Hongtong county, in south Shanxi, is always cropping up in studies of local culture in north Chinaβnotably since it was used as a huge migration transfer centre to areas further north and northeast that had been depopulated by the appalling dynastic warfare of the early Ming. A step into Hongtong county in southern Shanxi province and I found myself transported into a land filled with fairy tales. It does provide a couple of charming pieces of folklore:. The migrants had their hands tied behind their backs when they migrated.
They were only allowed to untie their hands when they needed to relieve themselves. The expression spread widely to the provinces where the Shanxi migrants were sent.
Another interesting tale on Hongtong involves a woman by the name of Su San in the Ming Dynasty, who became probably one of the most well-known prostitutes in Chinese history.
Su met young scholar Wang Jinglong at her brothel. The two fell in love and Wang stayed with Su for a whole year but was later chased out of the brothel because he ran out of money. Su was then sold to another man as concubine. She was framed for murdering the man, imprisoned and was sentenced to death.
Meanwhile, Wang who attempted the imperial examination, did well and was appointed governor of Shanxi. The lovers eventually got married and as how all fairy tales end, they lived together happily ever after. Hongtong county where Su San was imprisoned became well-known through the play. For example, there is a cave used for dead bodies, and a well with very small mouth to prevent prisoners from jumping in to kill themselves.
