Songtian Ancient Village

Songtian Ancient Village

Songtian Village is located 7.5 kilometers east of Anfu County and faces Fengtian Town across the river. It borders the Lushui River to the east, connects with Dongyang Peak to the south, adjoins Shiwu Mountain and Huangniuling to the west, and lies against the Anji Highway to the north. The terrain is higher in the northwest and lower in the southeast within the village. Dongyang Peak and Huangniuling encircle the village. Halfway up Shiwu Mountain lies Shiwu Cave, which is spacious and bright, capable of accommodating one to two hundred people. The words “Shiwu Cave Heaven” are inscribed in large characters. During the Zhengde era of the Ming Dynasty, Peng Zan, a native of the village who served as the prefect of Jingzhou before retiring, secluded himself in Shiwu Cave. He built the Wanyi Thatched Hall and the Wolong Pavilion there.

The surroundings of Songtian boast beautiful scenery, with particularly stunning landscapes such as the “Eight Scenic Spots of Zhongxi.” These have inspired many scholars and poets. Cheng Wen德, an official from Anfu County during the Ming Dynasty, once wrote a poem about visiting Shiwu Cave: “Upon entering the territory of Huafeng, I first came to tour Shiwu Cave. Amidst the landscapes of the minister’s domain, clouds and trees crown the cave like a fairy mound…” Yang Shiqi once wrote a preface for the “Poems on the Eight Scenic Spots of Zhongxi”: “The Peng family of Ancheng has resided for generations on the upper reaches of Zhongxi to the east of the county, blessed with superior mountain and water views. To the east of their residence lies Dongyang Peak, home to a massive rock. When rain is approaching, clouds rise from the rock, and locals often take this as a sign of impending rainfall. To its south stands a rocky cave resembling a house, several zhang in height and width, where a statue of Liu, a former magistrate of Anfu, is enshrined. Records say that after his death, the statue became a deity, worshipped to invoke blessings. Further south is Baima Peak, named so because Liu was said to have once ridden a white horse and stopped here. This peak towers above the others, catching the morning sunlight first. Slightly to the west is Huangniuling. Legend has it that an immortal once rode a yellow ox here, hence the name. The base of the mountain is vast, lofty, and steeply rising. At dusk, the setting sun’s glow is especially beloved, as the mountain stands resolutely like a golden wall, a joy to behold. At the summit of the ridge, there used to be a terrace. It is said that three immortals once stayed here, and locals built a terrace to worship them. Though the terrace is now gone, some still claim to see a glowing light like a lamp flickering atop it at night. To the north of the residence lies a pond at the foot of Shiliu Peak. In the past, a drowned fisherman reportedly saw a stone bed inside a hidden cave, with an old man lying on it—believed to be a dragon’s dwelling. Northeast lies the Yuquan Well, whose sweet and refreshing water has a deep source, never drying up even in summer droughts. To the south is Mihu Lake, spanning hundreds of mu, yielding profits from water chestnuts, lotus roots, fish, and shrimp, yet unfathomably deep, with a flood dragon said to dwell beneath. Enthusiasts have divided the area into the Eight Scenic Spots.”

Songtian Village, originally named Zhongxi, was settled during the Song Dynasty’s Jingding era when the Zhou family moved here from Jishui. By the end of the Yuan Dynasty, Peng Guqing married into the Zhou family, and clan members gradually gathered and migrated from Guanqiao to settle in Zhongxi. By the Ming Dynasty, the population had flourished, and a culture of pursuing scholarly and official careers emerged, forming a prominent and noble lineage. In the Hongwu era of the Ming Dynasty, the year of Ji Si (1389), brothers Peng Wuwei and Peng Wulun of the Peng family undertook major construction on the pine forest fields and cottages of Zhongxi, thus naming the place Songtian. Today, 98% of the natural village of Songtian belongs to the Peng clan.

The Peng clan of Songtian rose to fame during the Ming Dynasty, becoming a renowned bureaucratic and local elite family, thanks to figures such as Peng Liu, Peng Shi, and Peng Hua.

Peng Liu (1391–1458) passed the imperial examination in the year of Jiawu during the Yongle era of the Ming Dynasty and became a jinshi in the year of Wuxu. He was appointed as an observer at the Censorate, an editor at the Outer Hanlin Academy, and later served as the Assistant Regional Inspector of Guangdong, the Vice Commissioner of Shanxi, and transferred to serve as the Vice Commissioner of Huguang. He was known for his integrity and clean governance.

Peng Shi (1416–1475), courtesy name Chundao, was posthumously honored as Tejin Guanglu Daifu, Left Pillar of State Grand Tutor, and granted the posthumous title Wenxian. He passed the imperial examination in the year of Xinyou during the Zhengtong era of the Ming Dynasty and became the zhuangyuan (top scholar) in the year of Wuchen. He was appointed as an editor at the Hanlin Academy, ranked as Chenglang. In the year of Jiawu, he joined the Grand Secretariat, was promoted to Attendant Reader, and in the year of Renshen during the Jingtai era, became the Left Spring Hall Grand Secretary. In the year of Bingzi, he served as the Deputy Minister of the Taichang Temple, and in the year of Dingchou during the Tianshun era, rejoined the Grand Secretariat while also holding the position of Academician at the Hanlin Academy. In the year of Simao, he was promoted to Middle-Grade Official, and in the year of Yichou during the Chenghua era, to Tongyi Official, then appointed as Minister of War. In the year of Dingsi, he was promoted to Zicai Official, became Minister of War and Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince, and a Grand Secretary of the Wenyuan Pavilion. In the year of Wuzi, he was reassigned as Minister of Personnel and promoted to Shaobao. He served as Chief Grand Secretary for over 20 years. The History of Ming includes a biography of Peng Shi, stating that he “served the court for thirty years, diligently dedicating himself to the nation, upholding righteousness and maintaining the greater principles. In his private life, he showed no signs of indolence, had no indulgence in music or entertainment, accepted nothing unrighteous, and exhibited the demeanor of an ancient high-ranking official.”

Peng Hua (of the Fengtian Peng clan who relocated to Dazhi Village), courtesy name Yan Shi, was posthumously honored as Shaofu and granted the posthumous title Wensi. He authored works such as the Collected Works of Peng Wensi. He passed the imperial examination in the year of Gengwu during the Jingtai era of the Ming Dynasty, topped the metropolitan examination in the year of Jiawu, and served as a Hanlin Bachelor. He edited the Universal Gazetteer and the Comprehensive Gazetteer of the Great Ming. In the year of Yichou during the Chenghua era, he was promoted to Attendant Reader and Lecturer of the Imperial Lecture Court. In the year of Renyou, he oversaw the metropolitan examination, in the year of Yisi, was promoted to Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, and concurrently held the position of Academician at the Hanlin Academy. Emperor Xianzong once bestowed upon him an Imperial Edict.

Since then, the Peng clan continued to produce elites who entered officialdom. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, there were a total of 12 jinshi (successful imperial examination candidates), 12 juren (provincial examination graduates) and gongsheng (tribute students), and 53 individuals who held official ranks, received posthumous honors, or enjoyed hereditary privileges—admired by all.

Songtian has preserved intact to this day a Ming Dynasty “Zhongxi Peng Clan Ancestral Hall” (also known as the Zhuangyuan Ancestral Hall), along with eight other branch ancestral halls and mansions, five residential architectural complexes totaling 132 buildings, and more than ten traditional structural buildings. Among these, approximately 50% are Ming Dynasty structures, 40% are Qing Dynasty structures, and 10% are Republican-era structures.

The “Zhongxi Peng Clan Ancestral Hall” (Zhuangyuan Ancestral Hall) is the grandest of the Anfu ancestral halls. Construction began in the year of Gengwu during the Jingtai era of the Ming Dynasty (1450) and took five years to complete. In front of the ancestral hall lies the Zhuangyuan Archway, with a Zhuangyuan Plaza in front of it, and two large ponds in front of the plaza. The ancestral hall consists of three connected buildings, measuring 46.5 meters in length and 23 meters in width, covering an area of 1,070 square meters. The front building has a large central courtyard, flanked by side rooms. The middle building features bell and drum towers on the upper floors of the left and right sides, with bronze bells hanging from the roof corners that chime in the wind. The main hall’s wooden panels are carved with illustrations of the Twenty-Four Filial Exemplars, such as Wang Xiang lying on ice, Meng Zong crying by bamboo, and Dong Yong selling himself... The rear building serves as the ancestral worship hall, supported by eight large wooden pillars. The wooden plaque on the roof is inscribed with couplets such as: “Elder brother zhuangyuan, younger brother huiyuan—within six years, they surpassed the heroes of the two capitals and thirteen provinces; Left Grand Tutor, Right Minor Tutor—two lineages have fostered literary fragrance for thousands of years across four townships,” “One family, two pillars: Ministers of War, Rites, and Personnel; Three examinations, four zhuangyuans: Wuchen, Bingchen, Gengxu,” and “Served through four reigns, two prime ministers; Honored across three generations, six ministers of war.” The small courtyards in the middle and rear buildings preserve Ming Dynasty stone turtle-back steles inscribed with “Filial Piety and Harmony.” The Zhuangyuan Archway is 12 meters tall, with three gates below. The central part of the archway is inlaid with the stone carving “Prime Minister’s Mansion,” the middle tier depicts theatrical stories and floral patterns with exquisite craftsmanship, and there are three gate couplets, one of which reads: “The illustrious first-place mansion, the majestic prime minister’s home.” Whether in terms of architectural scale, craftsmanship value, or cultural significance, it is a typical representative.

Other branch ancestral halls, clan ancestral halls, and important mansions all maintain intact layouts, interconnected with residences. Unified in gray-tiled, blue-bricked architecture with soaring gable walls. The interior decorations feature intricate craftsmanship, including openwork carvings, line carvings, round carvings, relief carvings, paintings, ink inscriptions, and various types of caisson ceilings. The architectural styles of the Ming and Qing dynasties are distinctly evident, with strong regional characteristics. Professionals from within the province have conducted multiple research visits to the village, which also attracts tens of thousands of tourists from elsewhere every year.