In Xi'an, looking forward to Chang'an!

One day in the 8th century

A group of Sogdian merchants set out from Samarkand

Their journey this time spanned more than 2,000 kilometers in space.

Spend a year on time

They are dusty, but their eyes are bright.

Because they will finally see the prosperity of the Tang Dynasty

Meet Changan

Heard

The emperors of the prosperous Tang Dynasty enjoyed the homage of envoys from "all nations"

The streets of the prosperous Tang Dynasty gathered all the treasures of the world.

Life in the heyday of the Tang Dynasty set a benchmark for international fashion

And bringing it all together

Chang'an

(Please watch in horizontal mode, Chang'an Life Picture Book, this picture is an artistic mosaic of three themes of Chang'an, not a real space layout, drawn by @阿土/星球研究院)

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Today

There are still countless people coming to Xi'an

Exploring the Lights and Shadows of the Prosperous Tang Dynasty

The vitality of the Tang Dynasty

Actively in the arbitrary time slices in Chang'an

It is the inclusive empire in the eyes of the courtiers at Mao time

It is the lively capital behind the bustling market at noon.

It is a feast of bliss in the suburban gardens at the hour of You

01

The Empire of Inclusion

Mao time, Hanyuan Hall, Daming Palace, Chang'an

Emperor Xuanzong of Tang wearing imperial robes and imperial crowns

Civil officials, military generals, and envoys from various countries stood outside the palace

Waiting to toast the emperor

The Tang Dynasty has seen such moments many times.

It is used to accommodating thousands of

(Tang Dynasty pottery and wooden figurines, each with a different face, tell people about the all-encompassing Tang Dynasty. Photographers @朕忠&Sing行摄影, map @阿容/星球研究院)

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The Tang Dynasty was a mixture of nomadic peoples and traditional culture of the Central Plains

This makes it inclusive

It's engraved in our bones.

After that, the country became stronger and stronger

With the reopening of the Silk Road

Countless merchants, monks, and students came to the land of the Tang Dynasty.

Accompanying them

It is a foreign culture that is very different from the Central Plains

Tang's tolerance

It is to absorb and transform these cultures without any scruples.

(Zhigongtu, attributed to Yan Liben of the Tang Dynasty, now in the collection of the National Palace Museum in Taipei, image source @Wikimedia commons, map @Arong/Planet Research Institute)

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Foreigners who came to the land of the Tang Dynasty

Can be an official, can do business

Can take science exams, can intermarry

Kang Qian is a typical example

He was a merchant in Samarkand

He counterattacked and became the Minister of Rites

This was a position equivalent to today's Minister of Foreign Affairs.

There are many examples like Kang Qian.

Abe no Nakamaro

Choi Chi-won of Silla

Li Yansheng of the Arab world

…

According to statistics

Among the six prime ministers in the late Tang Dynasty

There are five people who were born as Hu people.

(A copy of the Japanese "Kibi Minister's Journey to Tang Dynasty", the original is kept in the Boston Museum of Fine Arts. The image of the Tang people depicted in this painting is very controversial. Image source @ColBase, map @Arong/Planet Research Institute)

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Thanks to the developed transportation

Luoyang, the Eastern Capital

The swarming caravan kicked up the dust on the ground

"Ever since the Hu cavalry raised dust, the smell of hair and fur filled the Xianluo River."

(Three-color camel figurine carrying cargo, the above is from Yuan Zhen's "Twelve New Yuefu Poems in Response to Li Xiaoshu·Faqu", photographer @胡繎, map @阿容/星球研究院)

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Yangzhou in the South

By the canal

Merchants gather here, and the market is connected

Chengdu in the southwest

Relying on the developed handicraft industry

Second only to Yangzhou in terms of wealth

It was called "Yang Yi Yi Er"

(Under the ancient Xi'an city wall are trains ready to go. The former carriages and horses have now become roaring trains. Photographer @许健雄)

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Continue south to Guangzhou , a city far away from home

Facing the sea, goods are shipped all over the world

Countless overseas merchants gather here

The remote town has become a major port in the East

All the treasures from all over the world gathered in Chang'an

Some gold and silver wares with Western style

The pattern is unique and eye-catching

(A finely crafted gold ware from the Tang Dynasty, photographer @路客看看&Sing行摄影&脉影, map by @阿容/星球研究院)

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Integration is not one-way

The civilization of the Tang Dynasty also continued to spread to the surrounding areas

Tea, silk, porcelain, bronze mirrors

Representing Datang Meteorological Products exported overseas

(Bronze mirrors and porcelain from the Tang Dynasty, photographer @笑谈间气吐霓虹&脉影, map @阿容/星球研究院)

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Yangzhou felt hats are so popular that they are hard to find

Yangzhou bronze mirrors become a great gift

Chengdu's hemp paper has become the best paper

So the four books of the government were all printed on Yizhou hemp paper.

(The Yangtze River Heart Mirror unearthed from the Black Stone Ship is named after the Yangtze River Heart Mirror, which is cast on May 5th every year. Photographer: @苏李欢, map by @阿容/Planet Research Institute)

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There are also white porcelain from Xingzhou and celadon from Yuezhou

Tea from Huzhou, silk from Zhengzhou

Busy trade, a wide variety of goods

This is the best footnote to the inclusive empire.

Traveling by car, horse and boat, going south and north

Travelers on the road in the territory of the Tang Dynasty

Sketching a vibrant picture

The center of the painting is Chang'an

02

The living capital

Noon, West City

The door of Changan Market slowly opens

The merchants flocked to the place and the camel caravans waited for a long time.

The shouts and yells instantly ignited the West Market.

This is the scene that happens every day in Chang'an's market.

Half solemn, half lively

(Please watch in horizontal mode, a schematic diagram of Tang Chang'an City, drawn by @阿容/Planet Research Institute)

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Fertile soil of Guanzhong Plain

Nourished by the Qin and Han dynasties

This magnificent capital city grew up

When Chang'an City was first built, it was called Daxing City.

It was renamed Chang'an in the Tang Dynasty

The Daming Palace was built in the northeast corner.

It became the Chang'an we are familiar with today.

(Sketch of Chang'an City's location and topography, drawn by @昕恬/Planet Research Institute)

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The grand scale gives Chang'an City solemnity and majesty

It not only has an area of ​​84 square kilometers

Surpassing all previous capitals

It is also unique in its construction design.

It founded the Imperial City

It formed a triple city of palace, imperial city and outer city.

Clear functional division

Since the Sui and Tang Chang'an City

Many capital cities thereafter adopted the layout of three cities within one another.

(Schematic diagram of the three-layer city of Chang'an, drawn by @阿容/Planet Research Institute)

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The three cities are connected in series

The streets that crisscross the city

Six of the streets start from the east, west and south city gates.

Known as " Sixth Street "

These six streets are the main transportation hubs of Chang'an City.

It is also the "metronome" of Chang'an City.

It reflects its vivid and lively side

(Sketch of the Six Streets of Chang'an City, drawn by @阿容/Planet Research Institute)

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During the reign of Emperor Taizong , street drums were set up in the six streets

Accompanied by the sound of drums

The city gates, town gates, and market gates are opened in the morning and closed in the evening.

Chang'an City is also in the sound of drums

Repeated cycle of bustle and silence

(Diagram of the night curfew system, drawn by @阿容/Planet Research Institute)

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Overlooking the whole city

The most eye-catching is the Suzaku Street in the center

It starts from Zhuque Gate in the north and connects to Mingde Gate in the south.

Width up to 150 meters

There are ditches dug on both sides of the street

Facilitates rainwater drainage

Sophora japonica trees are planted on both sides of the street to provide shade and coolness.

Therefore, Zhuque Street is also called "Huai Street".

(Please watch in horizontal mode, Schematic diagram of Zhuque Street, drawn by @阿容/Planet Research Institute)

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Zhuque Street is not only the widest main street in the city

It is also the central axis of the city.

With Suzaku Street as the axis

The Lifang is arranged symmetrically on both sides.

(Please watch in horizontal mode, the model of Chang'an City Lane in Xi'an Museum, photographer @李文博, map @杜睿/Planet Research Institute)

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More than just Lifang

The city management is also symmetrical.

Bounded by the street

The west of the street belongs to Chang'an County, and the east of the street belongs to Wannian County

(Some administrative agencies of Chang'an City indicated that in actual management, the jurisdiction of Chang'an and Wannian County also includes the suburban areas outside the city walls. Map by @阿容/星球研究院)

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More importantly

This street is also a " ritual axis "

There were many ritual activities in the Tang Dynasty

The most grand ceremony is to worship the Lord of Heaven.

The venue is the Circular Mound of the Temple of Heaven outside the city.

The Circular Mound has four levels and the altar is 8 meters high.

It is the earliest existing building for the emperor to offer sacrifices to heaven in China.

More than 1,000 years earlier than the Temple of Heaven in Beijing

Known as " the best altar in the world "

The exquisite design of the Circular Mound is amazing

The 12 steps represent the twelve hours of the day.

The ratio of the radii of the three circles when looking down at the inner side of the altar

It just fits the ancient universe model of "three circles and three squares"

(Temple of Heaven in Sui and Tang Dynasties, Photographer @一佳, Map @阿容/Planet Research Institute)

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Every winter solstice day, worship the heaven

The emperor brought his civil and military officials

Crossing Suzaku Street

To the Temple of Heaven in the southern suburbs

Fireworks rise, drums and music

Sui and Tang Dynasties

A total of 21 emperors were worshipped in the southern suburbs

Here, I offer sacrifices to the heavens

(Today's Temple of Heaven Ruins Park in Xi'an, photographer @薛飞)

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“Every city has a theme.

It is often represented by a central street.

Zhuque Street is the best embodiment of Chang'an City

It is grand and orderly, reflecting the spirit of the royal capital.

Morning and evening street drums and ritual activities

It also inspires the lively life of Chang'an

The inclusive empire built a vibrant capital

Under the lively capital

It is a feast of bliss composed by thousands of people in Chang'an

03

A feast of bliss

5:00 pm, Qujiang

Pedestrians either stop to watch or sit in a circle.

The towering buildings and the majestic mountains surround this place.

Amid the bustling capital, one can also see the misty waters

This is the other side of Chang'an away from the center

Comfortable and unrestrained, elegant and open

(The Qujiang Map painted by Li Zhaodao in the Tang Dynasty depicts the prosperous scene of Qujiang in the Tang Dynasty. Image source: Taipei National Palace Museum)

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Tea

This drink, which is now represented by elegance,

It flourished during the Tang Dynasty

The Classic of Tea, the earliest Chinese tea monograph

Also born at this time

Because of the admiration of the tea brewing method by the tea saint Lu Yu

The matter of drinking tea

Become more sophisticated and elegant

(The process of drinking tea by brewing tea in the Tang Dynasty, drawn by @王天怡&王申雯&阿蓉/Planet Research Institute)

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Tang people drank tea while playing chess

(Detail of the Tang Dynasty silk painting "Ladies Playing Chess", the woman holding a teacup, photographer @柳叶氘, map @王申雯&阿容/Planet Research Institute)

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Drink tea when you are debating with others

(Please watch horizontally, a Ming Dynasty copy of Yan Liben's "Xiao Yi Earns the Lanting Pavilion" from the Tang Dynasty (partial), two servants in the picture are making tea, photographer @柳叶氘, map @王申雯&阿容/星球研究院)

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Tea has flowed into the blood of the Tang people

If tea represents the reserved and elegant side of the Tang people

Then wine is the other side of heroic spirit

"When life is good, enjoy it to the fullest, don't let the golden cup face the moon empty"

The golden cups of the Tang people never disappoint the moon

Jiannan Shaochun, Yingzhou Fushui, Chang'an Xishi Dialect

There are also fine wines and Sanle juice

The Prosperity and Frustration of the Tang People

All poured into the nectar

(The mural "Maidens Holding Pots and Cups" unearthed from the tomb of the Grand Princess Fangling, the above is from Li Bai's "Drinking Wine·Don't You See", photographer @老土豹孙岩, map @阿容/星球研究院)

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The vitality of a dynasty

Not only in the cups

And overflowing from the hem of the skirt

Women in Chang'an can be said to be "fashion bloggers" who lead the trend

In the Tang Dynasty, women lifted their skirts to their armpits.

Wearing a short jacket and a long skirt

The skirts are colorful, among which the red pomegranate skirt is the most popular

(Part of "Lady with Flowers in Her Hair", image source @Wikimedia commons, map by @阿土&阿容/Planet Research Institute)

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The neckline of the short jacket is also complex and varied

Round neck, square neck, sweetheart neck

The neckline styles that are popular now were already popular at that time

Women gave Hu clothing another kind of vitality

Women in the Tang Dynasty could wear gorgeous clothes

It can also withstand the Hufu men's clothing

They follow their hearts and gallop on horseback

Isn't this the best proof of the vitality of the Tang Dynasty?

(A Tang Dynasty painted female figurine wearing a peacock crown and riding a horse and beating a waist drum, now in the collection of the Xi'an Museum. The female figurine wears a peacock crown and beats a waist drum. Photographers @老土豹孙岩&Sing行拍, map @阿容/星球研究院)

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Gathering is a form of entertainment that is popular among the Tang people.

At that time, the gathering was called " banquet "

A country's microcosm is reflected in the drinking and chatting

Brew a pot of good tea and sip it slowly

There is a wonderful sound of stringed instruments in my ears

Whether it is a local or foreign musical instrument

It had a place at banquets in the Tang Dynasty.

("Tang Dynasty Palace Music Picture", some scholars believe that in addition to drinking tea, alcohol was also consumed during the banquet, image source @Wikimedia commons, map @阿容/星球研究院)

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In addition to indoor gatherings

Tang people also like to have fun and dinner outdoors

It was called " Yuanyan " at that time.

Qujiang was a popular place for tourists and banquets in the Tang Dynasty.

Qujiang was originally a natural pool

The river is winding, like the river in Guangling, hence the name Qujiang.

The Sui and Tang dynasties transformed it

Pavilions, towers, bridges, boats and cars are dotted in between.

It's really picturesque.

(Today's Ziyun Tower in the Tang Paradise in Xi'an. It is recorded that Emperor Xuanzong of Tang ascended this tower to entertain his ministers during the Qujiang Conference. Today's Ziyun Tower is an imitation of Tang architecture built with reference to historical materials. Photographer @张坤琨)

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Northwest of Qujiang

The towering Big Wild Goose Pagoda surges out

East of Qujiang River

Royal Garden Hibiscus Garden is full of flowers

Emperor Xuanzong of Tang went to Qujiang for recreation in order to make it easier for himself

A "double city" was built beside the east wall of Chang'an City.

(The sky is clear and the Wild Goose Pagoda is towering. Photographer: @DeepTender)

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The busiest time in Qujiang

The Shangsi Festival is on March 3rd

This is a national carnival

Almost all the people in the city came out to Qujiang

The emperor held a banquet for his ministers in Qujiang

The rich and powerful held a banquet here

There are also people watching the excitement and vendors doing business.

The whole Qujiang was filled with singing and dancing, and cheers shook the heavens.

(Lady of Guo State Outing in Spring, it is still unclear who is Lady of Guo State in the picture, image source @Wikimedia commons, map by @王申雯&阿容/Planet Research Institute)

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In addition to the bustling city of Shangsi Festival

The Qujiang Banquet represents the success of the imperial examination

Let Qujiang have a more elegant temperament

In the Tang Dynasty, every year after the imperial examination

The successful candidates have to attend many banquets

The most grand banquet is the Qujiang Banquet

The hobbies of literati are always extremely elegant

They came to Qujiang to recite poems and drink

Flowing wine cups and winding water, a cup of wine and a poem, expressing deep feelings

“ Qujiang Liuyin ” comes from this

(Please watch in horizontal mode, the night view of Qujiang River, Qujiang Liuyin is one of the eight scenic spots in Chang'an, photographer @苏京, map @阿容/星球研究院)

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04

Changan

The party must end

When the historical Chang'an gradually becomes blurred

There are always people recreating the "Chang'an" in their hearts

It resonates with the great king from thousands of years ago.

The vitality of this land continues

It continues the lights of Chang'an

Tourists are still coming and going at Big Wild Goose Pagoda and Qujiang

There is no off-season, only peak season and peak season

It inherits ancient culture

163 museums are its chapters in history books

(Xi'an Museum's Chang An You's hometown special exhibition, the art installation records the profiles of foreigners in Xi'an that can be verified, photographer @赵橙子)

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For the future

Xi'an is still worth looking forward to

It is a manufacturing city.

Xi'an's new energy vehicle manufacturing, led by BYD

Production is growing rapidly

Competing with Shanghai, Shenzhen and other cities for the top spot

There are also aerospace industry, electronic information

This city in the heart of the northwest is running hard on various tracks

It is a city of technology

More than 400 scientific research institutions

69 academicians of the two academies

Strong alliance between enterprises and universities

Creating Xi'an's unique "hard technology"

(Xi'an TV Tower, shaped like a palace lantern, photographer @一佳)

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It is a city of dreams

Strong manufacturing background

Advanced scientific innovation

Xi'an is attracting batches of enterprises and talents

Millions of startups are quietly growing in Xi'an

It is an international city

The former capital has become the core hub of the northwest today.

Railway and aviation throughput day and night

(The twisting overpass carries vehicles coming and going from Xi'an day and night, photographer @许健雄)

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Xi'an is still a stage for great powers

The former starting point of the "Silk Road"

Now it is a strategic city of the “Belt and Road”

Xi'an, as before

Showing the world the great power with a thousand-year heritage

(Xi'an International Conference Center is one of the core venues of Xi'an International Convention and Exhibition Center, photographer @李文博)

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CR Land's MixC Lifestyle in Xi'an

Understand the importance of civilization exchange

Warmly embrace the "Belt and Road" in the new era

Inheritance and innovation go hand in hand

On the land that once created the glory of the Tang Dynasty

Bringing a new business boom

Continuing from the merchants and messengers of thousands of years ago

Spreading Eastern culture to the world

Integrate history into bones

Grind the veins into the blood

Shaping the new texture and blood of the ancient capital

(Sketch of the landmarks of the central axis of Xi'an City, image source: @Xi'an MixC)

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Here

When you look up, you can see everything , and when you look up, you can see more than Chang'an

(Panoramic view of Xi'an Mixc, image source: @Xi'an Mixc)

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In Xi'an, looking at Chang'an

Seeing the lively capital, the tolerant empire

Seeing the vitality that has been passed down for thousands of years resonating to this day

Still rushing forward

Endless

(The ancient and lively Xi'an is born in the sun at the foot of Qinling Mountains, photographer @倪移同)

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This article was created by

Written by: Xiong Huo

Editor: Ding Ding

Image: Xia Xue

Design: Arong & Atu

Map: Xintian

Proofreading: Xiaohua & Xiang Buxiang & Gao Liqian

Cover & head photo photographer: Feng Sheng & Nie Yitong & Li Wenbo

External review experts

Xu Chang, Professor of History, Beijing Normal University

Note:

1. Usually Sogdian merchants would choose to travel short distances between towns along the way, and the long-distance journeys mentioned at the beginning of the article also existed.

2. The ruins of the Five Bridges on Zhuque Street excavated in 2022 speculated that the actual width of Zhuque Street was about 130 meters.

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