Kaifeng, an underestimated ancient capital?

Kaifeng

“Ancient Capital of Seven Dynasties”

The peak was especially in the Northern Song Dynasty, when the city of Dongjing was at its peak.

(Please watch in horizontal mode, illustration of Dongjing City in the Northern Song Dynasty, drawn by @罗梓涵/Planetary Research Institute)

▼

There is

Li Qingzhao's Girlish Feelings

(From Li Qingzhao's "A Cut Plum Blossom: The Red Lotus Fragrance Fades, the Jade Mat in Autumn")

▼

"There is no way to get rid of this feeling. It has just left my brow, but it is still on my mind."

Liu Yong's Youthful Wildness

(From "He Chongtian·On the Golden List" by Liu Yong)

▼

"I can't bear to exchange my fame for a quiet drink and a song"

Su Shi's Sorrowful Middle Age

(From Su Shi's "Jiangchengzi·Dream Recorded on the Night of the Twentieth Day of the First Month of Yimao Year")

▼

"Ten years of life and death, I can't forget you without thinking about you"

Li Yu's hatred for the loss of his country

(From Li Yu's "When Will the Spring Flowers and Autumn Moon End?")

▼

"The east wind blew again last night in my small building, and I could not bear to look back at my homeland under the bright moonlight"

(Su Shi’s poem above was not written in the Northern Song Dynasty’s Dongjing City, but his deceased wife died in Dongjing. Not only that, Su Shi’s father also died in Dongjing, and he himself suffered 103 days in prison in Dongjing. It can be said that most of Su Shi’s sufferings in life are inseparable from Dongjing. Photographer @岳科锋)

▼

There is

Spring scenery of Fantai and willow trees on Sui embankment

Iron Tower, Golden Pond, Night Rain

The bright moon over Zhouqiao and the autumn sound of Bianshui

Liangyuan Snow Clears, Xiangguo Frost Bell

······

Different seasons, each with its own unique features

Tokyo's splendor

Like a dream in Huaxu, the joy is endless

(Hua Xu is the ideal country in Huangdi’s dream. The ancients compared the prosperous Dongjing to the Hua Xu country in their dream. The Dongjing Menghualu got its name from this. The picture below is a schematic diagram of the iron tower. The map is made by @Hanqing/Planet Research Institute)

▼

In China, about 2000 years ago

The timeline of feudal dynasties

Dongjing City of Northern Song Dynasty

Right in the center

Many historians and architects believe

At this point in time

The city of Dongjing in the Northern Song Dynasty experienced a

" Tang and Song Transformation "

After this change

The Northern Song Dynasty Dongjing City was

Almost surpassing all the ancient capitals of China

As Mr. Chen Yinke said

"Chinese culture, after thousands of years of evolution, reached its peak during the Zhao and Song dynasties."

So

Dongjing City of Northern Song Dynasty

How exactly is the change happening?

How did it reach the pinnacle?

01

origin

Open the voluminous historical books

The beginning of Kaifeng's capital

Dating back to the Warring States Period

Wei

As one of the Seven Kingdoms of the Warring States Period

The capital was moved to Kaifeng on the banks of the Yellow River

It was called " Daliang "

Intent on conquering the Central Plains

Fighting for the middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River

(The location and topography of Daliang City, drawn by @Chen Jingyi/Planetary Research Institute)

▼

To build the beam

King Wei built an artificial canal

The “ chasm ”

A huge population and wealth followed

Mencius, Su Qin, Zhang Yi, Lord Xinling, Lord Mengchang

They all left legends in this city.

(Diagram of Daliang City and its surrounding water system during the Warring States Period, drawn by @陈景逸/Planetary Research Institute)

▼

However

A prosperous capital city with a vast expanse of plains

In the midst of war

But it became a weak spot for the enemy to exploit

354 BC

Wei sent troops to Zhao's capital

Qi responded to Zhao's request for help

Send the famous general Sun Bin to attack Daliang and force the Wei army to retreat

Later generations called it " Besieging Wei to Save Zhao "

More than 10 years later

Qi still used Daliang as its feint target

Force Wei to go to war

Killed Wei general Pang Juan in one fell swoop

(Pang Juan's Tomb, located in Tongxu County, Kaifeng, Henan Province, where are the generals and ministers of the past and present? The tomb is covered with grass. Image source: @China Pang's Museum)

▼

Low-lying beams

In addition to being undefended and easy to control

There are greater risks

225 BC

The Qin army conquered Daliang

The dam broke and flooded the city

The Yellow River is pouring down

The famous city was destroyed.

(The "hanging river on the ground" indicates that there was no Kaifeng Tower in 225 BC. It is only a height reference in the picture. Map by @Hanqing/Planetary Research Institute)

▼

And the city's next revival

Let’s start with water

Sui and Tang Dynasties

China's first artificial canal running from north to south

The Grand Canal of Sui and Tang Dynasties was completed

The Tongji Canal (Bianhe River) connects to the Yellow River

Kaifeng is located at the strategic point of the Bian River.

It was called " Bianzhou " at that time

The Bian River in its heyday

Takes away about 1/3 of the water of the Yellow River

Direct access to Chang'an and Luoyang

Bianzhou, the strategic point of transportation in the Tang capital

It has been upgraded to a metropolis on land and water

(Please watch in horizontal mode, schematic diagram of the Bianzhou water system during the Sui and Tang dynasties, drawn by @陈景逸/星球研究院)

▼

With its hub status

The late Tang and Five Dynasties

Later Liang, Later Jin, Later Han, Later Zhou

All built their capitals here

It was called " Tokyo Kaifeng Prefecture " at that time.

However, there are still pearls ahead

Chang'an was destroyed by war, but Luoyang survived

Luoyang, once the capital of the Tang Dynasty

That was what the Chinese people thought of at that time.

First Capital

Later Liang, Later Jin, Later Han, Later Zhou

Although Kaifeng was called Dongjing (Eastern Capital),

But still maintain Luoyang

The Status of Xijing (Western Capital)

The emperors longed to be in the capital of the gods

Continue the legend of prosperity

(The current night view of the Mid-Autumn Festival at Yingtian Gate in Luoyang, photographer @焦潇翔)

▼

Zhao Kuangyin, the founding emperor of the Northern Song Dynasty

After Kaifeng was established

There was also a desire to move the capital to Luoyang

but

When Zhao Kuangyin climbed to a height and looked far into the distance

Chenqiaoyi, about 20 kilometers north of Kaifeng City

Then it comes into view

That was the place where he launched a mutiny and wore the yellow robe

As the former supreme commander of the Later Zhou imperial army

Most of Zhao Kuangyin's trusted followers were based in Tokyo.

His political capital lies here

Zhao Kuangyin's first capital was Kaifeng

It can only be opened

So

How can Kaifeng surpass

The former capital of gods?

02

Heritage

Let’s first understand

Kaifeng City when Zhao Kuangyin took over

Although this place is revered as Tokyo Kaifeng Prefecture

In fact, it is just a temporary base for local government.

There is probably no central axis running through the city.

The city core is the so-called "palace"

Originally only a government office of a local prefecture

Very low specifications

It can't be compared with Luoyang at all

(The specifications of the local government offices are similar to the Kaifeng Prefecture in the picture below, photographer @王新伟)

▼

Faced with such a situation

Zhao Kuangyin's construction ideas

Very simple and crude

first

If there is no central axis

Then a road was built to symbolize the capital.

Central Axis

The existence of the central axis

Can be traced back to the Western Zhou Dynasty

Most of the ancient capitals in China have a central axis.

The Northern Song Dynasty Dongjing City was no exception.

Inheriting the hierarchical regulations of the capital

(Sketch of the Imperial Street of Dongjing City in the Northern Song Dynasty, drawn by @Luo Zihan/Planetary Research Institute)

▼

The urban space entity of this center line

In the Northern Song Dynasty, Dongjing City was

" Imperial Street "

Its widest point is about 200 steps

Compared with the approximately 100 steps of Zhuque Street in Chang'an during the Tang Dynasty

More comfortable and spacious

The road is divided into

The Imperial Corridor where common people passed

The Imperial Road in the Center

The boundary between the two is the Imperial Ditch

Clear hierarchy

Along the Imperial Road

Peach, plum, pear and apricot are planted everywhere

"Between spring and summer, it looks like embroidery"

(Please watch in horizontal mode, Yujie is shown in the picture, and the map is made by @Luo Zihan/Planet Research Institute)

▼

Secondly

If the palace is not grand enough

Zhao Kuangyin

"Order officials to draw the palace in Luoyang and build it according to the plan"

The Imperial Palace (Imperial City) of Dongjing City in the Northern Song Dynasty

It is basically a 1:1 replica of Luoyang Palace.

Inheriting the majesty and charm of the Tang Dynasty

(Imperial City diagram, drawn by @Du Rui/Planetary Research Institute)

▼

This palace is loaded with

Daily life of the emperor and his concubines

Including the "Wen De Hall" where the emperor handled government affairs

"Chuigong Hall" and "Zichen Hall"

The "Funing Palace" where the emperor lived

And the "Kunning Palace" where the queen lived, etc.

The tallest and most magnificent palace

The main hall of the palace, Daqing Hall

It is located on the central axis of Tokyo City.

Showing the unique style of the heavenly family

(Please watch in horizontal mode, Daqing Hall is shown, and the map is by @Luo Zihan/Planetary Research Institute)

▼

but

When Zhao Kuangyin built Kaifeng

It was the Northern Song Dynasty

A critical period of conquering all directions and fighting for the world

In addition to meeting the necessary palace construction

Zhao Kuangyin's construction of gardens

Extremely simple

(Kaifeng Longting Park, once the site of the imperial palace of the Northern Song Dynasty, photographer @岳科锋)

▼

Gardens of Daming Palace in Tang Dynasty

It occupies about 1/2 of the total area of ​​the Imperial Palace

The gardens in the imperial city of the Northern Song Dynasty

That is, "Back Garden"

It only occupies 1/16 of the total area of ​​the Imperial Palace

The proportion of land use has shrunk sharply

(Comparison of the garden areas of the palaces in Chang'an City of the Tang Dynasty and Dongjing City of the Northern Song Dynasty, drawn by @Luo Zihan/Planetary Research Institute)

▼

Third

Zhao Kuangyin, a military man

Naturally know Kaifeng's military shortcomings

Defense engineering is more important for the construction of the capital

Top priority

The triple city walls left over from previous generations

That is, the outer city and the inner city

and the walls of the Imperial City

Although crooked

But Zhao Kuangyin, who was pragmatic,

Directly repair and reinforce it

(Sketch of the three-layer city wall of Dongjing City in the Northern Song Dynasty, drawn by @Luo Zihan/Planetary Research Institute)

▼

The innermost wall of the palace

Built with bricks and stones

The beginning of brick cladding for ancient Chinese city walls

The four corners of the palace wall are built with

A corner tower several dozen feet high

It pioneered the construction of corner towers in Chinese palaces.

And it was the future capital of Yuan Dynasty

And the Beijing city of Ming and Qing dynasties inherited

(Sketch of the corner tower of the Qing Palace, drawn by @李乾朗/穿墙透壁)

▼

The inner city wall in the middle serves as a buffer

The outer city wall

Learn more from the architectural experience of border cities

Build a protruding pier

Because of its horse-like face

People call him " Horse Face "

The defenders on the adjacent horse

You can use firearms, crossbows, etc.

Form a cross-shooting network

Make the invaders be attacked from both sides

(Sketch of the horse face and cross design network, drawn by @Hanqing/Planet Research Institute)

▼

At the corner of the outer city wall

There is an "enemy tower" for garrisoning

There are moats around the outer city.

That is, "Hulong River"

City builders set up layers of defense

To defend Tokyo

Outside the outer city gate

A city wall was built

Form a relatively closed space

That is, " Wangcheng "

Its name means to catch a turtle in a jar.

If the enemy forces break through the outer gate and rush into the city

The defenders occupying the high points of the city walls

You can close the door and beat the dog to death

(The diagram of Wengcheng, drawn by @Hanqing & Luo Zihan/Planetary Research Institute)

▼

Not only that

The rulers of the Northern Song Dynasty even summoned

About 1/3-1/2 of the country's military forces are stationed in the capital

Large tracts of land in and around cities

To house the military

(Sketch of the military camp site of Dongjing City in the Northern Song Dynasty, drawn by @Luo Zihan/Planetary Research Institute)

▼

With such strong defense measures

Tokyo is well connected and hassle-free

This is reflected in the name of the city gate.

For example, Caomen connects to Caozhou (now Heze, Shandong).

Songmen Gate connects to Songzhou (now Shangqiu, Henan)

Zhengmen connects to Zhengzhou (now Zhengzhou, Henan)

Fengqiu Gate leads to Fengqiu (now Fengqiu, Henan)

Tokyo truly became the heart of the empire

(Sketch of the gate of Dongjing City in the Northern Song Dynasty, drawn by @Luo Zihan/Planetary Research Institute)

▼

The elite and wealth of the empire

Coming from all directions

The main street of the west runs from Xinzheng Gate to Zheng Gate

The main street of the East runs from Xinsongmen to Songmen

The main street in the north runs from Xinfengqiu Gate to Fengqiu Gate.

The main street in the south is Imperial Street

These four streets point directly to the center of the city.

Pointing directly to the dragon throne in the center of the palace

The emperor lived in the palace

"Dominate all directions" and "Own the world"

(Sketch of the Imperial Road in Dongjing City in the Northern Song Dynasty, drawn by @Luo Zihan/Planetary Research Institute)

▼

So far

Reconstruction led by the Northern Song emperors

Let Tokyo City change from the Five Dynasties

Cramped, chaotic appearance

Infinitely approaching the legacy of the Tang Dynasty

However

To cultivate a prosperous capital city

Only by inheritance, replication and reinforcement

It is far from enough

A new wind of reform

Coming with the water

03

breakthrough

Kaifeng's rise thanks to the Grand Canal of the Sui and Tang Dynasties

In the Northern Song Dynasty

The number of artificial canals increased to 4

That is, the Bian River, Cai River, Wuzhang River, and Jinshui River

Name

“ Four rivers running through the city ”

As the saying goes

"Tokyo maintains hundreds of thousands of soldiers and houses millions of households. All the country's grain transportation depends on this one canal for supplies."

Remains of the previous dynasty

Honggou and Tongji Canal in the Grand Canal of Sui and Tang Dynasties

Gradually evolved into Caihe River and Bianhe River

Connecting Beijing and Jianghuai

Became the lifeline of the Northern Song Dynasty

It is named because it is about five meters wide.

Wuzhang River

After it flows through the capital

Finally, it flows into Liangshan Lake

(Diagram of the water system of Dongjing City in the Northern Song Dynasty. Huimin River is the name of the upper reaches of Cai River. The two are the same water system. Map by @Chen Jingyi/Planetary Research Institute)

▼

The source of water is from the northern foot of Songshan Mountain.

Jinshui River

Go all the way to the inner city and the palace

A square, neat city

Divided by the river network

And is tightly stitched together by the bridge

(Diagram of the water system and bridges of Dongjing City in the Northern Song Dynasty, drawn by @Luo Zihan/Planet Research Institute)

▼

Tokyo's bridges are diverse in form

It can be called "the exhibition hall of ancient Chinese bridges"

(Sketch of some bridges in Dongjing City in the Northern Song Dynasty, drawn by @Du Rui/Planetary Research Institute)

▼

The most famous of these

Nowhere is better than the Bianshui Hongqiao

The Bian River is sourced from the Yellow River and often floods.

The bridges collapse almost every year

But this Bianshui Rainbow Bridge has remained intact for fifty years.

The secret of its durability

The bridge is made of woven wood strips.

A bridge body that is not supported by piers

Will not be directly impacted by rapids

Vertical and horizontal construction

The wood components

Multiple fixation, enhanced strength

(Schematic diagram of the structure of Hongqiao. Hongqiao is a woven wooden arch bridge. Map by Du Rui and Wang Shenwen/Planetary Research Institute)

▼

High arched bridge

Also available for boat traffic

Easy to transport

(Part of "Along the River During the Qingming Festival", now in the collection of the Palace Museum, image source @wikimedia commons, map @Luo Zihan/Planet Research Institute)

▼

Through the canal

Millions of tons of rice from Jiang, Huai, Hu and Zhejiang

And all the treasures of the southeast coast

Firewood and Charcoal from the West Mountain

Continuously transported to the capital

At that time

Industrial and Commercial Taxation in the Northern Song Dynasty

About three times that of the Tang Dynasty

The highest tax was about five times that of the Tang Dynasty

(Please watch in horizontal mode. The data above is from "Financial Policies and Social Economy in the Song Dynasty". The picture below is a partial view of "Along the River During the Qingming Festival", which is now in the collection of the Palace Museum. The picture is from @wikimedia commons, and the map is made by @罗梓涵/星球研究院)

▼

As the economic core of the Northern Song Dynasty

Tokyo City has become

A more prosperous commercial city than Chang'an

Meng Yuanlao, a contemporary of the time, described it as

" Tokyo Dream "

The burgeoning imperial economy

Prompted the earliest paper currency in human history

Jiaozi

Born in the Northern Song Dynasty

In Tokyo, there are more

Very open business model

That is, " opening a shop on the street " (street market system)

(Part of "Along the River During the Qingming Festival", now in the collection of the Palace Museum, image source @wikimedia commons, map @Luo Zihan/Planet Research Institute)

▼

Looking back at Chang'an and Luoyang in the Tang Dynasty

The political capital of the Tang Dynasty

Its commercial district is confined to

In the square wall called "city"

Its residential area is enclosed in

Inside the square wall called "fang"

The city gate and the town gate open at sunrise and close at sunset

The city is under relatively militarized management.

The Northern Song Dynasty Dongjing City

Riding the wave of economic rise

Commercial spaces such as restaurants, hotels, and shops

Flooding the streets, city gates, bridges and even temples

They broke through the spatial limitations of the city walls and the town walls.

The streets of the capital have become a shopping paradise for the people

Panlou Street became the financial center at that time

Xiangguo Temple became the largest trading market in the city.

Can accommodate 10,000 people

(Sketch of commercial building land in Dongjing City in the Northern Song Dynasty, drawn by @Luo Zihan/Planet Research Institute)

▼

The area around Zhouqiao where the Bianhe River meets the Imperial Street

Shops and restaurants open all night

It is called "Night Market"

The area around Longjin Bridge where Caihe River and Yujie Street meet

Shops open before dawn

People call it "Xiaoshi"

They broke through again

Time limit for working from sunrise to sunset

Used for thousands of years

The city-town system completely collapsed here.

Active business transactions and residential land acquisitions

Let small and medium-sized streets

Twists and turns, flexibility and freedom

(Sketch of the streets and alleys in Xiangguo Temple area of ​​Kaifeng City today. Although the current urban form is very different from that in the Northern Song Dynasty, the formation rules are still similar. Map by @陈景逸/星球研究院)

▼

The riverside with dense crowds and beautiful scenery

It is an excellent location for restaurants and teahouses.

The store usually has a private seating area.

The passengers on the boat became interested

They would also take the boat owner ashore for a few drinks.

(Part of "Along the River During the Qingming Festival", now in the collection of the Palace Museum, image source @wikimedia commons, map @Luo Zihan/Planet Research Institute)

▼

Stores to attract customers

Build a temporary building with fancy decorations

It was called "Cai Lou Huan Men" at that time.

It is likely to be decorated with hydrangeas and colored lights.

Dazzling at night

(Colored Pavilion and Happy Gate, from the partial "Zhakou Panche Tu", picture source @China Treasure Museum, stored in Shanghai Museum, map @Luo Zihan/Planet Research Institute)

▼

Such a luxuriously decorated restaurant

Can receive

Thousands of diners spend their days drinking and partying

(Disassembly of the “Colorful Building Happy Gate”, drawn by @Du Rui & Luo Zihan/Planetary Research Institute)

▼

Popular performance venues in Tokyo

It was called "Goulan Washe" at that time

It includes the stage and backstage (theater room)

Auditorium (waist shed), premium seats (shrine), etc.

The basic form of Chinese theater architecture

This established

Variety shows, singing, juggling, puppet shows

Dance, history, novel and other programs practitioners

Continuously gathering towards Tokyo

Mass entertainment at an unprecedented scale

The Emperor Huizong of Song Dynasty visited the city incognito

For his affair with the famous prostitute Li Shishi

Laying the groundwork

(Please watch it in horizontal mode. "Song Taizu Cuju" is collected in Shanghai Museum. Image source: @China Treasure Museum)

▼

The gentle and prosperous streets of Tokyo

Let the emperor be intoxicated and linger

It also attracts people from all over the world to settle here

Tokyo's population has been growing since it was built as a capital.

Until it exceeds 1.5 million

The Tang Chang'an City in its heyday

The population of Beijing in Ming and Qing dynasties

Approximately 1 million and 1.2 million respectively

Dongjing City of Northern Song Dynasty

It has become one of the ancient capitals of China.

The largest number of residents

" Super City "

(The number of wards and households in each district of Dongjing City in the Northern Song Dynasty, drawn by @Luo Zihan/Planetary Research Institute)

▼

A growing population

Bringing dense building clusters

If a fire breaks out

The consequences are disastrous

The government sent soldiers

A "patrol shop" was set up to patrol fires

This is China and the world

The earliest city fire brigade

A crowded city

Still improving

Space utilization efficiency

For example, the wells are built in the shape of a "田" character.

Can accommodate 4 people fetching water at the same time

(Part of "Along the River During the Qingming Festival", now in the collection of the Palace Museum, image source @wikimedia commons, map @Luo Zihan/Planet Research Institute)

▼

Government agencies to save space

Often a building carries multiple functions

For example, the Tongwenguan in Tokyo

Can receive Goryeo envoys

Can hold court ceremonies

Officials and their families who can temporarily reside in Beijing

It can house the new institutions set up by Wang Anshi's reform

Officials are also forced to "work on the move"

For example, the examination room for national talent selection

Ministry of Rites Gongyuan

Passed through the Shangshu Province (Zhu Wen's former residence) and Wuchengwang Temple

Shangshu Sheng (Former Residence of Meng Chang), Kaibao Temple

The location of Taixue and Biyong has changed many times

Even the emperors

The Royal Gardens are eager to expand

Also because of the dispute with the people over land

They were forced to disperse throughout the city

(Sketch of the palaces, royal gardens, and government offices in Dongjing City in the Northern Song Dynasty, drawn by @Luo Zihan/Planetary Research Institute)

▼

For example, outside the north wall of the back garden

Craftsmen stacked stones to form mountains and dug pools to form seas

The expanded Yeonbokgung Palace

(Sketch of Yeonbokgung Palace, drawn by @Du Rui/Planetary Research Institute)

▼

besides

Across the street from Yeonbokgung Palace

Genyue

It is located northeast of the inner city.

It is the Gen position in the Eight Diagrams.

"The mountain is located in the Gen of the country, so it is named Genyue"

(Genyue plane diagram, drawn by @Du Rui/Planetary Research Institute)

▼

Houyuan, Yeonbokgung Palace and Geunak

Although the three royal gardens are adjacent to each other

But it is divided by the city walls and the main roads of the city.

Restricted by the old city planning

A relatively spacious and large imperial garden

Most of them are built around Tokyo City.

For example, the four gardens are collectively known as

Yujin Garden, Ruisheng Garden, Qionglin Garden and Yichun Garden

Located in the east, south, west and north of the city respectively

(Sketch of the "Four Gardens", drawn by @Luo Zihan/Planetary Research Institute)

▼

Tamatsuen Garden in the south of the city

Many rare animals are raised here

Like the monkeys sent from India

Elephants presented as tribute from Cochin (Vietnam)

And peacock, etc.

It's like a "zoo" exclusive to the emperor

Qionglin Garden

The widest water surface in Tokyo

That is " Jinming Pond "

It was originally an artificial lake dug for naval training.

As peace lasted for a long time, it gradually evolved into

A "water park" where the emperor and the people can enjoy themselves

(The Competition for the Flag at Jinming Lake, painted by Zhang Zeduan in the Northern Song Dynasty, stored in Tianjin Museum, photographer @柳叶氘)

▼

Central Pond

It is for the emperor to watch water performances

Water Center Fifth Palace

The arched bridge leading from the palace to the pond bank

It is called "Camel Rainbow"

North Shore of the Pond

The dock opposite the Shuixin Fifth Palace

Named "Aoya"

It is the oldest dock in Europe.

About 400 years ahead

(Part of "Jinming Lake Competition", photographer @柳叶氘, map @罗梓涵/Planet Research Institute)

▼

Poolside

Every time the pool is open to the public,

There is a temporary tent

For the public to watch the performance

Streets near Jinming Lake

Temporary brothels, teahouses and wine shops were also built.

Even the corridors around the Shuixin Fifth Palace

Vendors are also allowed to set up stalls and performers are allowed to perform acrobatics.

The scene was very lively

(Part of "Jinming Lake Competition", photographer @柳叶氘, map @罗梓涵/Planet Research Institute)

▼

The emperor always travels

The carriages have to pass through the busy streets

Very inconvenient

Therefore, during the reign of Emperor Huizong of Song

The city has upgraded its " three-dimensional transportation "

for example

Between Yeonbokgung Palace and Geunak, which are separated by a street

Build a "overpass"

That is, "Jinglongmen Fudao"

(Diagram of the complex path, drawn by @Luo Zihan/Planetary Research Institute)

▼

And far away

But the royal gardens dominated by water

Connected by a river network

At Tianbo Gate and Jinglong Gate, etc.

Where water flows cross

Build bridges above and dig culverts below

Waterways for the Emperor and Roads for the People

Three-dimensional superposition without affecting each other

(Sketch of the "three-dimensional transportation" of Dongjing City in the Northern Song Dynasty, drawn by @Luo Zihan/Planetary Research Institute)

▼

Song Huizong often went down the river

Visiting a married daughter

Folk song called

"The Emperor's Channel"

Living water breaks the rigidity of the capital

Commerce dissolves the high walls of the city

The Royal Gardens are open to the public on a regular basis

The power of the middle class

It has greatly reshaped the city’s appearance.

Unleashing the potential of urban space

The Northern Song Dynasty Dongjing City

This also ushered in

The peak of its imperial career

04

peak

It is the administrative center of the country

When the Northern Song Dynasty first established its rule

Meng Chang of Later Shu and Li Yu of Southern Tang

Liu Jiyuan of the Northern Han Dynasty and Liu Xiong of the Southern Han Dynasty

Qian Chu of Wuyue and other kings who lost their country

and "the mighty army of the seven kingdoms, the ministers of the princes"

All were captured and taken to Tokyo

Among them, Li Yu, the last ruler of the Southern Tang Dynasty

The carved railings and jade bricks of the motherland

I often can't sleep at night because of emo

He sighed as he looked at the moonlit courtyard with flowing water

"How much sorrow can one have? It is like a river of spring water flowing eastwards."

(The residence of King Qian Chu of Wuyue shows that the treatment of Li Yu, the last ruler of Southern Tang, was almost the same as that of King Qian Chu of Wuyue. Map by @Hanqing/Planetary Research Institute)

▼

It is the country's trade center

As the saying goes

(From "Continuation of Zizhi Tongjian")

▼

"There are many people in Beijing with assets worth millions, and there are also many people with assets worth 100,000 or more."

Sword of Xixia, exotic dancers

Ru kiln, Guan kiln, Jun kiln, etc.

The most exquisite porcelain from the five famous kilns

Decorating Tokyo's splendor

(Song Dynasty porcelain, photographer @柳叶氘, 苏李欢, 脉影, map @罗梓涵/星球研究院)

▼

Businessmen traveling to and from the capital

There are many foreign merchants who use camels to carry goods.

For example, the Arabs, the Kuluo, the Japa, and the Champa

Merchants from Brunei, Mayit, Srivijaya, etc.

Only merchants from the Caliphate (now Arabia)

There are records of 26 visits to Beijing.

(The above is from "Continued Zizhi Tongjian Changbian", the picture below is a part of "Along the River During the Qingming Festival", which is now in the collection of the Palace Museum, the picture is from @wikimedia commons, and the map is @Luo Zihan/Planet Research Institute)

▼

It is the industrial center of the country

The Song court mobilized powerful political forces

The skilled craftsmen of the country

Recruited to the capital

For example, when we pacified Hou Shu

More than 200 silk craftsmen from Shu

The "Lingjinyuan" moved to the capital

Tokyo thus became one of the central production centers of fabrics.

Same reason

Medicine, writing paper

The largest production base in China is in Tokyo

(Song Dynasty men's brocade robe, stored in the Palace Museum, picture source @Visual China)

▼

It is the country's technological center

Three of the Four Great Inventions of China

That is, compass, gunpowder, printing

It was truly popularized and applied in the Northern Song Dynasty

This period

Bi Sheng invented movable type printing

The compass began to guide the ship on the sea

Gunpowder began to be used on the battlefield on a large scale

Giant gunpowder workshop opens in Tokyo

Continue to promote the research and improvement of gunpowder

Architect Li Jie

Presided over Kaifeng government office in Tokyo

After the important projects such as Longde Palace and Taimiao,

He wrote the world's leading

Architectural monograph " Yingzaofashi "

Astronomers Su Song, Han Gonglian and others

A culmination of previous achievements

Built in Tokyo

" Water-powered Astronomical Observatory "

(Water-powered astronomical observatory, map by Hanqing/Planetary Research Institute)

▼

Its structure is divided into three layers

The top floor is used for observing the starry sky

Specially designed removable roof

(Schematic diagram of the armillary sphere of the Water-powered Astronomical Observatory, drawn by @Hanqing/Planetary Research Institute)

▼

The middle layer is used to display the stars

The bottom layer is the power and timekeeping device

162 exquisitely crafted wooden figures

Placed on the wheel

Telling people the time

(Schematic diagram of the day and night machine wheel of the Water-powered Astronomical Observatory, drawn by @Hanqing/Planetary Research Institute)

▼

This three-layer structure

Driven by water

Interlocking with transmission devices

Synchronize with the movement of celestial bodies

Its mechanical transmission

Similar to modern clocks

British scientist Joseph Needham believes

"[It] is most likely the direct ancestor of the European medieval astronomical clock"

Astronomy, mathematics, and medicine in the Northern Song Dynasty

Achievements in various fields such as agriculture and architecture

Not only surpassing the previous generation

Leading the progress of world science and technology

(Schematic diagram of the escapement device of the water-powered astronomical observatory, drawn by @Hanqing/Planetary Research Institute)

▼

It is the religious center of the country

The largest in Beijing

The most prestigious Buddhist temple

Daxiangguo Temple

It is located in the core area of ​​the city

Responsible for managing and appointing abbots of temples across the country

The story of "Lu Zhishen pulling out a weeping willow tree"

It happened in the vegetable garden of Daxiangguo Temple

(Sketch of Daxiangguo Temple, map by @Hanqing/Planetary Research Institute)

▼

The royal family is still in the northeast of the capital.

Construction of Kaibao Temple Pagoda

Because the outer layer of glazed bricks is as colorful as iron

Also known as the " Iron Tower "

Surviving to this day

It became the earliest and tallest glazed tower in China.

(Kaifeng Iron Tower, photographer @岳科锋)

▼

The private sector raised funds in the southeast of the capital

Construction of Tianqing Temple Pagoda

Because it is located on a high ground called Fantai

Also known as " Feng [pó] Tower "

More than 7,000 bricks inlaid with Buddha statues

Covering the inside and outside of the tower, it is spectacular

(Fan Tower, photographer @Jiao Xiaoxiang, map @Luo Zihan/Planet Research Institute)

▼

It is the national art center

Tokyo City has a special

Hanlin Imperial Academy and Hanlin Academy of Painting

Recruiting calligraphy and painting talents from all over the world

Huang Tingjian, Mi Fu, Cai Xiang

Famous calligraphers such as

More than 220 top painters from across the country flock to Tokyo

"A Thousand Miles of Rivers and Mountains" was also created here

As the emperor, Song Huizong

Not only good at painting

Calligraphy is a unique style

It is called "Slender Gold"

During his reign

Chinese calligraphy and painting ushered in a new peak

(Part of "A Thousand Miles of Rivers and Mountains" by Wang Ximeng of the Northern Song Dynasty, now in the collection of the Palace Museum, image source @wikimedia commons)

▼

It is the cultural and educational center of the country.

The highest level institution of higher learning in the Central

That is, "Taixue"

Located in Tokyo

The admission requirements for the Imperial College in the Tang Dynasty were

"Grandsons of the fifth rank and above, and princes of prefectures and counties, and great-grandsons of the third rank"

In the Northern Song Dynasty,

"All talented people among the common people can come here to study"

So the world's best people gathered in Tokyo

(Ouyang Xiu's "Zhu Ai Ti Tie", now in the collection of the Palace Museum, photographer @柳叶氘)

▼

In Tokyo's "Kaifeng Mansion"

Bao Gong goes to court to judge a case

In the "Suikonden" in Tokyo

Sima Guang and Wang Anshi reported to the court

Ouyang Xiu once served as

Chief examiner of the Imperial Academy

Su Shi, Su Zhe, Zeng Gong and others were admitted

Liu Yong, who failed the exam, showed his youthful spirit

"A talented poet is naturally a noble official in white"

besides

Literary masters such as Yan Shu, Yan Jidao, and Zhou Bangyan

Leave a famous poem in Tokyo

As the saying goes

(From "Records of Rebuilding Wenzheng Academy" by Xu Youzhen of the Ming Dynasty)

▼

"Song ruled the country for 300 years. Its territory was not as vast as that of Han and Tang, but its talent pool was greater than that of Han and Tang."

(Ming Dynasty copy of Su Shi's "Drunkard Pavilion", photographer @柳叶氘, map @罗梓涵/Planetary Research Institute)

▼

It was the center of the Northern Song Dynasty

The center of the world

Dongjing City of Northern Song Dynasty

Compared with Chang'an and Luoyang in the Tang Dynasty

More innovative

People-oriented

Its openness

Maybe even beyond

The future Yuan Dadu and Ming and Qing Beijing

Among the ancient capitals of China

Unprecedented

(Please watch in horizontal mode, "Along the River During the Qingming Festival", drawn by @罗梓涵/Planet Research Institute, image source @wikimedia commons)

▼

pity

Dance and singing stage

The wind and rain always blow away the romance

After the Jin soldiers marched south and occupied Tokyo

The Yellow River frequently sways and floods

Carrying a huge amount of sand

Gradually covering and filling up the city of Tokyo

Descendants build cities generation after generation

The floods come again and again

The Yellow River has a large amount of sediment

The Kaifeng City of the Jin Dynasty, the Kaifeng City of the Ming and Qing Dynasties

Completely buried

(Sketch of Kaifeng's cultural layers over the centuries, drawn by @Du Rui/Planetary Research Institute)

▼

Nearly 2,500 years

From Daliang City, the capital of Wei during the Warring States Period, to Bianzhou City during the Sui and Tang Dynasties

From Kaifeng Prefecture in the Five Dynasties to Dongjing City in the Northern Song Dynasty

Then to Kaifeng City in Jin Dynasty, Kaifeng City in Ming and Qing Dynasty

Rare " City on City " and "City on City" in the world

Born in Kaifeng

In other words

The contemporary city of Kaifeng has been

Standing on the five-story ancient city

Standing on the foundation of civilization

From this perspective

This city "peaks at its debut"

(Sketch of Kaifeng's "city upon city", drawn by @Du Rui/Planetary Research Institute)

▼

Kaifeng Today

The tower still stands tall

Kaifeng Prefecture remains as it was

The bells of Daxiangguo Temple still ring

The grand Qingming Riverside Park

Rising from the Ground

Many tourists come here to see

Just to get a glimpse of the Northern Song Dynasty Dongjing City

(Please watch in horizontal mode, Kaifeng Qingming Riverside Park, photographer @岳科锋)

▼

Maybe

This is the charm of Dongjing City in the Northern Song Dynasty

It is admired, yearned for and pursued by countless people.

Its existence itself is a peak

This peak

Existing in the vast sea of ​​smoke

In historical books

(From Meng Yuanlao's "Dongjing Menghualu")

▼

"The eight wildernesses come together, the nations are connected, and the treasures from all over the world are gathered"

This peak

Also exists in the world

In the heart of people

(From Jia Dongting's "Why We Love the Song Dynasty")

▼

“Paintings depicting the prosperous market life during the Qingming Festival in Bianjing, the capital of the Northern Song Dynasty... triggered an unprecedented viewing boom...last year (2016)...”

This peak

Still exists in the flowing water of the Bian River and the dream of Huaxu

There are no ancients before and no successors after

As the saying goes

(From Chai Zongqing's "Sentence")

▼

" Once I saw the sea, it was nothing but water; except for Liangyuan (Tokyo), it was always a village "

This article was created by

Written by Lingjun

Photo | Xu Ying

Map | Chen Jingyi

Design | Luo Zihan, Han Qing, Du Rui

Proofreading | Tomorrow Will Be Better, Jia Xingzhou, Wu Xintian

Expert Review

Professor Li Hequn, School of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Henan University

Chen Xiao, Kaifeng Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology

【References】

[1] Henan Museum. Dongjing Menghua: Song, Jin and Yuan Dynasties[M]. Beijing: Science Press, 2017

[2] Zhang Jin. Research on the Imperial Palaces of Kaifeng and Lin'an in the Northern and Southern Song Dynasties[M]. Jinan: Qilu Publishing House, 2008

[3] Deng Ye. Study on the Urban Spatial Morphology of Dongjing in the Northern Song Dynasty[D], School of Architecture, Tsinghua University, 2004

[4] Liu Chunying. Archaeology of Kaifeng[M]. Beijing: Science Press, 2019

[5] Liang Jianguo. Population distribution and spatial utilization in Dongjing in the Northern Song Dynasty[J]. Chinese Economic History Studies, 2016(6).

[6] Li Hequn. Research on the Construction and Layout of Dongjing City in the Northern Song Dynasty[M]. Beijing: China Architecture & Building Press, 2017