The Seven Great Ancient Capitals of China
Posted: Thu Jan 23, 2025 6:32 am
The Chinese phrase "Four Great Ancient Capitals of China" traditionally refers to Beijing, Luoyang, Nanjing, and Xi'an. After the 1920s, as more discoveries were made, other historical capitals were added to the list. The phrase "Seven Ancient Capitals of China", introduced later, also includes Kaifeng (added in the 1920s as the fifth ancient capital), Hangzhou (became the sixth ancient capital in the 1930s), and Anyang (after a proposal by archaeologists in 1988, it became the seventh ancient capital); in 2004, the China Society of Ancient Capitals officially added Zhengzhou as the eighth due to archaeological finds there.
Beijing
There were already cities in the vicinity of Beijing in the 1st millennium BC, and the capital of the Yan state, one of the states of the Warring States period, was founded in Ji, southwest of modern Beijing.
During the Sui and Tang Dynasties, there were only small towns vietnam email list in this area. Numerous ancient poets came here to mourn the lost city, as evidenced by their works.
In 936, the Later Jin Dynasty (936–947) of northern China ceded much of its northern border, including modern-day Beijing, to the Khitan Liao Dynasty in the 10th century. In 938, the Liao Dynasty established a second capital in what is now Beijing and named it Nanjing (Southern Capital). In 1125, the Jurchen Jin Dynasty annexed the Liao and moved their capital to Nanjing in 1153, naming it Zhongdu, or "Central Capital". Zhongdu was located in what is now the area centered around Tianningsi, slightly southwest of central Beijing.
Mongol forces burned Zhongdu to the ground in 1215 and built their own "Great Capital", Dadu, north of the Jin Dynasty capital in 1267, marking the true beginning of modern Beijing.
In 1403, the third Ming emperor, Zhu Di, moved the Ming capital from Nanjing to Beijing. Beijing took its present form during the Ming Dynasty, and the Ming city wall served as the city walls until modern times.
Beijing
There were already cities in the vicinity of Beijing in the 1st millennium BC, and the capital of the Yan state, one of the states of the Warring States period, was founded in Ji, southwest of modern Beijing.
During the Sui and Tang Dynasties, there were only small towns vietnam email list in this area. Numerous ancient poets came here to mourn the lost city, as evidenced by their works.
In 936, the Later Jin Dynasty (936–947) of northern China ceded much of its northern border, including modern-day Beijing, to the Khitan Liao Dynasty in the 10th century. In 938, the Liao Dynasty established a second capital in what is now Beijing and named it Nanjing (Southern Capital). In 1125, the Jurchen Jin Dynasty annexed the Liao and moved their capital to Nanjing in 1153, naming it Zhongdu, or "Central Capital". Zhongdu was located in what is now the area centered around Tianningsi, slightly southwest of central Beijing.
Mongol forces burned Zhongdu to the ground in 1215 and built their own "Great Capital", Dadu, north of the Jin Dynasty capital in 1267, marking the true beginning of modern Beijing.
In 1403, the third Ming emperor, Zhu Di, moved the Ming capital from Nanjing to Beijing. Beijing took its present form during the Ming Dynasty, and the Ming city wall served as the city walls until modern times.