Yicheng County 翼城县

History

The county presents itself as the land of Yao (尧) and the source of the Jin state (晋国): tradition holds that Yao first set up his capital here under the name Tang (唐). Early in the Western Zhou the area was the first fief of Tang Shuyu (唐叔虞), and it became Yi (翼), a capital of Jin. Two well-known stories are set here: a younger brother granted a fief with a cut paulownia leaf (剪桐封弟), and a retainer cutting flesh from his own thigh to feed his lord (割股奉君). The county has nine national monuments.

What to see

The Qiaoze Temple Stage (乔泽庙戏台) at Wuchi (武池村) in Nanliang (南梁镇) is all that remains of a water-god temple founded in 1324; a square, gable-and-hip roofed stage of about 140 square metres, Chinese Wikipedia describes it as the largest of China's surviving Yuan-dynasty stages. Sisheng Palace (四圣宫) at Caogong (曹公村) in Xiyan (西阎镇) is named for the four sage rulers Yao, Shun, Yu and Tang whom it honours; its main hall and stage are Yuan buildings and the rest date from the Ming and Qing. Both became national monuments in 2006.

The county's mountains include Mount Li (历山), called "the source of the calendar", and Heshanggong De Mountain (河上公德山), where the recluse Heshang Gong (河上公) is said to have written his commentary on the Daodejing. Jingu Mian Mountain (晋古绵山) is linked to the story of Jie Zitui (介子推) withdrawing into the hills with his mother, and the county also names Foye Mountain (佛爷山) and Tianchi Mountain (天池山), whose mirror-clear water is said never to dry up.

Food, crafts and local products

Yicheng millet is known for its golden colour and aroma, and Yicheng apples carry a national geographical-indication mark. Forsythia (连翘) covers a large area and is sold as a herbal tea, and the county calls itself the home of the samara fruit tree (翅果油树), holding half of China's stock. Yicheng flower drums (翼城花鼓), a national intangible heritage item since 2006, are a lively drum-and-gong dance performed in processions and on open squares; the county gazetteer records a Ming empress dowager rewarding the drummers in the Wanli reign.

Highlights

• Qiaoze Temple Stage 乔泽庙戏台: Yuan stage of a temple founded in 1324, described by Chinese Wikipedia as the largest surviving Yuan stage; national listing 2006.
• Sisheng Palace 四圣宫: Temple to Yao, Shun, Yu and Tang with a Yuan main hall and stage; national listing 2006.
• Mount Li 历山: Mountain the county calls the source of the calendar.
• Yicheng flower drums 翼城花鼓: Processional drum dance; first national intangible-heritage list, 2006.
• Yicheng apples 翼城苹果: Carry a national geographical-indication certification.