The Shan-Shaan Guild Hall: A historical nexus on the Great Tea Route
Jia County, located in Pingdingshan City, Henan Province, is one of China’s historical cities, known for its prosperous economy and thriving community of merchants and traders. Recognizing Jia County’s geographical advantages, merchants from Shanxi and Shaanxi Provinces, renowned for their business acumen, funded the construction of the Shanxi-Shaanxi Guild Hall in 1693. This guild hall served as a multifunctional hub for business negotiation, sacrificial rituals to honor the gods, hospitality for guests, and fostering connections among Shanxi and Shaanxi businessmen, strengthening the exchange of economic and trade information. As an important architectural heritage site along the cultural route of the Great Tea Route, the Shanxi-Shaanxi Guild Hall holds immense historical and cultural value. The local government has initiated plans to preserve it as a public space for future generations. This article examines the Shanxi-Shaanxi Guild Hall in the context of the Great Tea Route as a cultural route. Drawing on archival research, field investigations, and semi-structured interviews, it delves into Shanxi-Shaanxi Guild Hall’s tangible and intangible cultural characteristics and its historical relationship with the Great Tea Route. By uncovering the deeper value connotation of the Shanxi-Shaanxi Guild Hall, this study aims to provide new insights into the conservation of cultural heritage.
Asakawa, S., Yoshida, K., & Yabe, K. (2004). Perceptions of urban stream corridors within the greenway system of Sapporo, Japan. Landscape and Urban Planning, 68(2-3), 167-182. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0169-2046(03)00158-0
Bogacz-Wojtanowska, E., G0169-2046(03)00158-0(03)00158-0” \o “Persistent link using digital object identifier” \t “_blaCase study of selected cultural routes in Poland. Sustainability, 11(10), 2844. https://doi.org/10.3390/su11102844
Cardia, G. (2018). Routes and itineraries as a means of contribution for sustainable tourism development. In: Innovative Approaches to Tourism and Leisure: Fourth International Conference IACuDiT, Athens 2017. Springer International Publishing, pp. 17-33. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-67603-6_2
Chen, H., Cao, D., Zou, Y., & Meng, S.C. (2018). Constructing an architectural heritage corridor along the Zishui river of the ancient tea road in Funan province. Heritage Architecture, (3), 71-77. https://doi.org/10.19673/j.cnki.ha.2018.03.009
Chen, Q. Z., He, P. J., Xie, D. H., Lu, M. D., Zhao, T. C., & Zhou, Z. L. (2008). The splendid tea culture of Linxiang. Tea Communication, (3), 29-31.
Chen, Z. Y. (2018). Merchant gang, guild and modern Hankou guild hall play opera-on the proposition of “the commercial road is the theatrical road” in the history of Chinese. Cultural Heritage, (3), 30-38.
Cheng, X. F. (2010). Commercial hall on wanluo avenue: Shanshan temple in Jia county. Literature and History Knowledge, 11, 3.
Chu, C. Q., & Ma, L. J. (2021). Trade, guild, and opera communication-the Ming and Qing dynasties in Shanshaan and shaanxi businessmen and their guild hall as an example. Sichuan Drama, (3), 18-21.
Dallari, F. (2018). Cultural itineraries and roman routes: Challenges and opportunities for sustainable local development and social partecipation. Valorisation and Management, 45, 45-60
Deng, J. G. (2000). The Tea Route-The Rise and Fall of the Eurasian Trade Route for 300 Years. Hohhot: Inner Mongolia People’s Publishing House.
Ding, Y., & Song, Y. (2015). China Cultural Route Heritage. Shanghai: Orient Publishing Center.
Duan, J. Y, (2010). The historical road of brick tea and its social and cultural functions. Journal of Southwest University for Nationalities, 31(7), 21-25.
Editorial board of Chinese Opera Records. (1992). Annals of Chinese Opera (Henan Volume). Beijing: Culture and Art Publishing House.
Fang, G. L., Huang, H., & Bi, X. (2021). A preliminary study on the protection and renewal of non-cultural historical buildings in Jia County Old Town from the perspective of authenticity. Architecture and Culture, (5), 252-254. https://doi.org/10.19875/j.cnki.jzywh.2021.05.099
Filetici, M. G. (2018). Past and future restoration along the route of the Appia Regina Viarum. Valorisation and Management, 95, 95-109.
Genovese, R. A. (2016). Cultural Routes between East and West: A network for cooperation between Mediterranean cities. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, 223, 619–625. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2016.05.369
Gong, S. (1991). The Tang dynasty Nanyang area post road. Journal of Shaanxi Normal University, ???(3), 87-93.
Guo, J., & Jiang, C. (1975). Jia County Annals of Henan Province. Taipei: Chen Wen Publishing Co., Ltd.
Han, X. X. (2012). Exploring the Ten Thousand Mile Tea Route of the Jin Merchants. Taiyuan: Shanxi People’s Press.
Henan Daily. (2019). Ten Heritage Sites in Henan Province were Included in the List of Applications for the Great Tea Route Projects. Available from: https://jimrussell.id.au/bangkok_ to_beijing.htm [Last accessed on 2022 May 12].
Henan Institute of Cultural Relics and Architectural Conservation. (2016). Investigation and Research on Cultural Heritage in Henan Section of Wanli Tea Way. Beijing: Cultural Relics Publishing House.
Henan Provincial Administration of Cultural Heritage. (2024). The Window of Henan Cultural Relics. Available from: from: https://wwj.henan.gov.cn/2024/08-02/3031494.html [Last accessed on 2024 Oct 02].
Hu, Y.S. (2005). Study on the Social and Historical Changes of Hui People in Henan Province, Doctor. Available from: https://next.cnki.net/ middle/abstract?v=skj9sxrfdeq9ahueht_vftq_lagoijjwb1o2kq- 5e1j643ygvfdkfuh5lokch5xyedkqh-rbgwojzik-bdqxjzg3pec69 pebqd2rbwpi0yoxdsm3pfy0vcrpdyutfofmaendfubmdqnlwp_ b2wzz1mcj2twkhamxi4h6prh70j3w7lovqvukexxdc3owy_ r91fvodfaiax0=&uniplatform=nzkpt&language=chs &scence=null [Last accessed on 2024 Oct 02].
Huang, B. Q., & Ping, Y. Z. (2020). Tea as a medium: The formation, characteristics and value of the “ten thousand miles tea route”. Journal of Hubei University, 47(06), 69-80+167. https://doi.org/10.13793/j.cnki.42-1020/c.2020.06.009
ICOMOS. (2008). The Icomos Charter On Cultural Routes. Available from: https://www.icomos.org/images/ documents/charters/culturalroutes_f.pdf [Last accessed on 2024 Oct 02].
Jia County Geographical Names Committee. (1983). An Anecdote about Place Names in Jia County. Jia County: Jia County Geographical Names Committee.
Jia County Government. (2019). Famous Special Local Product. Available from: https://www.jiaxian.gov.cn/ contents/7596/46791.html [Last accessed on 2024 May 12
Jia County Literature and Historical Data Research Committee of the CPPCC. (1987). Jia County Literature and History Data Third Series. Jia County: Jia County Literature and Historical Data Research Committee of the CPPCC.
Jia County Local Historiography Compilation Committee. (1996). Jia County Annual. Zhengzhou: Zhongzhou Ancient Books Publishing House.
Jiang, S.X (2022). Research on the Protection and Renewal of the Nanyang Tianfei Historic Area from the Perspective of Linear Cultural Heritage. Master. Available from: httpss://link.cnki. net/doi/10.27151/d.cnki.ghnlu.2022.002587 [Last accessed on 2024 Oct 02].
Li, C. (2021). Study on the Architecture of Shanshan Guild Hall on Wanli Tea Ceremony Cultural Route. Master. Available from: https://link.cnki.net/doi/10.27157/d.cnki. ghzku.2021.000621 [Last accessed on 2024 Oct 02].
Li, G. W. (2021). Research on the Evolution and Cluster Protection of Towns along the Tea Road in Henan Province from The Perspective of Regional History. Master. Available from: https://link.cnki.net/doi/10.27466/d.cnki. gzzdu.2021.000409 [Last accessed on 2024 Oct 02].
Li, G., & Cao, Y.M. (2011). Diversity and secularity of gods worship in industrial and commercial guildhalls in Ming and Qing dynasties-a case study of Shanshaan Guild hall. Journal of Xi’an University of Arts and Science, ???(1), 27-31.
Li, Q. X. (2002). Temple fair culture and its changes of the present age in Henan province. Journal of the South Central University for Nationalities, 1, 67-70.
Liang, S. B., & Wu, L. M. (2005). Tea merchants of the Shanxi Gang in the Qing Dynasty and the development of Hunan Anhua tea industry. Studies in Chinese Economic History, 4(2), 14-19.
Liu, X. H. (2015). Crossing the Ten Thousand Mile Tea Road. Wuhan: Wuhan University Press.
Liu, Z. Q. (2007). From the tea route between China and Russia in modern times. Russian, Central Asian and Eastern European Studies, (5), 81-85.
Liu, Z. Q., & Zhong, X. (2016). On the Ten-thousand-mile tea road and “One belt one road” strategy. Studies on Cultural Soft Power, 1(2), 23-30. https://doi.org/10.19468/j.cnki.2096-1987.2016.02.004
Lucchi, E., Turati, F., Colombo, B., & Schito, E. (2024). Climate-responsive design practices: A transdisciplinary methodology for achieving sustainable development goals in cultural and natural heritage. Journal of Cleaner Production, 457, 142431. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2024.142431
Martorell Carreño, A. (2003) Cultural routes: Tangible and Intangible Dimensions of Cultural Heritage. In: 14th ICOMOS General Assembly and International Symposium: ‘Place, Memory, Meaning: Preserving Intangible Values in Monuments and Sites’, 27-31 Oct 2003. Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. Available from: https://openarchive. icomos.org/id/eprint/473 [Last accessed on 2024 Oct 02].
National Cultural Heritage Administration. (2013). The State Council of the People’s Republic of China as the Seventh Batch of National Key Cultural Relic Protection Units. Available from https://www.ncha.gov.cn/art/2013/5/3/ art_722_107827.html [Last accessed on 2024 Oct 04].
Pingdingshan City Government. (2019). State Administration of Cultural Heritage Puts Wanli tea Route on China’s World Cultural Heritage Tentative List 10 Heritage Sites in Henan Province Included in Wanli Tea Route Heritage Project. Available from: https://www.henan.gov.cn/2019/05- 26/794912.html [Last accessed on 2022 May 12].
Pingdingshan City Government. (2021). Two Historical and Cultural Districts in Jia County Selected as the Second Batch of Provincial-level Historical and Cultural Districts. Available from: https://www.pds.gov.cn/contents/6/130056.html [Last accessed on 2024 Oct 04].
Sigley, G. (2021). Reimagining the 30056.html7.htmlible and intangible dimensions of cultural heritage.isciplinary methodology for achieving sustainable development gao) of Southwest China. International Journal of Heritage Studies, 27(9), 904-919. https://doi.org/10.1080/13527258.2021.1883713
Sigley, G. (2023). The great tea road and the belt and road initiative: Cultural policy, mobility narratives and route heritage in contemporary China. International Journal of Cultural Policy, 29(3), 314-327. https://doi.org/10.1080/10286632.2022.2059075
Smith, L. (2020). Uses of heritage. In: Encyclopedia of Global Archaeology. Cham: Springer International Publishing, pp. 10969-10974.
Song, J. H. (2006). The guilds in shanxi and shaanxi provinces and the dissemination of the qin tone. Literature and Art Studies, 2, 94-101+160.
Steinhardt, N. S. (2019). Chinese Architecture: A History. United States: Princeton University Press.
UNESCO. (1993). Routes of Santiago de Compostela: Camino FrancrFdErxbpoutes of Northern Spain. Available from: https:// whc.unesco.org/en/list/669 [Last accessed on 2024 Oct 04].
UNESCO. (2003). Quebrada de Humahuaca. Available from: https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1116 [Last accessed on 2024 Oct 04].
Wei, L. (2017). The Research of the Value Evaluation and Protection Strategy ofArchitectural Heritage of Cultural Route. Master. Availble from: https://next.cnki.net/middle/ abstract?v=cf0fonyw0yjcrxxobddagmkhdtux5p_41xx9w8 dxieivmyyk_sm-dwtqcuzfpovm5z-sooxf3lop1itmqkquyo3 yyjeqvyhx7kh3ge6ckyhbuz0m-y2s1yxc48o-nujlwlp-zz-jlatr qaici2lx9ew8x40hswlwijlf5yblhn6t9essgkujlhelnwcmbaikaalezhkvt4q=&uniplatform=nzkpt&language=chs&scence =null [Last accessed on 2024 Oct 02].
Xiao, L. Z, & Peng, X. G. (2007). Hunan black tea production and marketing history and current situation. Chian Tea, (3), 6-8.
Xinhua. (2014). China-Mongolia-Russia Mayors’ Conference held in Wuyishan, Fujian Province. Available from: https://www. gov.cn/xinwen/2014-11/15/content_2779330.htm [Last accessed on 2024 Oct 02].
Xu, S. H., & Jiang, L. (2001). Transportation and economic development intowns and cities of the nan yang basinin ming and oing dynasties. Resources and Environment in the Yangtze Basin, (3), 199-204.
Xue, L. P. (2007). Research on theatre buildings in Qing dynasty, henan. Huazhong Architecture, (10), 151-161.
Yiamjanya, S. (2020). Industrial heritage along railway corridor: A gear towards tourism development, a case study of Lampang Province, Thailand. In: E3S Web of Conferences, 164, 03002. https://doi.org/10.1051/e3sconf/202016403002
Zhang, J. M., & Pan, S. L. (1976). Nanyang County Annual of Henan Province. Taipei: Chen Wen Publishing Co., Ltd.
Zhang, Q. G. (2022). Research on the Basic Route and Tea Trade Transportation in the Henan Section of the Wanli Tea Road. Agricultural Archaeology, (5), 260-265.
Zhang, Q. G. (2024). Research on the cultural heritage in the henan sectio-n of thewanli tea roa. Journal of Nanyang Institute of Technology, 16(3), 103-108. https://doi.org/10.16827/j.cnki.41-1404/z.2024.03.021
Zhang, Z. M, & Zhang, S. (2010). The Rise and Fall of Jin Merchants. Taiyuan: Shanxi Economic Press.
Zhao, K., Li, C., & Zhang, L. (2019). The Settlement and Shanshan Guild Hall on the Cultural Route of the Tea Way. In: The Fifth Cross-Strait Summer Camp and Academic Symposium for Undergraduates to Investigate Settlement Culture and Traditional Architecture, Ningde, Fujian Province, China.
Zhu, S. (2011). Research and Investigation of the Tea Road (Hubei) and Architecture Heritage in the View of Cultural Line. Doctor. Available from: https://next.cnki.net/middle/abstract? v=c f0fonyw0yj9isze7kno3qhgp8xztoplitjtydptp51yu9wxii5q lzhgrhmorpgwqmixa8zl0cd-n5ndbkntor_d06q4o7reit3_ mpakpgsvabxp1lwihmlqpk3xlkjpkqbh3ltbldhszhnyi yifbc7y_vn8lthym7xz-us5ia14ewgxzommu9gffpnncllnie9b 5aicgxi=&uniplatform=nzkpt&language=chs&scence=null [Last accessed on 2024 Oct 02].
Zou, Y. (2020). Research on Spatial Configuration of Anhua Traditional Tea Industry Town Base on Spatial Syntax. Master. Available from: https://link.cnki.net/doi/10.27135/d.cnki. ghudu.2020.001155 [Last accessed on 2024 Oct 02].