(Songtang Village)

Songtang Village is located ten miles west from Xiqiao Mountain, a famous mountain in South China. Its culture treasure has been shinning as bright as stars for a long history of more than700 years. Songtang Village benefits instinctively from its nature environment, surrounded by green hills with a central pool.

(the ancestral hall)

Advocation of Culture in Songtang

Villagers in Songtang always advocates culture and academy. Since Ming and Qing Dynasty, there has been more than 20 Jinshi (进士, a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations) and Juren (举人, a successful candidate in the imperial examinations at the provincial level) in total.

(Tai Shi Di)

The main ancient architecture in the village is the ancestral hall and the WenWu (文武, meaning literati and military) Holy Temple. There are still many ancient study houses well kept in the village, including “Ming De She Xue” (明德社学), “Si Ma Di”, “Tai Shi Di” (太史第), “Yang Zheng” (养正), “Pei Yuan” (培元) and etc. The former residences of historic celebrities such as Jinshi Ou Yulin, Ou E’liang, Ou Zhansen, Ou Dadian, Ou Dayuan sit quietly in the village.

Since 1273 in Song Dynasty, the ancestors of Songtang Village had begun their lives here till now with totally 28 generations and a number of 1,700 villagers at present. Many folk activities are well kept till today, such as “Chuse (出色)” Parade on the fourth day of the first lunar month, celebration on the birth of Tudi (土地, god of the land) on the second day of the second lunar month, celebration on the birth of Guandi (关帝,Guanyu,a hero of The Romance of the Three Kingdoms  ) on 24th day of the sixth lunar month and Shaofanta (烧番塔) on mid-autumn day.

(Hanlin Gate)

Confucius Birthday and “Chuse” Parade

Songtang Villagers lay emphasis on inheritance of culture, and they keep many folk activities till now, among which the most famous ones are Confucious Birthday and “Chuse” Parade which are listed as district intangible cultural heritage. On every Oct. 3rd, flocks of students gathering together in the front of Confucius Temple, reading the Analects of Confucius, passing through Hanlin (翰林) Gate, going around Raoyue (绕月) Pool, stepping on Qingyun (青云) Road, getting Hanlin packets, having letcures of Chinese ancient civilization and finally become Hanlin scholars. “Chuse” Parade dated back to Emperor Guangxu of Qing Dynasty. In the past “Chuse” Parade was held once in three years, in the lunar new year in the year of Zi (Mouse),Mao (Rabbit), Wu (Horse) and You (Chicken). There would be lion dance and drum music from inside the village to outside brother villages such as Dongxiang (东乡), Xixiang (西乡) and Nanxiang (南乡).

(Songtang Hanlin Culture Festival)

Since 2010, after being listed as Guangdong Historical Culture Village, Songtang Village is now also listed as China Historical Culture Village, China Traditional Village, one of ten Guangdong most beautiful ancient villages. Villagers and the government together promote and develop the construction of tourism culture in Songtang Village, in order to make this historical and beautiful village more attractive.

Written by Clair