Yangguan, or Yangguan Pass (traditional Chinese: 陽關; simplified Chinese: 阳关; lit. 'Sun Gate'), is a mountain pass that was fortified by Emperor Wu of the Western Han dynasty around 120 BC and used as an outpost in the colonial dominions adjacent to ancient China. It is located approximately 70 kilometres (43 mi) southwest of Dunhuang, in the Gansu territory to the west of the Shaanxi province in the far Northwest China, which was in ancient times the westernmost administrative center of China. It was established as a frontier defense post, as well as a developed place in China's remote western frontier; Emperor Wu encouraged Chinese to settle there. Today Yangguan is located in Nanhu Village, along the Hexi Corridor.
Yangguan was one of China's two most important western passes, the other being Yumenguan. In Chinese, yang means "sun" or "sunny", but it can also be used to mean "south" (the sunny side of a hill being the southern side). Yangguan was therefore so-named because it lies to the south of the Yumenguan Pass.[1] It was an important landmark on the Silk Road. The fortress at Yangguan however had fallen into ruin by around AD 900.[2]
Cultural referencesedit
Tourist development near ancient Yangguan, 2011
Yangguan is associated with sad parting in Chinese literature as it was the last stop for Chinese travellers leaving China to the Western Regions. In a famous poem, "Seeing Yuan'er off on a Mission to Anxi", the Tang dynasty poet Wang Wei wrote:
送元二使安西
渭城朝雨浥輕塵，
客舍青青柳色新；
勸君更盡一杯酒，
西出陽關無故人。
Seeing Yuan'er off on a Mission to Anxi
The morning rain of Weicheng dampens the light dust, The guest house is green with the colour of fresh willows. Let's finish another cup of wine, my dear sir, Out west past the Yangguan, old friends there'll be none.
Wang Wei's poem inspired one of China's best-known musical pieces, the "Three Variations of Yangguan" (Yangguan Sandie, traditional Chinese: 陽關三疊; simplified Chinese: 阳关三叠) which existed as early as the Tang dynasty. The song became a classic farewell song sung down the centuries, and additional lines were added by others to the song as refrains.[3][4] The poem is repeated either in part or in whole three times, and each time with some variations. The earliest surviving music score dates back to the Ming dynasty.[3] A current popular version is based on a late Qing dynasty tune; originally it was played on guqin and first published in Introduction to Learning Qin (琴學入門, Qinxue Rumen) in 1864, but it may be traced back to a version from the Ming dynasty. This version is also played on guanzi as well as other instruments, and has also been adapted for a vocal performance.[2][citation needed]
Referencesedit
^"Yangguan Pass of Great Wall (Yangguan)". TravelChinaGuide.com.
^ abJing M. Wang (2003). Jumping Through Hoops: Autobiographical Stories by Modern Chinese Women Writers. Hong Kong University Press. p. 211. ISBN978-9622095830.
yang, pass, dynasty, general, yang, gongren, yangguan, yangguan, pass, traditional, chinese, 陽關, simplified, chinese, 阳关, gate, mountain, pass, that, fortified, emperor, western, dynasty, around, used, outpost, colonial, dominions, adjacent, ancient, china, lo. For the Sui dynasty general see Yang Gongren Yangguan or Yangguan Pass traditional Chinese 陽關 simplified Chinese 阳关 lit Sun Gate is a mountain pass that was fortified by Emperor Wu of the Western Han dynasty around 120 BC and used as an outpost in the colonial dominions adjacent to ancient China It is located approximately 70 kilometres 43 mi southwest of Dunhuang in the Gansu territory to the west of the Shaanxi province in the far Northwest China which was in ancient times the westernmost administrative center of China It was established as a frontier defense post as well as a developed place in China s remote western frontier Emperor Wu encouraged Chinese to settle there Today Yangguan is located in Nanhu Village along the Hexi Corridor YangguanThe ruin of a tower on a hill at YangguanLocationGansu ChinaCoordinates39 55 38 1 N 94 3 32 5 E 39 927250 N 94 059028 E 39 927250 94 059028Yang PassSimplified Chinese阳关Traditional Chinese陽關Literal meaningSun GateTranscriptionsYangguan was one of China s two most important western passes the other being Yumenguan In Chinese yang means sun or sunny but it can also be used to mean south the sunny side of a hill being the southern side Yangguan was therefore so named because it lies to the south of the Yumenguan Pass 1 It was an important landmark on the Silk Road The fortress at Yangguan however had fallen into ruin by around AD 900 2 Cultural references edit nbsp Tourist development near ancient Yangguan 2011Yangguan is associated with sad parting in Chinese literature as it was the last stop for Chinese travellers leaving China to the Western Regions In a famous poem Seeing Yuan er off on a Mission to Anxi the Tang dynasty poet Wang Wei wrote 送元二使安西 dd dd 渭城朝雨浥輕塵 客舍青青柳色新 勸君更盡一杯酒 西出陽關無故人 dd Seeing Yuan er off on a Mission to Anxi The morning rain of Weicheng dampens the light dust The guest house is green with the colour of fresh willows Let s finish another cup of wine my dear sir Out west past the Yangguan old friends there ll be none Wang Wei s poem inspired one of China s best known musical pieces the Three Variations of Yangguan Yangguan Sandie traditional Chinese 陽關三疊 simplified Chinese 阳关三叠 which existed as early as the Tang dynasty The song became a classic farewell song sung down the centuries and additional lines were added by others to the song as refrains 3 4 The poem is repeated either in part or in whole three times and each time with some variations The earliest surviving music score dates back to the Ming dynasty 3 A current popular version is based on a late Qing dynasty tune originally it was played on guqin and first published in Introduction to Learning Qin 琴學入門 Qinxue Rumen in 1864 but it may be traced back to a version from the Ming dynasty This version is also played on guanzi as well as other instruments and has also been adapted for a vocal performance 2 citation needed References edit Yangguan Pass of Great Wall Yangguan TravelChinaGuide com a b 13 Thrice Parting for Yangguan a b Jing M Wang 2003 Jumping Through Hoops Autobiographical Stories by Modern Chinese Women Writers Hong Kong University Press p 211 ISBN 978 9622095830 阳关 陽關 Zdic net External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Yangguan Yangguan Sandie nbsp This Chinese location article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Yang Pass amp oldid 1172456016, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
