What are the interesting facts about the changes in the names of Beijing’s Hutongs?

There are many hutongs in Beijing, and naturally they have many names. They are all-encompassing and cover all things. If you study the origin and changes of their names in depth, you can discover countless interesting phenomena.

During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, there were many hutongs with the same name in Beijing. For example, there were 11 Biandan Hutongs and 10 Jing'er Hutongs.

Later, in order to facilitate distinction, their names were changed. For example, the Biandan Hutong at Jianguomen in the East City was changed to Dayabao Hutong, the Biandan Hutong near the Temple of Heaven in Chongwen was changed to Dongbanbi Street, the Biandan Hutong at Chaoyangmen in the East City was changed to Zhugan Hutong, and the Biandan Hutong in Fengsheng in the West City was changed to Wuding Hutongs, the Biandan Hutong in Chongwen Flower Market was changed to Beihecao Hutong, the Biandan Hutong near Jianguomen was changed to Pingping Hutong, the Biandan Hutong in Dashilan, Xuanwu was changed to Qingzhu Lane, the Biandan Hutong in Chongwenmen was changed to Gangyi Hutong, Xicheng The Biandang Hutong in Changqiao was converted into a beekeeping alley. The existing Biandan Hutong is located in Beixinqiao, Dongcheng City.

Some of the changed names of the 10 Jing'er Hutongs sound very beautiful, such as "Deep Flowers" in the south of Xinjiekou, "Xinghuatian" on Di'anmen Street, etc.

Some alleys have very unpleasant names, such as the Dung Beetle Hutong in Xizhimen, but it has been renamed "Shiliang Hutong"; and the dog tail in the south of Taipusi Street (old Beijingers pronounce this character Cheng "Yi") Ba Hutong is now changed to Gao Yibo Hutong; Shaupi Hutong on Gulou East Street is now changed to Shoubi Hutong; the Shichang Courtyard on Dongxi Xinglong Street outside Chongwenmen is now changed to Fenzhang Hu and others.

There are also some hutong names. Due to their long history, people have gradually replaced the original characters with some homophonic words with complimentary meanings. For example, Donkey Street in Dongcheng became Lishi Hutong, Shaojiu Hutong became Shaojiu Hutong, Menghu Guan became Mengfuluguan, Donghuangchenggen became Donghuangchenggen, and Dongjiangmi Lane became Dongjiaomin Lane.

The Badui River in Xicheng became the Shuishui River, the Puss Hutong became the Kuzi Hutong, the Big and Small Shaguo Hutong became the Big and Small Shaguo Hutong, and the Niuti Hutong became the Liuti Hutong. The hutong became Picai Hutong.

Shangguoqiang Hutong and Xiaguoqiang Hutong in Chongwen District became Shangguoqiang Hutong and Xiaguoqiang Hutong, Yingzi Hutong became Xuzi Hutong, and Xique Hutong became Joy Hutong.

The dog-fighting alley in Xuanwumen has become Dagouyan alley, the robbery alley has become Daji alley, the bad-face alley has become the romantic alley, the ox-blood alley has become the study-abroad alley, and the crotch alley has become the alley for studying abroad. Kuzang Hutong, Kutleg Hutong became Kudui Hutong, and Kujiao Hutong became Kujiao Hutong.

Many alley names are very intriguing. For example, some alleys are named after firewood, rice, oil, salt, sauce, vinegar and tea. Chaibang Hutong (near Andingmen), Mishi Hutong (around Taoranting, Xuanwu), Youfang Hutong (west entrance of Xirongxian Hutong, Xicheng), Yandian Hutong (Qinghe, Haidian), Jiangfang Hutong (Dewai Street, Xicheng), Jiuzhang Hutong (Xuanwu Niu Street), Chaer Hutong (Xuanwu Dashilan).

There are also alleys named after gold, silver, copper, iron and tin, such as Jinsi Hutong (Xicheng Fusuijing), Yinsi Hutong (Chongwenmen), Iron and Steel Factory Hutong (Xicheng Factory) Bridge), Tiemen Hutong (Xuanwai Street), Xila Hutong (Dongcheng Donghua Gate).

In addition, there are alleys named after gold, wood, water, fire, earth, east, west, south, north, middle, red, yellow, blue, white, black, etc.

The names of hutongs are so colorful that they have aroused the interest of literati. Some people have made many couplets with the names of hutongs. For example, in the couplets based on the names of the fourteen alleys on the west side of Xisi to Xinjiekou Road today, the upper couplet is "Shi Nantai, the ceremonial commander, celebrating longevity"; the second couplet is: "Wuche Shibao Dajin Gong"; the horizontal line is: Shunfu De'an.

The first couplet refers to Li Road Hutong, Shuaifu Hutong, Baozi Hutong, Shoubi Hutong, Shilaoniang Hutong, Nanwei Hutong, Tai'anhou Hutong, and the second couplet refers to Wuwanghou Hutong, Cheer Hutong, and Shibei. Hutong, Baochansi Hutong, Damao Hutong, Jinsigou Hutong and public alley.

These alleys still exist today, but the first eight alleys have been renamed Xisibei 1st to 8th, and Shibei Hutong has been changed to Yude Hutong.

Hengpi refers to the names of the four city gates in old Beijing, namely Shunzhi Gate (Xuanwu Gate), Fucheng Gate, Desheng Gate and Anding Gate.

From the Yuan Dynasty to the early Qing Dynasty, most of the names of Beijing’s hutongs started with the character "大", with more than 40 of them, such as: Da Pocket Hutong, Dagougang, Dashijie, and Dafu Alley. , Dachenxian Hutong (now changed to Dacheng Lane), Dajiao Hutong (now changed to Dajue Hutong), Dapener Hutong, Dapu Geshi (now changed to Dayange Hutong), Damashen Temple Hutong ( Today it is Peiying Hutong), Dashier Hutong (now it is Dashi Hutong), Dawailangying, etc.

Nowadays, those starting with the word "东" are the most popular, with 333 entries. During the "Cultural Revolution", there were even more, reaching 475. At that time, there were only three "Dongfanghong" roads, as well as "Dongfeng Road", "Dongfengyuan", "Donghui Road", "Dongguang Road", "Dongxin Hutong" and so on.

At that time, most alleys had the word "red" added to them, bringing the number of alleys with the word "red" to more than 100. Yonghegong Street in Beixinqiao, Dongcheng, was changed to "Hongri North Road" at that time, and then it was arranged as "Hongri North Road" from Toutiao to Beixinqiao Guozijian Street in Jiaodaokou, Toutiao to Jiutiao.

Dongsi North Street was changed to "Hongri Road" at that time, and then from Dongsi Toutiao to Daju Hutong, it was called "Hongri Road" from Toutiao to Shiqitiao.

The Liang Family Courtyard, Dongmen Cangheng Hutong, South Douya Hutong, Nangouyan Hutong, Bei Douya Hutong, and Shizhi Hutong in Dongsi City were all renamed "Hongxiaobing Hutong" at that time.

Daijia Hutong in Chongwenmen area was changed to "Red Sentinel Hutong", Zhushikou West Street in Xuanwu District was changed to "Hongwei East Road", and Doujiao Hutong in Jiaodaokou area of ??Dongcheng District was changed to "Red Sentinel Hutong". It became "Hongji Hutong", Yuanbao Lane in Chongwen Longtan area was renamed "Hongbing Street", Xinjiekou South Street and Xisi North Street were renamed "Hongqi Road", and Luomashi Street in Xuanwu District was renamed "Hongwei Road" ", Zaozi Hutong in Donghuashi area of ??Chongwen District was changed to "Hongqiang Hutong", "Maxian Hutong" in Chunshu area of ??Xuanwu District was changed to "Hongxian Hutong", and Zhenwu Temple in Chaoyangmen of Dongcheng was changed to "Hongyan Hutong".

In addition, there were many "General Road" (Di'anmen Inner and Outer Streets), "People's Commune Road" (Deshengmen Inner Street), "Great Leap Forward Road" ( Andingmen Nei Street, Jiaodaokou South Street), "Xue Mao Hutong" (Nanxiawazi Hutong in Jiaodaokou area, Dongcheng), "Capitalist-Destroying Alley" (Babaolou Alley in Jianguomen area, Dongcheng), "Anti-Revisionist Alley" "(Dongyangwei Hutong in the Beixinqiao area of ??Dongcheng), "Anti-Imperial Road" (Dongjiaomin Lane in Dongcheng), "Daidaihong Road" Chenchengjing Shandong Street), "Yongqian Street" (Huangsi Building in the Dewai Street area of ??Xicheng Hutong names such as the former Andry North Street) have obvious fashionable slogans.

Although the names of these alleys were only known for a while and soon disappeared, they also left historical traces.

It can be seen that Beijing Hutongs are like an encyclopedia, not only reflecting the historical evolution, but also showing some social customs. For example, the proverb spread in old Beijing that "the east is rich and the west is noble, the north is poor and the south is humble" reflects the basic situation of residents in some hutongs in Dongcheng at that time. At that time, some wealthy businessmen and wealthy people lived there.

There are also some hutong names that show the past uses of hutongs, such as Xintai Cang Hutong, Haiyuncang Hutong, Beixincang Alley 1 to 5, Beixincang Alley, Beixincang Hutong, and Xicangmen Hutong, which were used as warehouses. , Dongmencang Hutong, Nanmencang Hutong, Lumicang East, West, South and North Lanes, etc., are all the former sites of warehouses where Lumi was transported to Beijing via canal.

Most of the people living in Xicheng Hutongs were officials. Several major palaces in the Qing Dynasty were located in Xicheng, such as Prince Chun’s Mansion on the north bank of Shichahai (now the seat of the Ministry of Health), and Prince Gong’s Mansion on the south bank (the first half of which is now the Chinese Music Hall). College, the second half is an open park), the Shuncheng County Prince's Mansion on Zhao Dengyu Road (now the seat of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference), and the Zhuang Prince's Mansion on Di'anmen West Street (now north of the west entrance of Taipingcang Road in Ping'anli). The old buildings are basically gone. ), Prince Zheng’s Mansion in Damucang Hutong (now the seat of the State Education Commission), Prince Cheng’s Mansion on Xinjiekou East Street (now Jishuitan Hospital), Prince Li’s Mansion on Gennan Street in Xihuang City (now the office of the central government unit) land), Prince Yi's Mansion on the west side of Fuyou Street (now the guest house of the Ministry of Water and Electricity), Prince Keqin's Mansion on Xinhua Street (now the No. 2 Primary School on Xinhua Street), etc.

Beicheng Hutongs are mostly populated by people doing small business, doing crafts and the unemployed.

Most of the Hutongs in Nancheng are artists and people at the lowest level of society. The eight alleys north of Zhushikou and between Qianmen and Hepingmen have been where prostitutes lived since the Qing Dynasty. They are commonly known as the "Eight Big Hutongs". alley".

After liberation, with the outlawing of brothels, the Bada Hutong completely changed.