Dayuan Ancient Miao Village

　　During the Three Kingdoms period, Dayuan was a border area between the states of Wu and Shu. Zhuge Liang once led 400,000 troops through Dayuan, and the soldiers of the Shu army felt as if they were stationed within a large courtyard, giving them a sense of security. It was then that people began to call it “Dayuan” (literally “Big Courtyard”). In the Northern Song Dynasty, Yang Guangyu, the Ziguanglu Doctor, weary of years of warfare and political intrigue in the officialdom, chose to resign from his post and live in seclusion. He relocated from Zhuli Chishui in Chengbu County to Guanxia Dayuan in Shimuzhou. His descendants mainly settled in two areas within Dayuan Village: “Wanli” and “Dayuan.” Their names symbolize having the whole world at their feet, not competing over the grandeur of the “Son of Heaven’s” residence, and instead sharing great unity within the clan. By removing one horizontal stroke from the character “天” (heaven), it becomes “大” (big), hence “Dayuan” came to mean “a great courtyard under heaven.”

　　Dayuan Ancient Miao Village boasts beautiful mountains and clear waters. It faces south and is backed by mountains, built against the hills and beside the water. In front lies a meandering belt of water with expansive rice paddies and open views; behind it stands the continuous Qinglong Mountain, with rolling ridges, lush pines and cypresses, exuding vibrant life. The current population is 1,229, across more than 300 households, with 1,019 mu of paddy fields and over 3,000 mu of forested land, covering a total area of about 6 square kilometers. The ancient Miao village has a long history. As early as the Neolithic Age, humans thrived and lived on this land. In the 1980s, Neolithic relics such as stone axes and stone knives were unearthed here. During the Three Kingdoms period, many sites related to Zhuge Liang, such as Zhuge City, Horse-Rearing Slope, Schoolhouse Valley, and Zhuge Well, were left behind. In the Song Dynasty, Suining County was first established and named Shimuzhou, becoming a gathering place for Miao people from Sichuan, Guizhou, and Hunan. After the liberation, Dayuan became a township, encompassing areas including Sijia, Wenjia, Nanmiao, and Fenghuang until it split from Sijia to form its own village in 1982. The ancient Miao village features unique architecture, with over 300 well-preserved ancient houses (Yinzi Houses) from the Yuan, Ming, Qing dynasties, and modern times. Especially notable are the four Yinzi Houses named “Fu” (Fortune), “Lu” (Prosperity), “Shou” (Longevity), and “Xi” (Happiness), which not only embody traditional Chinese culture but also serve as important physical evidence for scholars studying the architecture of the Miao and Dong ethnic groups. Additionally, elements like the “Four-Knowledge Hall,” wooden locks, and the Jiaqing longevity couplet reflect the vicissitudes, simplicity, and mystique of the Miao village. The ancient Miao village is also a famous film and television shooting base. In the 1990s, many TV dramas were filmed here, such as That Mountain, That Man, That Dog, Autumn Harvest Uprising, and Warfire Childheart. Some of these films even won international awards. Film stars like Liu Ye and Chen Hao rose to national fame after walking through the alleys of Dayuan Ancient Miao Village, and the village itself gained nationwide recognition through these productions.

　　Today, the ancient Miao village has become a provincial-level cultural village, an important tourism attraction along the Western Hunan Green Tourism Corridor, and a nationally renowned film and television shooting base, radiating renewed vibrancy.