South Cheng’s Taiping Bridge

Nan Cheng’s Taiping Bridge

Nan Cheng’s Taiping Bridge is a cultural heritage site protected by Jiangxi Province.

Taiping Bridge is located on the Xujian River outside the east gate of Nan Cheng County in Jiangxi Province, also known as the “Retained Robe Bridge.” Originally a pontoon bridge, it was later rebuilt as a stone bridge. It is a semi-circular stone arch bridge with a total of 14 arches. It is a provincial-level cultural heritage site in Jiangxi Province.

Taiping Bridge was originally named “Wanshou Bridge” and was first built in the fifth year of the Jiayou era of the Song Dynasty (1060). It was destroyed in the thirteenth year of the Jiading era (1220). In the nineteenth year of the Zhiyuan era of the Yuan Dynasty (1282), funds were raised to rebuild it and it was renamed “Taiping Bridge.” In the eighth year of the Wanli era of the Ming Dynasty (1580), the bridge was again destroyed. The Yi princely house of Ming donated funds to lead its reconstruction, making travelers rejoice, and it was then renamed “Dongguo Hongqiao” or “Hongqiao” (from Ming Luo Rufang’s “Record of Taiping Bridge”: “In the winter month of Gengchen [the eighth year of Wanli], a fire broke out in the civilian houses north of the bridge and spread to the bridge... When the news reached Yi Prince Huangnan, he donated funds to take the lead”). Volume 1, “Scenic Spots,” of the “Nan Cheng County Annals” from the Kangxi era of the Qing Dynasty states: “The Dongguo Hongqiao, also known as Taiping Bridge, is located outside the east gate of the prefecture over the river… five li northeast of the county at Wulong Pool.”

During the Jiajing and Wanli periods of the Ming Dynasty, princes of the Yi princely house repeatedly repaired and rebuilt Taiping Bridge after its collapses, “contributing generously from their wealth reserves” to help “assist in maintaining the bridge that guards peace,” resulting in all bridges over the eastern river of Nan Cheng being “created by the House of Zhu.” Experts have verified that this was actually done for the tomb affairs of the “Hongmen” burial grounds in Jiangdong under the Yi princely house of the Ming Dynasty. The sounds and rhymes of “Hong,” “Red,” and “Flood” are interchangeable. Taiping Bridge’s alternate name “Hongqiao” shares phonetic and semantic links with terms like “Red Bridge” and “Flood Bridge” found in Tiandihui (Heaven and Earth Society) records. This reveals the subtle historical connections and century-old mysteries between Nan Cheng’s “Taiping” Bridge, the tomb projects of the Ming Yi princely house’s “Hongmen,” and the Tiandihui record references to “Hongqiao–Hongmen.”

Taiping Bridge has been destroyed and rebuilt multiple times throughout history. In the second year of the Shunzhi era (1645) and the first year of the Kangxi era (1662) of the Qing Dynasty, it was successively destroyed by fire. According to Volume 1, “Fords and Bridges,” of the “Nan Cheng County Annals” from the Kangxi era of the Qing Dynasty: “Taiping Bridge is located outside the Dongchuan Gate. It was originally a pontoon bridge. In the fifth year of the Jiayou era of the Song Dynasty, Prefect Feng Youjun built the stone bridge... In the year Yiyu of our dynasty [Qing Shunzhi], it was destroyed by fire. In the year Bingshen, Prefect Liu Daozhu and County Magistrate Li Zhengwei rebuilt it. In the year Renyin of the Kangxi era, a fire broke out among the townspeople on the bridge, reducing everything to ashes.” In the second year of the Tongzhi era (1863) of the Qing Dynasty, the entire county raised funds for its restoration, and it was renamed “Retained Robe Bridge.” To this day, the ancient bridge leaves behind a fine tale for future generations.

Further Reading:

· Fifth Batch of Jiangxi Provincial Cultural Heritage Sites