Xiamen Ancient Fortress

Xiamen Ancient Fortress

Xiamen Ancient Fortress is a cultural heritage site protected by Shanxi Province.

Xiamen Ancient Fortress is located in Xiamen Town, within the territory of Lingshi County at the southwestern tip of Jinzhong City in south-central Shanxi Province. It was initially built in the mid-Wanli era of the Ming Dynasty and completed in the Guangxu period of the Qing Dynasty, spanning over 300 years. The fortress features a core residential complex centered around a castle-style architectural ensemble. Xiamen Ancient Fortress is situated on Longtougang, the dragon head ridge of Qinwang Ridge. Starting from the north bank of the Fen River, it follows the mountain terrain, ascending along the slope, densely covering the entire Longtougang. The fortress is nestled against mountains and water, embracing yin and facing yang, perched high with a broad view. In front, steep cliffs serve as a screen; behind, rugged ridges provide support; below, the Fen River offers a natural barrier; and beneath, solid bedrock forms a foundation. Indeed, it is a superiorly located, beautifully situated castle-style residential complex ideal for living, admiring, defending, and leisure. Whether evaluated from the perspective of residential science or feng shui principles, it is an exceptionally rare and ideal residence.

Located on Qinwang Ridge west of Xiamen Village, this area was once a military encampment for Emperor Li Yuan and his son Li Shimin of the Sui Dynasty during their campaign from Jinyang to Guanzhong via Que Shu Valley. Opposite Qinwang Ridge, on the other side of the Fen River, lies Laoshengzhai, where the Sui general Song Laosheng once set up camp. Que Shu Valley was the site of a pivotal battle—the Battle of Que Shu Valley—that was crucial to the survival of the Tang Dynasty, making it historically significant and an important site for studying the life of Li Shimin. To this day, remnants of the ancient battlefield where Li Shimin fought and stayed can still be faintly seen on the hillside behind Xiamen Village, locally referred to as Longtougang. Later, the Wenchang Palace was built here to bless the local people with prosperity and peace.

The prosperity of Xiamen is closely tied to the rise of the Liang family. The Liang family had a long tradition of producing officials, with 185 members serving in government positions throughout its history. A total of 102 individuals received posthumous or lifetime honors, including 66 at the fifth rank or higher and 18 at the third rank or above, making them a prominent and influential family in Lingshi County and even across Jinzhong, Shanxi. Among them was Liang Zhongjing, an outspoken imperial censor renowned in both Beijing and Shanxi, whose name is recorded in Qing Dynasty history. From a young age, Liang Zhongjing was diligent in his studies. He passed the imperial examination as a Juren (recommended man) in the 3rd year of the Jiaqing era (1798) and became a Jinshi (advanced scholar) in the 6th year (1801). He was appointed as a Shujishi (imperial academy graduate) and a San Guan (minor official). Afterward, he returned home for eight years as a candidate magistrate, during which he earned praise from villagers by teaching, building irrigation channels and roads, and providing disaster relief. In the 2nd year of the Daoguang era (1822), due to his integrity, he was appointed as an imperial censor overseeing the streets of the five urban districts of the capital. In the 4th year (1824), the "Zhao Ergu Case" occurred in Yuci County, Shanxi, involving collusion between officials, bribery, and a forced suicide. Zhao Ergu, a 13-year-old girl from Dongyang Village, Yuci County, was assaulted by a local thug, Yan Simahu. When her father reported the crime to the county magistrate, the magistrate, who had taken a bribe, falsely accused the girl of promiscuity. Under torture, Zhao Ergu committed suicide in the courtroom out of despair. Her father was then falsely accused of murder and died under torture. Her mother appealed to the prefectural court, but the prefect sided with the county magistrate and forced her to confess to false accusations. She ultimately died by crashing her head into the courtroom in resistance. Her uncle, desperate, appealed to the imperial court. The emperor ordered the Shanxi governor to investigate, but the governor, the provincial judge, and local officials all colluded to cover up the case, again concluding it as consensual. The incorruptible Liang Zhongjing, through careful investigation, uncovered the truth. He overcame resistance and submitted a petition, leading to a central trial by the Ministry of Justice that finally revealed the truth and exonerated the victims. This earth-shattering case shocked the nation, was recorded in historical texts, and became one of the most famous cases of the Qing Dynasty.

Most of the ancient buildings within Xiamen Ancient Fortress remain well-preserved. Despite over 400 years of weathering and some human demolition and natural erosion, the original layout has not changed. The original streets, courtyards, fortress walls, and gates are still intact. There are currently over 60 large and small courtyards, with major complexes including the Dafu Mansion, Censor’s Residence, Prefect’s Courtyard, Shenxiu Residence, the outer courtyard outside the back fortress gate, the Dao Tai Courtyard, and the Baichi Tower. The ancestral hall of the Liang family—??lao xian mi fei pang fen—is prominently located, along with the Dai Xiang Temple and other ancestral halls. There is also a “Ancestral Worship Hall.” Additionally, there is one official post station, one inn, five historic shops, three private schools, one “Bamboo Grove Academy” (relocated and rebuilt in the county town), one Guan Yu Temple, one Earth God Shrine, one True Martial Temple, one Three Officials Temple, one River God Temple, one Wenchang Temple, one Kuixing Tower, one Ghost Gate Pass, one Wild Goose Return Pavilion, one Pair of Steles Beach, one Lu Ban Entanglement, and one Wenfeng Tower, all represented by their sites. There are also five sites of memorial archways. These distinctive ancient buildings collectively reflect the architectural styles and craftsmanship of the Ming and Qing dynasties—rigorously laid out, grand and majestic, with layered pavilions, staggered heights, exquisite workmanship, and comprehensive functionality. The Xiamen Ancient Fortress architectural complex is majestic yet simple, simple yet refined, symmetrical yet varied, and varied yet practical. It embodies the charm of clever and unique construction and the serenity of hidden tranquility. It is suitable for living, admiring, defending, and leisure. It combines the grand and robust style of northern residences with the delicate and elegant charm of southern gardens, making it a vibrant and radiant jewel among northern Han Chinese castle-style residential complexes.

The historical streets of Xiamen Ancient Fortress mainly consist of nine routes. There are three east-west streets: East Street, Middle Street, and West Street; one road, the Back Fortress Road; and two alleys: Fortress Nine Alley and Liang Family Alley. There are also two north-south alleys: Dafu Alley and Censor Alley. One alley, Tianjiu Alley, runs first north-south and then east-west. All nine main streets, roads, and alleys of the fortress are completely preserved, with continuous landscapes. The buildings on both sides of the streets, roads, and alleys are all historic traditional structures, largely maintaining their original appearance and style, harmonizing with the streets, roads, and alleys.

In addition to its unique construction features and ingenious architectural techniques, Xiamen Ancient Fortress also boasts profound cultural significance. The fortress encompasses refined Confucian and Taoist cultures, popular feng shui and taboo cultures, specific decorative and plaque cultures, as well as auspicious dragon, phoenix, and lion cultures.

The natural environment of Xiamen Ancient Fortress remains in its original, beautiful state. It is the site of one of Lingshi’s Eight Ancient Scenic Spots—“Xiamen Spring Dawn”—the only one located west of the Fen River and the only one among the eight with a commemorative plaque.

Xiamen Village: Located within the territory of Jinzhong City, Shanxi Province, in the border region of Changzhi, Lvliang, and Linfen cities, lies the ancient village of Xiamen. Situated at the southern end of the Taiyuan Basin, Xiamen Village has a population of over 1,400 and covers an area of approximately 63 hectares. It serves as the seat of the Xiamen Town Government in Lingshi County. Against the backdrop of the national initiative to strengthen the protection of historical and cultural towns (villages), Xiamen Village is brimming with vibrant development potential due to its unique historical and cultural resources.

The main architectural complexes of Xiamen Village were initially built during the Wanli era of the Ming Dynasty. The resident Liang family... Detailed information on Xiamen Village++

Further Reading:

· Fifth Batch of Shanxi Provincial Cultural Heritage Protection Units