Did you know that the \u77f3\u6d1e1\u53f7\u70fd\u706b\u53f0 stands as a silent sentinel? It has witnessed centuries of Beijing’s evolution. Today, we’ll journey back in time to understand its role within the grand tapestry of Chinese history.
Beijing, a city steeped in history, has been the capital of China for eight centuries. Only Xi’an and Luoyang exceed it in years as the imperial capital. Around Beijing, prehistoric humans lived. Peking man lived here about 770,000 to 230,000 years ago. Upper Cave man lived here about 50,000 years ago. Their remains were found at Zhoukoudian. It is a village southwest of central Beijing.
About 3,000 years ago, Neolithic communities settled near present-day Beijing. During the Zhou dynasty, the kingdom of Yan established its capital, Ji. This was near today’s Beijing. Shihuangdi destroyed it during the Qin dynasty.
The city was rebuilt during the Han dynasty and called Yan. For centuries, it remained a provincial town. It was often caught between the Han Chinese and the nomadic Xiongnu.
During the Three Kingdoms period, the city was again called Yan. Northern nomadic tribes frequently invaded from across the border. The area that became Beijing emerged as a strategic and political center.
From the end of the Western Jin dynasty to the beginning of the Sui dynasty, nomadic invaders controlled the northern territory. The Tang dynasty recovered it. It became known as Youzhou. Measures were taken to prevent raids by nomadic tribes. Youzhou’s position became increasingly important.
After the fall of the Tang dynasty, the Khitans destroyed Youzhou. They founded the Liao kingdom. They built one of their capitals on the same site. They called it Nanjing or Southern Capital. The Liao capital had a square wall almost 14 miles long. It had eight gates and a palace in the center. This showed Chinese city planning influence.
In the mid-12th century, the Juchen defeated the Liao. They established the Jin state. The Liao capital was rebuilt as the new Jin capital. It was renamed Zhongdu meaning Central Capital. Zhongdu under the Juchen was larger. It had splendidly decorated palaces and halls.
Between 1211 and 1215, the Mongols under Genghis Khan attacked the city. They took it from the Jin. The palaces of Zhongdu burned for over a month. Kublai Khan built a new capital at Beijing. He abandoned Karakorum in Mongolia. In 1272, he named the new capital Dadu or Great Capital. Under the Mongols, it became the political center of all China.
Dadu was larger than its predecessors. It was rebuilt slightly northeast of the old site. The outer wall was about 18 miles long. The Imperial Palace was west of the modern-day one. An Arab was the chief palace architect. Dadu exemplified Mongol architecture. Marco Polo visited Dadu in the 1280s. He was amazed by its magnificence.
In the mid-14th century, Zhu Yuanzhang overthrew the Mongol dynasty. He established the Ming dynasty. He moved the capital to Nanjing. Dadu was renamed Beiping or Northern Peace. In 1403, the city was renamed Beijing or Northern Capital. In 1421, it officially became the Ming dynasty capital.
Beijing grew even grander under the Ming. The old city of Dadu was mostly demolished. The new city was situated farther southwest. In 1553, an outer wall was started. The plan was abandoned. The south wall was completed. This created the present shape of the old city. The Ming city walls were faced with bricks.
In 1644, Li Zicheng took over Beijing. Li’s army held it for only 40 days. The Manchus swept down on the city. Beijing fell intact. It was declared the Manchu capital by Shunzhi. He was the first emperor of the Qing dynasty.
Beijing remained superficially the same throughout the Qing dynasty. Many palaces and temples were added outside the walls. The Old Summer Palace was destroyed by fire in 1860. A British embassy was established in the city. The legation quarter was besieged by the Boxer rebels in 1900.
After the revolution of 1911, Beijing remained the political center of the Republic of China until 1928. Beijing was again called Beiping. The city was occupied by the Japanese until 1945. In 1949, Beijing was chosen as the capital of the People’s Republic of China. The city regained its leading position.
The \u77f3\u6d1e1\u53f7\u70fd\u706b\u53f0 stands as a testament to Beijing’s enduring significance. It has silently witnessed the rise and fall of dynasties. It has seen foreign invasions. It has observed modern transformations. It is now a reminder of Beijing’s long and complex story. As we conclude our visit, take a moment to appreciate the weight of history. Think about the countless lives that have shaped this remarkable city.