Why did Wu Zetian change Luoyang into the capital of God?

Luoyang, whether in modern times or in ancient China hundreds of years ago, is a city loved by tens of thousands of people.

Both peony, which is regarded as the national flower of China, and the literary popularity of "Luoyang paper is expensive" originated from Luoyang.

"Shen Du" is the ancient name of Luoyang, and the earliest historical records can be traced back to the Notes on Water Classics in Tang Ruizong and Wu and Zhou Dynasties. However, it was not until the period of Wu Zetian that Luoyang became famous and widely spread with the name of Shen Du.

It changed Luoyang, the eastern capital, into the capital of gods, which means the land capital of China, and on this basis, it added the title of "Virgin Jade Emperor". At this point, Wu Zetian ruled the dynasty in Luoyang for nearly 50 years, and the prosperity of Luoyang laid the foundation for the peak of the Tang Dynasty.

In addition, the earliest historical document "The Book of Hutuluo" unearthed in China was also unearthed in Luoyang, so most later generations think that Heluo culture is an important source of Chinese culture, the river is the Yellow River, and Luoluo takes Luoshui.

Then, why did Wu Zetian explicitly change Luoyang into the capital of God during her reign? Why is Heluo culture called the root vein of China?

First, the name Luoyang, the capital of gods, has rich historical implications and significance.

1. The name "Shen Du" comes from "Shenzhou" and "Shenjing".

As for the title of "Shen Du", long before Wu Zetian moved to Luoyang, there were related documents in history, and "Shenzhou" and "Shenjing" were the predecessors of Shen Du.

Shenzhou means the land of China, which first appeared in the Warring States Period. It is recorded in some documents that "China is called Chixian Shenzhou", which refers to the core area of China ancient dynasty, that is, the capital. Sun Chu once mentioned "Shenzhou, Luoyang also" in "For Shi Zhongrong and Sun Haoshu".

To be sure, China is talking about the Heluo area with Luoyang as the core. It was not until the Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties that another name for Luoyang began to spread. At this time, a few people called Luoyang the capital of gods.

Jin Shu? The Biography of Wang Dao records a sentence of Wang Dao: "When * * * forces the royal family to conquer the holy capital." Therefore, before Wu Zetian moved the capital to Luoyang and changed it to the capital of God, Luoyang's capital and God had been inextricably linked.

2. The word "God" is influenced by the idea of "divine right of monarch"

Wu Zetian's surname originated from Ji in history, and Luoyang, known as the Eastern Capital in Zhou Dynasty, was the ideal capital of Ji's royal family at that time. In a series of practices of Wu Zetian, it is not difficult to see that Wu Zetian is very clear about the origin of her surname and the history of her ancestors.

Knowing this history and the past, I am very concerned about the people of the Zhou Dynasty and Luoyang, the capital where they lived. Even when Wu Zetian just became queen, Tang Gaozong once named her father "Duke of Zhou".

Since then, every time Emperor Gaozong went to the south, he was accompanied by Wu Zetian. It can be seen that Wu Zetian is full of affection for Luoyang. Maybe the city made up for her inner deficiency, or maybe everyone who lives here is her, not as hostile as Chang 'an.

In addition, the word "God" in "Shen Du" takes the meaning of "divine right of monarch", which is also the preparation and foreshadowing for Wu Zetian to start governing the country for herself and then become an emperor. Wu Zetian believes in Buddhism and is also very keen on Confucianism and Taoism, so her rule is greatly influenced by the theory of divine right of Confucianism and Taoism.

In Wu Zetian's mind, her supreme power and status as an emperor is a godsend, so her rule must conform to the natural development law of heaven in all aspects and details.

Not to mention her own love for Luoyang, the geographical position of Luoyang in ancient China was corresponding to the sky at that time. The water of Luoshui runs through the capital, corresponding to the Milky Way in the sky, and the town star ends in Taiwei, which is a symbol of women's superior power.

Therefore, her own recognition and praise of Luoyang, the capital, is also disguised as seeking theological rationality for her own power and accession to the throne.

Luoyang is the capital city created by heaven, and has the divine right endowed by heaven, and Wu Zetian herself is the ruler of this dynasty chosen by heaven. Just like Luoyang, its divine power is given by heaven, and no one can deny or deprive it.

Second, Chinese culture originated in Heluo area and flourished in Heluo area.

1. Space: Excellent geographical location, with the world as the center.

First of all, geographically speaking, Luoyang is surrounded by Songshan Mountain, Xiong 'er Mountain, Luti Mountain, Qinling Mountain, Huayang Mountain, Shouyang River and Jiuhe River (Huang, Yi, Luo, Jian, Gu, Gan, Jiang and Confucianism), and its geographical position ranks first in the world.

Secondly, the Heluo area with Luoyang as the center, that is, what we call kanto region, is the most developed major agricultural area in China, and its later economic development even far exceeds that of Guanzhong area as the capital Chang 'an.

The main content and main body of ancient civilization in China is the Yellow River civilization, in which the two river basins are also called one of the origins of human civilization. As the main body of Chinese civilization, the Yellow River civilization is located in the area where Heluo culture originated and developed.

Heluo area starts from Luoyang as the core, reaches Ruying area in the south, the Yellow River in the north, Tongguan and Huayin in the west and Kaifeng in the east. In ancient times, Heluo area was the core circle of the world, which was called "within the world" in history books.

2. Time: As the ancient capital of the 13th Dynasty, Heluo area with Luoyang as the center has a profound historical background.

In the ancient history of China, since the Western Zhou Dynasty, Luoyang has existed as the capital of a country and the center of the world. It was once the capital of thirteen dynasties and has extremely rich historical and cultural connotations.

Among them, the origin of Heluo culture and civilization can be traced back to the Paleolithic Age, where human beings were found to live and engage in production activities. Modern unearthed stone tools also confirmed that Heluo area was indeed the earliest birthplace of early ancient human civilization in China.

The earliest dynasty even established its capital here during the Zhou Wuwang period. After successful logging, he moved the capital to Luoyang, and since then, the whole Western Zhou Dynasty and Eastern Zhou Dynasty have established their capital here.

Since then, the pre-Qin period, the Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties, the middle and late Tang Dynasty and so on. As the ruling center of the 13th Dynasty, Luoyang created profound cultural connotations here.

It can also be seen that the Heluo culture created by Heluo region is very attractive and inclusive. It integrates the cultures and civilizations of various regions in society and finally forms a unique Chinese civilization.

Therefore, if the emergence, creation, development and prosperity of Chinese civilization are described as a whirlpool, then Heluo culture is the center of this whirlpool.

Three, Heluo area is full of ancient sites, famous artists come forth in large numbers.

In fact, there have been many cradles of human civilization in the history of China, among which Heluo culture has different meanings to Chinese civilization, and its influence on the whole Chinese civilization is all-round.

Because it was the ancestors who lived in Heluo area that brought ancient China from slavery to royal civilization in a critical period more than 5,000 years ago.

In addition, when it comes to Heluo area and Heluo culture, we can't help but say "Hutuluo Book". In the Book of Changes, there is a record of "river drawing, Luo writing, and sage writing". In The Analects of Confucius, there is also a saying that "the phoenix bird is out of reach and the river cannot be painted".

It can be seen that Heluo culture is different from other regional cultures formed by regional factors, and its influence and rule on the whole Chinese culture has been in a dominant position for a long time.

Secondly, many ancient China theories and sages and scholars originated from Luoyang, saying that their own and the cultural thoughts they created had unprecedented influence on the whole society.

Among them, "Three Emperors and Five Emperors" is the earliest and most influential cultural school. It refers to Xuanyuan, Fu and Shennong, and the Five Emperors refer to Huangdi, Zhuan Xu, Yao and Shun. Fuxi's daughter drowned in Luoshui and became a Luoshen, while Di Ku's descendants mainly ruled Heluo.

What few people know is that Confucianism was first formed in Luoyang, and the ritual and music system established by Zhou as the ruling order of later dynasties was first established in Luoyang. The connection between Zhou Li and Confucianism founded by Confucius is influenced by Heluo culture.

Because Confucius yearned for the etiquette system of the Zhou Dynasty, he traveled thousands of miles to study in the royal family of the Zhou Dynasty. Later, Confucius and the Confucian school he founded began to take root in Luoyang and spread around. In addition, Laozi, the founder of Taoism, has lived in Luoyang for a long time, and Buddhism is in Luoyang. Metaphysics and Neo-Confucianism originated and developed in Luoyang, while Neo-Confucianism was lost in Luoyang.

Four. conclusion

Judging from the above statement, Wu Zetian changed Luoyang into the capital of gods because of her extraordinary feelings for Luoyang and her preparations and efforts to maintain the stability of the dynasty and the rationality of imperial power after she ascended the throne.

There is no doubt that Heluo culture has had an impact on Chinese civilization. The Heluo cultural circle not only has the book of He Tu Luo, but also the relics of the past dynasties excavated in modern times, where the Three Emperors and Five Emperors, Confucianism, Taoism and Buddhism, Neo-Confucianism and Metaphysics originally originated.

Heluo region is rich in historical background and cultural connotation, which has created and integrated the present Chinese civilization.