Chang'an, as an important capital in ancient Chinese history, has experienced many disasters and the fate of moving the capital. After the Tang Dynasty, Chang'an never again became the capital of China. Historically, the debate over the capital Chang'an has never ceased. This article analyzes the feasibility of Chang'an as a capital city from a historical perspective and explains why Chang'an failed to become the capital of China. As an important capital of ancient China, Chang'an has experienced many disasters and relocations. In 904, after Zhu Wen conquered Chang'an, he moved Emperor Zhaozong of Tang to Luoyang, and Chang'an was in ruins. The same happened in other periods of history, such as the entry of the Chimei army into the capital, the forced surrender of the Jin Emperor to Han and Zhao, the Anshi Rebellion, the Tubo invasion, and so on. These events led to the decline of Chang'an, which could no longer become the capital of China.
However, the ancients made too many arguments about why Chang'an was no longer suitable as a capital. One of the views is the theory of "royal qi". Wang Qi refers to the unique aura and domineering aura of a place, which is related to Spiritual Qi, Earth Veins, etc. Wang Shizhi believes that Chang'an, as the center of ancient China, once had the gathering place of the dragon king's qi. However, with the changes of history, Chang'an's royal spirit gradually declined, which is one of the reasons why Chang'an is no longer suitable as a capital. Another view is about the impact of changes in the natural environment and political situation on Chang'an. In ancient times, Chang'an had fertile soil, abundant water sources and a suitable climate, and Chang'an could achieve self-sufficiency in grain through farmland. However, over time, the deterioration of the natural environment led to the decline of Chang'an's economic status.
During the Tang Dynasty, water sources in Guanzhong became increasingly scarce, and Chang'an could no longer achieve food self-sufficiency through tuntian, but relied on the supply of southeast transportation. During the Song Dynasty, the threat came from the Western Xia in the northwest region, and the north of Hengshan was already dominated by the party, located upstream of the river, and Chang'an became a border city, losing its previous strategic value. During the Ming Dynasty, the land in the Chang'an area was barren and could not meet the needs of financial expenditure. These factors all made Chang'an no longer suitable as a capital. In addition to changes in the natural environment, changes in the political situation have also had an impact on Chang'an's capital city. In ancient times, Chang'an used to be a defensive line that could be attacked and retreated, but with the rise of Tubo, Hui, Khitan and other ethnic groups, Chang'an lost its previous strategic position.
During the Song Dynasty, because Guanzhong had become a border city, the capital Guanzhong would put the capital under the enemy's vision. During the Ming Dynasty, Chang'an had lost its military value and was no longer the first choice for the capital. Therefore, the change in the political situation is also one of the reasons why Chang'an has not become a capital. To sum up, Chang'an, as the capital of ancient China, has experienced many disasters and the fate of moving the capital. After the Tang Dynasty, Chang'an never again became the capital of China. There are many reasons why Chang'an did not become the capital, including changes in the natural environment, changes in the political situation, and the interruption of Chang'an's historical origin as a capital. These factors combined to eventually cause Chang'an to lose its status as a capital city. People have different opinions on why Chang'an is no longer suitable as a capital.
Some people believe that it is because of the decline of Chang'an's royal spirit, some believe that it is due to the deterioration of the natural environment, and some believe that it is due to changes in the political situation. Either view, it reflects the unfeasibility of Chang'an as a capital. However, we can also think from another perspective, that is, the value of Chang'an as a famous historical and cultural city. Although Chang'an is no longer suitable as a capital city, it is still significant as a historical site and cultural heritage. We should attach importance to and protect Chang'an's historical and cultural heritage, so that future generations can understand and appreciate the historical charm of Chang'an. Finally, I would like to raise a question about how to balance the development and protection of Chang'an's historical and cultural heritage. With the process of urbanization, the development of Chang'an is facing new challenges.
How can we protect Chang'an's historical and cultural heritage while achieving sustainable urban development? Readers are welcome to leave a message to discuss.