Why did Shen Congwen say that the ancient city of Fenghuang was no longer the ancient city of the past?

2024-09-12 19:06

In his works, Shen Congwen depicted a beautiful ancient city of Fenghuang. This ancient city was once the political, economic, and cultural center of the Miaojiang region. It was also the center of life, culture, and faith for the local people. In his description, the ancient city of Fenghuang had a rich Miao culture, a long history, and unique natural scenery. However, as time passed, the actual situation of the ancient city of Fenghuang was vastly different from what Shen Congwen had described. In modern society, the ancient city of Fenghuang had become a tourist attraction with a long history, attracting a large number of tourists to come for sightseeing and tourism. However, this ancient city has undergone many reconstructions and transformations. Many traditional cultures and historical sites have been destroyed or missing. Many locals are also facing the threat of cultural extinction. In addition, Hunan Province, where the ancient city of Fenghuang is located, is also an area with rapid economic development. Zhangjiajie and other scenic spots adjacent to the ancient city of Fenghuang have become famous tourist attractions at home and abroad. This economic and cultural development had also had an impact on the ancient city of Fenghuang, making the ancient city no longer as mysterious and beautiful as Shen Congwen described it to be. Instead, it had become a modern city. Therefore, although the ancient city of Fenghuang described by Shen Congwen depicted a beautiful vision, in fact, the ancient city of Fenghuang was no longer the past, but a city that had undergone tremendous changes due to historical, economic, cultural and other factors.