Zhishan culture, known as the "living fossil" of ancient Chinese papermaking, will be officially listed in the third batch of provincial historical and cultural reserves by the provincial government. Recently, the demonstration of the protection scope of shuiduikeng village and Huangkeng village, the ancient villages of Zeya paper culture in Ouhai District, has been approved.
The ancient village of Zeya paper culture in Ouhai is the only living fossil of papermaking in China. The paper mill, which was built in the Ming Dynasty and represented by the four linked pestles, is one of the sites of China's four great inventions. In 2001, the State Council listed it as the fifth batch of national cultural relics protection units, becoming the only "national treasure" of China's paper culture.
Shuiduikeng village and Huangkeng village are two well-preserved ancient villages in Zeya. Shuiduikeng village is located in the embrace of mountains. It has a history of more than 200 years. Now it has a permanent population of 76. All the residents are panned families. There are more than 20 ancient residential buildings in the village, with a unique shape, orderly layout, and complete preservation. There are three water pestles, 27 paper troughs, and 39 pickling ponds in the village. Huangkeng village is surrounded by mountains and two streams. It has a history of more than 700 years. The village has a permanent population of 167. The residents are mainly Huang and Wu families. There are more than 40 ancient dwellings in the village, including Huangkeng palace built in the middle of the Qing Dynasty, Wu ancestral hall built in the Yongle period of the Ming Dynasty, Huang's old house built in the middle of the Qing Dynasty, and Wu ancestral hall built in the Yongle period of the Ming Dynasty.
According to the preliminary value assessment of relevant experts, shuiduikeng and Huangkeng ancient villages are a precious cultural heritage left by their ancestors, historical witnesses of the social development of Zeya paper mountain, and have very important historical and cultural value.