During the third general census of cultural relics in Hunan Province, an ancient road built during
the Qin Dynasty (221–206 b.c.) was discovered around the environs
of Dengjiatang Village, Chenzhou City in the province.
The Ancient Road of Mules
and Horses
This roadway served as an important communications route two
thousand years ago. "That ancient road is comparable to today's
highway from Beijing to Zhuhai," Xie Wujing, an ancient road
specialist in the Hunan Provincial Cultural Relics Bureau said.
"Hoof prints are still obvious on some of the slates. They
couldn't have been formed in this way without hundreds of years of
trampling," He Qiang, the deputy director of Cultural Relics Bureau
of Hunan Province, said on October 11, 2007.
After thoroughly studying maps in the Chenzhou County
Annals covering all the Chinese dynasties, Xie determined that
the road was an ancient route that linked Hunan and Guangdong provinces, and was known as the
Ancient Road of Mules and Horses.
The Chenzhou County Annals recorded that the Ancient
Road of Mules and Horses was built during the 33rd year of the
reign of the first Emperor of the Qin Dynasty (214 BC). Constructed
with slate slabs measuring approximately 2 to 3 meters wide, this
ancient highway was an important line of communications that linked
the central plain area to southern China.
According to these records, the road was literally created when
Yingzheng, the first Emperor of the Qin Dynasty, progressed toward
south China during his war of unification. Leading an army of
500,000 people, he advanced into the South Yue Kingdom with 150,000
soldiers marching forward. They trampled grass and forests,
crushing the earth and forming a road that later was enhanced and
covered with slate.
Another piece of information recorded in the Chenzhou County
Annals indicates that during the reign of Guangwu, emperor of
the Han Dynasty, approx. AD 25 -57, Wei Sa, the chief administrator
of Guiyang County (today known as Chenzhou City) went to great
pains to maintain the road and even built hotels and post offices
along it.
Xie Wujing said that the road was continually used for about
2,000 years and didn't veer from its original course after Wei Sa's
efforts.
The thickly dotted prints of mules and horses not only indicate
the large quantities of travelers through the road but also the
road's popularity despite its remoteness, He Qiang added.
Some villagers have confessed that outsiders have actually begun
purchasing these ancient slates or digging them up secretly. Locals
have excavated the slate for use in home construction projects.
He Qiang said that ancient roads in Hunan Province aren't
especially scarce but this slate imprinted with numerous hoof
prints of mules and horses is indeed a rarity. The slate bears
direct evidence of the economy, politics and culture of ancient
Chinese society. Because it is the oldest and best-protected road,
it will be listed as a cultural heritage site and remain under
provincial protection. Authorities plan to apply for national
protection as well.
This slate route is actually the first ancient road under
provincial protection. The provincial cultural relics bureau plans
to select a well preserved section of the highway, set arches at
each side to mark the boundary and also post a plaque for tourists
and travelers that states: this is the Ancient Road of Mules and
Horses.
The Ancient Road of Mules
and Horses in Dengjiatang Village
A?farmer's house along
the Ancient Road of Mules and Horses
A hoof print of mules and
horses on a slate of the Ancient Road of Mules and
Horses
The Ancient Road of Mules
and Horses
(China.org.cn by Chen Lin October 15, 2007)
