{"id":1021,"date":"2026-06-08T02:29:14","date_gmt":"2026-06-08T06:29:14","guid":{"rendered":""},"modified":"2026-07-08T05:48:36","modified_gmt":"2026-07-08T05:48:36","slug":"changaean","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/aboutyou.name\/?p=1021","title":{"rendered":"Chang\u2019An (\u957f\u5b89)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Chang\u2019an, located near Xian in Shaanxi Province, was the capital of several dynasties of ancient China from the Zhou to the Tang and eventually became one of the world\u2019s great metropolises. With tree-lined avenues, high walls, pleasure parks, and areas dedicated to specific functions:<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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\nEarly Settlement & Geography<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

A settlement from Neolithic times, Chang\u2019an<\/span><\/a> was an ideal location for a capital as it was surrounded on all sides by mountains, providing a useful obstacle to invading armies, and was close to the Yellow and Wei Rivers. The advantages of the geographical location are described in the History of the Former Han Dynasty by Pan Ku:<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

“In abundance of flowering plants and fruits;
\nIt is the most fertile of the Nine Provinces;
\nIn natural barriers
\nfor protection and defence;
\nIt is the most impregnable refuge
\nin heaven and earth.”<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

The name Chang\u2019an translates as ‘Forever Peace’, and although not quite living up to its name, the city did remain important for over a millennium. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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\nJinsha Smiling Gold Mask<\/span><\/a> Shang Dynasty<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

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\n4 sunbirds + 12 sunrays cut out of gold foil
\n(Shang Dynasty)<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Chang\u2019an was an important city in the Shang Dynasty (1600-1046 BC). It became a capital under the Western Zhou (1046-771 BC). When the Eastern Zhou dynasty (771-256 BC) arose, Luoyang became the capital. It replaced Chang’an as capital several times in Chinese history<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\nThe Han Capital layout<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

After the turmoil of the Warring States period (481-221 BC), Chang\u2019an was capital again during the Western Han dynasty between 206 BC and 9 CE. The city was given an armoury, a state-controlled market and a granary, projects supervised by Emperor Gaozu\u2019s chief minister Xiao He, who was subsequently rebuked for his excessive spending. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The next emperor, Hui, saw the value to his reign of a capital that looked the part and ordered a new market, new walls, a mausoleum for Gaozu and an ice-house in the royal residence. The capital even had its own police force, headed by the superintendent of the capital, the Zhijinwu.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Emperor Wu, the fifth Han ruler, renovated two palaces and built three more. His most famous building project was the redevelopment of the Shanglin Park. Located to the south-west of the city, it had fallen into disrepair and Wu completely transformed it into a pleasure park with artificial water features, the Jianzhang Palace which became the royal residence, and many subsidiary structures. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The park contained many exotic flowers, tropical plants and trees. It had several statues including a whale and replica of the Milky Way. Its menagerie included exotic birds, a rhinoceros, and an elephant.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

In this early period Chang\u2019an was dominated by the Weiyang Palace which was built on cut terraces on the Dragon Head Hills above the city. The capital was significantly developed by the early 1st-century CE Han regent and usurper Wang Mang. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Mang built an imperial ceremonial hall (piyong), hall of light (mingtang) where the change in seasons was observed, and spirit terrace (lingtai).<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

But even more celebrated were his nine temples (jiu miao), where the ancient kings of China were worshipped, the foundations of which still remain today. One such temple was a square structure with four doors set within a circular precinct with four gates. The city eventually reached an extent of around 84 square kilometers. In addition, to the north of the River Wei, whole towns sprang up around the sites of the Qin and Han Royal tombs. The whole valley was becoming a major concentration of people.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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\n<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The Southern & Northern Dynasties<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

After Luoyang had served as the capital of the Later\/Eastern Han (23-220), Chang\u2019an returned as capital of many subsequent different dynastic states during the complex period of China\u2019s history known as the Southern and Northern Dynasties: the Jin (311-316), the Zhao (319-329), Qin (351-385), Later Qin (386-417), Western Wei (535-554), and Northern Zhou (557-581). The city was the capital of the Sui Dynasty (581-618), which unified China once more, when it was redesigned by Emperor Wen Di.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n