In China's 5,000-year history, the change of each dynasty is a gripping epic. Since the beginning of civilization in the Xia Dynasty, countless dynasties have risen and died in this ancient land. Not all dynasties were considered "orthodox" by later generations. The criteria for orthodox dynastics have been widely discussed in scholarly circles, but they can be broadly boiled down to three core elements: occupation of the Central Plains, cultural inheritance, and political legitimacy. Through history, we will trace the rise and fall of these dynasties and explore how they sought legitimacy in change and succession.
The dawn of the Xia Dynasty
"Dayu, where will you go?" Yu's father asked. In the cold wind, Yu stood under the stars and looked at the muddy Yellow River, "I will successfully control the water and seek the well-being of the people." Yu not only succeeded in controlling the water, but also created the Xia Dynasty, marking the real beginning of Chinese civilization, he chose Yangcheng as the capital, which is the core of the Central Plains, symbolizing the orthodox status of the Xia Dynasty.
The change of the Shang Dynasty
Shang Tang defeated the Xia Dynasty and established the Shang Dynasty. He stood in front of the new capital and said to his courtiers: "Our rule will be a continuation of justice, inheriting the unfinished business of the Xia Dynasty." "The Shang Dynasty continued to maintain the Central Plains as the political center, and through cultural and political continuity, it naturally inherited the mantle of orthodoxy.
The rise and division of the Zhou Dynasty
The founder of the Western Zhou Dynasty, King Ji Fa of Zhou Wu, chose Feng Ho as the capital after the destruction of the Shang Dynasty. "Tang once abandoned Xia, and now I abandon Shang. History is a cycle, but the right path is unchanging. He said to his ministers. During the reign of the Duke of Zhou, the eastern capital of Luoyi became the center of culture and politics, strengthening the legitimacy of the Zhou dynasty in the Central Plains.
The unification and divergence of the Qin and Han dynasties
After Qin Shi Huang unified the six countries, he said to the ministers: "The world is unified, the law is one, and the car and book are on one track." Xianyang, the capital of the Qin Dynasty, was located in the hinterland of the Central Plains, and its policy of unification further strengthened its legitimacy. The rise of the Han Dynasty, especially after Liu Bang made Chang'an the capital, continued to emphasize the importance of the Central Plains.
The dispute between the Three Kingdoms and the Northern and Southern Dynasties
Cao Cao said to Cao Pi after the Battle of Guandu: "Although the Han family is declining, the centripetal heart of the world is still there. Although Cao Wei was one of the Three Kingdoms, it was regarded as orthodox because it occupied the core of the Central Plains. During the Northern and Southern Dynasties, although the Southern Dynasties such as the Song, Qi, Liang, and Chen Junding were all Jiankang, they considered themselves the legitimate successors of the Eastern Jin Dynasty.
The reunification of the Sui and Tang dynasties
After Emperor Wen of Sui eliminated the Chen Dynasty, he discussed with his ministers: "The north has been flattened, the south has been decided, and the world is one family." "The Daxing City of the Sui Dynasty and later the eastern capital of Luoyang once again emphasized the centrality of the Central Plains. After establishing the Tang Dynasty, Tang Taizong also chose Chang'an, which was regarded as the pinnacle of orthodoxy because of its strong cultural and political influence.
The replacement of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms to the Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasties
After the melee of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms, the Northern Song Dynasty built the capital Kaifeng in the Central Plains, and Zhao Kuangyin summoned the ministers and announced: "The royal road is a happy land, and we will recast the glory of the Central Plains." "The Kaifeng of the Song Dynasty, cultural prosperity and political stability all strengthened its legitimacy. Although the Yuan Dynasty was founded by foreign peoples, it also built Dadu (present-day Beijing) in the hinterland of the Central Plains, and its successor Han culture also recognized orthodoxy to some extent. In the Ming and Qing dynasties, the importance of the Central Plains was continued to be emphasized, and Beijing became a master of political culture.
Through these historical evolutions, each dynasty that was considered orthodox struggled to maintain the centrality of the Central Plains while maintaining cultural continuity and political effectiveness. Whether it was the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period, when civil wars were frequent, or the Yuan Dynasty, which was ruled by foreign peoples, they all chose the Central Plains as the core of their power, trying to find the certification of their legitimacy in this ancient land.
Just as the rivers of this land never stop flowing to the sea, the wheel of history is shaping the rise and fall of dynasties as they move forward. Orthodoxy is not just a simple label for a dynasty, it is a profound embodiment of culture, history, and resonance with the people. From the beginning of the Xia Dynasty to the end of the Qing Dynasty, the Central Plains was not only the geographical center, but also the cultural and political heart. Every dynasty that has dominated for a while has experienced the test of time on the field of the Central Plains, and finally wrote its own legend. And the stories of these orthodox dynasties, like the stars, illuminate the historical sky of the Chinese nation.