Kaifeng, once the largest city in the world, why did it decline and become the most lonely ancient capital?

The knife cuts bread and fingers. Similarly, water can make a place rich and can also destroy it in an instant. Kaifeng, once the first city in the world, is a living example.

Kaifeng is located in the middle of China, in the hinterland of the Central Plains and on the bank of the Yellow River. It has a history of more than 465,438+000 years. Wei was the capital of the Warring States and Hou Liang in the Five Dynasties. It was the "ancient capital of the Eight Dynasties", which gave birth to Song Wenhua, inherited the Han and Tang Dynasties and enlightened the Qing Dynasty. Kaifeng's prosperity began in the Warring States period.

In the sixth year of Wei Huiwang, Wei moved the capital to the girder, which is now the Gulou District in Kaifeng. If a place wants to develop, it is naturally inseparable from water resources. Not only people need water, but also crops, animals and plants and industrial development need water. Therefore, Wei Huiwang ordered to cut a gap to lead the Yellow River water to Putian, and then lead Putian water to Huaihe River. Therefore, agriculture and commerce in Kaifeng have developed rapidly and become more and more prosperous. The Great Wall was also built, which combined the governors to compete with the State of Qin, becoming stronger and stronger, and the girder became one of the prosperous capitals at that time.

In 225 BC, Wang Ben blocked the Yellow River levee, introduced the Yellow River water into the gap, and flooded the girders, resulting in the destruction of the city. Kaifeng experienced this difficulty and was greatly weakened. It was not until 576 that Kaifeng, which had declined for hundreds of years, gradually recovered its economy and became one of the eight heavy waterways in the Northern Wei Dynasty to crusade against the South. In 960, Zhao Kuangyin launched a mutiny in Chen Qiaoyi, 40 miles north of Kaifeng, and established the Song Dynasty, with Kaifeng as its capital. Since then, Kaifeng has ushered in the most prosperous one hundred years.

Song Dynasty is the most glorious era in China's history, with developed economy and culture and rich national life. It is the political, economic and cultural center of the country. According to records, the population of Kaifeng City reached 6.5438+0.5 million at that time. How prosperous was Kaifeng at that time? There is a saying in the history books: "The eight major disasters strive to gather together, and all countries are good." Cao Cao led rivers and lakes, benefited from the South China Sea, and made a fortune for half a day. Shanze Department Store learned that this road is the way forward. " In other words, half of the tax revenue in the Song Dynasty came from Kaifeng. Who did it in other cities? Visible Kaifeng prosperous. The Riverside Scene at Qingming Festival by Zhang Zeduan in the Northern Song Dynasty depicts the bustling scene along the Bianhe River in Kaifeng. In addition, Kaifeng was the largest city in the world at that time.

With the change of dynasties, Kaifeng lost its former prosperity. At the end of the Song Dynasty, Kaifeng's dense water system became the best city for flood discharge because of the sediment raising the surface of the Yellow River and the war. 1387, the Yellow River water flowed backward into the city, causing Kaifeng to be swallowed up by water again. However, the disaster in Kaifeng is not over yet. 1642, Li Zicheng besieged Kaifeng, and Kaifeng soon fell.

In order to destroy the insurgents, the Ming army decided to follow Wang Ben's example and take a water attack. The Yellow River water flooded into Kaifeng City, destroying most buildings in the city, and most people were buried in the Yellow River water. This once prosperous city has gradually declined. The rise of Zhengzhou next door made Kaifeng lose its status as the provincial capital for hundreds of years. But it still can't stop people's curiosity and love for this thousand-year-old city, and many tourists come here every year.