Twin-Rainbow Bridge

Twin-Rainbow Bridge

In the ancient town of Wanzi, located in the northwestern border region of Jiangxi Province, the city is traversed by the Zhushandong River originating from the southern part of the town. The river meanders northward, merges with the Shu River, and eventually flows into the Jin River. The river that runs through the town is called the Dragon River. Spanning this river is a bridge known as the Twin-Rainbow Bridge.

The area east of the Dragon River is called “Wuqian,” while the west side is referred to as “Wubei.” These were the two most prosperous commercial streets in the county at the time. In the late Yuan Dynasty, there was originally a pontoon bridge called the “Wubei Bridge.” It was often crowded with people and carts, swaying and rocking, occasionally causing people to fall into the river. During the Hongwu and Yongle eras of the Ming Dynasty, the pontoon bridge was repaired multiple times.

During the Chenghua era of the Ming Dynasty (1465–1488), due to a sudden mountain flood, the river water rose rapidly with fierce waves. The pontoon bridge collapsed with a loud crash, ropes snapped, and the wooden planks disappeared. After the flood, the crossing fell into disrepair, and people had to rely on bamboo rafts and small boats to travel between the two banks, making transportation extremely inconvenient. The bridge collapsed again during the Hongwu and Yongle periods. By the 15th year of the Chenghua era (1479), County Magistrate Chen Can reconstructed it. However, it was later washed away by floods, and the locals, seeing the bridge destroyed repeatedly, lost the will to repair it.

People stood by the river, sighing helplessly at the waters.

At this time, a wealthy local gentleman volunteered to fund the construction of a new bridge. His name was Song Yifeng, styled Qiming, also known as Shuanghong. The Song family was a prominent clan in Wanzi. Song Qiuzhu had served as a famous prime minister of the Southern Tang, and Song Liangzuo had been the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice in the Ming Dynasty. Many members of the family were scholars or engaged in commerce. Song Shuanghong exhausted his family fortune to build a two-arch stone bridge on the original site of the pontoon bridge. A stone pier was erected in the middle of the river, truly acting as a pillar in the stream (this pier still exists today and remains as solid as ever after centuries). It took two years to initially complete the bridge. In the 42nd year of the Kangxi reign of the Qing Dynasty, Song Jiuchou carried out a major renovation of the bridge. Decades later, the eastern section of the bridge was damaged. To fulfill his father’s legacy, Liangyan led the effort to rebuild it. At that time, members of the Song clan responded enthusiastically, actively participating, and they also renovated the western bridge pavilion and railings. In the 6th year of the Yongzheng reign, Song Shenze gathered people to raise funds for repairs. The remaining money was stored in a community fund, lent out to earn interest, and later used to purchase a bridge shelter, shops, and farmland. Since then, ongoing repairs to the bridge have been carried out.

The Song family members who were committed to continuing their ancestors’ legacy and worked together to accomplish this feat are truly commendable.

In the first month of autumn in the first year of the Daoguang era, Guo Dajing, a county magistrate and imperial scholar, wrote “A Record of the Construction of the Twin-Rainbow Bridge,” which states: “... During the Kangxi era of the Qing Dynasty, the virtuous man’s younger brother Xijun continued the family legacy and further repaired the bridge. In the 5th year of the Yongzheng era, the bridge deck and pavilion railings were all restored. Members of the family repaved the stones, renewed the railings, covered the structure with a roof, and erected steles on both banks. ... During the Qianlong and Jiaqing eras, frequent renovations were made. More recently, the roof was removed and an elongated pavilion was built atop the bridge, with soaring eaves and eleven evenly spaced shops on both sides, offering a wide array of goods for sale. Pedestrians weaving back and forth almost forgot they were stepping up the arched bridge. At night, lanterns were hung to prevent tripping. The contributions made to the bridge are...” From this, we can see that during the Qianlong and Jiaqing eras, the shops were removed and a long pavilion was built, with eleven shops lining both sides, selling a variety of goods. People came and went in droves, making it very lively and bustling. Guo Dajing highly praised the difficulty of building the bridge and the achievements of those who maintained it, stating, “It is difficult to start a project, more difficult to continue it, and even more difficult to sustain it across generations.” “Given that this bridge sits at a key urban junction, battered by water currents, its repeated repairs and collapses have truly been exhausting. ... The Song ancestors selflessly helped others, greatly benefiting the county, and their descendants upheld their forebears' aspirations, diligently expanding their charitable efforts, ensuring their legacy endures. Their virtues in aiding the world are all worthy of being passed down.”

The Twin-Rainbow Bridge is a vital crossing between the eastern and western banks of the county town. Its construction promoted the prosperity and development of commerce and trade in the county. To commemorate the achievements of Song Yifeng, from the Kangxi era onward, the locals named the bridge after his alias, calling it the “Twin-Rainbow Bridge.”

Song Jiuyi (a native of Wanzi), who served as the magistrate of Jianning in Fujian during the Wanli era of the Ming Dynasty, wrote a poem:

A mile-long bridge praised by scholars,

An elegant rainbow arching over red steps.

A dragon-pillar rises from midstream,

While peaks on both banks stretch wings like birds.