Historical capitals of China
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The Chinese phrase Four Great Ancient Capitals of China (simplified Chinese: 中国四大古都; traditional Chinese: 中國四大古都; pinyin: Zhōngguó Sì Dà Gǔdū) traditionally refers to Beijing, Nanjing, Luoyang, and Chang'an (Xi'an).
After the 1930s as more discoveries were made, other historical capitals were added to the list. The later phrase Seven Ancient Capitals of China included Kaifeng (added in the 1920s as the fifth ancient capital), Hangzhou (the sixth, added in the 1930s), and Anyang (after a proposal by archaeologists in 1988, it became the seventh ancient capital). In 2004, the China Ancient Capital Society officially added Zhengzhou as an eighth, thanks to archaeological finds there.
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List of historical capitals of China
In alphabetical order:
- Anyang was the capital during the Yin period of the Shang Dynasty (estimated between 1600 BC and 1046 BC): called Yin (殷, pinyin: Yīn).
- Beijing (formerly Romanized as Peking, from Chinese Postal Map Romanization (CPMR); briefly known as Peip'ing in Wade-Giles (WG) or Běipíng in pinyin (py)) was and has been the capital of various Chinese governments including (sorted chronologically):
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- State of Yan (Yen in WG) in Spring and Autumn Period (722-481 BC): called Ji (薊, pinyin: Jì).
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- Liao Dynasty (907-1125), as a secondary capital: called Yanjing (燕京, pinyin: Yānjīng, "capital of Yan").
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- Jin Dynasty (1115-1234) from Emperor Shizong until 1215: called Zhongdu (中都, pinyin: Zhōngdū, "central capital").
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- Yuan Dynasty (1271 to 1368): called Dadu (大都, pinyin: Dàdū, "great capital") in Chinese, Daidu (a direct transliteration from Chinese[1]) in Mongolian and Khanbaliq ("city of the Khan") in the Turkic languages. This was reported as "Cambuluc" by Marco Polo.
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- Ming Dynasty since Yongle Emperor of China (1402/1424-1644): called Jīngshī (京師,"capital").
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- Qing Dynasty since the fall of Ming in 1644 to the end of the dynasty in 1912.
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- The Beiyang Government of the Republic of China.
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- The current capital of the People's Republic of China.
- Chengdu (WG: Ch'eng-tu) was the capital of the Shu Kingdom during the period of the Three Kingdoms. It was briefly the seat of Chiang's ROC government during the Chinese civil war with the Communist Party of China.
- Chongqing (CPMR: Chungking) was the provisional capital of the government of Chiang Kai-shek during World War II (Second Chinese-Japanese War), and was briefly the seat of Chiang's ROC government during the Chinese civil war with the Communist Party of China.
- Datong (WG: Ta-t'ong) was the capital during Northern Wei Dynasty before moving to Luoyang in 493.
- Guangzhou (formerly Romanized Canton from CPMR)
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- Republic of China: it was seat of the National Government before the Northern Expedition, and was briefly the seat of Chiang's ROC government during the Chinese civil war with the Communist Party of China.
- Hangzhou (also Hangchou or Hangchow) was the capital of:
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- The Wuyue Kingdom (904-978), during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period.
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- China during the Southern Song Dynasty: called Lin'an (臨安 Lín'ān).
- Hao was the capital during Western Zhou Dynasty, located near present day Xi'an.
- Kaifeng was the capital of various Chinese governments including (sorted chronologically):
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- Northern Song Dynasty: called Dongjing (東京 Dōngjīng).
- Luoyang was the capital of various Chinese governments including (sorted chronologically):
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- Eastern Han Dynasty from 25 to 220
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- Kingdom of Wei during the Three Kingdoms.
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- Western Jin Dynasty
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- Northern Wei Dynasty since 493, moved its capital from Datong.
- Nanjing (formerly Romanized Nanking (CPMR) or Nanching in WG) was the capital of various Chinese governments including (sorted chronologically):
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- all of the Six Dynasties: called Jianye (建業 Jiànyè) or Jiankang (建康 Jiànkāng). The Six Dynasties are:
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- Kingdom of Wu during the Three Kingdoms.
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- Eastern Jin Dynasty
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- Ming Dynasty before Yongle Emperor moved the capital to Beijing.
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- Taiping Tianguo (Heavenly Kingdom of Great Peace and Prosperity) during the Taiping Rebellion. Known as Tianjing (天京，literally 'Heavenly Capital') between 1853 and its fall in 1864.
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- Republic of China after the Northern Expedition until the Japanese invasion in 1937 of WWII, and after the war until Chiang Kai-Shek retreated to Taiwan in 1949.
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- Wang Jingwei's pro-Japanese collaborationist government.
- Taipei has been the de-facto capital of the Republic of China (Taiwan) since 1949.
- Wuhan was the capital of a leftist Kuomintang government led by Wang Jingwei in opposition to Chiang Kaishek during the 1920s.
- Xanadu (Shangdu) (上都) was the summer capital of Kublai Khan's empire.
- Xi'an (WG: Hsi'an; called Chang'an in ancient times) was the capital of various Chinese governments including (sorted chronologically):
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- Western Zhou Dynasty, also see Hao.
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- State of Qin in Spring and Autumn Period and Qin Dynasty 221 BC-207 BC: Xi'an is located near the Qin capital which is called Xianyang (咸陽 Xiányáng).
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- Western Han Dynasty from 206 BC to AD 9
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- Xin Dynasty from 8 to 23
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- State of Former Zhao, a state in the Sixteen Kingdoms period during the Chinese Jin Dynasty (265-420).
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- State of Former Qin from 351 to 394, from the Sixteen Kingdoms period.
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- State of Later Qin from 384 to 417, from the Sixteen Kingdoms period.
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- Sui Dynasty from 581 to 618
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- Tang Dynasty from 618 to 907
- Ye was the capital of Eastern Wei Dynasty and Northern Qi Dynasty.
Chronology
| Government | Capital | Period |
|---|---|---|
| Xia | Song (崇) | Gun |
| Yangcheng (陽城) | Yu | |
| Chu (鉏) | Yi | |
| Qiongshi (窮石) | Yi, Hanzhuo | |
| Zhen (斟) | Taikang | |
| Diqiu (帝丘) | Xiang | |
| Yuan (原) | Zhu | |
| Laoqiu (老丘) | Zhu | |
| Xihe (西河) | Yinjia | |
| Zhen (斟) | Jie | |
| "Henan" (河南) | Jie | |
| Shang | Bo (亳) | Xie |
| Fan (蕃) | Xie | |
| Dishi (砥石) | Zhaoming | |
| Shang (商) | Zhaoming | |
| Shangqiu (商邱) | Xiangtu | |
| Foot of Mount Tai ("泰山麓") | Xiangtu | |
| Shangqiu (商邱) | Xiangtu | |
| Yin (殷) | Shanghou | |
| Shangqiu (商邱) | Yinhou | |
| Bo ("西"亳) | Tang | |
| Xiao (囂) | Zhongding | |
| Xiang (相) | Hedanjia | |
| Xing (邢) | Zuyi | |
| Bi (庇) | Zuyi | |
| Yan (奄) | Nan'geng | |
| Yin (殷) | Pan'geng | |
| Zhou (Western) | Zongzhou (宗周, Western capital) | 1046 BC—771 BC |
| Chengzhou (成周, Eastern capital) | 1046 BC—771 BC | |
| Zhou (Eastern) | Chengzhou (成周) | 770 BC—367 BC |
| "Henan" (河南, capital of the Western Zhou State) | 367 BC—256 BC | |
| Gong (鞏, capital of the Eastern Zhou State) | 367 BC—249 BC | |
| Qin | Xiquanqiu (西犬丘) | |
| Pingyang (平陽) | —677 BC | |
| Yong (雍) | 677 BC— | |
| Jingyang (涇陽) | —383 BC | |
| Liyang (櫟陽) | 383 BC—250 BC | |
| Xianyang (咸陽) | 350 BC—207 BC | |
| Han (Western) | Luoyang (雒陽) | 202 BC |
| Liyang (櫟陽) | 202 BC—200 BC | |
| Chang'an (長安) | 200 BC—8 BC | |
| Xin | Chang'an (長安) | 8 CE—23 CE |
| Han (Eastern) | Luoyang (雒陽) | 25—190 |
| Chang'an (長安) | 191—195 | |
| Xu (許) | 196—220 | |
| Wei (Three Kingdoms) |
Luoyang (洛陽) | 220—265 |
| Han (Three Kingdoms) |
Chengdu (成都) | 221—263 |
| Wu (Three Kingdoms) |
Jianye (建業) | 227—279 |
| Jin (Western) | Luoyang (洛陽) | 265—313 |
| Chang'an (長安) | 313—316 | |
| Jin (Eastern) | Jiankang (建康) | 317—420 |
| Wei (Northern dynasties) |
Pingcheng (平城) | 386—493 |
| Luoyang (洛陽) | 493—534 | |
| Ye (鄴, capital of the Eastern Wei State) | 534—550 | |
| Chang'an (長安, capital of the Western Wei State) | 535—557 | |
| Qi (Northern dynasties) |
Ye (鄴) | 550—577 |
| Zhou (Northern dynasties) |
Chang'an (長安) | 556—581 |
| Song (Southern dynasties) |
Jiankang (建康) | 420—479 |
| Qi (Southern dynasties) |
Jiankang (建康) | 479—502 |
| Liang (Southern dynasties) |
Jiankang (建康) | 502—557 |
| Chen (Southern dynasties) |
Jiankang (建康) | 557—589 |
| Sui | Dongdu (東都) | 581—618 |
| Daxing (大興, auxiliary capital) | 581—618 | |
| Tang | Chang'an (長安) | 618—690 |
| Zhou | Chang'an (長安) | 690—705 |
| Tang | Chang'an (長安) | 705—904 |
| Luoyang (洛陽) | 904—907 | |
| Liang (Five dynasties) |
Dongdu (東都) | 907—923 |
| Tang (Five dynasties) |
Dongdu (東都) | 923—936 |
| Jin (Five dynasties) |
Dongjing (東京) | 936—947 |
| Han (Five dynasties) |
Dongjing (東京) | 947—950 |
| Zhou (Five dynasties) |
Dongjing (東京) | 951—960 |
| Song (Northern) | Dongjing (東京) | 960—1127 |
| Song (Southern) | Lin'an (臨安) | 1127—1279 |
| Liao, Empire of the Khitan |
Shangjing (上京) | 907—1120 |
| Nanjing (南京) | 1122—1123 | |
| Tokmok (虎思斡耳朵) | 1134—1218 | |
| Jin | Shangjing (上京) | 1115—1153 |
| Zhongdu (中都) | 1153—1214 | |
| Nanjing (南京) | 1214—1234 | |
| Western Xia | Xingqing | 1038—1227 |
| Yuan | ||
| Shangdu (上都) | May 1264 — 1276 | |
| Dadu (大都) | 1276 — August 1368 | |
| Shangdu (上都) | August 1368 — 1369 | |
| Ming | Nanjing (南京) | 23 January 1368 — 2 February 1421 |
| Beijing (北京) | 2 February 1421 — 25 April 1644 | |
| Nanjing (南京) | 1644 — 1645 | |
| Fuzhou (福州) | 1645 — 1646 | |
| Zhaoqing (肇慶) | 1646 — 25 April 1662 | |
| Later Jin | Feiala (費阿拉) | 1587 — 1603 |
| Hetuala (赫圖阿拉) | 1603 — 1619 | |
| Jiefan (界凡) | 1619 — September 1620 | |
| Sarhu (薩爾滸) | September 1620 — April 1621 | |
| Dongjing (東京) | April 1621 — 11 April 1625 | |
| Shengjing (盛京) | 11 April 1625 — 1636 | |
| Qing | Shengjing (盛京) | 1636 — 20 September 1644 |
| Beijing (北京) | 20 September 1644 — 12 February 1912[2] | |
| Republic of China | Nanjing (南京) | 1 January 1912 — 2 April 1912 (Provisional Government) |
| Beijing (北京) | 2 April 1912 — 30 May 1928 (Beiyang Government)[2] |
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| Fengtian (奉天) | 30 May 1928 — 29 December 1928 (Beiyang Government) |
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| Guangzhou (廣州) | 1 July 1925 — 21 February 1927 (Guangzhou Nationalist Government) |
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| Wuhan (武漢) | 21 February 1927 — 19 August 1927 (Wuhan Nationalist Government)[3] |
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| Nanjing (南京) | 18 April 1927 — 20 November 1937 (the Nanjing decade)[2] |
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| Beiping (北平) | 9 September 1930 — 23 September 1930 (Beiping Nationalist Government) |
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| Taiyuan (太原) | 23 September 1930 — 4 November 1930 (Beiping Nationalist Government) |
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| Guangzhou (廣州) | 28 May 1931 — 22 December 1931 (Guangzhou Nationalist Government) |
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| Chongqing (重慶) | 21 November 1937 — 5 May 1946 (during the Second Sino-Japanese War)[2] |
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| Nanjing (南京) | 30 March 1940 — 10 August 1945 (Wang Jingwei Government) |
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| Nanjing (南京) | 5 May 1946 — 23 April 1949[2] | |
| Guangzhou (廣州) | 23 April 1949 — 14 October 1949 (during the Chinese Civil War) |
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| Chongqing (重慶) | 14 October 1949 — 30 November 1949 (during the Chinese Civil War) |
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| Chengdu (成都) | 30 November 1949 — 27 December 1949 (during the Chinese Civil War) |
|
| Xichang (西昌) | 27 December 1949 — 27 March 1950 (during the Chinese Civil War) |
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| Taipei (臺北) | 10 December 1949 — Present | |
| People's Republic of China | Beijing (北京) | 10 October 1949 — Present |
Controversy
Choosing the capital of China has always been a matter of politics over logistics. Some historians have questioned why Beijing should have ever been chosen as a capital at all, even in the present day. Throughout most of China's history, the geography of the far northeastern corner of the country, with its long, harsh winters with limited agricultural possibilities, has posed serious water and food supply problems. Even with the water supply now coming from the Yangtze River--an accomplishment that has required major construction due to the river's great distance from the area--these problems remain unresolved.[4] Furthermore, Beijing's location near China's northern frontier has also posed historical strategic military disadvantages. Had the capital of the Ming Dynasty not been located there, in the 17th century the Manchu could not have attacked it so easily, taking over and establishing the last Chinese dynasty.[4] China's main food source has always been in the southern region of the country. Therefore, due to its smaller distance from the main food & water sources, the "preferred" or "logical" capital city has commonly been thought to be Nanjing.[4]
References
- ^ Denis Twitchett, Herbert Franke, John K. Fairbank, in The Cambridge History of China: Volume 6, Alien Regimes and Border States (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1994), p 454.
- ^ a b c d e Esherick, Joseph. [2000] (2000). Remaking the Chinese City: Modernity and National Identity, 1900-1950. University of Hawaii Press. ISBN 0824825187.
- ^ Clark, Anne Biller. Clark, Anne Bolling. Klein, Donald. Klein, Donald Walker. [1971] (1971). Harvard Univ. Biographic Dictionary of Chinese communism. Original from the University of Michigan v.1. Digitized Dec 21, 2006. p 134.
- ^ a b c Haw, Stephen G. [2007] (2007). Beijing a Concise History. Routledge. ISBN 978041539906-7
See also
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