Ancient Tuncheng Village

Ancient Tuncheng Village

Ancient Tuncheng Village, also known as "Tiger Valley," is located 15 kilometers east of Yangcheng County in Jincheng City, Shanxi Province. It lies to the west of the Qinhe River, the second-largest river in Shanxi, and earned the name "Tuncheng" (Garrison Town) because during the Battle of Changping, the Qin general Bai Qi built a fortress here to station troops and store provisions. The village currently has a population of 1,100 and covers a total area of 3.85 square kilometers. The settlement lies nestled among mountains and rivers, resembling a crouching tiger and coiled dragon.

The ancient village gradually rose to prominence during the Jin Dynasty, reaching its zenith in the Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties. In the Yuan Dynasty, four generations of the Zheng family produced two Dukes and one Prime Minister; during the Ming and Qing periods, three members of the Zhang family earned the title of Jinshi (successful imperial examination candidates) within five generations, bringing great honor. During the Kangxi era of the Qing Dynasty, Chen Qianji, eldest son of the eminent official Chen Tingjing, moved to Tuncheng, and many of his relatives also pursued official careers. The people of Tuncheng revered literature and education, producing many notable figures, the most famous and influential being Zhang Shenyan, Minister of Personnel of the Southern Ming regime. These civil and military officials were loyal and benevolent, achieved great deeds, left their mark in history, and also bequeathed a rich cultural legacy to future generations—abundant poetic works and invaluable paintings and calligraphy.

The ancient village is long from north to south and narrow from east to west, higher in the north and lower in the south. Watchtowers stand tall, the entire settlement is enclosed by walls, and from a distance, it resembles a giant ship. The main thoroughfare is Zhongjie (Central Street), running from north to south, with lanes branching off almost perpendicularly on both sides, forming a skeletal road system. Residents lived in clan-based clusters with orderly distribution. From north to south, the main surnames were Zhao, Zheng, Liu, Cheng, Wang, Zhang, Chen, and Gao. The mansions of the Zheng, Zhang, and Chen families were grand in scale and occupied prominent positions in the village, creating a layout pattern described as "Zheng occupies half the street, Zhang half the lane, and Chen a corner."

The ancient village preserves architecture from the Jin Dynasty through the Qing Dynasty and into the early Republic of China, reflecting the economic, political, and cultural development and evolution of the region in different historical periods. Residential buildings mostly face south, with the "four large, eight small, five courtyards" quadrangle being the most common style; more than 50 such historic homes still exist. Public structures include the Wenchang Pavilion, Erlang Temple, ancient fort, official temple, Zhanggong Pavilion, Dongyue Temple, and the Zheng Family Ancestral Hall. The ancient constructions feature exquisite stone carvings, brick carvings, wood carvings, and plaques as artistic treasures. The surviving ancient architecture mainly dates from the Ming and Qing dynasties, along with military kilns from the Yuan Dynasty. Especially notable is the Dongyue Temple built in the Jin Dynasty, which holds significant historical and cultural value: the main hall retains the architectural style of the Jin Dynasty, the Sumeru pedestal is especially distinctive in its carvings, and the performance stage holds important value as a theatrical relic. There is also a large iron bell hanging in the bell tower, showcasing the glorious history of Runcheng’s iron smelting industry.

The ancient village has 13 centuries-old trees including Chinese scholar trees, Chinese honey locusts, junipers, and cypresses, as well as eight ancient wells, numerous ancient springs, old bridges, stone mills, and other relics that silently bear witness to hundreds of years of history.

Ancient Tuncheng Village shares common traits of ancient villages—long history, strict layout, deep cultural roots, and simple folkways—but also boasts unique and remarkable characteristics such as its resemblance to a crouching tiger and coiled dragon, solid fortifications and convenient gates, towering watchtowers, a ship-like layout, clan-based population distribution, and a lineage of notable individuals. In March 2014, Tuncheng Ancient Village was jointly designated by the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development and the National Cultural Heritage Administration as part of the sixth group of China's Famous Historical and Cultural Villages. This recognition affirms the historical and cultural value of Tuncheng Ancient Village. We believe that as the people of Tuncheng further explore, organize, protect, and restore the village’s historical and cultural heritage, its future will surely become even brighter.

Tuncheng Village: Tuncheng Village is located 15 kilometers east of Yangcheng County in Jincheng City, Shanxi Province, and lies to the west of the Qinhe River, the second-largest river in Shanxi. It earned its name because during the Battle of Changping, the Qin general Bai Qi stationed troops and stored provisions here. The Yellow River basin is the cradle of the Chinese nation, and as an important tributary of the Yellow River, the Qinhe River basin is dotted with numerous early human settlement sites. According to the "Third National Cultural Relics Survey List of Yangcheng County, Jincheng City, Shanxi Province," sites from the Paleolithic and Neolithic periods have been discovered in Wangchuan Village across the river from Tuncheng Village, as well as in Runcheng Village 8 kilometers downstream and Heitou Village 10 kilometers downstream. From this, it can be inferred that... Tuncheng Village detailed information++