of the Renwu year (1102 AD) of the Chongning era, repaired in the second year of Jiatai (1202 AD) by Ruan Ying. Repaired again in the 34th year of Qianlong (1769 AD), constructed in autumn. Repaired once more in the fifth month of the third year of Daoguang (1823 AD).” The script is regular script, with characters 9 cm in size.

Dong Village Song Well: The well shaft is circular, built of granite, and is 2.36 meters deep. The well curb is carved from a single block of granite into a circular shape, with an outer diameter of 63 cm, inner diameter of 46 cm, and height of 59 cm; its outer wall is inscribed with “Li Shiwu Niang donated this well for her deceased father, built in the □shen year. Repaired in the fifth month of the third year of Kaixi (1207 AD) by Ruan Ying.” The script is regular script, with characters about 10 cm in size.

Dongtou Village Song Well: The well shaft is circular, made of granite, and is 8.5 meters deep. The well curb is carved from a single block of granite into a circular shape, with an outer diameter of 73 cm, inner diameter of 52 cm, and height of 56 cm; its outer wall is inscribed with “Donated by Ruan Ying. Made in the ninth month of the Jiyou year of Qingyuan (i.e., the fifth year of Qingyuan, 1199 AD).” The script is regular script, with characters 9 cm in size.

Anpu Song Well: The well shaft is circular, made of granite, and is about 6 meters deep. The well curb was later rebuilt and is hexagonal. Next to the well is a circular stone basin, with an outer diameter of 70 cm, inner diameter of 54 cm, and height of 49 cm; its outer wall is inscribed with “The monk Fayin of this temple donated this for the benefit of the deceased master Jin Nineteen, made in the Xin Si year of Shaoxing (i.e., the 31st year of Shaoxing, 1161 AD).” The characters are 6 cm in size.

Chuanwei Song Well: The well shaft is circular, made of granite, and is about 6 meters deep. The well curb was originally carved from a single piece of granite into a circular shape, but was later changed to a hexagonal shape. Next to the well is a circular stone basin, with an outer diameter of 70 cm, inner diameter of 55 cm, and height of 49 cm. Its outer wall is inscribed with “Shaosheng Dingchou (i.e., the 27th year of Shaoxing, 1157 AD)” and other text.

(According to the cultural relic marker; the second and third surveys state that the Chuanwei well was drilled in the 29th year of Shaoxing (1161 — as originally written, incorrect, should be 1159 AD)

Xibian Song Well: The well is circular, made of granite, and is about 6 meters deep. The well curb is carved from a single block of granite into a circular shape. Next to the well is a circular stone basin, with an outer diameter of 70 cm, inner diameter of 55 cm, and height of 45 cm. The outer wall of the basin is inscribed with “...master nineteen □ for the benefit of the afterlife; made in the Xin Si year of Shaoxing (i.e., the 31st year of Shaoxing, 1161 AD).”

In addition, there are three other wells in Anpu Village: one has a well curb with most of its inscription faded, leaving only the words “repaired in the Kangxi era”; another has a destroyed curb inscription; and the third has a stone basin with a blurred inscription. All three wells are built of granite, have circular shafts, and their curbs are carved from single granite blocks into circular shapes, all heavily worn. Based on their design, they are likely all Song Dynasty wells.

During the third national survey, the ancient wells were relatively well preserved and are still in use today, holding high cultural heritage value for the study of the development history of the Hengyu area. Some well rings have since been stolen.

In December 1992, it was designated as a district-level cultural relic protection unit by the People's Government of Jin'an District. Protected area: 10 meters around each well; no new buildings may be constructed within the protected zone.

Hengyu Village: Hengyu Village…… More details about Hengyu Village++