As one of the four ancient civilizations, China has a long history and culture, and has given birth to many large and small cities, some of which have prospered for a short time, and some have been passed down for thousands of years, and have been inherited to this day. Let's introduce you to the ten most epic cities in China to find the earliest origin of the Chinese civilization.
1. Taiyuan, 2500 years of city history.
In ancient times, it was called Hezhou and Jinyang, and it is said that Dayu ruled the water, and the world was divided into nine states, and the title of Union Prefecture began in the Eastern Han Dynasty. The Eastern Han Dynasty set up thirteen prefectures throughout the country, and the Department of History of the Prefecture established Jinyang, which was also the beginning of Taiyuan's call as a prefecture.
2. Xuzhou, 2600 years of city founding.
Ancient known as Pengcheng, more than 6,000 years ago, the ancestors of Xuzhou flourished here. At the end of the primitive society, Yao sealed Pengzu here, which became the Great Peng Clan State, and since then it has been called Pengcheng. During the Three Kingdoms period, Cao Wei moved to Pengcheng, first called Xuzhou, and after that, the titles of Pengcheng and Xuzhou changed.
3. Baoji, the history of the founding of the city in 2770
Ancient names were Chen Cang and Yongcheng, the birthplace of the Zhou Qin Dynasty. In the fourth year of the Duke of Qin (762 BC), Qin established the capital of the state in the "Qianwei Meeting" (near present-day Baojimei County), and the city he built was called Chen Cang (in the area of Daijiawan in present-day Jintai District, Baoji City)
4. Qi County, 3,000 years of city history
Ancient known as Chao Ge, 沬邑, also known as 沬乡, famous for the water, changed its name to Chao Ge during the Yin Dynasty, was the imperial capital of the last four generations of Yin Shang, the capital of the country in the Spring and Autumn Period, with a long history and splendid culture.
5. Xi'an, 3100 years of city history
Known as Chang'an and Jingzhao in ancient times, it has a history of more than 7,000 years of civilization, and is the capital city with the largest number of dynasties in Chinese history, and is known as the "ancient capital of the thirteen dynasties". In 202 BC, Liu Bang established the Han Dynasty in Chang'an, with the capital at Guanzhong, taking the meaning of the local Chang'an township and establishing the name Chang'an, that is, Chang'an and long-term stability.
6. Anyang, 3300 years of city history
Known as Xiangzhou and Yecheng in ancient times, it is known as the "ancient capital of the seven dynasties" and is also one of the eight ancient capitals of China. In the Paleolithic period, this area was already inhabited by humans and was also the site of the earliest discovery of oracle bones.
7. Qufu, 3400 years of city history
The name "Qufu" was first found in the "Book of Rites", and Yingxiao of the Eastern Han Dynasty explained: "There is a fu in the city of Lu, and the length of the song is seven or eight li, and it was called Qufu in ancient times."
Five or six thousand years ago, the ancestors of the Chinese and Dongyi ethnic groups flourished here, creating the early civilization of mankind, Qufu has a history of more than 3,400 years, is the hometown of Confucius, Confucianism is carried forward here, and it is also an important birthplace of Qilu culture.
8. Xingtai, 3500 years of city history
Ancient known as Xingzhou and Shunde Fu, with a history of 3,500 years of city building, it was once the capital of the ancestors of the Shang Dynasty, and it was established four times and fixed three times in history, known as the "Ancestral Land of Xing State and the Former Capital of Xiangguo", and is also known as "the first city of Yan and Zhao". Xingtai has accumulated a deep cultural connotation in the long river of history, and about 200 idioms and allusions originate from Xingtai.
9. Wuhan, 3500 years of city history
Ancient known as Jiangxia and Jiangcheng, the history of Wuhan can be traced back to the Neolithic period 6,000 years ago, and the ruins of Panlong City are the palace city of the Fang State of the Shang Dynasty about 3,500 years ago, which is the beginning of the construction of Wuhan. Wuhan has a superior geographical location, is an important comprehensive transportation hub of water, land and air in China, and is the national geographic center connecting east to west and connecting south to north, and has always had the reputation of "connecting nine provinces".
10. Luoyang, 4,000 years of city history
Ancient known as Luoyi, Xinyi, with more than 5,000 years of civilization history, 4,000 years of city history and 1,500 years of capital history, there have been 105 emperors and 13 dynasties here to settle in Kyushu, therefore, Luoyang is also known as the "ancient capital of thirteen dynasties", it is also the eastern starting point of the Silk Road.
We found that the names of these cities have undergone many changes, and some of the ancient names of some places are indeed better than they are now.
For example, Qi County, known as the Dynasty Song in ancient times, is it more pleasant to the ear and has cultural heritage.
Another example is Wuhan, known as Jiangcheng in ancient times, is it more elegant.
Why do ancient place names sound better than modern place names? Obviously, most of the ancient place names were given by literate aristocrats and were also used in writing by cultural people. With the need for cultural dissemination, ordinary people also have more demand for place names, so that simple and easy to understand and oral place names have been produced, so that civilization can spread more widely in China.