Maoping Ancient Town

Maoping Ancient Town

Maoping Ancient Town is located in the lower reaches of the Qingshui River, in the northeastern part of Jinping County, about 10 kilometers from the county seat. To the east, it borders Yangxi and Zaidaixi villages of the same town, as well as Dichong Village of Bengchu Town in Tianzhu County; to the south, it neighbors Liangjiang Village of Sanjiang Town; to the west, it adjoins Xinjian Village of the same town; and to the north, it crosses Huangshao Mountain to reach Diliang Village in Tianzhu County. Just three or four kilometers downstream lies the boundary of Tianzhu County, and another thirty or forty kilometers further is the area of Hongjiang City in Hunan Province.

Places such as Maoping and Wangzhai were largely under the jurisdiction of the Chixi Nandong Longsizhang (a local administrative office) of Liping Prefecture, Huguang Province during the Ming Dynasty. The seat of the Chixi Nandong Longsizhang was located in Nanming Town of Jianhe County today, about seventy or eighty kilometers from here, exerting minimal influence on the region. As a result, the area was effectively under the primitive self-governance of the villagers. Before the 19th year of the Kangxi reign in the Qing Dynasty (1680), Maoping, Wangzhai, and other areas were affiliated with Huguang Province through Liping Prefecture. After the suppression of Wu Sangui’s rebellion, they were reassigned to Guizhou. Due to poor performance during the suppression of the “Rebellion of the Three Feudatories,” including Wu Sangui, the Chixi Nandong Longsizhang was subjected to the harshest punishment in the 23rd year of Kangxi’s reign (1684)—its institution was abolished, and areas such as Maoping, Wangzhai, and Gaopo Jiuzhai were directly incorporated into Liping Prefecture. After the Yongzheng reign, Huangshao Mountain became part of the official courier route, and the government even set up a post station at Shangzhai in Maoping for a time, stationing couriers responsible for communication between Liping Prefecture, Zhenyuan, and the provincial capital, Guiyang. In the 3rd year of the Republic of China (1914), Liping Prefecture was abolished, and Jinping County was newly established. Maoping, along with Wangzhai and Guazhi upstream, was then assigned to Jinping County.

Maoping got its name from the fact that it was initially a patch of wild grassland. Nestled in the valley of the Qingshui River, it lies against the mountain and beside the water, with the Qingshui River flowing like a jade-green ribbon in front of the village, and Huangshao Mountain standing like a massive screen behind it. The overall terrain is embraced by mountains and water, sheltered from wind, rich in vital energy, compact in layout, and harmoniously balanced. In the early Republican period, Long Anpu of Maoping once composed an ancient-style poem to depict the majestic landscape of Maoping:

The eastern cliffs stand towering above the river islets, Where cranes and pines remain as timeless masters.

The scholarly brush, solemn and grand, guards the midstream, Illuminating both past and present with the moon’s glow.

To the south rise layered peaks in verdant beauty, With dense woods encircling homes like emerald walls.

Heaven bestows this scenic wonder upon the noble and heroic, And I, too, linger here, rejoicing in song and dance.

Gazing afar from on high, the Chu sky’s clouds unfold, While autumn waters and reed flowers gleam at the far shore.

The world’s affairs shift endlessly through myriad ages, As ancient wastelands transform into fertile lands.

Maoping Ancient Town stretches in a ribbon-like formation along the northern bank of the Qingshui River, extending over a kilometer from the head to the tail of the village. From top to bottom, it is divided into seven residential clusters, namely Xiaozhai (Small Village), Damatou (Big Wharf), Zhongmatou (Middle Wharf), Tangjiazhai (Tang Family Village), Songlongxi (Sending Dragon Stream), Yangjiazhai (Yang Family Village, also called Changba), and Tuweizhai (Rear Village). The land temple between Zhongmatou and Tangjiazhai serves as the dividing line— the upper three clusters are collectively known as Shangzhai (Upper Village, also called West Village), while the lower four are known as Xiazhai (Lower Village, also called East Village). In the late Guangxu period of the Qing Dynasty, to strengthen management of the boat trackers and prevent unrest, the authorities divided Maoping into five districts (roughly equivalent to modern-day villager groups): Ren (Benevolence), Yi (Righteousness), Li (Propriety), Zhi (Wisdom), and Xin (Trustworthiness), with a designated head responsible for managing each district.

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Throughout the entire Qing Dynasty, Maoping was the hub of timber trade on the Qingshui River. Many villagers in the settlement amassed great wealth by operating timber shops. These timber merchants mostly owned large tracts of forested land and hired tenant farmers to plant and manage the trees. For convenience in managing the forests, many tenants built shacks on the mountains where they worked. Over time, these shack settlements grew into small villages. By the mid-Republican period, there were five small villages around Maoping: Zimeiyán (Sisters’ Rock), Gaotàn (High Charcoal), Daduanxi (Big Segment Stream), Chongwǎnxi (Rushing Bowl Stream), and Badabawān (Eight Big Bends). During the land reform in 1952, for ease of administration, Maoping was divided into two administrative villages: the Upper Village, which included the small village of Zimeiyán, and the Lower Village, which included the four small villages of Gaotàn, Badabawān, Daduanxi, and Chongwǎnxi.

Maoping Ancient Town is home to a mixed population of more than ten ethnic groups, including Miao, Dong, and Han, with the Miao being the most populous, followed by the Dong. Together, the Miao and Dong ethnic groups account for approximately 90% of the total population.

Source: Office of the People's Government of Jinping County