About the history of Datong

Datong, a famous historical and cultural city in China

Datong, known as the "famous city beyond the Great Wall", is located in the northernmost part of Shanxi Province, between the inside and outside of the Great Wall, and is the second largest city in Shanxi. Surrounded by mountains on three sides, the Royal River, a tributary of the Sanggan River, runs through the north and south. For a long time, people's understanding of Datong has stayed in the richness of coal capital, the magnificence of Yungang and the magnificence of Huayan Temple. In fact, as early as 1982, Datong, together with 24 cities including Beijing and Chengde, was included in the first batch of "famous historical and cultural cities in China" and became the only city in Shanxi. Then, what kind of history and culture does Datong bear in order to win this honor? ?

First, Datong has a long history. To be precise, it has a history of more than 2000 years. Moreover, in this long history, it built the capital once and served as the capital twice.

The second item is culture. In a word, I noticed that the mountain (Yanmenguan) is separated, and our Taiyuan and Jinnan belong to the culture of the Yellow River basin. The other sentence notes that to the north of the mountain is the culture of the Sanggan River basin. If you can barely say it, the two cultures will be very different. What's the difference between these two cultures?

I think from this perspective, Shannan is the agricultural economy and culture of the Central Plains, and Shanbei is a combination of nomadic culture and agricultural culture, so the cultural characteristics of this place come out. This is the characteristic of minority culture. It is precisely because the minority culture has brought characteristics to Datong's culture that it is not high, but it has characteristics and characteristics are valuable!

The third is the capital. More than 80% of the first batch of famous historical and cultural cities have capitals, such as An, Luoyang, Jing and Ning, which are the capitals of several dynasties and have a long history, especially An and Luoyang, which are all ancient capitals. Therefore, Datong, as the capital, was only once in the Northern Wei Dynasty, and it was the capital of the North during the split period of the Northern and Southern Dynasties.

But to be precise, it has a history of 978 years, and it was established here. During these 978 years, the capital had a glorious period. This glorious situation has not been well documented so far. Through the research in recent years, it is still considerable. Capital, ruins, its history and culture make Datong the first batch of famous historical and cultural cities, which is well deserved.

Datong was called Pingcheng and Yunzhong in ancient times, but it was renamed Datong in Liao Dynasty. Historically, it was an ancient battlefield for the Han nationality in the Central Plains and the nomadic people beyond the Great Wall to compete for the world. The special geographical position has created the history of war and ethnic integration in Datong for thousands of years. As early as the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, it was here that King Wuling of Zhao abandoned the heavy chariot robes of the Han people, popularized Hu Fu's light riding and light shooting, and achieved a generation of hegemony.

During the Han Dynasty, Liu Bang led an army to fight against the Huns and was trapped in Dengbaishan, Pingcheng for seven days and seven nights. Later, he used Chen Ping's trick to bribe E Shi, the wife of Hun Khan, to break through. The failure of this war made the Western Han government change its strategy towards Xiongnu, and concluded a pro-marriage contract with Xiongnu, so there was a Zhaojun who was later passed down as a much-told story.

A famous historical city is always associated with some historical celebrities who are proud of ancient and modern times. In 398 AD, Tuoba Gui, a leader of Xianbei nationality from the depths of the grassland, unified the north and established the Northern Wei Dynasty, becoming the first minority dynasty in China history to compete with the Han regime in the south.

Pingcheng, the capital of the Northern Wei Dynasty, is the northeast of Datong today. Until Emperor Xiaowen of Wei moved to Luoyang, Pingcheng had been the capital of the Northern Wei Dynasty for nearly a hundred years. After nearly a hundred years of painstaking efforts, Pingcheng became the political, military, economic and cultural center of the north at that time, writing the most brilliant chapter in the history of Datong.

Up to now, Datong still has the remains of the charm of the Northern Wei Dynasty, namely Yungang Grottoes, which have been included in the world cultural heritage. Yungang Grottoes are located at the foot of Wuzhou Mountain 16 km west of Datong City. It is dug by the mountain, stretching for one kilometer from east to west. There are 53 existing caves and more than 50,000 stone carvings. Among them, Caves 16 to 20, known by the world as "Cave 5 of Tan Yao", were excavated by Yao Tan, a famous monk in the Northern Wei Dynasty, at the behest of Wen Chengdi, with a history of more than 500 years.

1995, archaeologists discovered the site of Tang Ming in the Northern Wei Dynasty in the southeast of Datong. This amazing discovery excites people. Tang Ming is the place where ancient emperors held courtship, sacrifice and celebration ceremonies, and it is the carrier of ritual culture. Tang Ming in the Northern Wei Dynasty is very big, which is three times as big as the Temple of Heaven in Beijing. It combines the crystallization of Confucianism in Han Dynasty and Wei and Jin Dynasties, and makes some innovations.

Tang Ming culture is a major symbol of the cultural maturity of the Northern Wei Dynasty, which makes people full of respect for the cultural construction of the Northern Wei Dynasty. Moreover, the discovery of Tang Ming has become a coordinate point, from which it can be accurately judged that the big city where it exists is the location of Pingcheng, the capital of the Northern Wei Dynasty. What about the inner city of Datong, the city of peace? From the Northern Wei Dynasty to today, nearly 1600 years have passed, and there is no place to move. The whole Tuo is here, which is different from the eight ancient capitals we drew from the capital society before China.

In the Five Dynasties, Shi Jingtang at the end of Jin Dynasty ceded sixteen states to Qidan in order to become the "son emperor". In this way, Datong was placed in the Liao area, thus sweeping away the decadence of the Tang Dynasty and entering a new period of prosperity. For more than 200 years, Datong has become the capital of Liao and Jin Dynasties, and the favorite "Xijing" of Qidan people and jurchen people.

It seems that the literati of past dynasties only loved the decadent, corrupt and peaceful Xiao Zhao and Song Dynasty, but neglected the powerful and prosperous Liao and Jin regimes. In fact, the Liao and Jin Dynasties, which coexisted with the Southern Song Dynasty, not only strengthened Mazhuang, but also inherited and created the lofty and unrestrained northern culture.

This unique multi-ethnic culture originated from Beijing, the capital at that time, but it was hard to find its trace because Beijing was later established as the capital, but it was completely preserved in Datong. The ruins of Huayan Temple, Shanhua Temple and Kannonji in Datong City vividly reflect the characteristics of Liao and Jin culture.

In particular, the statue of "grinning Bodhisattva" in the Tibetan Hall of Boccaccio in Huayan Temple in Liao Dynasty has a very unique shape. Bodhisattva's mouth is full of fragrant teeth, showing the charm of Buddha. Compared with the Song plastic maid of Notre Dame de Jinci in Taiyuan, Shanxi, she is obviously two different styles of sculpture. Song people were too deeply bound by the "ritual" system, and their hearts were more exposed than exposed; The Khitan people are heroic, unrestrained and have fragrant teeth, which is another manifestation of beauty.

Datong in the Ming Dynasty changed the cultural outlook of the capital and turned a new page with a military posture. At that time, Zhu Yuanzhang led the Ming army to conquer the Yuan Dynasty, ending the rule of the Yuan Dynasty in the whole country. The remnants of the Yuan army retreated to the Mongolian plateau, weakened, but still stuck to the Central Plains, posing a serious threat to northern Xinjiang in the Ming Dynasty.

Therefore, the Ming dynasty attached great importance to the defense of the northern border, and set up nine defense towns in the north, called Jiubian. Among them, the strategic position of Datong Town is particularly important. At that time, one-twelfth of the country's troops were stationed here, and both Ming Chengzu and Ming Yingzong had personal expedition here, which had the reputation of "Datong scholar's vest is the best in the world"

From 65438 to 0952, the Central Ministry of Culture presided over the national investigation and study of ancient buildings. In the investigation report, the investigation team of ancient buildings in Yanbei, with Mr. Luo as the main body, commented: "Datong has many historical sites and cultural relics, which can be said to be one of the cities with the richest historical sites and cultural relics in China."

It is these cultural relics that tell us the ups and downs of Datong for more than two thousand years. A famous historical city embodies the essence and charm of one or several dynasties in history. Therefore, there is a saying in China: Qin, Han, Sui and Tang Dynasties saw Ann, Song, Qi, Liang and Chen saw Nanjing, Qian, Yue, Zhao and Song saw Hangzhou, Yan, Yuan, Ming and Qing saw Beijing ... Then, it is natural for the Northern Wei, Liao and Jin Dynasties to see Datong.

Datong, one of the first historical and cultural cities in China, has been called "Phoenix" since ancient times. It was the first capital of Tuoba family in the Northern Wei Dynasty and the capital of Liao and Jin Dynasties. It melts the charm of Wei and Jin Dynasties into a mountain and the romantic customs of Liao and Jin Dynasties into a city. In the long historical process, many precious historical sites have been left behind, forming a unique regional culture.

The overall layout of the ancient city of Datong is like a phoenix with one wing. Nanguan is the phoenix head, the main city is the phoenix body, Beiguan symbolizes the phoenix tail, Dongguan is the left wing, except Xiguan. Legend has it that a warrior shot off the right wing of Phoenix with a sword, so this Cai Feng can't go far.

The nearly hundred-year history of the Northern Wei Dynasty as the capital and the more than 200-year history of the Liao and Jin Dynasties as the capital make Datong, a famous city beyond the Great Wall, have an extraordinary royal bearing. This kind of bearing is not only reflected in the grandeur of Yungang Grottoes and the grandeur and exquisiteness of Huayan Temple and Shanhua Temple, but also permeated in the blood of the ancient city. The river that runs through Datong from north to south is called "Yu He", which has the flavor of the capital and should have existed since the Northern Wei Dynasty.

Datong is known as the "city of dragon walls", and there are as many as nine dragon walls so far. Among them, Datong Jiulongbi is the most famous. The dragon wall is a special building in ancient times, which is generally used as a wall for buildings, and is mostly built in front of palaces, palaces and temples. It can not only be used as a barrier for courtyard buildings, but also set off the solemnity and glory of buildings.

The Jiulong Wall in Datong is the largest in China, bigger than the two in front of the Forbidden City and Beihai Park. This Nine Dragon Wall, built during the Hongwu period of the Ming Dynasty, is the zhaobi of Zhu Guifu, the king of the Ming Dynasty in the early Ming Dynasty. It is composed of colorful glazed components such as yellow, green, blue, purple, black and white, which is magnificent and dazzling, adding icing on the cake to the ancient city of Datong.

Datong, which shows the history of civilization for more than 2,000 years, is rich in resources and inherits the ancient folk customs, which is a fusion of the cultures of dozens of ancient nationalities. Today, this famous historical and cultural city still radiates eternal glory.

Extended data:

Datong, a city under the jurisdiction of Shanxi Province, is one of the first 24 national historical and cultural cities in China, one of the first 13 large cities in China, one of the nine ancient capitals in China, a national new energy demonstration city, an excellent tourist city in China and a national garden city? , National Double Support Model City, National Transportation Hub City, Sculpture Capital of China, Top Ten Sports and Leisure Cities of China.

Datong is the sub-central city and the second largest city in Shanxi Province. It is located in the center of Datong Basin in northern Shanxi Province, at the junction of Shanxi, Hebei and Mongolia provinces, and on the northeast edge of the Loess Plateau. It is actually the barrier of the whole Shanxi province, the gateway to the north and the throat of Shanxi, Hebei and Mongolia. It is a battleground for military strategists in past dynasties and is known as the "northern lock key". ?

Datong, called Yunzhong and Pingcheng in ancient times, was once the capital of the Northern Wei Dynasty, and Liao and Jin were the capitals. There are many historical sites in the territory, including Yungang Grottoes, Huayan Temple, Shanhua Temple, Hengshan Hanging Temple and Jiulong Wall. ?

Datong is one of the largest coal energy bases in China, the national heavy chemical energy base, and the midpoint of Shenfu, Zhungeer emerging energy zone and Beijing-Tianjin-Tangshan developed industrial zone. Known as "Phoenix" and "China Coal Capital".

Split evolution

May 1949, 1, Datong was peacefully liberated, with the same city and suburbs, belonging to Chahar province, and Datong was divided into five districts.

1949 10, East and West Yanbei were merged into Chahar Province, and Yanbei Department was established, which was subordinate to Lingqiu, Guangling, Hunyuan, Yingxian, Yin Shan, Datong, Huairen, Shuoxian, Pinglu, Youyu and Zuoyun.

1952 65438+In February, Datong City administered the first, second and third districts and the Kouquan mining area.

1In July, 954, datong county merged with Huairen County to form Daren County.

June 1958, which belongs to Yanbei Special Zone. 1959 65438+1On October 23rd, Yanbei and Xinxian were merged into Jinbei Special Zone, and Datong City was subordinate to Jinbei Special Zone. Yanbei merged into six counties: Yanggao, Hunyuan, Lingqiu, Zuoyun, Yin Shan and Shuoxian.

196 1 On July 24th, 2008, the Jinbei Special Zone was abolished, and Datong was under the leadership of Yanbei Special Zone, covering the urban area, Kouquan District, Gucheng District and Huairen District. In the same year, 1 1 was under the direct control of Shanxi Province.

1962, Yanbei resumed the establishment of 13 county. 1964, 165438+ 10, the ancient city and Huairen district were abolished, and datong county and Huairen counties were restored. The city governs two districts and two counties. 1July, 965, Datong and Huairen counties were placed in Yanbei area.

1February, 966, delimit the agricultural areas under the jurisdiction of the urban area and the Kouquan area, set up the suburbs, and Datong City governs three areas.

1970 In April, Datong was placed under the leadership of Yanbei, and the mining area was established in September. 10 June, Nanjiao District, Beijiao District and Kouquan Town were established.

197 1, and the northern suburb was changed to Xinrong District.

1March, 1972, it was re-established as a provincial city, with jurisdiction over four districts, namely, urban area, mining area, southern suburb and Xinrong District. 17 streets, 287 neighborhood committees, 22 townships, 5 towns, 252 production teams, and1kloc-0/25 production teams.

1989 1, Shuozhou was established, and Pinglu, Shuoxian and Yinshan under Yanbei were transferred to Shuozhou.

1July, 993 10, Yanbei area was abolished and the city merged. Huairen, Yingxian and Youyu counties are placed under Shuozhou City, while Tianzhen, Yanggao, Guangling, Lingqiu, Hunyuan, Zuoyun and datong county are classified as Datong City, and the city is in charge of counties. Datong has jurisdiction over 4 districts and 7 counties, including urban area, mining area, southern suburb and Xinrong District.

2065438+On February 9th, 2008, the State Council approved the cancellation of the urban area, southern suburbs and mining areas of Datong, the establishment of Pingcheng District and Yungang District of Datong, the transfer of Gudian Town in the southern suburbs to Xinrong District, the cancellation of datong county and the establishment of Yunzhou District of Datong. After the division change, Datong City has jurisdiction over 4 municipal districts and 6 counties.

References:

Baidu encyclopedia-Datong