The hometown of overseas Chinese history of the first port of Cantonese
From the establishment of the port in 1853 to the establishment of the new China, Taishan Haikou Port witnessed generations of overseas Chinese from here to witness the legendary story of Wuyi Overseas Chinese
Yang Cheng Evening News media reporter Huang Zhouhui intern Feng Jiaxing
In the three years of Qing Xianfeng (1853), at the confluence of Taitong River and Duanfen River in Taishan, a joint organization of nearby surnames Mei and Li prepared the establishment of "Haikoubu", also known as "Ten Household Market".
In the next hundred years, Haikou Port has become an important port for Chinese to go to sea in the Wuyi area. Haikou Port has witnessed the hard struggle history of generations of overseas Chinese crossing the ocean, known as "the first port of Guangfu people to go abroad".
Nowadays, Haikoubu has become the "memorial site of the ancient Yuedao exit of Nanyue" and "silver letter memorial site of the World Memory Directory". As we boarded the port of Haikou, the Duanfen River and Datong River continued to flow in front of us; stopping at Yinxin Memorial Plaza, the silver letter seemed to span time and space, telling the story of the sadness and separation of overseas Chinese...
Silver letters sent back by overseas Chinese and overseas Chinese have become the precious historical memory of all mankind
Centennial Ancient Port
The Taishan Ancient Post Road is an important part of the Beijiang-Zhujiangkou Ancient Post Road Cultural Route among the six ancient post road cultural routes in Guangdong. It is also an important node of the ancient Maritime Silk Road in Guangdong, including land post roads and sea post roads. Taishan Ancient Post Road centered on the county seat and extended to Kaiping, Xinhui, Enping, Heshan, and Yangjiang, and went to the sea through Guanghai and Chuandao in the south, opening the door of Wuyi immigrants. Haikou Port is the estuary of the ancient Yuedao in Nanyue. It is also the most core section of the ancient Taishan in Taishan and an important node of the Maritime Silk Road.
At the entrance of Haikou Port today, an "Ancient Construction of Haikou Port in Nanyue" recorded the past life of Haikou Port: "The ancient port of Haikou was built in Xianfeng in the Qing Dynasty for three years (1853). Shi Youmei, Li, Wu, The ten surnames of Li, Guan, Ruan, Huang, Jiang, Chen, and He were jointly built and called'Ten Household Market'..."
In ancient China, the bazaars were mostly located in areas with dense villages and convenient water and land transportation. In Duanfen Town of Taishan City, Meijia Courtyard, Tingjiang Ruins, West Profile Ruins, Dunzhai Ruins, Shandi Ruins, Chengwu Ruins, Shangze Ruins, Miaobian Ruins, etc. Most of the ruins named after "Bus" stand on the convenient estuary of the waterway. Because Haikou Port is located at the mouth of Datong River and Duanfen River (through Doushan River), the river is wide and the river bed is deep. The locals are accustomed to call it the sea, so it is named "Haikou Port".
During the prosperous period of Haikou Port, there were 126 shops in all walks of life, and they were readily available. Among them, Xilong Street is the most prosperous, and there are more than 10 silver numbers alone.
In the winter of 1931, the Haikou Bridge was built, and from then on both sides of the north and south became a transit road, which became the traffic throat of the Taiwan Strait (Taicheng to Guanghai) highway, which greatly promoted the development of Haikou's commercial and economic economy. Affected by the business management models of Hong Kong, Macao and the West, the merchants of Haikou Port established the "Union Chamber of Commerce" at that time to discuss and jointly manage the commercial operation of Haikou Port, making it prosperous and well-known.
During the Anti-Japanese War, Japanese invaders repeatedly dispatched fighter jets to drop bombs in Haikou Port, killing the people and damaging shops. Haikou Port gradually declined. After the victory of the Anti-Japanese War, the local government repaired the Haikou Bridge, and Haikou Port regained its economic vitality.
After the founding of New China, the "three major reforms" were implemented in 1953, and public-private partnerships across the industry were abolished. In 1956, the market period was cancelled, and economic exchanges in the active rural markets were forced to be interrupted. Later, the Taiwan Strait Highway was diverted and passed through the Datong Bridge to Guanghai. The former prosperity of Haikou Port became history.
Immigration channel
For more than 100 years, the port of Haikou Port often staged such scenes-the pioneers of Taishan carried on their backpacks "going south to the ocean" and "going to Jinshan", stepping back three times, boarding the passenger ship reluctantly, waving their hands and relatives Say goodbye again. They thought to themselves: I don’t know what year to return when I leave my hometown.
Haikou Port is not only a ruin town in the countryside, but also an immigration channel for local pioneers.
The Taishan people's going abroad can be traced back to the thirty-nine years of Qianlong in the Qing Dynasty (1774) and has a history of more than 240 years. At that time, Taishan people mainly went to sea through waterways, and because of the convenient water transportation in Haikou Port, there were Hengxing Ferry in Hong Kong and Jiangchang Ferry from Haikou Port to Hong Kong and Macau. Therefore, many pioneers in Wuyi and surrounding areas passed through Haikou. From here, take a ferry to Hong Kong and then transfer from Hong Kong to other parts of the world.
"As the most important channel for immigrant immigrants in Wuyi, this ancient waterway has distinct cultural attributes. Its rise and decline reflect the history of immigrants for nearly a century, and it is a unique'hometown of overseas Chinese' in Taishan and even the eastern coast of China. 'The epitome of culture, known as'the first port of Guangfu people to go abroad', etc." Zhu Yingyang is a witness, participant, promoter, and implementer of the demonstration section of the ancient post road from "Haikoubu to Meijia Courtyard". The article "Haikoubu: Ancient roads have dreams, dreams come true" commented on Haikoubu's status.
In history, the Taishan people experienced four waves of immigration, the third of which was the largest, mainly after the Opium War (1842) and before the founding of New China (1949). Statistics show that so far, Taishan has more than 1.6 million overseas folks living in more than 90 countries and regions.
Over the past century, generations of people from Taishan, both at home and abroad, have emerged from the former U.S. Ambassador to China Luo Jiahui, the former Governor of Canada Wu Bingzhi, the first Chinese consul general in Australia Mei Guangda, and China’s first private railway—Xining Railway Founders such as Chen Yixi and the founder of Singapore’s Ningyang Cao Yazhi wrote celebrities of Chinese legends.
Silver letters sent back by overseas Chinese and overseas Chinese have become the precious historical memory of all mankind
Memory heritage
"Dad is going to Jinshan/I'm going to send the silver soon/The whole family depends on you/If you have the silver, you can send it back." This is a well-known and well-known Taishan ballad, which reflects the dependence and expectations of a young and old on overseas Chinese. Related to this song, there is also the Yinxin culture.
"Silver letter" is the abbreviation of "Foreign Correspondence Silver Two". It is a remittance certificate ("silver") and family letter ("silver") sent by the people of the Cantonese dialect area including Wuyi area to the family of overseas Chinese living in the late Qing Dynasty and the Wuyi region. The common name of "letter"). In Chaoshan, Meizhou, and Minnan regions of Guangdong, it is called "Overseas Approval". Zhu Yingyang introduced: "Convenient conditions have spawned a well-developed banking industry. During the most prosperous period, there were more than 10 silver banks in Haikou. Today, there are still shops of silver banks in Haikou. Silver Bank is on the Silk Road. Important cultural relics, many historical stories, and traditional Chinese virtues are included in Yinxin."
The 20 silver letter posts erected on the Haikou Bu Yinxin Memorial Plaza are eye-catching. These silver letter pillars are affixed with 648 pieces of burned silver letter tiles, artistically showing the past and present of overseas Chinese silver letters. Most of the messages in the silver letter are short of the parents, including asking the wife and children to take good care of the elderly and children, reminding them to pay attention to the matters abroad, and even the children's marriage matters are also clearly stated.
According to statistics, during the 85 years from 1864 to 1949, the total amount of overseas remittances in the Wuyi area of Jiangmen exceeded US$700 million, becoming the main source and source of life for relatives in the overseas Chinese hometown. These funds are mainly used for education of children, payment of arrears, support of the elderly, construction of houses, public welfare undertakings, etc.
"These silver letters (letters and remittances) have important value. Their archives are rich and diverse, and the combination of documents and objects fully demonstrates the integrity and authenticity of the memory heritage. Their document chains and objects, etc., comprehensively record The life of an overseas Chinese country constitutes a complete and authentic picture of the history of overseas Chinese family life." Zhang Guoxiong, director of the Guangdong Overseas Chinese Township Cultural Research Center, believes that Yinxin is also an important tool for the spread of Chinese and foreign cultures. Testimony of transformation.
Yinxin carries the memories of generations of overseas Chinese. In June 2013, the "Overseas Approved Archives: Overseas Overseas Chinese Silver Letters" in Guangdong and Fujian including Wuyi Silver Letters were selected as "World Memory Heritage List", thus becoming an important cultural heritage cherished by all mankind.
Butterfly Rebirth
After more than 160 years, it prospered and fell several times. In recent years, with the development of the protection and utilization of ancient post roads, Haikou Port has ushered in a new life of butterfly change.
Since 2016, the Guangdong Provincial Department of Housing and Urban-Rural Development has jointly carried out the protection and utilization of ancient post roads with the Provincial Sports Bureau and the Provincial Tourism Bureau, and plans to include Haikou Port in one of the eight key post demonstration sections of the province in 2017. Subsequently, the People’s Government of Taishan City carried out several special investigations, seminars and field visits to listen to the suggestions and opinions of experts, old overseas Chinese, local residents and other people on the construction of the Haikou Bu Ancient Post Road Demonstration Project, and invited Wuyi University overseas Chinese cultural experts Guide the whole process and prepare the overall plan.
With the completion of the Haikou Bu Yinxin Museum and Yinxin Memorial Plaza, the construction of the demonstration section of the ancient post road "Haikoubu-Meijia Courtyard" is becoming more and more perfect. The 2017 Haikou Port Organic Renewal Project was also awarded the "2017 Guangdong Livable Environment Model Award". After completion, Haikou Bu Yinxin Memorial Square, Ancient Pier, Western Pavilion, Waterfront Viewing Platform, Hexagon Pavilion, etc. have become net red punching places; Haikou Port has also successfully held the 2017 Nanyue Ancient Post Road International Orientation Competition (Taishan Haikou Port) Station) and a variety of activities such as the cultural tour of the ancient post road in southern Guangdong, China; in June 2020, the first batch of cultural heritage trails in Guangdong, Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao Greater Bay Area were released, and Haikou Port became an important part of the Jiangmen Taishan Overseas Chinese Ruins and Western House Trails One of the overseas Chinese cultural heritage resource points.
Haikoubu, the pearl on the ancient post road in southern Guangdong, not only inherited the excellent regional historical culture, but also became a new benchmark for rural revitalization and the creation of a global tourism demonstration area.
【Interview】
Haikou Port is an important node connecting the ancient Guangdong Yidao Road to the Silk Road on the sea
Cao Jinnan, member of the Steering Committee for the Restoration of the Historical Remains of the Ancient Post Road in Guangdong
Yangcheng Evening News: As a member of the Steering Committee for the Restoration and Repair of the Ancient Post Road in Nanyue, how do you view the historical and cultural value of Haikou Port?
Cao Jin: Taishan is a famous hometown of overseas Chinese. It is said that there are as many overseas Chinese in Taishan as there are Taishan in China. At that time, they left their hometowns and went abroad to work in Haikou Port as their last stop. Therefore, in a certain sense, the old streets and piers of Haikou Port are the last impression of overseas Chinese on their hometowns. Therefore, the cultural value of Haikou Port is very high, and it nourishes the nostalgia of overseas tourists.
The architectural value of Haikou Port as a cultural relic is also relatively high, and the old streets are well preserved. Through the activation and utilization of ancient post roads, they can be protected and integrated into contemporary society, which can bring forth new brilliance.
Yangcheng Evening News: Where is Haikoubu located in the ancient post road in Nanyue and what is the relationship with the ancient post road?
Cao Jin: A very important feature of the Nanyue Ancient Post Road is that it is not just a traffic road in Guangdong Province. It actually crosses Wuling to the north, connects to the Yangtze River Basin, and even connects to the north through the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal. Going to sea, connecting the Maritime Silk Road, including more distant Southeast Asia and South Asia, or a continuous cultural and economic exchange with more distant civilizations. For the Nanyue Ancient Post Road, Haikou Port is an important key node for the southbound trip to the ocean, and it is also an important node for the Nanyue Ancient Post Road to connect the Maritime Silk Road. Because of this estuary, Lingnan has developed from a corner of Pian'an to a gateway to the country.
Yangcheng Evening News: In the process of repairing Haikou Port, what lessons can we learn from?
Cao Jin: Haikoubu is one of the eight demonstration sections of the ancient Guangdong Yueyi Road in 2017. When repairing Haikou Port, in addition to repairing some important old buildings, the historical culture contained therein was also excavated and expressed in an appropriate form. This experience is worthy of our reference. Tourists visiting Haikou Port will be impressed by the Yinxin Memorial Plaza of Nanyue Ancient Post Road there. Silver letters are letters and money sent back to the country by overseas Chinese who went overseas to make a living. When repairing Haikou Port, at this important node, burning silver letters into porcelain pieces to make silver letter columns, through this form, allows everyone to intuitively understand the precious world memory heritage of silver letters.
Yangcheng Evening News: What principles do we need to follow if we want to repair the historical remains of the ancient post road?
Cao Jin: The restoration of the historical remains of the ancient post roads, first of all, the restoration of cultural relics and cultural heritage, should follow the principles of authenticity and integrity, do not intervene too much, retain the original old things to the greatest extent, and retain its integrity . Secondly, when the ancient post road is being repaired, we must also consider its ecology and safety. For example, the restoration does not damage the ecology around the ancient post road, and it is necessary to ensure the safety of walking. Third, the sustainability must be considered when repairing. We hope that after the repair, the ancient post road has a virtuous circle.
【extend】
Ancient Port of Zhanglin-Ancient Post Road Exit of East Guangdong
The ancient port of Zhanglin is one of the four estuary estuaries of the ancient Guangdong Yidao Road. It is located at the confluence of rivers and seas, and can be connected to the freshwater river channel in the middle and upper reaches of the Hanjiang River, which is directly connected to the hinterland of the plain. This is also the largest port in eastern Guangdong in history.
The prosperity of Zhanglin Port started in the Kangxi period. In the twenty-three years of Kangxi (1684), the sea ban was officially lifted, and merchants in Zhanglin Port built ships to the sea. In the last year of Kangxi, rice trade was allowed with Siam (that is, Thailand). The ocean navigation business came into being. From the fishing port to the commercial port, the famous "Red Head Ship" departed from here.
After the ban on trade, goods from home and abroad, and merchant ships from all over the world came here one after another. Every summer, merchant ships or Suzhou and Tianjin travel north to sell cotton cloths, colored cloths, dried fruits, and medicinal materials, or go to South Asian countries such as Siam, Indonesia, and Malaysia, and return rice and wood.
The four counties (cities) of Chaozhou, Chenghai, Raoping and Nan'ao meet in Zhanglin. This unique geographical location makes the ancient port of Zhanglin an important export port for the ancient post roads of Nanyue and prosperity for more than 100 years.
Letters from abroad at that time could be delivered as long as the words "Chinese Zhanglin" were written. At the beginning of the last century, Zhanglin was also marked on the world map published by the United Kingdom. It has naturally become an important port for immigrants from eastern Guangdong and even neighboring provinces to go abroad. Merchant fishing vessels in coastal provinces have more frequent travel. More than half of the early Chinese ancestors who headed to the countries of the Nanyang Islands departed from Zhanglin Port.
Today, the ancient port of Zhanglin is listed as one of the eight demonstration sections for the protection and utilization of ancient post roads in Nanyue, Guangdong Province. In recent years, the remains of ancient piers and ancient stone tablets discovered on Xinxing Street in the ancient port of Zhanglin are one of Shantou's important evidences as the origin of the Maritime Silk Road. The ancient port of Zhanglin has been regarded as a new heritage site of the "Heishin's legacy" and is receiving more and more attention.
(Co-sponsored by the Guangdong Provincial CPPCC Committee on Culture, Literature and History and Yangcheng Evening News)