Xinma Village

Xinma Village

Xinma Village

Located over 30 kilometers west of the county seat on the southern bank of the Xun River, within the territory of Tianping Town. Legend has it that during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period, Liang Song, the top scholar of the Southern Han Dynasty, retired from his official post in his later years. Emperor Liu Gong bestowed upon him a white horse to ride back to his hometown. While passing by Donghao River (now near Xinma Village), they encountered a sudden mountain flood, and both the rider and the horse were swept into the Xun River and drowned. Since then, a white horse was often said to appear on the riverbank, leading to the name “White Horse River.” The area north of the river (under the jurisdiction of Pingnan County) and south of the river (under the jurisdiction of Teng County) both had villages called “White Horse.” Later, to distinguish it from the White Horse village north of the river, the one south of the river came to be known as “New Horse,” or Xinma. The village is surrounded by the river on its northern, eastern, and western sides, and backed by mountains to the south. Nestled against the hills and alongside the water, it boasts various fruit trees, lush bamboo, and ancient banyan trees with twisting trunks that have stood for hundreds of years. Towering green canopies provide ample shade, and stone tables and benches are set beneath the old banyans along the riverside. The path from the river dock to the village is paved with bluestone, forming a stone-paved street with over ten shops lined up along a commercial lane of several dozen meters. There are several ponds in the village, encircled by bluestone and shaded by drooping willows. In the northeastern part of the village, near the river, stands a monument commemorating Yuan Chonghuan, the late Ming Dynasty military commander. The inscription reads “Hometown of Yuan Chonghuan, Late Ming Dynasty Military Commander.” It honors Yuan Chonghuan, the regional commander of Jili and Liaodong during the late Ming Dynasty and a national hero. The monument is 10 meters tall, with each side measuring 2.50 meters wide. It is constructed from red bricks, finished with washed stone, topped with yellow glazed tiles, and features a cement platform with railings at its base, covering an area of 64 square meters. The village also houses relics related to Yuan Chonghuan’s former residence, such as stone pedestals and stone troughs used for feeding horses. Legend has it that there is an ancient banyan tree planted by Yuan Chonghuan himself, which stands vigorously by the great river, its branches lush and twisted. Yuan Chonghuan wrote a poem titled “The Small Banyan Tree in the Dish Grows Day by Day, Transplanted to the Ground, I Compose a Poem to Record It,” which reads: “The banyan grew in central Guangdong, dismissed as useless by people. Twisting upward toward the sky, its graceful shade covers the ground. On hot summer days, while all else wilts, it alone stands tall and lush. I cherish these few feet of branches, which keep me company without weariness. In spring, I transplanted it with my own hands, nurturing it like a child. How diligently I watered it, going back at least twice a day. I hope its branches and leaves will flourish, sheltering with deep meaning. Ten years are not far off, and time will tell. Even if an axe cuts it down for firewood, let future generations decide.”

Liang Song, a native of Gongzhou (now Pingnan, Guangxi). His courtesy names were Zigao and Zhongqiu. His birth and death years are unknown. He was the top scholar in the Bai Long first year (925) of the Southern Han Dynasty during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period.

Liang Song was diligent and studious from an early age, excelling in poetry and prose. Emperor Liu Yan of the Southern Han, emulating the Tang system, initiated the imperial examination for jinshi degree in Guangzhou in the Yiyou year. During the palace examination, Liang Song composed the poem “Ode to Lychees”: “Dew moistens rouge-like sheen, bright to the eye; / Vermilion robes wrapped a thousand times, hard to depict in paint. / Fair ladies savor every taste on the plate, / Yet heaven favors those born beyond the ridges. / Oranges and pomelos, far less proud, fail to reach tribute lists; / Salt and plums, rather, should blend in harmony’s pot. / If the Golden Gate offers soil for cultivation, / This plant must claim the foremost rank among men.” The emperor was so impressed that he named Liang Song the top scholar... More details about Liang Song ++