How prosperous was Song Dynasty? The popular drama "A Dream of Splendor" shows a long scroll of life in the Northern Song Dynasty. Till the Southern Song Dynasty, the poem "Smoke-like willow trees, painted bridges, wind-blocking curtains, bright green tents, and staggered houses amounting to 100,000” shows the happy life of Song people continued from Kaifeng to Lin’an.
Existing data shows that the Southern Song Dynasty already had a life similar to the modern life. For example, at that time, Lin'an, the capital of Southern Song Dynasty, already had restaurants that were open around the clock and people could order take-away food, and it was a prosperous city that never sleeps.
This was just a small part of a day in Song Dynasty. Do you want to be the hero and heroine in "A Dream of Splendor"? Just come to the "Cultural Tourism Market 2022: Hangzhou Amazing Night of Song Dynasty Charm." It is co-organized by Hangzhou Municipal Bureau of Culture, Radio, TV and Tourism, Hangzhou West Lake Scenic Spot Management Committee (Hangzhou Xixi National Wetland Park Management Committee), Hangzhou Municipal Bureau of Gardens and Cultural Relics and Hangzhou Daily Press Group, and planned and implemented by Hangzhou Cultural and Tourism Promotion Center and City Express • Orange Persimmon Interactive, under the guidance of the Publicity Department of Hangzhou Municipal Committee of CPC.
Starting next Wednesday, for 5 days, there will be a feast of Song culture covering 15 sections along the Temple of King Qian in the West Lake Scenic Area, Yongjin Park and West Lake Museum Main Hall. It will take you back to Lin'an.
The Temple of King Qian which gathers 24-hour experiences of Song people is the main venue of this event. It was through the efforts of Wuyue kings Qian Liu and Qian Hongchu that Qiantang became prosperous in the southeast. It was Qian Hongchu’s giving up the throne and offering the kingdom to Song Dynasty for peace that led to the poetic and peaceful life of Lin’an people.
Next, please push open the gate of the temple and be the first ones to discover the highlights inside. You may be able to feel that elegance is everywhere from the words and lines.
24 Hours of Song People
Elegant but Common
Zi: 23:00-01:00 Sweet Dreams
Song people fell into a deep sleep to boost energy for the next day. And they could not have imagined that their common "daily routines" would be passed down for thousands of years and be adored by future generations.
The combination of technology and art is a highlight of this year's Hangzhou Amazing Night of Song Dynasty Charm. The bronze hall inside the temple is surrounded by a 2.5-meter-high, 6-meter-long, four-sided electronic screen. The precious cultural relics such as the Longquan Kiln pink and blue glazed phoenix head porcelain vase with ears of the Southern Song Dynasty, the fish-shaped jade ornament of Song Dynasty and the Southern Song Longquan Kiln pink and blue glazed incense burner housed in Hangzhou Museum will be presented in naked eye 3D form.
Chou: 01:00-03:00 Early Morning Markets
At this time, most of people in modern time are still sleeping. But in Song Dynasty, the fourth geng*, when everything was silent, was the beginning of a day. Song people were too lazy to cook at home, and they often opted to go to the early morning market to have a hearty meal and start a new day easily.
During the event, many time-honored brands in Hangzhou such as Huji, Caizhizhai, Hupanju Teahouse, and Wanfeng and so on of the Southern Song Dynasty reproduces the early morning market scene at the main entrance of the Temple of King Qian. You can not only taste Song-style smacks such as lotus cakes, Dingsheng cakes, green bean cakes, and lotus root starch, etc., but also enjoy a Diancha performance and experience the fun of building mortise and tenon blocks.
*“Geng” is a unit of time in ancient China. The ancient Chinese divided the ten hours from 7pm to 5am the next day into five gengs and each geng equaled to two hours. The first geng refers to the time from 7pm to 9 pm, the second one 9 pm to 11pm, the third one 11pm to 1am, the fourth one 1am to 3am and the fifth one 3pm to 5pm.
Yin: 03:00-05:00 Lamps Lit
Before dawn, lamps became a necessary tool for the night life of Song people because the curfew was lifted. During the event, Yongmingtang Tea World brings a set of Song-style lamps that can satisfy the needs of modern life and also have the elegance of Song Dynasty, including small (large) standing screen lamps, table lamps, tatami side lamps and lit screens and so on.
Mao: 05:00-07:00 Song Dynasty Woodblock Printing
Scholars who studied hard began their day early to prepare for the examination. Hangzhou was one of the four major woodblock printing centers of Song Dynasty, providing a large number of rigorous and less erroneous books for scholars.
This year, Hangzhou Amazing Night of Song Dynasty Charm will jointly present an exhibition of Song Dynasty woodblock printing with the Department of Ancient Books of Zhejiang Library, which will show the whole process from papermaking, movable type and engraving to bookbinding. You can also experience the charm of movable-type woodblock printing under the guidance of Wang Fazai, the inheritor of the national intangible cultural heritage movable-type woodblock printing.
Chen: 07:00-09:00 Porcelain Admiring
This was the time when most people in Song Dynasty had breakfast, and most of the eating utensils used by the common people then were Song porcelain. Song porcelain, which modern people treat as a treasure, was just a household item in Song Dynasty for most of the times. In the event, Wenjinge will display the “pineapple lacquer,” which was used to make imperial tribute vessels in the Southern Song Dynasty, and Luodian lacquer craft, known as "Song inlaying." You can also pick up the tools and experience them on the spot.
Si: 09:00-11:00 Dressing
It was sunny and clear. At the best time of the day, women of Song Dynasty often stayed at home, threading needles and sewing clothes. The silk embroidery then is a treasure of China’s ancient silk art. The weaving process is on a higher level than that of the Tang Dynasty, especially “kesi.” Kesi means "cut silk", as the technique uses short lengths of weft thread that are tucked into the textile and only the weft threads are visible in the finished fabric.
Hangzhou silk weaving technique, a world intangible cultural heritage element originating from Song Dynasty, will appear in the Flower, Wine, Tea and Clothes Market of the event. The inheritor of the technique Hangzhou Fuxing Silk Factory will show exquisitely-woven silk fabrics such as scarves and handkerchiefs, and you will also be able to see different types of Song clothes and jewelry up close.
Wu: 11:00-13:00 Flower Watching
At the time with the strongest sunlight and the strongest Yang energy, people may feel restless. And people in Song Dynasty had a set of methods to calm themselves down. One of them is flower arranging. On the spot of the event, you can enjoy an in-depth hands-on experience to feel the charm of flower arranging under the guidance of Chen Xiang, the founders of Qingcheng Song-style celadon.
Wei: 13:00-15:00 Wine Tasting
As the sun began to set in the west, Song people with some spare time of course wanted to get some relaxation. Why not go to a wine store to get some wine?
Among the many industries in Song Dynasty, the number of restaurants and wine shops was the largest. But only main stores were authorized by the imperial government to make and sell wine. This year, many “main stores” with years of experience in brewing, will come to the event, bringing their rice and fruit wines brewed in the ancient way of Song Dynasty.
Shen: 15:00-17:00 Tea Drinking and Chatting
It was the afternoon tea time for Song people. At this time, officials returned home one after another, waiting for a bowl of tea soup and varieties of snacks to overcome the fatigue of work. In the Flower, Wine, Tea and Clothes Market, there will be experts reproducing the performance of Diancha (whisking powdered tea), which scholars in Song Dynasty were very skilled at. You can not only see with your own eyes different patterns on the surface of the tea, but also experience the fun of whisking powdered tea.
You: 17:00-19:00 Qin and Chess Playing
As the sun set, it was the dinner time. Song people were fond of holding banquets at home. They gathered to greet and chat with each other, and read poems and essays as wine flew freely. The socialization among scholars couldn’t be short of activities of elegance such as playing qin and chess. On the stone table in front of Yiguang Hall of the Temple of King Qian, guqin from the West Lake Guqin Society sings gently and the ancient chess game from Song Dynasty, which has been waiting there for a thousand of years, is still looking forward the special person to solve the puzzle.
Xu: 19:00-21:00 Nightlife
“The moon rose above the willow tree. At dusk he had a tryst with me.” Under the afterglow of the setting sun, everything seemed dreamlike and illusory. After having enough food and wine, Song people started their colorful nightlife. This year, the event presents the evening entertainment of Song Dynasty in front of Yueli Hall. And dazzling performances including children's dance of Song Dynasty and ancient musical instrument ensemble will be staged for 5 consecutive days to make you not want to leave.
Hai: 21:00-23:00 Elegant Furnishing
As it became darker and darker, performances came to an end and most shops closed. The crowd gradually dispersed and returned home.
Song people’s requirement for decoration and furniture arrangement in their houses could be concluded in four words: classic, elegant, flat and square.
Hangzhou Hong Yi Culture and Creativity Co., Ltd. will display the "Golden Seal and Purple Ribbon" Imperial Seal Cage and mortise-and-tenon products in different shapes. The "Alley Iron" from Suzhou, specializing in the use of steel sheet metal to reproduce the interesting shapes of ancient furniture, will bring a series of iron works of Song's tea furniture.
A Panorama of the “Oriental Renaissance”
Song Dynasty, the peak of ancient Chinese civilization, is regarded as the "Renaissance of the East" by European and American scholars. In addition to the 24 Hours of Song People, there are 7 special sections in the temple to show you the "Renaissance of the East" that has impressed scholars from the US and Europe.
A Grand Collection of Song Dynasty Charm
Encounter Natural Treasures in the Temple of King Qian.
This section uses guqin, Song costumes, Song paintings, jade ornaments, coins and celadon to create a route of “Peace, Elegance, Panorama and Essence”. From these exhibits, you will get a glimpse of the prosperity of culture and art in Song Dynasty.
Peace
In the section of “Peace”, you could have a look at “Herun” collected by Xu Yuanbai, the great master of Guqin Art of Zhejiang School. This guqin made in Song Dynasty was loved by many guqin enthusiasts at the monthly gathering by the West Lake during the Republican China.
You could also see the replica of part of the famous painting “Dwelling in Fuchun Mountains.” The painting is one of the top ten treasures of Zhejiang Provincial Museum, and was composed by Huang Gongwang, one of the "Four Great Masters of Yuan Dynasty", in his later years, and is one of the "Ten Great Masterpiece Paintings of China".
Elegance
In the section of “Elegance”, two pieces of silk wear “In the Name of Song” from China Silk Museum are exhibited. And meanwhile, a replica of the silk tapestry “Peony Flowers” from the Southern Song Dynasty is also displayed. It shows the excellent “kesi” weaving skills in the Southern Song Dynasty.
Panorama
In “Panorama”, many items from Hangzhou Local Chronicle Museum, Hangzhou Museum, Song Dynasty Jade Museum, Hangzhou West Lake Museum (Main Hall) and Xiling Seal Society and so on are displayed, including “The Chronicle of the West Lake” which is known as the No. 1 book of the West Lake, “The Chronicle of Lin’an” which is the earliest existing local chronicle of Hangzhou, a replica of the exquisite official kiln flower-mouth pot unearthed in Jiaotan Xiaguan Kiln of the Southern Song Dynasty, and more than 10 beautiful jade ornaments such as the double-dragon-patterned white jade disc with a circular hole in the centre and the white jade carving of a boy holding a lotus flower, etc.
Essence
In “Essence”, 4 representative items including the phoenix ear vase, the long-neck vase, the celadon li-style incense burner and the cong-style vase from Longquan Celadon Museum are exhibited, showcasing the celadon-making techiniques of Longquan Kiln at its peak. And Yasongtang also brings several collections.
Zhong Xuzhou, a coin collector, will comprehensively and systematically display the coins minted by the emperors of the Northern and Southern Song Dynasties, including many rare coins and precious gold and silver ware. Wenchuge reproduces the framing art of calligraphy and painting in the Song Dynasty.
Moreover, in the museum market outside the Temple of King Qian, you can also purchase many museum products related to Song Dynasty.
A Glimpse of Hangzhou from Song Dynasty Paintings
What Was the West Lake like in Song Dynasty?
Song Dynasty paintings are a peak of Chinese painting art and a "highlight moment" in the history of ancient Chinese art. This year's Hangzhou Amazing Night of Song Dynasty Charm moves some Song Dynasty paintings to the site. Among them, the most relevant to the West Lake is the “Panorama of the Attractions of the West Lake”.
The reproduction version of this painting will be hung on the corridor on the right side of the Hall of Five Kings. The painting is nearly 16 meters long. It is the earliest panorama of the West Lake that can be seen today, and it is also the longest painting of the West Lake in the past dynasties. It is nearly three times longer than "Along the River During Qingming Festival" and about 400 centimeters longer than "A Thousand Miles of Rivers and Mountains".
And, there are electronic screens in the corridors on both sides of Yueli Hall. In the screens, famous painting of Song Dynasty such as "Ten Scenes of the West Lake", "Cultivation and Weaving", and "Landscapes of the Four Seasons" are shown alternately. The prosperous scene of Lin'an in Song Dynasty makes for an interesting contrast by the West Lake with the appearance of modern Hangzhou.
Song Dynasty Charm Discovery in Zhejiang
Bring Home Cultural and Creative Products of Song Dynasty Charm
In Southern Song Dynasty, Emperor Gaozong of Song Dynasty moved the capital to Lin’an, bringing precious and rich historical and cultural heritage to the surrounding cities and future generations.
The section “Explore Song Dynasty Charm in Zhejiang” assembles many well-known Song-dynasty-related destinations and corporations in Zhejiang Province, such as Ningbo, Shaoxing, Rui’an and Longquan, etc. The charm of Song Dynasty is manifested respectively through the immersive experience of “Explore Song Dynasty: Follow Wang Anshi to Visit Ningbo” in Ningbo, the intangible cultural heritage performances in Shaoxing, the demonstration of the movable-type woodblock printing in Rui’an and the celadon-themed fairs in Longquan. And Fuyang District of Hangzhou will use “Dwelling in Fuchun Mountains” as the main line to create a modern experience tour of dwelling in Fuchun Mountains; Jiande will take the ancient Yanzhou Prefecture as the theme to launch interactive experiences such as the inspection tour of the prefecture chief, the art of tea of Song Dynasty and the thousand-year-old Song Dynasty printing.
And Zhejiang's time-honored national gift brands like Ye Guozhen Southern Song Royal Kiln, Zhu Bingren Copper, Song Liquor and so on will also bring a series of Song Dynasty cultural and creative products that can be purchased and experienced.
Apart from these, in the section of “Perfumed Clothes and Gorgeous Hair”, Song Dynasty ladies’ OOTD (outfits of the day) are displayed. In the novel “The Legend of Condor Heroes”, Hong Qigong once hid himself in the imperial kitchen of Lin’an for 3 months to eat the minced five-treasure mandarin duck and other imperial delicacies. And the section of “Food under the Moon” puts Song Dynasty dishes on the cruise ship docked at Qianwangci Wharf one after another.
In the section of “Hangzhou Poetry Rain” technically supported by Hangzhou Teemax Network Co., Ltd, over 40 poems related to Hangzhou fall from the screen randomly like rain. When you touch any of them with your finger, a complete poem will appear. It looks as if you were back to the prosperous Lin’an City.
And from June 17 to June 19, the event “Happy Reading in Song Dynasty Classes” will be held in Yueli Hall inside the temple and 4 esteemed scholars will be invited to present the culture of Song Dynasty and tell the stories behind it.
Reservations Required
The two main venues of the event: the Temple of King Qian and Yongjin Park will be under closed-off management during the event. Citizens and tourist should make a reservation in advance to visit them. The following times are open for reservations: 15:00-16:30, 16:30-18:00, 18:00-19:30 and 19:30-21:00. Please use the WeChat app to scan the QR code to make a reservation. Once it is done, please enter the venues within the specified time period and cooperate with reservation verification and anti-pandemic measures. Please note a single reservation only allows one to visit one of the two venues for once and the number of reservations is limited.
Anti-Pandemic Measures
Please wear a mask properly throughout the entire visit, have your body temperature measured, bring a negative nucleic acid test report generated within 72 hours and use the Alipay app to scan the location QR code to show the health code and the trip code to enter the venues. Tourists with no cell phone can visit with the ID card and a paper certificate bearing the negative result of nucleic acid test. Tourists from outside Hangzhou should bring a negative nucleic acid test report generated within 48 hours to enter Hangzhou. Please go to the closest nucleic acid testing point to do a test as soon as possible (within 12 hours) after arriving in Hangzhou.
Transportation
It is recommended that citizens and tourists take public transportation and travel eco-friendly.
Subway: Take Line 1 to Ding'an Road Station and get out from Exit B, or take Line 7 to Wushan Square Station and get out from Exit C and walk to the site.
Bus: Take bus No. 4, 12, 31, 42 or 102 and get off at Qianwangci Station, and walk to the site.