[Explanation] As one of the oldest canals in the world, the Grand Canal in China has been stretching for 2,500 years, connecting the north and the south, connecting the past and the present, and leading to the future.
What is the unique value of the Millennium Canal?
How does the Grand Canal promote communication between China and the world?
Wang Ming, executive director of the Beijing Cultural Heritage Research Center of Capital Normal University and associate professor of the School of History of Capital Normal University, recently accepted an exclusive interview with China News Agency "East and West" for an in-depth analysis.
[Concurrent] Wang Ming, Executive Director of Beijing Cultural Heritage Research Center, Capital Normal University, Associate Professor, School of History, Capital Normal University
The historical value of the Grand Canal in China should be more reflected in the fact that it serves China, since the Spring and Autumn Period, farming civilization, and it (is) the water transport (connection) between the capital and the frontier.
China's canal and water transportation system actually supported China's unified pattern in the end.
It actually connects the north and the south of China. It should be said that China's Grand Canal has played a very important historical role in shaping the community with a shared future for the Chinese nation that we are talking about today.
[Explanation] Wang Ming said that the canal was born and lived because of "luck".
The Grand Canal of China relies on "inner circulation" and "outer circulation" to promote the communication between China and the world.
[Concurrent] Wang Ming, Executive Director of Beijing Cultural Heritage Research Center, Capital Normal University, Associate Professor, School of History, Capital Normal University
At the domestic level, my understanding of "internal circulation" is this. The canal actually connects the five major water systems in eastern China. Of course, this is not just water transportation, but also includes some land transportation related to these five major water systems. A three-dimensional network has been formed, and further north you can actually reach along the Great Wall.
Since the Ming Dynasty, most of the grain and grain from the south have to go north after arriving in Tongzhou. There are two routes, either Wenyu River leads to Juyongguan, and Chaobai River leads to Gubeikou Great Wall.
This is the relationship between the Great Wall and the canal, which is actually very close, and it can actually have a better integration effect between the grassland area and the farming area.
[Explanation] Wang Ming introduced that the so-called "outer circulation" means that the Grand Canal connects the Land Silk Road with Luoyang and Xi'an as important nodes, connects the Maritime Silk Road with Yangzhou, Ningbo and other cities as important nodes, and passes through the water and land transportation system. Connecting Quanzhou, Fuzhou, Guangzhou and other important main ports of the Maritime Silk Road, and then connecting the world.
[Concurrent] Wang Ming, Executive Director of Beijing Cultural Heritage Research Center, Capital Normal University, Associate Professor, School of History, Capital Normal University
It can be seen that the capital of China, especially Luoyang, the eastern capital since the Sui and Tang Dynasties, and Beijing during the Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties, are connected with the outside world through the Grand Canal, the Land Silk Road and the Maritime Silk Road. There is a series of roads like this, but there is actually another one in the north, called the Northern Grassland Silk Road.
This Silk Road system is relatively more complete. China passes through several terminal cities of the Grand Canal, and it happens to be able to connect with several Silk Roads. This is the so-called "outer circulation" I want to talk about.
[Explanation] Wang Ming said that through these three important trunk lines, China's Grand Canal promotes economic, cultural, and artistic exchanges between the north and the south, and has become a flowing bloodline that affects the development of the country and the nation. It has also become a link for exchanges and mutual learning between Chinese civilization and other civilizations. .
[Explanation] People often say, "Without the Grand Canal, there would be no Beijing city." "Beijing city is floating."
In this regard, Wang Ming said that through the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal, rice, silk, tea, and fruits from the south have enriched the lives of the people in the capital. the capital.
[Concurrent] Wang Ming, Executive Director of Beijing Cultural Heritage Research Center, Capital Normal University, Associate Professor, School of History, Capital Normal University
There are still many intangible cultural heritages passed down today, which are actually very closely related to the canal.
For example, like Beijing roast duck, the cooking technique of braised oven roast duck is said to have brought Nanjing's roast duck technique to Beijing when Ming Chengzu Zhu Di moved the capital to Beijing.
Including Tongzhou's most representative Tongzhou Canal Boatman's chant, they all have the tune of the southern folk song "Jasmine Flower". The boatman's chant has become a very distinctive form of folk music.
[Explanation] Wang Ming pointed out that the canal culture is a flowing and living civilization, and an important carrier of past and future exchanges.
Let more people, especially young people, have a deep understanding of the heritage and connotation of the canal culture, attract them to join the ranks of protecting and inheriting the canal culture, spontaneously promote and continue the canal culture, and confidently tell the world about China canal stories.
Reported by Dong Zeyu, Du Yan, Chen Hang, Beijing
Responsible editor: [He Sanli]