Loulan ancient city information

Loulan, the name of an ancient country in the western regions. Loulan is an ancient small country in the west of China, and its capital is Loulan City (the site is located on the northwest bank of Lop Nur, Xinjiang, China). It connects Qiemo, Jingjue, Zhami and Yutian in the southwest, Cheshi in the north, Yanqi in the northwest, Bailongdui in the east and Dunhuang in the east, which is the crossroads of the Silk Road. China people belong to the Indo-European language family. At the beginning of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, envoys passed through Loulan. Loulan has been the eyes and ears of Huns for many times, attacking and robbing the envoys of Han Dynasty. In the third year of Yuanfeng (before 108), Han sent troops to beg Loulan and capture his king. Loulan surrendered to the Han Dynasty and was attacked by Huns, so he sent his servants to surrender to both sides. After the Xiongnu servant An was classified as King Loulan, so he was pro-Xiongnu. Wang took Tu Jian to the Han Dynasty and reported the situation to the Han Dynasty. In the fourth year of Emperor Zhao Yuanfeng of the Han Dynasty (77 BC), Han sent Fu Jiezi to Loulan, assassinated him, made Tu Jian king, renamed Shanshan, and moved the capital to Mud City (now near Ruoqiang, Xinjiang). Later, the Han government often sent officials and soldiers to station fields in Loulan's hometown, and set up beacon towers and barriers along the way from Yumenguan to Loulan. During the Wei, Jin and Qianliang Dynasties, Loulan City became the governor of the Western Regions.

About 1600 years ago, the kingdom of Loulan disappeared, leaving only the remains of an ancient city. Loulan Ancient City is located at 89 22 ′ 22 ″ east and 40 29 ′ 55 ″ north of Ruoqiang County, Bayinguoleng Mongolian Autonomous Prefecture, Xinjiang, 7 kilometers away from the northwest corner of Lop Nur and the south bank of Peacock River.

The ancient history of Loulan Kingdom is still unclear. The name Loulan was first seen in historical records. Historical Records Biography of Xiongnu records that Loulan people founded the country around the 3rd century BC, when Loulan was ruled by the Yue people. From 177 BC to 176 BC, the Huns defeated the Yue family, and Loulan was under the jurisdiction of the Huns.

Present situation of cultural relics

The ancient city of Loulan now covers an area of 6.5438+0.2 million square meters, which is close to a square with a side length of about 330 meters. The whole site is located in the Ya Dan landform group on the west bank of Lop Nur.

The site of Loulan Ancient City is 350 kilometers northwest of Korla City and 330 kilometers southwest of Ruoqiang County.

The Discovery of Loulan Ancient City

The earliest discoverer of Loulan Kingdom was Swedish explorer Sven Hedin. 1900 At the beginning of March, the Heding expedition came to the Rob wasteland along the left riverbed of the dry Peacock River, only to find that their shovel was accidentally lost in the campsite when crossing a desert last night. Harding had to send his assistant back to find it. The assistant quickly took back the shovel and even picked up some wood carvings. Harding was so excited to see the ruins that he decided to dig them. 190 1 in March, Sven Hedin began to excavate, and found a stupa, three halls, wood carving building components with Greek art and culture, five baht money, a letter in Lu and many other cultural relics. Later, they found many beacon towers in the southeast of this ruin and continued to March to an ancient city buried by sand on the west bank of Lop Nur, which is the ancient city of Loulan.

The plane of the ancient city is nearly square, with a side length of about 330 meters, and almost all of it is buried by quicksand. The city wall is made of soil and red willow alternately rammed. There is an ancient canal that runs through the city obliquely from northwest to southeast. There is an octagonal dome adobe stupa in the northeast of the canal. On the earthen terrace in Tarnum, there are a group of tall wooden architectural relics, and Chinese, Palau documents, bamboo slips, five baht money, silk wool products, household appliances and so on have been unearthed. In the middle of the southwest of the canal, there are three large wooden adobe houses. A large number of Chinese documents, wooden slips and early Sogdian and Boluo documents have been unearthed in and around the house, which is estimated to be the remains of the government. A group of courtyards in the west may be official houses, and low houses are distributed in the south. All kinds of documents and bamboo slips unearthed in the city are called Lop Nur documents.

During the inspection in the early 20th century, a large number of Loulan cultural relics were taken away by foreign inspection teams.

Loulan culture

Loulan culture is the most humanistic landscape in the world. According to archaeologists, human activities in the Tarim River basin have a history of more than 10,000 years. If we connect the abandoned ancient cities in the Taklimakan desert of Tarim River with red lines, we will be surprised to find that all the ancient cities, including Loulan Kingdom, suddenly disappeared in the 4th15th century, and all the sites are in the desert 50-200 kilometers away from today's human life. Today, although many scholars have made great efforts, such as the rise and fall and disappearance of the ancient city of Loulan, it is still a huge mystery, and the site of Loulan has also become the focus of world attention. The ancient city of Luntai, Qiemo site, ancient tombs, ancient beacon towers, mummies and ancient rock paintings are all world-class tourist attractions. In human history, Loulan is a mysterious name. Its glory once formed its special position in the history of world culture. People's interest and enthusiasm for Loulan culture fully shows that Loulan belongs not only to China, but also to human beings. Loulan is an immeasurable historical heritage left by ancestors to Bazhou, and it is also the pride of Bazhou people. At the same time, it also means the excavation, arrangement and research of Loulan culture. Bazhou people should take on greater responsibilities and show Loulan and ancient western culture in various ways. When the 2 1 century is coming, the times provide Bazhou people with an excellent opportunity, that is, to develop the cultural heritage of Loulan and the ancient city in a planned way with the rapid economic development as an opportunity and the overall growth of economic strength as the premise. Make them serve the construction of modern spiritual civilization and material civilization. In fact, this is the rebirth of Loulan culture in the new historical period.

Loulan State in History

According to Biography of Dawan in Historical Records and Biography of the Western Regions in Hanshu, as early as the 2nd century AD, Loulan was a famous "walled country" in the western regions. Dunhuang in the east, Yanqi and Yuli in the northwest, Ruoqiang and Qiemo in the southwest. The north-south road of the ancient Silk Road diverged from Loulan.

Office of Chief Historian of Western Regions in Wei, Jin and Liang Qian Period of China. Located in the northwest of Lop Nur, Xinjiang. It is named after the Chinese documents unearthed in the site, and is called "Kulolaina" as opposed to "Loulan" and "Lu Luwen". At the beginning of the 20th century, British Stein and others came here many times to steal and dig. After 1950s, China scholars made investigations and excavations.

Loulan is one of the 36 countries in the Western Regions, bordering Dunhuang and closely related to the Han Dynasty around A.D. The records of Loulan in ancient times are based on the Records of Hanshu Biography of the Western Regions, Faxian and Xuanzang. "Records of the Western Regions" records: "Shanshan Kingdom, whose real name is Loulan, Wang Zhi Qianni City, goes to Yangguan for 1,600 miles and Chang 'an for 6,100 miles. 1570 households, 4.4 1 10,000 people. Fa Xian said: "This land is rugged and barren. The layman's clothes are the same as those of Han, but the carpet is different in brown. Its king obeys the law. There are more than 4,000 monks who know Hinayana Buddhism. " At the end of the trip, Genjyo Sanzo made a simple explanation: "Since then, he has traveled more than 1,000 miles to the northeast, and came to the old country, that is, the land of Loulan. "

Loulan State in Han Dynasty sometimes became the eyes and ears of Xiongnu, and sometimes belonged to Han, playing with the policy of two-faced, and skillfully maintaining its political life between Han and Xiongnu. Because Loulan is located in the transportation hub between Han and the western countries, Han can't cross this area to fight Xiongnu, and Xiongnu can't threaten the Han Dynasty under the guise of Loulan's strength. Both Han and Xiongnu vigorously pursued the policy of softening Loulan.

Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty sent Bo Wanghou Zhang Qian to Da Yueshi, but failed to conclude an offensive and defensive alliance. Later, he sent troops to crusade against the distant kingdom of Dawan and sent envoys to western countries many times. When these messengers passed through Loulan, Loulan was overwhelmed and even killed the messengers. Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty finally sent troops to crusade against Loulan. As a result, as evidence of surrender, Prince Loulan was sent to the Han Dynasty as a hostage. Loulan also sent a prince to Xiongnu, saying that he was strictly neutral between Xiongnu and Han. Since then, when the Han Expeditionary Force attacked a vassal state of Xiongnu, King Loulan married Xiongnu and set an ambush in China, which angered the Han court. Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty once again sent troops to crusade against Loulan, forcing the capital to stand in a mud city. King Loulan was frightened and immediately opened the city gate to apologize. Emperor Wu asked him to monitor the movement of Xiongnu. In 92 BC, King Loulan died, and the prince who was taken hostage in the Han Dynasty returned to the throne. The prince was very sad and didn't want to return to China easily. His younger brother succeeded to the throne. The new king died not long ago, and the Huns took this opportunity to inherit the throne with the former eldest son who was taken hostage in their own country. Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty was shocked when he heard the news. He quickly sent messengers to persuade the newly established king to come to the Han court to hold him hostage, but he failed. In the next two or three years, there was no major incident between Han and Xiongnu, which was apparently stable. Loulan border is close to Yumen Pass, and China's envoys often travel to western countries through this closed door, passing through the desert named Bailongdui in Loulan. There is often wind in the desert. The wind throws quicksand into the air like a dragon, which makes pedestrians lose their way. The Han Dynasty constantly ordered Loulan Kingdom to provide guides and drinking water. As China's envoy insulted the guide many times, Loulan refused to obey their orders, and their relationship deteriorated. Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty finally sent an assassin to assassinate the new king. In order to marry the prince who was kidnapped in the Han Dynasty, a Maggie was sent back to Loulan to inherit the throne. But the king was afraid of being assassinated. Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty sent troops to Tunloulan in the name of protecting the king, thus gaining the initiative to crusade against Xiongnu and other western countries. The above is the relationship between Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty and Loulan. Since then, the influence of the Han Dynasty has weakened, and Loulan betrayed again.

The mystery of loulan's disappearance

In 400 A.D., the eminent monk Fa Xian traveled west to learn from the scriptures and passed by here. He said in the Buddhist records that this place is "there are no birds in the sky, there are no animals in the sky, and it is everywhere, and only dead bones are used as identification ears". Loulan, an important town on the Silk Road, gradually disappeared after nearly 500 years of glory and disappeared silently on the historical stage.

After the 4th century AD, Loulan suddenly disappeared.

According to the Water Classic Note, after the Eastern Han Dynasty, Loulan was seriously short of water because of the diversion of water injection along the middle reaches of Tarim River. Soller of Dunhuang led 654.38+10,000 soldiers to Loulan, and also called 3,000 soldiers from Shanshan, Yanqi and Qiuci to inject water into Loulan day and night to alleviate the water shortage of Loulan. However, after that, despite Loulan people's best efforts and attempts to dredge the river, the ancient city of Loulan was eventually abandoned because of lack of water.

It is said that Loulan's death was caused by human violating the laws of nature. Loulan people blindly cut down trees, which led to soil erosion, sandstorm attack, river diversion, abnormal climate, plague epidemic, water reduction, salt and alkali accumulation, and finally led to the inevitable demise of the kingdom.

Anyway, one thing is certain, the last blow to Loulan people is the plague. This is a terrible acute infectious disease, which is called "hot nest disease" in legend. One village, one disease, one family dies. In the face of the great disaster, Loulan people chose to flee-just like the previous migration, they were forced. Loulan country collapsed, and people blindly went against the Tarim River. Where there are trees and water, they go, and where there is life, they go as much as possible. Loulan people want to cry without tears. When they hit the road, they were caught in an unprecedented sandstorm. This is a big battle buried in the sky. It was dark, flying sand and stones, and it sounded like a ghost. The ideal city collapsed and dissipated in the haze. ...

At this point, the glorious ancient city of Loulan disappeared silently from history forever. Although the fleeing Loulan people have dreamed of reviving Loulan for generations, the dream can only be a dream. Moreover, at the end of the dream, even the dreamer can't wait to disappear. Loulan is also the site of sandstorm and the kingdom of death.

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Loulan: In the Han Dynasty, the western regions were known as Shanshan Kingdom, located in the southeast of Shanshan County, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.