China's Famous Historical and Cultural City--Datong

Dubbed the "Famous City Beyond the Seas," Datong is located in the northernmost part of Shanxi Province, between the Inner and Outer Great Walls, and is the second largest city in Shanxi. It is surrounded by mountains on three sides, and the Royal River, a tributary of the Sanggan River, runs north and south. For a long time, people's understanding of Datong stops at the richness of the coal city, the magnificence of the Yungang, Huayan Temple of the majestic, in fact, as early as 1982, Datong City, with Beijing, Chengde and other 24 cities together with the first batch of "China's Famous Historical and Cultural Cities," becoming the only one of the first batch of cities in Shanxi. So, what kind of history and culture does the city of Datong carry, so that it can be honored?

The first point, Datong's history is really long, accurate to say more than two thousand years, Datong's history is there, and in this long history, it has built a capital-capital, did two times to accompany the capital.

The second item is culture, a Jiuzhi Mountain (Yanmen Pass) a separation, our Taiyuan, Jinnan belongs to the Yellow River Basin culture, Jiuzhi Mountain to the north, if barely, it is the Sanggan River Basin culture, then the two cultures are very different, the two cultures are different in the point of difference where it is?

I think so, Jiuzhi mountain south of the central plains of the agricultural economy culture, Jiuzhi mountain north of the nomadic culture and agricultural culture combined culture, then the cultural characteristics of this place out, it is a minority culture characteristics, it is because of the minority culture of the culture of Datong brought characteristics, high can not be counted as high, but it has characteristics, characteristics of the valuable ah!

The third is the capital, the first batch of historical and cultural cities in more than 80 percent are built, such as Xi'an, Luoyang, Beijing, Nanjing, which is the capital of a few dynasties, and the time is also very ancient, especially Xi'an, Luoyang, which is the ancient capital Well, then Datong as the capital, just a dynasty, Northern Wei Dynasty, but also the North and South Dynasties period of division, which is the north of the a capital city.

But accurately, there are ninety-seven eight years of history, in this place to build the capital, in this ninety-seven eight years, the capital has a brilliant, this brilliant situation, that is still not much documented, through the recent years of research, that is still considerable, the capital plus the site plus its history, plus its culture, so that Datong became the first historical and cultural city, deservedly.

The ancient name of Datong Pingcheng, Yunzhong, Liao Dynasty renamed Datong. Historically, it was an ancient battlefield where the Han Chinese nation in the central plains and the nomadic people outside the Seychelles fought for the world, and the special geographic location created a history of wars and intermingling of nationalities that stretched over thousands of years in Datong. As early as in the Spring and Autumn and Warring States Periods, King Wuling of Zhao was here to abandon the Han people's bulky chariot robes and promote the lightweight huqiu riding and shooting, thus accomplishing a generation of hegemony.

During the Han Dynasty, Liu Bang led an army against the Xiongnu and was trapped for seven days and nights on Mount Baideng in Pingcheng, but he was able to break out of the siege by bribing Xiongnu's wife, Xiongnu Xiongnu, with Chen Ping's stratagem. The loss of this war caused the Western Han government to change its strategy toward the Xiongnu, and made a peace treaty with the Xiongnu, which led to the legend of Zhaojun's exit.

A famous historical city is always associated with some famous historical figures. In 398 A.D., a Xianbei leader from the depths of the steppe, Tuoba Gui, unified the north and established the Northern Wei Dynasty, which became the first ethnic minority dynasty in Chinese history to fight against the Han regime in the south.

The Northern Wei Dynasty had its capital at Pingcheng, which is in the northeastern part of today's Datong city. Until Emperor Xiaowen of Wei moved the capital to Luoyang, Pingcheng served as the capital of Northern Wei for nearly a century. "After nearly a hundred years of hard work, Pingcheng became the political, military, economic and cultural center of the north, writing one of the most brilliant chapters in the history of Datong.

Today, there are still remnants of the Northern Wei Dynasty in Datong, and that is the Yungang Grottoes, which has been listed as a World Heritage Site. Yungang Grottoes is located in Datong City, 16 kilometers west of the foot of the Wuzhou Mountain, carved on the mountain, east and west stretches for one kilometer, there are 53 caves, more than 50,000 stone statues. Especially valuable is the sixteenth to twenty caves, known as "Tanya five caves", is the famous monk Tanya in the Northern Wei Dynasty by the will of Emperor Wencheng excavated, has been more than 1500 years of history.

In 1995, archaeologists in Datong city outside the southeast found the Northern Wei Dynasty Mingtang site, this amazing discovery makes people excited. Mingtang was the place where ancient emperors held great ceremonies such as pilgrimages, sacrifices and celebrations, and it was the carrier of the culture of etiquette and governance. The Northern Wei Dynasty Mingtang was grand in scale, three times the size of the Temple of Heaven in Beijing. It is a synthesis of the two Han and Wei Jin generations of Confucianism, and some innovation.

Mingtang culture is a major symbol of the Northern Wei Dynasty's cultural maturity, which leads people today to honor the cultural construction of the Northern Wei Dynasty. And the discovery of the Mingtang became a coordinate point, from which it can be accurately judged that the existing Datong city, is the location of the Northern Wei capital Pingcheng. We Datong this Pingcheng inner city from the Northern Wei Dynasty which time to today, nearly 1,600 years have passed, did not move the place, the whole heap in this place, which is different from our China has been from the capital of the Society to delineate the eight ancient capitals.

During the Five Dynasties, Shi Jingtang of the Later Jin Dynasty, in order to become the "child emperor", ceded the "sixteen states of Yanyun" to the Khitan people. Datong was thus assigned to Liao, thus sweeping away the decadence of the Tang Dynasty and entering a new period of prosperity. For more than two hundred years, Datong has been the capital of the Liao and Jin dynasties, and the beloved "Western Capital" of the Khitan and the female jinns.

Successive generations of writers seem to love only the decadent and corrupt, isolated Zhao Song dynasty, and disdained the powerful Liao and Jin regimes. In fact, successively with the Southern Song Dynasty in the world of Liao, Jin two generations, not only strong, vast territory, and inherited and created a high and unrestrained northern culture.

This unique multi-ethnic culture, originated in the then capital of Beijing, but because Beijing later repeatedly built the capital, it has long been difficult to find its trace, but in Datong has been completely preserved. The remains of Huayan Temple, Shanhua Temple and Guanyin Hall in Datong city reflect the characteristics of Liao and Jin cultures.

Particularly in Huayan Temple, Bojia teach Tibetan temple of the Liao Dynasty statue of the Bodhisattva, the shape is extremely unique, the Bodhisattva mouth dew fragrant teeth, the full display of the Buddhist charm of the look, compared with Shanxi Taiyuan Jin Ancestral Temple of the Holy Mother of God Hall in the line of motionless skirt, smile does not show teeth of the Song sculpture of the maiden, is obviously two different styles of sculpture works. Song people by the 'rite' system constraints are too deep, more internal show than external exposure; while the Khitan people bold and unrestrained, the teeth show fragrance, is another kind of beauty performance.

Datong during the Ming Dynasty changed the cultural landscape of the capital city and opened a new page as a military stronghold. When Zhu Yuanzhang led the Ming army to conquer the Yuan capital, ending Yuan rule in the country, the remnants of the Yuan army retreated back to the Mongolian plateau, badly wounded, but still pining for the Central Plains, posing a serious threat to the northern border of the Ming Dynasty.

The Ming dynasty therefore attaches great importance to the defense of the northern border, in the north set up nine defense towns, known as the nine sides. The strategic location of Datong Town is particularly important, when one twelfth of the national army stationed here, the Ming Emperor Chengzu and Ming Emperor Yingzong have been to this imperial campaign, "Datong soldiers and horses in the world," the reputation.

In 1952, the Ministry of Culture of the Central Committee presided over a survey of ancient buildings across the country. To Mr. Luo Zhewen mainly Yanbei ancient architecture survey group in the survey report evaluation: "Datong preserved monuments, cultural relics are very much, can be said to be one of the most richly preserved monuments and cultural relics of the domestic number of cities."

It is these monuments and relics that tell us the history of the ups and downs of Datong for more than two thousand years. A historical city unites the essence and flavor of one or several dynasties in history. Therefore, there is a saying in China: Qin, Han, Sui and Tang look at Xi'an, Song Qi, Liang and Chen look at Nanjing, Qian Yue, Zhao and Song look at Hangzhou, Yan, Yuan, Ming and Qing look at Beijing ...... Then, Northern Wei, Liao and Jin look at Datong, is a matter of course.

One of the first batch of Chinese historical and cultural cities, Datong City, since ancient times, has the reputation of "Phoenix City". It is the first capital of the Northern Wei Tuoba's entry into the Central Plains, but also the Liao and Jin dynasties with the capital. It is a set of Wei and Jin charm for a mountain, Liao Jin flow for a city, in the long history of the process, leaving many precious historical remains, the formation of a unique regional culture.

The whole layout of Datong Ancient City is like a phoenix spreading its wings, with South Pass as the head of the phoenix, the main city as the body of the phoenix, North Pass symbolizing the tail of the phoenix, and East Pass as the left wing, but there is no West Pass. Legend has it that a warrior hitched his sword and shot off the right wing of the phoenix, so this colorful phoenix is still unable to travel far.

Northern Wei nearly a century of capital history and Liao Jin more than two hundred years of accompanying the capital of history, so that Datong this famous city outside the Seychelles has an extraordinary king of the city temperament. This temperament is not only reflected in the Yungang Grottoes of the majestic and Huayan Temple, Shannhua Temple of the majestic and exquisite, more permeated in the blood of the ancient city. From north to south across the Datong this river is called "Royal River", the name of the flavor of the capital city, should be the Northern Wei Dynasty.

Datong has been known as the "City of the Dragon Wall", there are still preserved as many as nine Dragon Wall. In particular, the Datong Nine Dragon Wall is the most prestigious. Dragon wall is a special building in ancient times, generally used as a building wall, mostly built in front of the palace, royal residence, temple. Can be used as a barrier to the courtyard building, but also to highlight the solemnity and splendor of the building.

The Datong Nine Dragons Wall is the largest nine-dragon wall in China, bigger than the two nine-dragon walls in front of the Imperial Palace and Beihai Park in Beijing. This nine-dragon wall, built during the Hongwu period of the Ming Dynasty, is the photo wall of Zhu Gui's residence, a king in the early Ming Dynasty. It is made of yellow, green, blue, purple, black, white and other colorful glazed components, which is majestic and brilliant, adding to the ancient city of Datong.

Datong, displaying more than 2,000 years of civilization, blending the culture of dozens of ancient ethnic groups, buried rich resources, inherited the ancient and simple folkways, today this historical and cultural city still emits a constant light.

Expanded Information:

Datong, a municipality in Shanxi Province, is one of China's first 24 national historical and cultural cities, one of China's first 13 larger municipalities, one of China's nine ancient capitals, a national new energy demonstration city, a Chinese excellent tourist city It is one of the first 24 national historical and cultural cities in China, one of the first 13 larger cities in China, one of the nine ancient capitals in China, a national new energy demonstration city, an excellent tourist city in China, a national garden city? , National Model City of Double Embrace, National Transportation Hub City, Sculpture Capital of China, and Top Ten Sports and Leisure Cities in China.

Datong is the deputy center of Shanxi Province, the second largest city in Shanxi Province, located in the center of the Datong Basin in the north of Shanxi Province, the junction of Jin, Hebei and Mongolia provinces and regions, the northeastern edge of the Loess Plateau, the barrier of the whole of Jin and the gateway to the north, and the chokehold of Jin, Hebei, Inner Mongolia of the throat of the main road, has been the place of the military must contend for, with the "northern lock and key". "

DaDa is the gateway to the north and the gateway to Jin, Hebei and Inner Mongolia.

Datong was known as Yunzhong, Pingcheng, once the capital of Northern Wei, Liao, Jin capital, numerous monuments, including the famous Yungang Grottoes, Huayan Temple, Shanhua Temple, Hengshan Hanging Temple, Nine Dragons, etc.?

Datong is one of the largest coal energy bases in China, a national heavy chemical energy base, and the midpoint of the emerging energy zone of Shenfu and Jungar, as well as the developed industrial zones of Beijing, Tianjin and Tangshan. It is known as "Phoenix City" and "China's Coal Capital".

District History

On May 1, 1949, Datong was peacefully liberated, and the city and suburbs of Datong were analyzed and set up as the city of Datong, which was subordinate to the Chahar Province, and the city was divided into five districts.

October 1949, the east and west of Yanbei merger, assigned to Chahar Province, set up Yanbei special office, belonging to the county: Lingqiu, Guangling, Hunyuan, Yingxian, Shanyin, Datong, Huairen, Shuoxian, Pinglu, Yuyu, Zuoyun.

December 1952, Datong City, under the jurisdiction of the first, second and third districts and the mouth of the spring mining district.

July 1954 Datong County and Huairen County merged into Daren County.

In June 1958, the city came under the Yanbei Prefecture. on January 23, 1959, Yanbei and Xinxian County merged into the Jinbei Prefecture, and Datong City came under the Jinbei Prefecture. Yanbei merged into six counties: Yanggao, Hunyuan, Lingqiu, Zuoyun, Shanyin, Shuo County.

July 24, 1961, Jinbei Prefecture abolished, Datong City returned to Yanbei Prefecture leadership, jurisdiction over the city, the mouth of the spring district, the ancient city, Huairen District. In November of the same year, it was returned to the jurisdiction of Shanxi Province.

In 1962, Yanbei restored 13 counties set up in November 1964, the abolition of the ancient city, Huairen District, the restoration of Datong County, Huairen County. Municipal jurisdiction over two districts, two counties. in July 1965, Datong, Huairen County, two counties to the Yanbei Prefecture.

In February 1966, the city, the mouth of the spring area under the jurisdiction of the agricultural area, the establishment of the suburbs, Datong City, three districts under the jurisdiction of the city.

In April 1970, Datong City was assigned to the leadership of Yanbei, the establishment of the mining district in September, and the establishment of the southern suburb, the northern suburb and the town of Kouquan in October.

In 1971, the northern suburb was changed to Xinrong District.

In March 1972, resumed as a provincial municipality, with jurisdiction over the urban area, mining district, the southern suburbs, Xinrong District, four districts, 17 streets, 287 residential committees, 22 townships, five towns, 252 production brigades, 1125 production teams, 351 natural villages.

In January 1989, the city of Shuozhou was established, Yanbei jurisdiction of Pinglu, Shuo County, Shanyin transferred to Shuozhou.

July 10, 1993, Yanbei region abolished, the merger of municipalities, Huairen, Yingxian, Yuyu County, three counties to Shuozhou City, Tianzhen, Yanggao, Guangling, Lingqiu, Hunyuan, Zuoyun, Datong 7 counties to regulate the city of Datong, the implementation of municipal management of counties. Datong city jurisdiction of urban areas, mining areas, southern suburbs, Xinrong District, four districts and seven counties.

On February 9, 2018, the State Council approved and agreed to abolish the urban area of Datong City, the southern suburbs, mining district, the establishment of Datong City, Pingcheng District, Yungang District, agreed to the southern suburbs of the town of Gudian assigned to the jurisdiction of the Xinrong District, agreed to abolish Datong County, the establishment of Datong City, Yunzhou District, the district zoning changes in Datong City, 4 municipal jurisdictions 6 counties.

References: