Since ancient times, only Luoyang and Chang'an can be called the ancient capital of China. ", Liangdu Fu " and "Erjing Fu" both illustrate this problem. The Three Qin and Jiuluo Xian said the imperial capital was the earliest, longest, and most dynasties in China. The issue of the dynasty in Luoyang, Xi'an has been debated by many people. To this day, for the sake of tourism, the thirteen dynasties have been added to the thirteen dynasties, which is not a rigorous historical conclusion.
In fact, the concept of dynasty should at least first exclude separatist regimes with strong warlord colors and no long-term cultural accumulation. For example, those separatist regimes should conform to the concept of unity in Chinese history. At least it should be a dynasty with the ability to rule half of the country for a certain period, like Cao Wei , Northern Wei , Northern Qi, Southern Dynasties .
Therefore, in addition to having the radius of rule of the whole country or half of the country, the city that was established must also be the center of politics, economy, culture, military and even diplomacy, at least sub-center.
So, which dynasties listed in Xi'an and Luoyang, when they were known as the ancient capitals of the Thirteen Dynasties, meet the above standards?
First look at Xi'an:
The thirteen dynasties in Xi'an are the Western Zhou Dynasty, Qin, Western Han Dynasty , New, Eastern Han Dynasty, Western Jin Dynasty , Former Zhao , Former Qin , Later Qin, Western Wei, Northern Zhou, Sui and Tang dynasties.
1. In the Western Zhou Dynasty, ruled the Chinese countries with Fenghao and Luoyi capitals and feudal state systems. Their ritual and music system, farming technology, moral thought, patriarchal system and even the ideal of the well field had a far-reaching impact on Chinese civilization, and had a roughly stable period of about two hundred years. As the dynasty level, Fenghao and the two cities were worthy of the name of the ancient capital.
2. Qin, , was the late identity of the early Eastern Zhou Dynasty, reformed and strengthened the country, and finally destroyed the six countries and unified China. Although there was no stable rule, the Qin system, Qin laws, and Qin lessons had a profound impact on the history of future generations. It practiced great unification for the first time, which was considered the dynasty level. Xianyang (ancient Xianyang included the current Xi'an) is also known as the ancient capital of China.
3. Western Han Dynasty, killed tyrannical Qin, continued the Qin system and unification, and the rule of Wen and Jing was a rule of ancient times. The three dynasties of Han and Wu Zhaoxuan decided to open the Xiongnu and dig out the Western Regions , and the internal kings and hegemons were role models for the imperial industry for all generations, reaching the peak of the Qin and Han imperial system. As for the dynasty level, In the Western Han Dynasty, ,200 years, Chang'an City has always been the political, economic and cultural center of the country, and is well known as the ancient capital of China.
4. New, Wang Mang usurped the Han Dynasty was a product of the classical thoughts in the late Western Han Dynasty, but the reform of utopianism not only did not help improve political and economic issues at the late Western Han Dynasty, but instead intensified the turmoil. Mangxinkong has the name of unification, but there is no reality of unification, and it cannot be considered a dynasty, and Mangxin Chang'an City is even more unto the ancient capital.
5. Eastern Han Dynasty, In fact, Chang'an was not the long-term capital of the Eastern Han Dynasty, but was forced to move the capital of warlords. Emperor Xian of Han was in Chang'an. He could not govern the princes of Guandong in the east, and could not govern the three states of Jing and Yangyi in the south. In essence, it was just a puppet of separatist regimes. Even Xuchang during the Jian'an period could not be compared with it and could not be regarded as the ancient capital of a dynasty.
6. Western Jin Dynasty, , like the Eastern Han Dynasty, was forced to move the capital due to foreign enemies. Western Jin Dynasty Emperor Min was enshrined in a hurry because Luoyang was defeated by the former Zhao forces. It was humiliated and died in just four years, and it could not be regarded as the ancient capital of a dynasty.
7. Former Zhao, the regime established by the five Southern Xiongnu tribes in the Bingzhou area was attached to . During the rule, they had no time to carry out any construction. They were always in a state of war and their rule was very unstable. Most of the North China Plain were indirectly ruled through Shile , and they did not even achieve unification. How could they talk about the ancient capital of the dynasty?
8. Former Qin, Former Qin Heavenly King Fu Jian Different from many monarchs of the sixteen kings before, they implemented many long-lost virtue policies in the north since the end of the Jin Dynasty, and achieved the first unification of the north + Bashu since the end of the Jin Dynasty. Several policies inspired the rise of the Northern Wei Dynasty and laid a certain foundation for the unification of the Northern Wei Dynasty.Although it eventually collapsed due to the defeat of the Feishui war, it can still be regarded as a good semi-unified regime, belonging to a "semi-dynasty" between a unified dynasty and a separatist regime.
9. Later Qin, Later Qin belongs to the lower level. He stepped on the Former Qin Feishui and started his business. However, Yao Qin could not determine Murong Zhuyan in the east, Helian Huxia in the north, and pacified Zhuliang in the west, so he could only be considered a separatist regime.
10. Western Wei, Yuwen Tai At that time, the Western Wei Dynasty controlled Heluo through the Battle of Hongnong Shayuan, and took advantage of Hou Jing's rebellion to determine Han, Xiang, Ba and Shu. It was able to use the six edicts, copywriting programs, and account registration methods of Suchuo to rectify the rule of the Yuan and Wei officials, and combined with the actual situation of the regime, implement the six official system and the government military system, laying the foundation for the future Suchuo . Although it did not unify the north, it was still considered a half-dynasty.
11. Northern Zhou, Yuwen Zhou inherited the political system of the Western Wei Yuwen Tai period, completed the birth of the Guanlong Group , laid the foundation for the rule of the Sui Dynasty and the early Tang Dynasty, and successfully eliminated the Northern Qi Dynasty, unified the north of the Yangtze River , laying the foundation for the unification of the Sui Dynasty , and was considered a half-dynasty.
12. Sui, Yang Sui usurped Zhou, realizing the replacement of the Hu people in Beizhen by the powerful class of Guanlong, or in other words, it marked that the Hu people in Beizhen were completely integrated into the powerful class of Guanlong. The destruction of the Southern Chen, the alliance with Hexi, the inter-Turkish , the connecting canal, and the establishment of the imperial examination. Although its rule was short, it laid the foundation for the politics of the Tang Dynasty and was considered a dynasty. The newly built Daxing City also adhered to the experience of Pingcheng of the Yuan Dynasty, Guzang of Hexi, and Yecheng of Guandong. The ancient capital is worthy of its name.
13. Tang, Tang inherited the Sui system, but there were no Sui abuses. There were Zhenguan, Yonghui , Kaiyuan's prosperity, restrained the distant country, communicated between China and abroad, there were the peak of the ancient Chinese law of the Tang Dynasty, and the glorious chapter of Chinese literature in Tang poetry, reaching the peak of the imperial system of the Sui and Tang Dynasties. It was considered the dynasty level. Tang Chang'an was also the largest city in the world at that time. is well known as the ancient capital of China .
can be seen that among the so-called ancient capitals of the thirteen dynasties in Xi'an, there are only five dynasties that are worthy of their name: Zhou, Qin, Han, Sui and Tang. Three and a half dynasties, including the Former Qin, Western Wei, and Northern Zhou, the rest of the regimes are not enough to be called dynasties, and those capitals during the regime are not enough to rule the country or half of the country.
Look at Luoyang again:
The thirteen dynasties in Luoyang were Xia, Shang, Western and Eastern Zhou, Eastern Han, Cao Wei, Western Jin, Northern Wei, Sui, Tang, Wu Zhou, Houliang , Houtang , Houjin , Houjin , Houjin .
1. Xia Shang Yanshi, Xia Shang often moved the capital, and there were records of "staying" in the Luoshui area, but except Yin and Chaoge , the capitals except Yin and Chaoge, including Luodi, are not actually stable and long-term big cities. What kind of regime was the Shang Dynasty in the early period and how large the ruling scope was, it is difficult to determine. Even whether the Xia and Shang Dynasty had the ability to stabilize and unify the Central Plains in the early period is questionable (Xia had Houyi Hanxian , and Shang frequently moved its capital in the early period). Moreover, even if the Xia and Shang Dynasty had records of "determined capital" and the remains of the ruins in Luoyang, it was only a short time and small city, which was not enough to be recognized as a "capital city".
2. Western Zhou and Eastern Zhou, weeks of public camp Luo, Eastern Zhou Duluo, during the Western Zhou Dynasty, Luoyi was indeed the base for the Zhou royal power to rule the Guandong princes, but Zongzhou was still Fenghao, and Luoyi was only 湖月 , which is also the accompanying capital. By the Eastern Zhou Dynasty, the Zhou royal power had declined, and even the Zheng Kingdom , which was close to him, dared to commit rash results, let alone the five hegemons and seven heroes in the future? During the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, Luoyi was only the co-lord of the princes in the name of the princes. Handan, Ying, Linzi, Xianyang, Daliang and Anyi were the most dominant cities at that time. In Zhou Dynasty, Luoyi of the Western Zhou Dynasty was the capital of the capital. Luoyi of the Eastern Zhou Dynasty could not control the entire China and could only barely be regarded as the ancient capital of a dynasty (Western Zhou) (Chengzhou).
3. Eastern Han Dynasty, The Eastern Han Dynasty quelled the chaos since Mangxin, and achieved more than a hundred years of political compromise with the powerful landlords who completely became the masters of the dynasty. Although it could not completely solve the land problem of the Qin and Han Empire, it could bring about a certain degree of stability, military merits and inheritance of classics. It was also considered a dynasty. Luoyang City was also the center of the country at that time.
4. Cao Wei, brought a brief unification and stability to the north, but there was no further system creation that could end the division and promote unification. Cao Pi founded the country, and used Chen Qun 9th-rank official law to follow the trend of aristocratic families obtaining power, and also stifled the vitality of the regime. It can be regarded as a half-dynasty, and Luoyang City can still be regarded as the first town in the north at that time.
5. Western Jin Dynasty, Sima family confirmed the quasi-herited career of the aristocratic families and completed a brief unification externally. However, its regime was too corrupt, and the aristocratic families were easy to talk about or fight for wealth, and the problem of inheriting the throne could not be properly resolved. Jia Nanfeng and The rebellion of the Eight Kings severely damaged the situation of finally unification, and continued the Han and Wei policies to oppress the Hu tribes within the inner world, which further intensified social conflicts. It was a fragile unification, barely considered a semi-dynasty, although Luoyang was still the first town.
6. Northern Wei, Emperor Xiaowen reformed, absorbed the essence of Han culture in Hexi, Hebei and Jiangdong, and made contributions to the spread of Chinese culture. From then on, the conflict between Hu and Han no longer became the main contradiction in the late Northern Dynasties, laying the foundation for the ruling class toward the Sui and Tang dynasties in the late Northern Dynasties. Luoyang was the political, economic and cultural capital after the integration of Hu and Han in the Northern Dynasties. The Northern Wei can be regarded as a half-dynasty, and the Northern Wei Luoyang is also a famous capital.
7. Sui and Tang dynasties, The Sui Dynasty built Luoyang and had a plan to use Luoyang as the capital. The Tang Dynasty used Luoyang as the Dongdu in order to achieve the connection between the Guanlong political center and the economic center of Jiangdu. Although Luoyang is not the capital, it is also a city that is often about to become the capital in the Sui and Tang dynasties, and can be regarded as the ancient capital of a dynasty.
8. Wu Zhou, Wu Zetian In order to build Zhou, many strategies were adopted to suppress the Guanlong Group. The imperial examination reform, the promotion of the Guandong gentry, and the capital of Luoyang are the same. Luoyang meets the needs of Wu Zhou, which also shows the importance of Luoyang's own status. If Wu Zhou can be considered as a dynasty, Luoyang can also be regarded as the famous capital of Wu Zhou.
9. Houliang, Later Tang, Later Jin, Five Dynasties , only the Later Tang officially established the capital of Luoyang, and Houjin, Later Liang, Later Jin and even Later Han, Later Zhou all established the capital of Kaifeng. This was caused by the objective reality of Luoyang's economic decline since the end of the Tang Dynasty. After the defeat of Zhu Wen to , Li Cunxu , the Later Liang Luoyang was briefly the leader of Zhu Wen and the last emperor's Western capital; the Later Jin Dynasty was only the defeat of Luoyang, the Later Tang Dynasty, and the Last Jin Dynasty was only the short-term capital of Luoyang, the Later Tang Dynasty. In addition, among the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms, only the Later Zhou Dynasty had the momentum to completely unify the north. In the north of the Later Liang Dynasty, Yan, Jin and Qi coexisted, and the Later Tang and Jin could not resist the offensive of Khitan . If these three regimes could be considered dynasties or semi-dynasties, and the ruined Luoyang at that time could be considered famous capitals, there would be many ancient dynasties in Chinese history.
can be seen that among the so-called ancient capitals of the thirteen dynasties in Luoyang, only the Western Zhou Dynasty, Eastern Han Dynasty, Sui Dynasty, Tang Dynasty, and Wuzhou Dynasty were considered dynasties, and Cao Wei and Northern Wei were considered half dynasties, and the rest of the regimes were not enough to be called dynasties, and Luoyang during those regimes could not control the country or half of the country.
In ancient China, those who truly could be called dynasties or even empires were only ten of the Shang Dynasty (Yin), Western Zhou (Fenghao), Qin (Xianyang), Han Dynasty (Chang'an Luoyang), Sui Dynasty (Daxing Luoyang), Tang Dynasty (Chang'an Luoyang), Northern Song Dynasty (Bianliang), Yuan Dynasty (Dadu), Ming (Beijing), Qing (Beijing). In the early Xia and Shang Dynasty, there was not even a stable capital. How could it be considered a dynasty? A separatist regime with half of the country can barely be considered half a dynasty, but it would be too far-fetched if it was even an inconsistent separatist regime like the former Zhao, the Later Qin, the Later Liang, and the Later Jin Dynasty, the New Dynasty, and the escape period of Emperor Xian and Emperor Min, it would be considered as a dynasty's capital.
In fact, Luoyi of the Western Zhou Dynasty, Luoyang of the Tang Dynasty, Luoyang of the Later Liang and the Later Jin Dynasty, and Chang'an of the Emperor Xian, Emperor Min of the Shang Dynasty, Jiangdu of the Sui Dynasty, Taiyuan of the Tang Dynasty, and Beijing of the Liao and Jin Dynasty, were all very reluctant. Chaoge of the People's Republic of China, Jiangdu of the Sui Dynasty, Taiyuan of the Tang Dynasty, and Beijing of the Liao and Jin Dynasty, were also of the nature of accompanying the capital or walking.
In fact, Xi'an and Luoyang are both the birthplaces of Chinese civilization and the place where they are gathered. They can be called the "Gemini Constellation" in the starry sky of Chinese history. It would be ridiculous to have to compete for the ancient capital of the Thirteenth Dynasty. No matter who built the capital, Xi'an and Luoyang are equally outstanding, extraordinary and great.
