October 18, 2024
BEIJING – The Taihang Mountains are steeped in cultural heritage and have been the birthplace of numerous heroes. It spans across Beijing, Hebei province, Shanxi province, and Henan province. During the Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127), the Yang family warriors famously defended their homeland with unparalleled loyalty and bravery, earning a lasting reputation for their heroism.
Landmarks like the Red Flag Canal, a manmade waterway carved into the mountains, and the “cliffside road” etched into the sheer rock faces, embody the spirit of devotion and perseverance of the people in this region.
Photographer Yang Jianchuan, who grew up in a small village in Yuncheng of Shanxi province, and now resides in Chengdu, was inspired to document the resilient spirit of the Taihang Mountain inhabitants after several visits to his hometown.
The lives of local residents deeply moved Yang, particularly stories like that of forest ranger Zhang Jianfu, who has diligently protected the forest for seven years without a single day off, and countryside teacher, Yang Huaishuan, who has dedicated 40 years to teaching. These compelling stories motivated Yang to use photography to preserve and celebrate the vivid yet fading memories of his hometown.
During the past two decades, Yang has returned to the Taihang Mountains more than 100 times, immersing himself in the lives of the local villagers and capturing their stories through his lens.
After years of dedicated efforts, his photography collection titled A Mental Tour • To Taihang Mountain was published this year. His solo exhibition, featuring this series, was showcased at the recent Pingyao International Photography Festival.
Yang Jianchuan has been involved in photography since 1977. Since the 1990s, he has focused on thematic photography, dedicating himself to capturing the essence of Chinese Kunqu Opera and the enduring spirit of the Taihang Mountain people.
In 2012, his work Dreams of Kunqu Opera in the Bamboo Garden was selected for the 24th National Exhibition of Photographic Art, which won the Gold Award in the Art Category. In 2014, he received the 10th China Photography Art Gold Image Award.