My love for ancient trees
Text/Zhang Futang
Time flies so fast, to May 10, 2023, my cycling history will be a full seven years! In the process of riding, I gradually developed a strong interest in ancient trees, people often say that "ancient trees are feng shui", most of them have experienced the baptism of the years, witnessed the warmth and coldness of the world, and most of these ancient trees grow in temples or ancient cemeteries, and survive under the protection of the gods. Some of these ancient trees are also regarded as sacred trees by the local people, and they are worshipped, and the ancient trees are also protecting the good people. Some of the trees are obviously from the south, but they have grown in the north until now and have become ancient trees. It's amazing that some of the trees that were originally shrubs have grown into trees.
In the face of this ancient tree, I am thinking, the ancient tree with its vicissitudes and heavy history to carry the process of human beings from ignorance to civilization, human beings to the ancient trees are just a hurried passerby, the change of dynasties, spring and autumn, ashes, trees are not human. If we can read the vicissitudes of the ancient tree, understand the ancient echo of the ancient tree, feel the soul of the ancient tree, and feel the inner spirit of the ancient tree, then we will reach the realm of transcendence.
In view of this, in March 2023, I will sort out the ancient trees I found in northern Shaanxi during my seven-year cycling and share them with you. In the past five years, I have found and appreciated a total of 22 types of ancient trees (jujube tree, jujube tree, pear tree, apricot tree, locust tree, cypress, willow tree, maple tree, mulberry tree, willow leaf buckthorn tree, honey locust tree, linden tree, eucommia tree, Tsubaki tree, elm tree, ginkgo tree, peony tree, white Du tree, canopy fruit tree, barberry tree, caragana tree, catalpa tree) a total of hundreds of ancient trees, some of which are more than 2,000 years old, and some are hundreds of years old. Due to the past few years, some photos can't find the original picture, coupled with my limited photography level, some photos may be taken at a bad angle, and some photos are forwarded from the circle of friends or screenshots on Kuaishou, resulting in low clarity of the photos. Thank you for your valuable comments.
Dry willow tree
Willow is also known as willow, willow, willow, willow is a deciduous tree, up to 18 meters high. Canopy broadly rounded, bark coarse, deeply lobed, dark grayish-black, branchlets yellow or green, smooth, young branches hairy, single leaves alternate, batch needle-shaped, margins with distinctly fine serrations, green above, grayish-white below, dioecious, soft inflorescences, capsule, very small, dark brown, with very fine filamentous hairs, flowering in April, fruiting in May. Positive fast-growing tree species, not shade tolerant, cold tolerant, moisture soil preference, drought tolerant, SO2 and smoke resistance, not strict soil requirements, heavy pruning resistance, under normal conditions is a deep-rooted tree species, lateral roots are large and developed, sessile soil. It is commonly used for propagation by cuttings, and sowing propagation is used for breeding. It is suitable for planting on the banks of rivers and lakes. It can be used as street trees, shelterbelts and greening trees, and can also be used as timber species. It is distributed in Northeast China, the North China Plain, the Loess Plateau in the northwest, Gansu and Qinghai in the west, the Huaihe River basin in the south, Zhejiang and Jiangsu.
Our name is Liushu, we are over 300 years old this year, and I also grew up in Yangjiahe Village, Jianyucha Town, Zichang County.
My name is Liushu, I am more than 100 years old this year, I grew up in Dianzegou Village, Dianzegou Town, Qingjian County, I am about 15 meters high, the diameter of the tree is about 70 centimeters, and the crown width is about 80 square meters.
My name is Liushu, I am more than 300 years old this year, I grew in front of the Xuanyuan Temple in Gaobai Mountain, Zichang County, my tree diameter is about 110 cm, I was adopted from elsewhere, and I have two brothers who are about the same age as me. Legend has it that the place where I live now is the burial place of the Yellow Emperor Xuanyuan.
My name is Liushu, I am more than 100 years old this year, I grew up in Yulin City, my tree diameter is about 100 cm, Zhaojiayuan Village, Yuyang District.
My name is Liu Shu, I am over 200 years old this year, and I grew up in Bailu Temple, Sigou Village, Ganquan County, Yan'an City.
My name is Liushu, I am more than 200 years old this year, I grew up in Xingjiayuan Village, Zhangjiatou Town, Suide County, I am about 15 meters high, and the diameter of the tree is about 80 centimeters.
My name is Liushu, I am more than 200 years old this year, I grew up in Zhouyangwa Village, Peijiawan Town, Zizhou County, I am about 15 meters high, and the diameter of the tree is about 90 centimeters.
My name is Liu Shu (left), I am more than 200 years old this year, I grew up on the street of Mutouyu Town, Jia County, I am about 15 meters high, the diameter of the tree is about 90 centimeters, and the crown width is about 30 square meters.
My name is Liu Shu, I am over 120 years old this year, and I grew up in Fengjiaping Village, Hejiaji Town, Zizhou County.
My name is Liushu, I am more than 100 years old this year, I grew up in Zhongzhuang Village, Shizuiyi Town, Qingjian County, I am about 15 meters high, and the diameter of the tree is about 110 cm. The crown width is about 20*12 square meters.
My name is Liushu, I am more than 110 years old this year, I grew up in Sanhuangmiao Village, Horseshoegou Town, Zizhou County, I am about 10 meters high, and the diameter of the tree is about 100 centimeters.
My name is Liu Shu, I am over 150 years old this year, and I also grew up in Longyun Village, Wuqi County, Yan'an City.
Three old willow trees near Baoning Fort in Yulin
A recent photo of the author Zhang Futang
About author:Zhang Futang, male, born on June 5, 1973, member of the Communist Party of China, university education, from Tianzhuang Town, Suide County, now works in the People's Government of Tianzhuang Town.