Heshun Library

Heshun Library

Heshun Library is a cultural relic protection unit of Yunnan Province.

When people mention Heshun Township in Tengchong County, Yunnan, many naturally think of the phrase: “a place blessed with talented people and a beautiful landscape.” This is not an empty compliment but a genuine and objective assessment — as the renowned “Hometown of Overseas Chinese” and “Village of Literati” on the Diqing Plateau, known far and wide for its rich historical and cultural heritage. It boasts the “cultural gateway” Heshun Library, which has been called “the foremost in rural China’s cultural circles” (by Zhang Tianfang).

Heshun Library is one of the largest rural libraries in China. Established in 1924 through funds raised by overseas Chinese, it features traditional Chinese building architecture with a front garden, elegant and simple in design. The library houses over 10,000 volumes, including many precious ancient texts. Its predecessor was the “Xianxin Society,” organized by Cun Fuqing, a member of the Tongmenghui in Heshun during the late Qing Dynasty, and the “Reading Newspaper Society” founded in 1924. Later, with donations and book contributions from overseas Chinese and locals, it was expanded into a library in 1928 and the new building was completed in 1938. To date, it holds over 70,000 volumes, including more than 10,000 ancient and rare books, featuring inscriptions by cultural figures such as Hu Shi, Xiong Qinglai, Liao Chengzhi, and Li Shizeng.

Status

Heshun is a well-known hometown of overseas Chinese in Yunnan, known for its developed culture and talented individuals. The famous philosopher Ai Siqi was born here. You might be surprised to learn that such a small township harbors a library with over 10,000 books and a history spanning more than 70 years.

Although in terms of collection size and scale, the small Heshun Library in Tengchong may seem insignificant compared to world-class libraries with millions or even hundreds of millions of volumes, or even when compared to provincial, regional, or municipal libraries with collections of hundreds of thousands or millions, it deserves recognition when placed in the context of its location — the “First City on the Far Frontier” at the southwestern frontier of the nation, once considered a wild and feared land; within the environment of a once remote and impoverished rural area; within the atmosphere of a hometown of overseas Chinese; starting from the 1920s; and viewed through the lens of historical changes. At the very least, one should conclude that Heshun Library is the unparalleled first library in China’s rural areas.

“A mountain need not be high; it is famous so long as there is a deity on it. A lake need not be deep; it has spiritual power as long as there is a dragon in it.” The value of Heshun Library goes beyond that. As we journey through the tunnel of history and trace the path of this small library, its growth and progress are in fact a stirring anthem, a magnificent painting, an enlightening textbook, and a valuable piece of experience.

Geography

Heshun Library is located by the picturesque Shuanghong Bridge in the scenic hometown of overseas Chinese, Heshun. Covering an area of 1,392 square meters, the buildings consist of

a main gate, middle gate, garden, main building, and book storage tower, forming a complex of Sino-Western architectural style. The main gate is a memorial archway-style entrance built during the Guangxu period of the Qing Dynasty, modeled after the Hanjing Hall. The plaque above the gate, inscribed with “Heshun Library” in blue background with white characters by Zhang Li, a successful candidate in the imperial examinations during the Qing Dynasty, is striking and eye-catching.

Stepping through the main gate and ascending the stone steps, you reach the flat-roofed arched middle gate with Western-style design, above which hangs the library name inscribed by Mr. Hu Shi. Inside the middle gate is a garden, elegantly landscaped with lush plants. Passing through the garden, you arrive at the main building of the library — a two-story wooden structure with five bays, featuring two semi-hexagonal pavilions protruding from the front sides. The building facade is delicate and unique, with Western-style window and door designs, a novel structure, and an imposing presence. Behind the main building is the book storage tower.

In Heshun Township, you can see farmers who work in the fields during the day come to read under the library lights at night, and young people surfing the internet in the electronic reading room. Understanding its developmental history makes it less surprising.

History

The eventful history of Heshun Library

The “Xianxin Society” organized by progressive intellectuals

After the Boxer Rebellion in the late Qing Dynasty, new ideas spread across the country. Progressive intellectuals in the township, including Cun Fuqing, a Tongmenghui member and Japanese student, sought to provide the local people with new knowledge and ideas to meet the needs of the times. In the 21st year of the Guangxu reign of the Qing Dynasty (1905 AD), they initiated the “Xianxin Society” in Heshun.

The society purchased a large number of new knowledge books for members and non-members to read, making them publicly available for borrowing. This was the first time such a public lending system had been introduced in this remote township.

Heshun Library is a complex of Sino-Western architectural styles

“The Cultural Gateway”

The book and newspaper society organized by overseas Chinese youth — the “Youth Association”

In the early years of the Republic of China, overseas Chinese youth from Heshun, such as Cun Zhongtai, Li Qingyuan, Jia Zhusheng, and Li Qiunong, who were living in Myanmar, organized a “Youth Association” in Wacheng, Myanmar, with the goal of developing their hometown’s culture. Soon after, the association expanded back to their hometown. In 1924, they established a “Book and Newspaper Society,” ordering magazines and newspapers from places like Shanghai for the local people to read.

From Shanghai to the remote borderlands of Yunnan, due to poor transportation, the news arrived only after it had become historical material. So they rerouted the transport — first by sea to Myanmar, then via Bamo along the ancient Southwest Silk Road, using mule caravans to bring the materials to Tengchong, and finally to the readers. The literati Yang Cexian wrote a couplet for the book and newspaper society:

Books travel from beyond the clouds, connecting distant hearts,

News arrives from overseas, inspiring the common folk.

The couplet reflects how hard it was to obtain books and newspapers at the time. Even so, it reduced delivery time by more than half compared to overland routes from within the country. The establishment of the book and newspaper society was greatly appreciated by the locals.

Further Reading:

· Sixth Batch of Major National Historical and Cultural Sites