Diaopu is an ancient town. There are many plaques in old temples, ancestral halls or old houses. These indoor "plaques" are mostly for commendation, commemoration, and birthday celebrations. They are a masterpiece of calligraphy, sealing, carving, and color, and are exquisite products in folk culture. There are several plaques that have left a deep impression on us from what we have seen or heard. These old plaques are valuable for understanding the humanistic history of your hometown or clan.
1. A grand road ahead? Relying on the expectations of our predecessors
There was originally a plaque in the main hall of Diaopu Longwang Temple, with the following four characters: ?Juelu Hongkai?. The font is straight, thick and strong, and it looks majestic and awe-inspiring. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, Longwang Temple became Huanxi Primary School, where I spent six years of primary school study. At that time, the "Dragon King Hall" had become the school's "Youth Hall", where major music classes (two grades and four classes combined, Li Juemian taught music classes), assemblies, and theatrical performances were held here. We looked up and saw the plaque, I recognize these four traditional Chinese characters (?jue? is the character in the name of Mr. Li, who teaches music), but I don’t know what they mean. I don't like music lessons. I often look up at the plaque and wonder: "Juelu", why do I have to sleep on the road? As a child, I loved to think wildly. Once, I was playing with a "Lion Wake Card" trademark painting in my hand, and suddenly, Think: The image of old China? Sleeping lion? Lying on the road, being bullied by foreigners. Later, the sleeping lion woke up and overthrew three mountains. Now, the lion stands up and is about to launch the "grand plan" of New China. I dance with joy. Because of "breaking classroom discipline", I was punished by the music teacher to stand in class for a period.
After graduating from the normal school in 1962, I went to teach at Xueli Primary School in Diaopu. The school is also a temple, called Yuanjue Temple, and there is also a temple. Gradually I came to understand that "jue" is a Buddhist term, and the free translation of "buddha" is enlightenment. Awakenings in Buddhism include original awakening, initial awakening, similar awakening, subsequent awakening, and ultimate awakening. Perfect enlightenment refers to the complete awakening and reaching the highest state of Buddha. The road to enlightenment, the road to enlightenment, the road to great virtue and great wisdom. There are couplets on the doors of some temples that read: "The road is open to the world, and the maze is crossing into the fairyland."
In 2008, on the eve of the 80th anniversary of Huanxi Primary School, when I was collecting news in the town, an old town citizen told me that in the early days of Huanxi Primary School, the "Longwang Temple" (Long Hui'an) The abbot, Master Yingu, once donated a huge sum of money (about 2000 yuan). The school used this money to build a row of eight (4 classrooms) herringbone beam and tile houses on the north side of the old Zitong Hall building. . This is a great event in the history of education in the ancient town. With a beautiful new school building, the school was changed from "private" to "public" and was called "County Huanxi Primary School". In order to commend Zen Master Yingu for his enthusiastic education and donations to support education, the Taixing County Education Bureau specially awarded a plaque of "Juelu Hongkai". Because the fonts and border patterns are all gold-plated, the townspeople call it "Golden Plaque". At this time, I suddenly realized that the plaque presented by the County Education Bureau had another meaning. "The Road to Enlightenment", the road to enlightenment, the road to civilization. This is also the hope of educational leaders and hometown elders for young children to embark on the road to study, become talented, and embark on a life of great ambition.
In 1988, with the help of Mr. Wan Jusheng (the former teaching director of Huanxi Primary School and later the adult education counselor of Diaopu Town), I compiled an old song from Huanxi Primary School based on the memories of old alumni. School song. The old school song was written in 1942, with lyrics written by Li Xuchun and music composed by Ji Yunhan (female, 1915-2014, former female teacher at Huanxi Primary School). Many old school friends can still sing a few lines. The first four lines of the school song are: "The stream is lingering, and the school is beside the avenue." The environment enlightens me and I embrace it. ?Contact?Jue Lu Hongkai?, I think Mr. Li may have seen this plaque when he wrote the lyrics. Isn't the "Great Road" the "Jue Road"? "Hong Kong's Embracing", isn't it the "Hong Kong Kai"? What the elders in the education field expect are that today's children will be heroes in their youth, and they will build the country and serve the people. (Old School Lyrics).
It is a pity that the plaque of "Juelu Hongkai" has disappeared. Around 1964, Principal Xu Bonde renovated the main hall of Longwang Temple into the "Grand Office". This plaque was also changed to "New Plaque", and Mr. Ji Xiaoyun (doctor) of the town was asked to write the four characters "Century of Trees". ?. During the "" period, the new plaque also disappeared. Half a century has passed, and "Jue Lu Hongkai" has always been imprinted in my mind. When the sweet osmanthus was fragrant, I stood on Dongfang Avenue, the main road of Huanxi Primary School, and silently blessed: Xiyuan Avenue, I feel that the road is open. Teachers, work hard and be the leaders of today’s students! Students, work hard, the road is at your feet, and the future will be brilliant!
2. Jinshi? Thinking of Wenchang in the Northern Song Dynasty
There is Panjiazhuang in the southeast corner of Diaopu (disappeared after demolition in 2013). There used to be a large plaque in Pan's ancestral hall on the village: "Second and Eighth Jinshi". This is the Pan family and the most important plaque in Diaopu ancient town. , it tells the world: During the Northern Song Dynasty, this place was the place where the family of poetry and etiquette was inherited and was very prominent.
The strange thing is that over the years, the small village has almost become a forgotten corner, and the "cradle of Jinshi" is even less known. In 2010, the editorial board of "Gaogang Literature and History" asked me to write an article about Pan Jifu, a famous sage in the Northern Song Dynasty. I was very embarrassed because there was too little information. There was only a short introduction in the county annals, and his birth and death years were unknown.
After repeatedly reading the county annals, I was most interested in three points: Pan Jifu was the first person to open a college in Taixing, and all eight Jinshi scholars in the Northern Song Dynasty came from the Pan family; Pan Jifu was Hu Yuan's proud son and his sister-in-law; Pan Jifu was a Gao Hong Kong people were buried at Fulong Bridge in the port after their death. I couldn't find any relevant clues within the current port street area, and suddenly I thought of Diaopu Panzhuang. In the old days, Panzhuang belonged to the "Port Area", and in ancient times it belonged to the "Chaixu". When I arrived in Panzhuang, I met Pan Maowang, a retired man in his 80s. He told about the plaque of "Eight Scholars in the Second World". Mr. Pan went to private school in the hall of Pan's ancestral hall. On the first day of school, more than a dozen children worshiped Confucius first and then Mr. The gentleman is from Dashi, his name is Wang Zhenzhi. Mr. Wang pointed to the plaque and said: "The ancestors of the Pan family are so glorious! Eight of them were named on the gold medal list and are famous all over the world." You should also study hard. In the future, you will be crowned kings in the Toad Palace, your ancestors will be honored, and orchid and laurel will be fragrant!? Mr. Pan has memorized this big plaque since he was a child, with gold letters on a red background and shining words. This plaque has been hanging in the ancestral hall for unknown years. In October 1957, Taixing County was withdrawn from the district to build a township. Xuzhuang was going to be built. The township government decided to demolish the Pan family ancestral hall. All the bricks, tiles and wood were transported to Xuzhuang, and the plaque of "Second and Eight Jinshi" was also followed. The ancestral hall disappeared together.
With the help of retired teacher Pan Hongxin, I found the "Pan Genealogy" of Rongyangtang during the Republic of China. In the genealogy, I found the mark of "Eight Jinshi".
Pan Jifu, the third son of Pan Hui, named Xianchen, was awarded a Jinshi by Renwu in the second year of Qingli in the Song Dynasty. He was awarded the fifth grade of uniform for the Taixue Professor of the Palace of Chu. He was changed to Dr. Taichang and moved to the Zuochao Sanlang. .
He was born on the second day of October in Jiayin (1014), the seventh year of Dazhong in the Song Dynasty, and died on the twenty-seventh day of October in Guiyou (1093), the eighth year of Yuanyou.
"With the Hu family" (that is, Hu Yuan's sister), they were buried together in the first ridge of Fulongyuan, Zunhua Township (today's Diaopu).
Pan Xifu, the second son of Pan Hui (who was ranked as a Jinshi along with Pan Jifu), was appointed as the promotion officer of Chuzhou Army.
Pan Xun, the second son of Pan Jifu, was elected Jinshi by Ye Zu in the Gengxu examination in the third year of Xining, and he was elected as a minister in the Zuo Dynasty.
Pan Ying, the fifth son of Pan Jifu, was appointed as a Jinshi in the fourth year of Zhiping by Xu Anshibang and was appointed Jianning Order.
Pan Xi, the son of Pan Jifu (the eldest brother of Pan Jifu), was awarded the title of Jinshi in Renxu in the fifth year of Yuanfeng.
Pan Yi (jinshi in the ninth year of Xining), Pan Yongye, and Pan Jie (brothers in the same ranking, Jinshi in the second year of Yuanfeng) are all sons of Pan Jifu's cousins.
What I am particularly excited about is that the old score contains the epitaphs of Pan Jifu and his parents. These materials provided me with material and basis for writing "Pan Jifu, a Famous Sage in the Northern Song Dynasty".
With Pan Maowang’s help, I solved the mystery of Fulong Bridge again. There is a river called Long'er River at the junction of Diaopu and Jiangdu. This river runs north through Erqiao and Miaowan, connects with Jichuan Port in the east, and leads to the Yangtze River in the west through Yangqiao and Xima. Between Xiwanzhuang and Yuantan, there is a bridge called Fulong Bridge (this bridge is still there, but it has been moved north). There used to be more than ten households near the bridge, which was called "Huazi Street". This place originally belonged to Diaopu, Taixing County, and now belongs to Putou Town, Jiangdu. The east side of Fulong Bridge is called "Longdi", where there is a large cemetery of Pan's ancestors. When Mr. Pan Maowang was a child, he would visit his parents' graves every Qingming Festival. He remembered that there was an archway commemorating Pan Jifu, and the couplet was: "To prosper China, we must have the ambition to reach high, and to serve the country with a pure heart." At that time, the archway had been damaged, leaving only two stone pillars and a beam. In 1958, when the land was being cleared, the cemetery and memorial arch had been leveled. Due to the lack of awareness of cultural relics protection, local villagers lamented when they mentioned the scene in the past.
Several old people and I stood at the ruins of Pan’s Ancestral Hall and talked for a long time. When I was waiting for the reporter to come and take pictures, I closed my eyes and concentrated, as if traveling through time and space, I saw the figures of the sages. They went to the lake with their studies, studied books in a cold window, spoke elegantly, established learning and taught people, and worked tirelessly. I remembered Fan Zhongyan’s stay in Taizhou. The next verse: When the orchids are connected, how can they be fragrant even if they only take ten steps? The stars of virtue gather together, and the rural sages of the Northern Song Dynasty have been around for thousands of years. The stars are brilliant and the literary world is shining, which is still fascinating to this day.
3. "Buddhist Changchun" has gone through many vicissitudes over the years
In the previous article, I mentioned the "Yuanjue Temple" in Xueli Village. There is also a precious plaque in the temple:? The Buddhist Kingdom Changchun? also has gold characters on a red background. This is a congratulatory plaque presented by Zhang Kemo, a military attaché in Taizhou, on the 60th birthday of Monk Benchang (also known as Bencang in some sources), the resident deacon of Nanshan Temple in Taizhou and the second abbot of Yuanjue Temple.
Nanshan Temple is a famous ancient temple with a history of thousands of years. During the Guangxu period of the Qing Dynasty, the abbot of Nanshan Temple, monk Mingkui and monk Fa Zheng, took on the important task of reviving the temple. Monk Minghui, the first founder of Yuanjue Temple Zhongxing, in order to fulfill the great wish of monk Mingkui, he was appointed as the Prime Minister and left Yuanjue Temple as the lower courtyard of Nanshan Temple. Later, when Monk Benchang became the abbot of Yuanjue Temple, he inherited the mantle of Minghui and continued to contribute to the revival of Nanshan Temple.
Benchang’s ancestral home was in Tuqiao Village, Diaopu, and he was born in the second year of Xianfeng (1852). He is a virtuous and eminent monk. In order to promote Buddhism, he spares no effort to cultivate monk talents. There are 17 monks in Diaopu area alone. In 1911, when Monk Benchang celebrated his sixtieth birthday, monks and laymen from all walks of life congratulated him on his birthday. Because Benchang had already held an important position in Nanshan Temple and was highly respected, there should have been many congratulatory plaques at that time. The main congratulatory plaques were stored in Nanshan Temple and have long since disappeared.
Fortunately, the "Buddha Changchun" plaques at Yuanjue Nunnery in the lower courtyard and the "Fuhong Sixth Degree" plaque at Zizhu Nunnery have survived. Zizhu Nunnery is located at the east end of Guanwu Village. Since the main hall is not damaged, the plaque is still hanging in the original place and is inscribed with "Taixing County Dian Shi Long Jiachi".
The Buddhist plaque in Changchun has gone through many hardships and it is not easy to survive.
In 1945, the Kuomintang garrison in Diaopu Town demolished the Yuanjue Nunnery in the name of "building military facilities". They first demolished the six houses in the front row and transported away the bricks and wood. Later, the work was stopped for some reason, and the back row of palace rooms were preserved. The "Buddha Kingdom Changchun" plaque hanging in the main hall escaped disaster.
In 1958, Diaopu Commune decided to establish an "Agricultural Middle School" in Yuanjue Nunnery in Xueli Village. During the Great Leap Forward, this was accomplished as a political task, with resolute action and hard work day and night to carry out reconstruction. All the monks in the temple were placed in the homes of the villagers of Team 1 and Team 2 (the production team where Yuanjue'an is located). The abbot, monk Xintao, with the help of the monks, took advantage of the rush to transport the "Buddha Kingdom Changchun" plaque that had been unloaded and placed beside the courtyard wall to the home of villager Li Wenlong. At that time, Xintao and three other monks were placed in a broken house in Li Wenlong's house. Monk Xintao used the plaque as a plank, covered it with old newspapers, and then covered it with straw and mattress sheets. No one knew the secret.
The author thinks of that year when many ancient plaques in the town were smashed and stuffed into the fire of the big stove. The plaques in Changchun, the Buddhist country, escaped again. In 1961, after the Agricultural Middle School was withdrawn and merged, Yuanjue'an became the school building of Xue Li Primary School. The Xue Li brigade left several wing rooms on the east side of the temple, two of which were used as warehouses for the production team, and two were used as housing for "monks".
Xintao took the monks Zong Kun, Zong Lun and the novice monk Wei Qing (common name Li Wenyou) to live in the east wing of the original temple. Before leaving, Monk Xintao hid the "Buddhist Kingdom of Changchun" plaque that had spent half a century in the grass hut of Li Wenlong's family, and hid it tightly. Master Xintao told Wenlong's mother to keep the secret strictly. In 1964, Xue Li Primary School was relocated, and all the Yuanjue Temple buildings were demolished; in 1966, in the early days of the "Revolution", the monk's room in the wing was turned upside down, the statues, scriptures, incense cases, and boxes were all destroyed, and the monks returned to secular life. Participate in agricultural labor. The "Buddhist Kingdom of Changchun" under the thatched house in the village was safe and sound, and once again escaped disaster.
In 2011, with the reform and opening up and the implementation of religious policies, many temples were restored. Only then did I know that the Buddhist plaque in Changchun was still there, and at the last count, it was a hundred years old.
In 2013, I led Master Dachu, the vice president of the Provincial Buddhist Association and the new abbot of Nanshan Temple in Taizhou, to the home of villager Li Wenlong to see the "Buddhist Kingdom Changchun" plaque. The plaque was damaged by corrosion in many places due to being in a haystack for more than 50 years. Fortunately, the font was intact, the gold letters were shining, and the seal was legible. At that moment, we were solemn and silently recited "Amitabha". Li Wenlong is a disabled person. He was my student when I taught at Xue Li Primary School. His mother is old and frail, so he was very enthusiastic when he saw me. Soon, through negotiation, the mother and son readily agreed to return the plaque to Nanshan Temple. Dachu asked professional craftsmen from Ningbo to carefully process the old plaque. The century-old plaque and the ancient Nanshan temple were restored to their glory, and together they wished the Buddhist country Changchun.
4. The Buddha’s Heart in the Sacred Hands? Carrying the Glory of the Family
When I was collecting stories in Xueli Village, I mentioned the ancient plaque. My cousin Zhang Qingguang said that there was also an ancient plaque in Zhang’s home back then. On the blue background with gold characters, he had the impression that it was a gift from the Yangzhou government or officials, with the four characters "Sacred Hands and Buddha's Heart" written on it. In 2012, I visited Xue Yumao, Xue Yulai, Zhan Haiqing and other elderly people. They all saw the ancient plaques with their own eyes and told me legendary stories?
Xue Licun is actually composed of It is composed of Xuejiazhuang and Donglizhuang (Xilizhuang belongs to Dafeng Community). My ancestors lived in Dongli Village, and now there are several Zhang families in Dongli Village (Xue Li San Group).
I read the Zhang family genealogy (a fragmentary version) and learned that the Zhang family who moved to Shanpu (now Diaopu) was originally from Huizhou (now Jixi, Anhui Province), and their first ancestor Zhang Qiren (1395-1462), named Wenbin , moved with his family to He County first, and then settled in Nanjing. The eleventh generation ancestor Zhang Hailuan (1703-1755), whose courtesy name was Heyou and whose name was Yousong, was born in Yixiang. He was selected as the fifth-ranked scholar during the Yongzheng period of the Qing Dynasty and entered Hezhou School. ?During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, our ancestors lived for more than 300 years in Hexian, Wujiang, Anhui, and Nanjing, Jiangpu, Jiangning, and Jingkou (Zhenjiang), Jiangsu. Zhang Hailuan was quite famous in running schools and teaching in Hezhou. Some officials in the government sent their children to study. Duke Qiu of the Capital Division and Duke Li of the Liangdao Department both sent their children to gain employment. By chance, Li Yuchun, the city guard of Huai'an, was introduced by Mr. Qiu and Mr. Li. He met Zhang Hailuan and was immediately hired as a professor in the Huai'an department. A few years later, Li Yuchun promoted him to another position, but our eleventh generation ancestor Hailuan Gong lost his job. Perhaps because of the self-proclaimed literati, he changed his name to "Zhang Hepei", traveled to Huaiyang, sold poems and calligraphy, and was registered as a native of Taixing Nancheng Yuejie. According to the genealogy: He Yangong indulged in poetry and wine, worked on eight-point books, and was as frightened as a luan dancing with snakes. Zhang Heping (Hai Luan) became the real ancestor of the Zhang family who moved to Taipei.
Zhang Nianzu (1739-1786), the son of Zhang Hailuan, had the courtesy name Dafu and the nickname Yunfeng. He was born in the Qianlong period and was a senior official (a small ninth-rank official). He settled his family in Diaopu Xue Licun (called "North Lizhuang" at that time). Zhang Nianzu's eldest son Zhang Tan, his eldest grandson Zhang Ming, and his great-grandson Zhang Jiang were the heirs of poetry and etiquette. They were all "Taiwan students" and "Chinese students" for three generations.
Zhang Ming (1797-1845), whose courtesy name was Chang and whose name was Yantang, was a lifelong teacher. In the old days, my grandfather's grandfather was called Gaozu, Gaozu's father was called Tianzu, and Zhang Ming was my Tianzu. He was quite famous in Xue, Li and surrounding villages. In the past two years, I have discovered that many family trees of the Xue family in Xue Li, the Huo family in Dafeng community, and the Yan family in Miaowan have a "preface to the genealogy" or "biography" written by him, signed by "Yan Tang Zhang Ming". . Zhang Ming's eldest son, my great ancestor Zhang Jiang (1818-1860), was born in Yuzhang, was a student of Taixing University, and was awarded the title of "Medical Officer" of Taixing City. He has superb medical skills and is especially famous for treating difficult and complicated diseases. Some rumors say that Mr. Yu Zhang cured some sick refugees with his own medicine pills; some rumors say that Mr. Yu Zhang used herbal medicines to make a decoction, which subdued the plague that was prevalent during the spring famine; some also said that Mr. Yu Zhang used secret recipes and secret medicines to treat the disease. He cured the serious illness of an official's wife in Yangzhou city. So, the Yangzhou government or city officials presented the Zhang family with a golden plaque with the Buddha's heart and the holy hand.
The Zhang family developed into its heyday in Xueli Village from the Qianlong period to the Xianfeng period. There are five brothers in Yuzhang Gong. He is the eldest brother and is called "Dafang". The big house has four front and back entrances, and the first three entrances are courtyards. There are saponaria trees and osmanthus trees in the courtyards. The entrance hall and the open hall are exquisitely decorated, and a plaque with "Sacred Hands and Buddha's Heart" hangs high in the open hall. In the village, it looks like a big family. By the time of my great-grandfather Zhang Quan's generation, due to the turmoil of the current situation and the disputes between the neighboring families, the family fortunes had declined. My grandfather, together with his great-uncle and great-uncle, left Xueli Village and went to start a business in the town.
According to his cousin Zhang Qingguang, the ancient plaque at home was later passed down to the home of a close cousin who worked in a Taizhou woodware factory. It was also during the Great Leap Forward era that this plaque disappeared. Because the previous generation had all passed away, no one mentioned the "Holy Hands and Buddha's Heart" plaque. It would be a miracle if this ancient plaque, which is more than 160 years old, could be reappeared.
Because it is a matter of the Zhang family, it is lengthy. I want future generations to know that there was a charitable and dedicated "medical officer" in the history of the Zhang family. Even if the legendary story is exaggerated, the four golden characters of "Holy Hands and Buddha's Heart" carry the glory of the family after all.
Author of this article: Zhang Qingsheng (WeChat public account: Sishui Wenxin)
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