Page 16 - JCAU-4-1

Pingyao Historic City and Qiao Family Courtyard Zhang

As a cultural city, Pingyao has also kept wall, it is written: “The way of heaven is to
many couplets displayed at the gates and reward hard work, and the way of earth is to
doorframes of historic buildings. Among reward kindness.” Its streets and lanes of the
them, some are enriching ideas for business to market has the essence of “The way of
thrive, some are virtues that families rely on humanity is to reward honesty, and the way of
[1]
for prosperity and development, some are business is to reward faith” .
mottos that stand in the world, and some are
philosophical maxims and practical advices. 3.1 Pingyao residential architecture
For example, this couplet admonishes people Pingyao Historic City has retained its original
to endure hard work: “The sword edge is urban pattern since it was rebuilt in the 3rd
sharp due to grinding, and the plum blossom year of Hongwu (1370), with about 3,800
6
is fragrant from the bitter cold” (from Ming- courtyard houses of the Ming and Qing
dynasty “Worthy Articles to Caution the dynasties, and more than 400 of them are of
World”), which is hung in the backyard of high preservation value. There are 42,000
Huiwulin (汇武林) [12] . urban residents still living in these houses,
Beginning in 2000, the “Celebrating maintaining their basic historic features. The
7
New Year in Pingyao” activity and the layouts of the houses are compact, with clear
Jinshangshe Fire Festival have developed into axes, bilateral symmetry, and distinct
a series of large-scale Chinese New Year hierarchy. The exquisite wood carvings, brick
celebrations during the 23rd of the 12th lunar carvings, and stone carvings, as well as the
month to the 16th of the first lunar month. rustic papercut window grilles, are vivid.
Since 2001, the Pingyao International They embody the historic and cultural
Photography Festival (PIP) has been held characteristics of Han architecture around the
annually, which is an event for photographers 14th‒19th centuries, and are important
from all over the world to showcase their references for studying the social norms,
skills in photography. In 2005, PIP was rated economic structure, military defense,
as “China’s Top Ten Influential International religious beliefs, traditional thoughts, and
Festivals” by the International Festivals ethical forms of human habitat during this
Association (IFEA). Pingyao Diesel Engine period. So far, it is the most intact
Factory ceased production in 2002 and has longstanding inhabitant community in Han
become the main exhibition area for PIP. Chinese region. Besides Pingyao Old City, an
Annually, heavyweight photography old village nearby has not only kept
masterpieces are exhibited in the abandoned traditional houses, but also traditional values
factory, transforming the space into an art of simplicity in life [1, 2, 4, 5] .
gallery [1, 4] . Since 2012, the preservation of Pingyao
In 2013, China’s first large-scale historic homes has been carried out when the
situational experience performance “Seeing Global Heritage Fund helped the Planning
Pingyao Again” ( 《 又 见 平 遥 》 ) was Bureau to establish a program to preserve the
launched, allowing tourists from afar to walk courtyard houses. The plan has strict
into the homes of the local residents, as if they guidelines regarding which houses are
traveled through time and space and eligible for it. After restoration, some owners
penetrated into the lives of Pingyao people. have turned their residences into guest houses,
Since 2017, the Pingyao International Film catering to Pingyao’s increasing tourists [13]
Festival (PYIFF) has been held annually to [Figure 13]. Also in 2012, another initiative
encourage communication and cooperation by the Urban and Rural Planning Bureau of
between Chinese and international Shanxi Pingyao County started to renovate
filmmakers. On Pingyao’s magnificent city the first batch of 48 private old dwellings of

6 “宝剑锋从磨砺出，梅花香自苦寒来”(出自明朝《警世贤文 • 勤奋篇》)
7 “我在平遥过大年”

AccScience Publishing 10