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In Qi County, Shanxi Province in 1938, Qiao's compound stood quietly in the cold wind of early winter, and its quaint façade that had endured hundreds of years of wind and frost became heavier and heavier under the low sky. The house, which has witnessed the changes in China's history from the late Qing Dynasty to the modern era, seems to be quietly waiting for a storm to come.
As the Japanese army continued to penetrate into the Chinese mainland, the Qiao family compound, a treasure of northern residential architecture in the Qing Dynasty, also faced an unprecedented crisis. The villagers' mood grew more tense as the Japanese approached, and rumors of an almost irrepressible enthusiasm for plunder and destruction were reported.
At such a moment, an unexpected thing happened. An ordinary flag, hung at the gate of the Qiao family's compound, became the most incredible character in this silent confrontation.
This flag was originally just a gift from an Italian diplomat in China to the Qiao family many years ago in recognition of the assistance of Qiao Zhiyong, the ancestor of the Qiao family, to the Italian nuns many years ago, but it unexpectedly became the patron saint of the Qiao family's compound.
The invasion of the Eight-Nation Coalition and the fall of Beijing
In the summer of 1900, a thick cloud hung over the sky over Beijing, not only because of the changing seasons, but also because an unprecedented crisis was looming over the ancient imperial capital. The coalition of eight imperialist countries, with their greed and hostility towards China, broke through the defense line of Beiyang and marched all the way to Beijing.
In this so-called "international peacekeeping force", soldiers from different countries, their steps are uniform, the front of the guns flashing with a cold light, and every step of these foreign troops into Beijing seems to herald the collapse of the last years of the Qing Dynasty. The inhabitants of the city were terrified and nervous, whispering about whether the Imperial City would be able to withstand the catastrophe and what their fate would be.
And in this national disaster, the most distressing thing is the flight of the Qing Dynasty royal family. Empress Dowager Cixi and Emperor Guangxu, two members of the imperial family who once stood high, commanded their ministers, and controlled life and death, now have to face the cruel reality: their capital is about to fall, and they have no choice but to flee. At this moment, the tension in Beijing reached its peak.
The escape of the Empress Dowager Cixi and Emperor Guangxu was a hasty and chaotic journey. They left Beijing and fled west to Shaanxi. Along the way, they experienced countless hardships and obstacles, and every step was full of uncertainties. Along the way, the glory of the Qing Dynasty royal family was nowhere to be found, leaving only the bleak and uncertain future of escape.
After the coalition forces captured Beijing, they sacked the ancient city. They wantonly burned, killed and looted in the city, severely damaged cultural relics and monuments, and countless precious historical documents and works of art were taken away by foreign soldiers. The city of Beijing, once the shining pearl of the Orient, was ravaged beyond recognition in just a few days.
At this time, the Chinese people felt unprecedented shock and grief in the face of the loss of national sovereignty and the trampling on national dignity.
Resistance and massacre in Shanxi
Shortly after the fall of Beijing in 1900, a bloody massacre of foreigners quietly unfolded in the far north of Shanxi Province. The massacre was led by Yu Xian, then governor of Shanxi, who, in the name of revenge for the invasion of China by the Eight-Nation Alliance, ordered an indiscriminate attack on foreign missionaries and merchants in Shanxi.
This order was quickly carried out in Shanxi, resulting in the brutal murder of many foreigners, and the bloody scenes were shocking. Most of the foreign missionaries in Shanxi Province lived in churches in towns and villages, and they traveled far from their hometowns to spread religion, education, and medical care in the land.
However, under Yuxian's orders, these foreigners, who usually live peacefully with the Chinese people, suddenly became the targets of hunting and killing. At the beginning of the massacre, some missionaries and their Chinese followers tried to hide or flee, but most did not escape their tragic fate.
After the news broke, foreign communities across Shanxi Province and the wider region were thrown into a state of panic. Many foreigners who had been living in Shanxi began to flee in a hurry, and some of them even had to travel long distances to find safe shelter.
The massacre not only caused great panic among foreigners in Shanxi Province, but also caused an uproar in the international community, which had a serious negative impact on China's relations with the outside world. Behind this bloody massacre, although Yuxian's actions were in retaliation for the invasion of the Eight-Nation Alliance, they actually exposed the blindness and cruelty of the Qing government's military and political strategy at that time.
This extreme response not only failed to effectively solve the problem, but only exacerbated the hostility and conflict between China and the rest of the world. In the international arena, this incident has been widely reported, and the people and governments of many Western countries have expressed strong condemnation and dissatisfaction with it, believing that it is a serious violation of humanitarianism.
Qiao Zhiyong's act of kindness
In that turbulent era, seven Italian nuns escaped from Taiyuan, the capital of Shanxi Province, and finally arrived in Qi County, Shanxi Province. They fled because of the massacre of foreigners in Shanxi, a sudden violence that left them without a safe place to live in China and homeless homeless.
They walked through villages, through fields, on uncertain paths, with deep fear and despair. In that troubled time, foreigners, especially Western missionaries and nuns, became the target of public criticism, and their escape journey was full of unknowns and dangers.
Qi County, a small county town in Shanxi Province, became a temporary refuge for the seven Italian nuns at that special historical moment. Qiao Zhiyong, a well-known figure in the local area, decided to lend a helping hand after learning of the plight of these helpless women.
In those days, it took not only courage but also great wisdom and prudence to lend a helping hand to foreigners, as such an act could lead to unnecessary trouble and even fatal danger. Qiao Zhiyong first provided a refuge for these Italian nuns to live temporarily in their estate.
Located in a corner of Qi County, this manor is a secluded environment, away from the hustle and bustle, and it is undoubtedly a temporary paradise for nuns who have been on the run. Here, they were provided with food, shelter and essential household items, which were a great comfort for them after a long journey.
However, Qiao Zhiyong knows that Qi County is not a long-term solution, after all, it is too close to Taiyuan, the former center of the disaster. In order to ensure the safety of these nuns completely, Qiao Zhiyong decided to secretly send them to a safer place - Hebei. In those days, such a transfer was fraught with risks and required careful planning and arrangement.
Qiao Zhiyong used his connections and resources to arrange a reliable team to escort these nuns. This journey of clandestine transfer was challenging. They avoid major roads and choose off-the-beaten-path trails so as not to attract attention. Marching at night and hiding during the day, the team finally reached Hebei after several days of arduous journeys.
There, through his connections, Qiao Zhiyong found a new refuge for the nuns, ensuring that they could live safely until the situation improved.
Unexpected returns
Over the past few decades, the world situation has undergone earth-shaking changes. However, the good deeds of the world often remain in the memory, like a beacon, through the fog of time and space, illuminating the road to the future. Qiao Zhiyong's good deeds back then, although they were not widely known, were not drowned by the torrent of history in the end.
The Italian diplomat in China learned of this incident many years later and was deeply moved by Qiao Zhiyong's selfless behavior. As a recognition and respect for this humanitarian spirit, they decided to present an Italian flag to Joe Zhiyong as a reward. This Italian flag is more than just a piece of cloth, it carries friendship across borders and a high level of respect for good deeds.
When this national flag arrived at the Qiao family compound and became a unique scenery in the courtyard, the Qiao Zhiyong family and their descendants deeply felt the international respect and friendship. This national flag was hung at the gate of Qiao's compound and became an important symbol of this ancient mansion, as if telling a story of courage, kindness and humanity.
In 1937, the Battle of Songhu broke out, and the Japanese army launched a fierce attack on Chinese mainland. Shanxi Province was not spared in the wave of this war, and Taiyuan eventually fell to the Japanese army. With the continuous deepening of the Japanese army, many historic mansions and cultural relics have been seriously threatened, and the Qiao family compound is also in danger of being ransacked.
In those turbulent times, countless cultural heritages were reduced to ashes in the flames of war, and many innocent lives were lost in chaos. However, when the Japanese troops arrived at the Qiao family compound and were ready to begin their ransacking operation, an unexpected scene emerged. The Italian flag hanging at the gate caught the eyes of the Japanese soldiers.
During that period, Italy, as a member of the Axis powers, was allied with Japan. When the Japanese soldiers saw this Italian flag, they mistakenly thought that Qiao's compound had some special connection with Italy, and that it might be the consulate or other important institution of a friendly country, so it was not appropriate to act rashly.
Out of consideration for the relationship between the Allies, the Japanese army finally decided to abandon the ransacking of the Qiao family compound. This Italian flag, like a talisman, unexpectedly protected the Qiao family compound from the ravages of war.
In that era full of smoke and chaos, this small episode is particularly precious, it not only preserves the Qiao family compound, a pearl in the history of northern residential architecture in the Qing Dynasty, but also protects the precious cultural heritage and historical memory in the house.
The historical changes of the Qiao family compound
Qiao's Compound, a magnificent building built during the Qianlong period, is located in a quiet corner of Qi County, Shanxi Province. With its exquisite architectural art and rich cultural heritage, it has become an important representative of northern residential architecture in the Qing Dynasty. The courtyard covers a large area and is a patchwork of buildings, showcasing the beauty of traditional Chinese house architecture.
Its ingenious design not only meets the requirements of Feng Shui, but also reflects the wisdom and creativity of ancient architects. The building complex of Qiao's compound includes the main living area, living room, study, garden and other parts, each with its own characteristics and echoing each other, forming a complete living and social space.
With the changes of the times, the Qiao family compound has undergone many functional transformations. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, this compound, which symbolized the wealth and power of the old era, was given a new social role and mission. In the early days, it became the office of the Qi County government, witnessing major changes in China's social system and the implementation of new life and new policies.
During that special historical period, the rooms and courtyards of the Qiao family's compound once reverberated with the voices of government officials discussing national affairs, and became the center of local political and social activities. As time passed, the purpose of the Qiao family's compound changed again. It was once converted into a people's hospital to provide medical services to the surrounding residents.
During the hospital, countless lives were saved and people's suffering was alleviated. In addition, Qiao's compound was also used as a grain warehouse, storing grain in the harvest year, ensuring regional food security and supporting economic construction and social development in the early days of New China.
After these years of transformation and development, the Qiao family compound was finally recognized for its important cultural and historical value. It is officially designated as an important cultural property and is open to the public as a tourist attraction, attracting tourists from all over the world.
Resources:
- Fan Chun.The Cultural Charm and Financial Wisdom Inheritance of Jin Merchants in Qiaojia Courtyard[J].Wencun Reading Journal,2023(17):0196-0198