Liu Bang's "Great Rear" Liyang City Site: The largest weapons manufacturing site in the Qin State and the second largest granary

Cover news reporter Liu Kexin

On March 28, the final evaluation results of the 2022 National Top Ten Archaeological New Discoveries were announced. Located in Xinxing and Wutun Street, Yanliang District, Xi'an City, Shaanxi Province, the ruins of Qinhan Liyang City in Xi'an, Shaanxi Province were shortlisted for the final evaluation list of the top ten national archaeological new discoveries in 2022.

As early as April 2018, the Liyang City site was selected as "2017 National Top Ten Archaeological New Discoveries". It is rare for a site to enter the final evaluation twice in five years.

Building No. 3 and Courtyard No. 4 tiles accumulated

Recently, the cover news reporter interviewed Liu Rui, the person in charge of the archaeological excavation of the Liyang City site, who introduced that the excavation of the Liyang City site began in 1980. Under the leadership of Liu Qingzhu and Mr. Li Yufang, archaeologists began to excavate the ruins of Liyang City. Due to the high water table at the time, the excavation stopped after only two years, and it was 2013 when the excavation was re-excavated.

The large-scale excavation of the Liyang City site began in 2018 when archaeological staff conducted archaeological excavations of buildings and palaces in the harem area on the north side of No. 3 Ancient City. From 2021 to 2022, complete excavations were carried out on buildings 3 and 11. Liu Rui said that in the entire archaeological work of the Seven Heroes of the Warring States, the number of excavations in the palace area was very limited. "Through this excavation work, we have a relatively clear understanding of these architectural sites, which is of great significance to the entire archaeological work of the Warring States Qin and Han dynasties."

The most important architectural sites have not yet been excavated

Advance the knowledge already known about archaeology

The archaeological excavation of the Liyang City site adopts the semi-restorative excavation summarized and adopted by the Institute of Archaeology of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences in the excavation of the large site, and the establishment of the archaeological greenhouse transforms outdoor archaeology into indoor archaeology, effectively protecting the site and buildings. At the same time, the content of multidisciplinary cooperation is also increasing, and soil analysis, metal analysis and other methods are also used in the excavation and research of the Liyang City site. At present, the excavation idea of the Liyang City site is "simple first and then complex", that is, by excavating relatively simple and low-level relics first, we can continuously summarize experience and improve technology, and accumulate experience for the subsequent excavation of the most important architectural sites.

Liu Rui revealed that the most important palace, Palace No. 1, located on the south side of the site, has not yet been excavated, and if all goes well, the excavation work may be carried out in two or three years.

The most important point in the research results of the Liyang City site is that a north-south axis was determined here, which was also the earliest axis in the construction of the capital city in the historical period. Later, high-level buildings such as Cao Wei Ye City, Han Wei Luoyang City, and Ming and Qing Imperial Palace all had such a central axis running through the north and south. This system still affects China's urban development to this day. "We go backwards from now on, and this form represents centralization, emphasizing the importance of the ruler who lives in the most central building of the palace and the prohibition of central administrative actions." Liu Rui interpreted it this way.

Since 1950, archaeologists have discovered the building material of the large semicircle wadang in several important sites. "The large semi-circle Wadang was first found in the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor, and later found in Huangshan Palace, Chengshan Palace in Shaanxi, Jieshi Palace in Liaoning, Huizhong Palace in Gansu and other places. However, when and how this kind of waddang appeared has not been determined. "The discovery of the large semi-circle of Wadang at the site of Liyang City will last for nearly 70 years, a step forward.

Giant waddang stubs

The ruins of Liyang City are buried 1.7 meters to 2.2 meters underground, so the relevant building materials are far more complete than other sites in the Xi'an area, and the various relics are richer, including the large half-circle wadang. In the excavation of Building No. 3 in Liyang No. 3 Ancient City, archaeologists found this large semi-circular wadang in the northeast, southeast, southwest and northwest corners of the palace. This not only pushes forward the time of the use of waddang in ancient Chinese architecture, but also the determination of its relative position with the palace site provides scientific information for the restoration of its use location.

Wadang with plant and animal patterns can not only be used as a decorative material, but also has strong practicality. "As a high-grade building material, waddang prevents wooden rafters from decaying from rain. High-grade building materials have also been found at the site of Liyang Palace, such as hollow bricks used to build steps. The concentrated discovery of similar building materials has greatly advanced many of the understandings we already have. Liu Rui said.

Building No. 3 Courtyard No. 4: 61 Tiger Swallow Waddang

The only toilet site in China was unearthed

He supported Liu Bang as a "big rear"

Previously, because of the hot search of "flushing toilet 2200 years ago", the ruins of Liyang City have received a lot of attention. As the only toilet site excavated in Miyagi in China, Liu Rui said that it has rewritten our understanding of ancient civilization, which is beyond our imagination: "Indoor toilet, outdoor drainage, outdoor sewage pond." ”

Liu Rui introduced that although the toilet itself is a small thing in life, if it is not handled well, it will produce a large number of infectious diseases. Toilet renovation plays an important role in prolonging people's life.

However, the upper part of the site has been destroyed in the late period, and as the only toilet site, there is no reference object and the superstructure cannot be restored. Therefore, what exactly is above it, Liu Rui can only carefully guess: "If speculation is allowed, I think there is still the possibility of squatting toilets above, just like the toilets in rural areas now, flushing excrement outdoors through pipes, but it is not ruled out that there is a possibility of sitting toilets similar to the use of toilet stools now." ”

Combination of late F2 clay toilet and pipe bend in Building 3

Also in Building No. 3, the semi-basement building discovered by archaeologists, pushed this architectural form forward for more than 100 years. The bathrooms found in buildings No. 4 and No. 5 are also the earliest bathroom facilities in China.

"In terms of overall architectural layout and unit details, the discovery of the ruins of Liyang City has greatly enriched our existing understanding of the architecture of the Warring States Qin and Han periods." Liu Rui said.

As the capital of the four dynasties, Duke Xian of Qin, Duke Xiao of Qin, Sima Xin the King of Sai, Liu Bang the King of Han, and Liu Bang the Ancestor of Han Gao all had the capital Liyang, and Liyang naturally had its advantages. Liu Rui said that according to documents, Liyang was once the largest weapons manufacturing place for the Qin people, and it was also the largest granary outside Xianyang. At the same time, it was Liyang's superior military and economic strength that provided Liu Bang with reliable backup for his victory over Xiang Yu.

The workshop was the main institution for the manufacture of weapons in the Qin State during the Warring States period. "As far as the workshops we know now, the only workshops with geographical names are the Yonggong Room, Xianyang Workshop, Liyang Workshop and Xiyang Workshop, and only the Liyang Workshop is divided into 'Liyang Left Workshop' and 'Liyang Right Workshop'", according to the system at that time, Liu Rui speculated, "This is because the production scale of Liyang Workshop is very large, and it is likely to be much higher than other workshops".

With the excavation of the Zhengguo Canal, agricultural production in Weibei has been greatly improved. The Sleeping Tiger Di Qin Tomb Bamboo Jian has recorded this: "Liyang 20,000 stone one accumulation, Xianyang 100,000 stone one accumulation." Liu Rui believes that at that time, Liyang's grain stock should be second only to Xianyang and ranked second in the country.

After Sima Xin surrendered, Liu Bang took over Liyang without a single soldier, which completely preserved Liyang's original arsenal base, granaries, and rich population resources. Later, Xiao He sat in Guanzhong and continuously sent grain, soldiers and horses, and weapons to the front line, and gave Liu Bang stable support in the rear during the long-term confrontation between Liu Bang and Xiang Yu", Liu Rui analyzed: "Therefore, when discussing merit and reward, Xiao He can rank first." This is directly related to his work as a 'big butler' in Liyang. ”

According to the records of the "Notes on the Water Classic", the tomb of Qin Xian Gong should be near Liyang City. But Liu Rui told reporters that for now, no high-level tombs have been found near the ruins of Liyang City. "Judging from the current survey, the only one that can meet the standards of King Qin's high-grade tomb is the northern plain north of Liyang Palace. However, we have found no large enclosures in this area. Only one tomb recorded in the sealed soil, and after archaeological exploration, it was found that this was a Western Han tomb, not a Xian Gong Tomb and a Xiao Gong Tomb. Liu Rui explained that the high-level tombs of the Qin people before the middle of the Warring States period did not have the tradition of using sealed soil, and at this time they were in the transition period from no sealed soil to later sealed soil. With the continuous excavation of the ruins of Liyang City in the future, perhaps the world can get relevant clues.