I Can Hear the Heart's Voice of Traditional Chinese Medicine-Chapter 412 - 170: No Western Regions of the Mighty Han, No Northern Deserts of the Flourishing Tang, No Yunnan-Guizhou of the Great Ming (Part 3)

Chapter 412: Chapter 170: No Western Regions of the Mighty Han, No Northern Deserts of the Flourishing Tang, No Yunnan-Guizhou of the Great Ming (Part 3)

In the impression of many, the Song Dynasty is often seen as a weak and incompetent era. However, looking back at the society over a thousand years ago, along with its technological and industrial developments, the abolition of the corvée system, it’s clear that the Song Dynasty was an era full of creativity.

"Did you look up information about Baoguo Temple online before you came here? You remember it so clearly," asked Ji Xiuwen, turning his head with a curious expression.

"I didn’t just look it up, I researched it during the time I was in Yong City. Back then, I often heard others mention Baoguo Temple, so I thought I’d have a look when I had time. That’s why I searched for some information about Baoguo Temple. I didn’t expect to use it then, but it’s come in handy now."

"Amazing!"

Ji Xiuwen couldn’t help but give a thumbs up; this memory was simply terrifying.

Even though he knew Lu Xuan had a photographic memory, Ji Xiuwen was still shocked.

"Was Song Dynasty architecture really that advanced?" Upon hearing Lu Xuan’s speech, Wang Youqing asked with a curious look.

Lu Xuan smiled slightly, looking up at the unique architectural concept of Baoguo Temple: "To many people today, the Song Dynasty is just a weak era.

The Northern Song didn’t have the Western Regions of the strong Han, nor the northern deserts of the prosperous Tang, nor the Yun and Gui of the grand Ming. The Southern Song even stood by as the Central Plains, the land where the dragon of China rose, fell into barbarian dust. Emperor Gaozong of Song calling himself a subject to Jin lowered the historical humiliation of our country to a new depth.

However, compared to the other fragmented regimes, the Song Dynasty held a strong influence. 76 years after the fall of the Song, when the Red Turban Army marched north, they still shouted the slogan ’With three thousand tiger soldiers, straight to Youyan Land; the dragon flies again to restore Great Song,’ and Song poems remain a dazzling gem in the hall of Chinese culture.

Song Dynasty architecture not only preserved a portion of the majestic and unrestrained style of the Tang Dynasty but also introduced some new techniques created by the Song, such as using oblique brace structures, enhancing the dougong technique, reducing the load-bearing purpose, and further diminishing the height ratio of pillars to dougong, creating a sense of sleek elegance.

Speaking of Song Dynasty architecture, Baoguo Temple right in front of us cannot be ignored."

Baoguo Temple?

Everyone looked puzzled.

But Lu Xuan gazed up at the magnificent, historically rich Celestial King Hall, overwhelmed with emotion: "When people found it increasingly difficult to source hundred-year-old trees for building, Baoguo Temple’s main hall used assembled columns and beams, introducing the concept of ’green architecture.’

When the coffered ceiling of the previous generations’ interiors merely used vertical and horizontal timber with an octagonal pyramid form, Baoguo Temple’s main hall used layered projecting eaves and curved cornices supporting a domed roof, whose advanced techniques were unparalleled and dazzlingly colorful like seeing a celestial palace.

The sight of Baoguo Temple’s main hall, as historians say, exemplifies ’the zenith of Chinese cultural evolution during the Zhao Song era,’ that ’the Song Dynasty was a great era of creativity, leading the world in technological invention, material production, political philosophy, and scholar culture.’

Hearing this, everyone couldn’t help but scrutinize everything in the Celestial King Hall again, closely aligning with Lu Xuan’s words, discovering in detail each aspect. From the construction art of Baoguo Temple’s main hall of the Song Dynasty, it seems like they could feel the mastery of great artisans in the ’great era of creativity,’ the flourishing achievements of Song Dynasty architectural art, and the humanistic light behind the awakening of ’people’s wisdom’ and the prevalence of human-centered philosophy in the Song Dynasty.

"Baoguo Temple isn’t large, yet it contains so much heavy history. If it weren’t for Lu’s explanation, to me, this might just have been a mountain quite suitable for the elderly and children to climb!"

Cheng Gaowen sighed: "But when you observe the Celestial King Hall again in the context of history, you come to realize the peak skills and wisdom of the Song Dynasty’s skilled craftsmen. This isn’t just a temple but history surfacing before your eyes."

"What’s even more precious is that in this misty Yong City, Baoguo Temple has been preserved until now without being damaged, allowing us, the people of later generations, to witness the building art of those times firsthand," said Wang Youqing.

"We’ve been to Baoguo Temple more than once, yet it seems this time is the first we’re seriously delving into the historical culture embedded within this structure."

"Lu, I didn’t expect you to be not only well-versed in medical theory but also highly knowledgeable about Song Dynasty architecture and history."

Lu Xuan laughed: "I usually read these for fun, didn’t think they’d come in handy today."

"In books there is a golden house, in books there is a lovely face, reading thousands of books, traveling ten thousand miles, it seems it’s beneficial to read more usually, so as not to face history unknowingly, appreciating the scenery while forgetting the heavy history behind this beautiful view.

The group, listening to Lu Xuan’s explanation of Baoguo Temple, arrived behind the Celestial King Hall.

Behind the Celestial King Hall is the Pure Land Pool.

Above the pool are the four words ’A Vast Expanse Reflects the Sky’ written by Yan Qiong, a Ming Dynasty censor. Fish in the pool frolic freely; it is said that this pool neither dries in drought nor overflows in flood, maintaining a relatively stable water level. 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

Upon reaching the Pure Land Pool, many children were gathered around, feeding the goldfish and turtles living in the pool with bread and biscuits, their laughter continuously ringing in everyone’s ears.

Children’s carefree and joyful innocence makes everyone’s spirits high.

In the bustling city, having such a place is extremely relaxing for both children and parents alike.

Adding to that, Baoguo Temple’s mountain is not high. Climbing all the way up in one go doesn’t tire many, not even the small children need to rest.

Such a mountain is undeniably friendly to children and the elderly.

Combined with the historical charm of Baoguo Temple, it adds a mysterious aura to this mountain.

Halfway up the mountain.

Watching the cars coming and going below, enjoying the gentle breeze on his face, and breathing in the fresh air of the forest, Ji Yongfeng thought he should head down the mountain; he came alone without a car, so he had to account for the bus ride back, as getting home late might require his family to pick him up.

Ji Yongfeng didn’t like troubling others, so he had a strong sense of time.

Descending from halfway up the mountain at his pace would take at least ten minutes, and a bus back to the city would be there in half an hour, so he needed to catch it, or he might miss dinner.

With this in mind, Ji Yongfeng didn’t intend to linger and turned to leave.

Just then, the sudden sound of a wailing cry grabbed his attention.

Turning around, Ji Yongfeng saw a couple picking up a child who had fallen from a height, and the child, being held by the father, was crying heartbreakingly.

The child’s parents were trying to soothe the child.

However, the comforting seemed ineffective; the child’s cries only grew louder, as if suffering from some pain.

Ji Yongfeng, with his keen eyes, noticed the child’s left arm was dangling and couldn’t be raised, appearing dislocated, but the parents hadn’t realized this yet. Ji Yongfeng hurriedly shouted:

"Check if the child’s arm is dislocated?"

It was like a wake-up call; upon hearing Ji Yongfeng’s reminder, the parents immediately checked the child’s arm and found indeed, their child couldn’t lift the arm, indicating it might be fractured or dislocated.

Seeing this, the couple’s faces turned pale instantly.