Seven-Eye Well

Seven-Eye Well

The Seven-Eye Well is a cultural relic protection unit of Jiangxi Province.

As an ancient city with a history of over 2,200 years, the former capital of Yuzhou—present-day Yichun—was known for its beautiful springs and numerous ancient wells. The name “Yichun” (which means “pleasant spring”) originates from a beautiful spring located west of the city, which was described as “cool in summer, warm in winter, crystal-clear and spring-like, and pleasant to drink.” One of the famous springs in the western part of the city, the “Seven-Eye Well,” is actually one large well with interconnected water sources underground. In the middle, there are three wells arranged side by side, flanked on both sides by beams that support all seven well openings, leaving seven well rings on the surface. The current well openings are built over the old ones, and deep rope marks can still be seen in several places along the edges of the ancient well.

Floating Life Soars’ travelogue on the “Seven-Eye Well”: “The Chinese character for ‘well’ (井) is actually quite interesting. The Book of Changes (I Ching) includes a hexagram called ‘Well’ (井), which states, ‘The village may change, but the well does not.’ Water is an indispensable resource. No matter how villages rise or decline or develop, they always revolve around the ‘well.’ Once you leave the well, you’re leaving your homeland behind. Many authors in books mention a well near their former residence, using it as a starting point for nostalgia and reflection. This shows how important wells are to people, as they are so closely tied to daily life. When I was a child, I also drew water from a well—dropping the bucket down the rope, waiting until it reached the water’s surface, then jerking the rope to flip the bucket and scoop up the water. You needed at least half a bucket to consider it a successful draw. Drawing well water took some skill. But nowadays, with just a turn of the tap, who needs to think about drawing water from a well? Thinking about all the places I’ve lived and cities I’ve moved to, I can’t seem to find that one ‘well’ in my heart. Maybe I’ve just gotten used to being away from home. Suddenly, I think—if I ever become rich and own land, I’ll definitely have a well in my yard, and it will even have moss growing on it.”

Further Reading:

· Sixth Batch of Jiangxi Provincial Cultural Relic Protection Units