Research On Preservation Of Ming Garrison Towns In Weihai

The Garrison System is a new military policy started from Ming Dynasty, which constitutes a major role in Ming military system and typical embodiment of the Ming coastal defensive policy. The widespread Ming garrison sites nationwide have attracted attentions from both historical scholars and government agencies for their historical cultural significance. According to relevant literatures, there have been three garrison towns, four garrison stations and four patrol posts, over one hundred military strongholds and fortress cannons of various scales in Weihai. The three garrison towns include Jinhai Wei, Chengshan Wei and Weihai Wei, while the four garrison stations refer to Ningjin Defensive Qianhu Station, Baichiya Defensive Qianhu Station, Xunshan Defensive Qianhu Station and Haiyang Defensive Qianhu Station. The four patrol posts include Chishanzhen, Wenquanzhen, Xinwangzhai and Rushanzhai. All of these garrison sites are in bad conditions today for many of them have been seriously damaged and some even completely replaced. However, all of these historical sites have been largely well preserved until the early time of the 20th century according to some historical records. It was not until the latter part of the 20th century that these garrison sites were severely damaged due to massive urbanization and new rural construction, which have been intensifying ever since. So far, only few of those garrison sites still boast well-preserved fortress cannons while most of them with left ruins are challenged by quickening steps of urbanization. Necessary study and protection, development measures related to these historical heritages is urgent, thus investigation of their status quo based on field work should be of equal importance.This paper put forward some preservation and development patterns toward garrison historical sites based on extensive literature review, investigation of garrison sites in Weihai, research on their historical features and status quo.Some valuable sources are referred from the following literature, Municipal History of Weihai, History of Rongcheng, History of Wendeng, History of Rushan, Twenty-five Official Dynastic Histories, History of Ninghai, History of Mouping, and the old versions of History of of Wending.During the research various interviews with relevant experts from the Municipal Cultural Relics Administration, Weihai Municipal Museum, and field work of garrison sites have been carried out. Besides, vast historical records preserved by relevant agencies have been studied to investigate the Ming garrison township in Weihai. Relevant data have been carefully classified and categorized to mark related sites and set accordingly the exploration route of fieldwork.Wild observation, specific description, measurement and photographing have been applied in the fieldwork. Several regions have been marked out according the location of investigated sites. Over sixty sites and facilities have been investigated thoroughly covering vast regions during one month.As a result, most of present garrison facilities are in bad conditions and even the existing ruins will have difficulties to survive without timely protection measures. For instance, the original Weihai Wei garrison town covers the present intersection around the Dongcheng Road, Kunming Road, Xicheng Road and Shichang Road. The western city wall of Huancui Pavilion, around 180 meters from south to north, is the only existing heritage of the original town, which was listed as municipal cultural relics in 2004. But this historical site is facing a severe corruption due to prosperous activities in the downtown area and city construction as well as daily life of nearby citizens. Similar problems exist in the preservation of other garrison sites.The cultural relics census carried out in 1980s has detailed vast wild historical heritage in registration, measurement and record in order topreserve the contemporary cultural sites in full length. However, constant damage has happened to these historical sites due to wild conditions so severe preservation is required on the basis of systematic investigation. At the same time, how to redevelop the historical sites while preserve them is another practical problem. Based on this research, it was found that related government protection policy, cooperation and awareness of local citizens are important for the preservation and sustainable development of cultural heritages.