Where is Xixia?

This is a

A mysterious, long-neglected dynasty

It has been established for nearly 200 years

At the foot of the Helan Mountains, which are more than 2,000 meters above sea level

There are 9 tower-shaped tombs left behind.

(Western Xia Mausoleum, photographer @刘杰)

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In the Alashan Desert stretching for thousands of miles

Leaving behind a mountain that was about to be swallowed by quicksand.

Blackwater City Ruins

(Aerial photo of the ruins of Heishui City in Ejina Banner, Inner Mongolia. You can see that quicksand has buried part of the city. It is not entirely a relic of the Western Xia Dynasty. There were also additions and renovations in the Yuan Dynasty. Photographer: @Lu Wen)

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Also in the famous Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes, Guazhou Yulin Grottoes and other places

There are more than a hundred exquisite caves left.

(Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes, there are more than 80 caves in Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes, which were expanded and excavated during the Western Xia period. The picture comes from @Visual China)

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It and Song Liao (Jin) jointly created

China's Second Three Kingdoms Era

But it was ignored by the official history

All its heritage

All devastated

Countless storms, countless wars, countless robberies

Fortunately, it has been preserved until now.

(Fragments of Xixia murals, image from @Russian Winter Palace Museum, map @Hanqing/Planet Research Institute)

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It is

Western Xia

If there is no Xixia

There would probably not be today's Yinchuan

There would not be the name "Ningxia" today.

Is it a

What kind of dynasty?

01

Founding a country through military campaigns

Time goes back more than a thousand years ago

In the vast expanse of the eastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

There is a group of Dangxiang people

A tribe united by blood

Livestock grazing

(Eastern pastoral area of ​​the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, Maqu grassland wetland, photographer @武霞红)

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However, the rise of Tubo in the west

The two sides continue to fight

Some weak and unwilling Tangut tribes

Choose to accept the protection of the Tang Dynasty

Migration eastward

Tuoba tribe

As a party

Migrated eastward to Xiazhou (now Jingbian, Shaanxi)

Rest and recuperation

Late Tang Dynasty

The leader of this tribe was rewarded for suppressing the Huang Chao Uprising

Conferred the title of Duke of Xia and given the surname Li

Seize one side in the troubled times

(Tongwan City Ruins, Tongwan City was built during the Southern and Northern Dynasties and was an important stronghold of the Dangxiang people in the Tang Dynasty. Photographer @Ren Shiming, map @Hanqing/Planet Research Institute)

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The Song Dynasty was established with the goal of unification

Eager to take back Xiazhou and other places

The Dangxiang people who refused to accept their fate

Revolt against Song

The Liao Dynasty, hostile to the Song Dynasty

Using the Tanguts to contain and disperse the Song Dynasty's military forces

The Dangxiang were in the confrontation between the two great powers.

Expanding territory

They went west to seize Lingzhou

(now Wuzhong City, Ningxia)

And use it as a springboard to capture the Hexi Corridor

Strength increased

(Sketch of the expansion and establishment process of Xixia, drawn by @陈志浩/Planetary Research Institute)

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Melting ice and snow on the Qilian Mountains

Nourishing the large oasis on the Hexi Corridor

The Yellow River nourishes the fertile Hetao Plain

This is the basis for the Dangxiang people to have strong troops and sufficient food.

(Please watch in horizontal mode. Shandan Military Horse Farm is located between the Qilian Mountains and the Yanzhi Mountains in the Hexi Corridor. It is still the largest military horse base in Asia. The picture comes from @Visual China)

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Based on this

October 11, 1038 AD

Li Yuanhao, leader of the Dangxiang tribe, proclaimed himself emperor and established a new country

The country was named "Daxia", and was historically known as "Western Xia"

From then on, it stood on equal footing with the Northern Song Dynasty and the Liao Dynasty.

(Sketch of the borders of Western Xia and Song and Liao, drawn by @Chen Zhihao/Planetary Research Institute)

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This is a country that attaches great importance to military preparations.

The country was divided into more than ten military supervision departments.

Capital Xingqingfu (now Yinchuan)

Located between the Helan Mountains and the Yellow River

Mountains and rivers are natural barriers

In addition, the major military supervisory offices are surrounded

It is easy to defend but difficult to attack

(Please watch horizontally, the distribution map of some military supervisory offices in Western Xia, drawn by @陈志浩/Planet Research Institute)

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The famous Blackwater City ruins

In fact, it was one of the military supervisors of Xixia.

It stands tall in the desert Gobi of Alxa

Named after the Black Water

Guarding the northern border of Western Xia

(Please watch in horizontal mode, Heishui City, Ejina Banner, Inner Mongolia, photographer @Lu Wen)

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A military system where all men are soldiers

Providing solid protection for the country

Some women served as "Ma Kui" and "Zhai Fu" in the military.

Mainly responsible for logistics work

(The Xixia stone-carved Lishiwen support is a round-carved female figure. Similar supports unearthed are engraved with Xixia characters, which are translated into Chinese as "wen support". The picture comes from @Ningxia Cultural Relics and Archaeology Research Institute, and the map is @Hanqing/Xingxing Research Institute)

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The lush pastoral areas such as the Hexi Corridor

Provide soldiers with excellent war horses

Form a large number of cavalry

The most powerful cavalry

Known as "Iron Hawk"

The kite is a bird of prey that is good at hunting.

The "Iron Harriers" were most likely cavalry equipped with heavy armor

The swiftness of cavalry

And the heavy armor is indestructible

In historical records

The Xixia "Iron Harrier" had repeatedly

Inflict heavy damage to the Song Dynasty army

The Song army was almost helpless.

(The image of a Xixia warrior in Heishui City is a Buddhist painting, not an actual Xixia officer image. The image is from @Russian Winter Palace Museum, and the map is @Hanqing/Planet Research Institute)

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The heavy armor of the "Iron Harrier" is likely

Made using wrought iron technology that was very advanced at the time

In the Xixia murals of Yulin Grottoes

We saw this scene

Craftsmen use double-fan bellows to maintain the high temperature of the furnace

Then cool down sharply with cold water

Repeated quenching and forging of iron

(Western Xia wrought iron murals, Yulin Grottoes Cave 3, photographer @Sun Zhijun, map @Hanqing/Planet Research Institute)

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This "core technology" is widely used in military

Also made the famous Xia Guo sword

Historical records show that when the Northern Song Dynasty writer Su Shi met Xia Guojian

He once wrote a poem to praise

Even the emperors of the Song Dynasty would wear it with them.

(The severely rusted Xia Guojian, photographer @风沉郁, map @汉青/星球研究院)

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besides

Xixia also took advantage of its position on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

Use yak horns to make powerful crossbows

The "God's Arm Bow"

Shen Kuo praised in Mengxi Bitan:

(Quoted from Shen Kuo's Mengxi Bitan, Volume 19)

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"It can shoot from 300 steps away and penetrate heavy paper... It is the most powerful weapon."

With such powerful weapons support

The territory of Western Xia was called

(Quoted from "Xixia Shushi" by Wu Guangcheng of the Qing Dynasty. This is a rough range, not an exact range)

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"It stretches over 10,000 miles from the Yellow River in the east to Yumen in the west, from Xiaoguan in the south to the desert in the north."

However

This hard-won land

In addition to the fertile fields such as the Hexi Corridor and the Hetao Plain

Most areas have dry weather

Widespread deserts and Gobi

(Please watch in horizontal mode, Xixia topography and natural divisions, map by @Chen Zhihao/Planetary Research Institute)

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According to incomplete statistics

79 years before the establishment of the Western Xia

A total of 20 droughts occurred

On average, once every 4 years

After the founding of the People's Republic of China

1042 and 1073 AD

1085, 1089, 1110

1176, 1223, and many other years

Severe famines caused by natural disasters occurred in

(Xixia cooking utensils and other daily necessities used for cooking food, photographer @风沉郁, map @汉青/星球研究院)

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Frequent disasters and famines

Became the Western Xia to launch a war against foreign powers

One of the reasons for looting supplies

Under the attack of the war in Xixia

The Northern Song Dynasty was defeated in succession

The famous general Fan Zhongyan

Writing poems to express feelings at the border

Relieve the depression in your heart

(Quoted from "Autumn Thoughts" by Yu Jia Ao, Fan Zhongyan was one of the main generals of the Northern Song Dynasty's defense against the Xia Dynasty at that time)

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"A cup of muddy wine, my home is thousands of miles away, and I have no way to return until Yanran is engraved"

(Xixia stone horse, Xixia used cavalry to intimidate the Song Dynasty, picture from @Ningxia Cultural Relics and Archaeology Research Institute, map @Hanqing/Xingxing Research Institute)

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But the long battle

It also made Xixia gradually realize the situation

The population of Xixia was limited

Even if all the people were soldiers, there would only be about 500,000 soldiers.

The Song Dynasty's standing army

There are about 1.2 million people

Xixia was simply unable to wage a long-term war against Song

What's even more terrifying is

Years of war

Not only did the Song army gradually find a strategy to deal with it

It also made Xixia's momentum gradually fade away

Domestic discontent

(Song Dynasty crossbow machine, the place where the crossbow machine was unearthed, Guyuan, Ningxia, was a military stronghold for the Song Dynasty to fight against the Western Xia. The picture comes from @Ningxia Cultural Relics and Archaeology Research Institute, and the map is @Hanqing/Xingxing Research Institute)

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Eventually, both sides were forced to

Make a peace alliance

Xixia became a vassal of the Song Dynasty

The Song Dynasty "rewarded" Xixia with a large sum of money

that's all

Xixia established its country through military campaigns

After achieving a certain stability

Start on another road to becoming a powerful country

02

The road to becoming a strong nation

This road to becoming a powerful country

It is to learn from all sides

Advanced experience in enriching the country and securing the people

Xixia learned culture and education from the Song Dynasty

It sent out missions again and again.

Introducing the Yitian Juzhu Calendar and Chongtian Calendar

Chinese calendar

As well as "Book of Songs" and "Book of Documents"

Cultural classics such as "Zhou Li"

(Part of the Xixia cursive script of "The Art of War", image from @wikipedia, map by @Hanqing/Planetary Research Institute)

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Standing on the shoulders of Central Plains culture

The Western Xia compiled a set of 20 volumes and 1,461 articles.

Systematic national code

Tiansheng's Decree on the Reform of Old Laws and New Regulations

The laws and regulations are guided and regulated by Confucianism

National order and people's life

As Confucianism flourished

Xixia also established a national school

Foreign studies, Chinese studies, schools in various prefectures and counties, etc.

Formation of Confucian education system

Provide high-quality talents for the country

(Portrait of a Xixia noble, whose attire is similar to that of the literati of the Song Dynasty. Image from @Russian Winter Palace Museum, drawn by @Hanqing/Planet Research Institute)

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Beyond talent cultivation

The economic structure of Western Xia also changed significantly

Originally, the Xixia was mainly engaged in animal husbandry.

Actively learn the farming techniques and systems of the Central Plains

Farmers working hard

About 2 million mu of land was cultivated in Xixia

In addition, the government has set up a special storage system

Greatly improved the country's ability to cope with drought and famine

Ability to resist devastating blows

(The cultivated land data in the above text comes from the Economic History of Western Xia, which is an estimated data. The picture below shows the Western Xia murals of cattle plowing and treading pestles. Treading pestles means stepping on one end of the pestle to make the pestle head rise and fall, hammering the grains and removing the husks of the grains. Photographer @Sun Zhijun, map @Hanqing/Planet Research Institute)

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Agricultural production related infrastructure

It has also gradually gained attention

The remains left by previous dynasties in the territory of Xixia

Qinqu, Hanyanqu, Tanglaiqu, etc.

Canals for irrigating farmland

Dredging and renovation organized by the imperial court

To irrigate the farmland in the eastern foothills of the Helan Mountains

King Li Yuanhao also selected able-bodied men to dig new canals.

Later generations called it "Haowangqu"

These water conservancy projects have had a significant impact on agricultural production in the Yinchuan Plain.

Greatly promote

(To this day, rice produced around Yinchuan is still one of the important sources of food in the northwest region. Map by @陈志浩/Planet Research Institute)

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In the vast expanse of yellow sand

Xingqing Prefecture is like a leaf

Particularly eye-catching

The Yellow River and the many canals that drain it

Like veins to leaves

Nourishing large green fields

(Ningxia’s main ancient irrigation canal for diverting water from the Yellow River, map by @陈志浩/Planet Research Institute)

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As the capital of the country, Xingqing Prefecture

Refer to the construction standards of the Central Plains capital

The government agencies such as the Secretariat and the Chancellery were arranged in it.

It is a product of the system of three provinces and six ministries in the Central Plains.

(Please watch in horizontal mode. The schematic diagram of Xingqing Prefecture City is based on the schematic diagram of Xingqing Prefecture in Ningxia Museum. It is not the result of actual archaeological excavation. Map by @Hanqing/Xingxing Research Institute)

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The names of its gates were modeled after the capitals of the Tang and Song dynasties.

Named after "Guanghua" and "Nanxun"

"Gwanghwamun" and "Nanxunmun" in Yinchuan today

It originates from this

(Today's Nanxun Gate in Yinchuan is a modern product, the picture comes from @汇图网)

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As Fu Bi, a minister of the Song Dynasty

As summarized

(From "Continued Zizhi Tongjian Changbian", "China" here refers to the Central Plains Dynasty)

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"(Western Xia) imitated Chinese government offices, appointed Chinese talents, read Chinese books, used Chinese vehicles, and implemented Chinese laws."

Western Xia's influence on Central Plains culture

While taking the essence

While striving to build

The unique culture of Dangxiang

Li Yuanhao, the founding emperor of Western Xia

A series of policies have been issued

Including requiring the whole country to "be bald"

Replace Han rituals with Tangut "Fan rituals"

Strengthening the national characteristics of Xixia

(Part of the Xixia scroll, the Dangxiang people in the picture below are already "bald", the picture comes from @Russian Winter Palace Museum, the map is @Hanqing/Planet Research Institute)

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He also ordered the minister Yeli Renrong

Based on the structure and strokes of Chinese characters

Creation of Tangut script

And promote it nationwide

Emphasize that Xixia culture is on par with Song and Liao

(Some structural features of Xixia script, drawn by @Hanqing/Planet Research Institute)

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In order to promote the Xixia script

Xixia also publicly issued

Specialized Xia-Chinese Bilingual Dictionary

"The Pearl in the Palm of the Fan Han"

The Xixia people and the Han people

Reference books for learning each other's language

Through strong promotion

In the short period of time after its creation, Xixia script

It is available nationwide

Documents, laws, historical records, inscriptions, Buddhist scriptures, etc.

Xixia script is widely used

Only later did the Russians

The Xixia documents taken away amounted to 150,000 pages.

(A long scroll of Xixia cursive script, with more than 7,300 characters, is the longest existing scroll of Xixia script. The image is from @Ningxia Cultural Relics and Archaeology Research Institute, and the map is @Hanqing/Xingxing Research Institute)

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If we say that war and war are

The soil and foundation of the Xixia state

Struggle, learn and reinvent

It also allows it to take root deeply and accumulate nutrients

The unique Xixia culture is like

Flowers blooming in the desert

Extra rare, extra gorgeous

03

Flower of Civilization

Before the establishment of the Western Xia

Buddhism left its mark along the Silk Road

The rich relics such as the Mogao Grottoes in Dunhuang

Western Xia Emperor

Called himself "Buerhan" (meaning Buddha)

Consider yourself as the incarnation of Buddha in the human world

To promote the legitimacy of their power

(There are different opinions in the academic community about the Xixia emperor's self-proclaimed name "Buerhan". This article adopts the view of researcher Peng Xiangqian from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. The picture below is a Dunhuang mural, a portrait of the Xixia king offering sacrifices. The photographer is @孙志军)

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Kings of Western Xia

They vigorously promote Buddhist culture

Officials should worship Buddha and common people should pay homage to Buddha

Almost all people believe in

Compared to ordinary civilians

Monks, especially Tibetan monks

In Xixia, the status is very high

Even if you commit a crime, you can get a reduction in punishment

The court also specially provided

Designed a title system

Including imperial teacher, national teacher, master, etc.

Among them, Emperor Master is the highest title.

It was a pioneering event in the history of Chinese Buddhism.

(Xixia "Master Picture" thangka, the master in the picture looks peaceful and gives a Dharma seal, the picture comes from @Ningxia Cultural Relics and Archaeology Research Institute, the map is @Hanqing/Xingxing Research Institute)

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Many professional monks

This led to the proliferation of pagodas and temples in the Western Xia territory.

Whether it is Chinese Buddhist architecture

Tibetan Buddhist architecture

Distributed in Xixia

And formed a number of Buddhist centers

(The distribution of the main Buddhist buildings in Western Xia is divided into Xingqingfu-Helan Mountain Center, Ganzhou-Liangzhou Center, Dunhuang-Anxi Center and Heishui City Center. Map by @Chen Zhihao/Planet Research Institute)

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It is composed of 108 Tibetan Buddhist pagodas.

One Hundred and Eight Pagodas of Qingtongxia

Standing at the mouth of the Yellow River Qingtong Gorge

The towers follow the mountain

Stairs up

Meaning of the Buddhist Lotus World

(One hundred and eight towers in Qingtongxia, photographer @风沉郁)

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Inheriting the official architectural style of the Central Plains

Rectangular layout

Ganzhou Reclining Buddha Temple (now Zhangye Big Buddha Temple)

A large reclining Buddha made of wood and clay is enshrined

34.5 meters in height and 7.5 meters in shoulder width

It is the largest existing indoor reclining Buddha in my country.

(Please watch it in horizontal mode. The reclining Buddha statue in Zhangye Dafo Temple is basically still from the Western Xia period. Photographer: @万崲)

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besides

Hong Pagoda

Chengtian Temple Pagoda

Yongshou Pagoda of Anqing Temple

Baisigou Square Pagoda

Visit the twin towers at the temple

They are also relics of Western Xia

Or it was built during the Western Xia period.

(Bai Sikou Twin Towers, picture from @Visual China)

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also

There are more than 80 caves in the Mogao Grottoes in Dunhuang

It was expanded and excavated during the Western Xia period.

(Xixia Caves in the Mogao Grottoes in Dunhuang, photographer @Sun Zhijun)

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The only existing clay double-headed Buddha in the world

It is also a work from the Western Xia period

(A rare two-headed Buddha unearthed in Heishui City, picture from @Russian Hermitage Museum)

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The Kalavinka bird beside the Buddha

Also "flying" onto the roof

Under the skillful hands of Xixia craftsmen

Transformed into building components

(The Kalavinka, in Buddhism, is the "bird of wonderful sound" beside the Buddha. Its image was used as a roof component by the Xixia people. Photographer: @柳叶氘)

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Many professional monks in Xixia

It has greatly promoted

Translation of Tangut Buddhist Scriptures

Compared with the Central Plains, it took nearly a thousand years

Only then did he translate more than 6,000 volumes of the Tripitaka

Xixia lasted only 53 years

He translated 3579 volumes of Buddhist scriptures

In terms of translation speed

This is a pioneering work in the history of Buddhist scriptures translation in my country.

(The Golden Light Sutra in Xixia script, image from @wikipedia, map by @Hanqing/Planetary Research Institute)

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Movable type printing from the Central Plains

It was also used to print Buddhist scriptures.

The world's earliest existing

Clay type printing and wood type printing

They are the "Vimalakirti Sutra" in Xixia language.

and the "Original Sutra of the All-Pervading Auspiciousness"

All are Buddhist scriptures

(The Xixia script of the "Auspicious Bianzhi Kouhe Benxu", the earliest existing wood movable type printed work, was printed no later than the second half of the 12th century. The image is from @Visual China, and the map is @Hanqing/Planetary Research Institute)

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In Buddhist culture and Central Plains culture

Northern nomadic culture, Qinghai-Tibet Plateau culture, etc.

The intersection and collision of various cultures

A deeper level of tension arose within Xixia.

Fusion and qualitative change

Formed a unique culture of Xixia

The Western Xia Mausoleum, where successive Western Xia emperors were buried

A typical example

Take the tomb of Li Yuanhao, the founding emperor, as an example

It inherits the architectural tradition of Tang and Song mausoleums.

The central axis of the inner city is slightly to the west

Possibly based on the Dangxiang tribe

The concept of "the place of ghosts and gods" in the middle

(Whether the L3 tomb is the tomb of Li Yuanhao is still controversial in the academic community and needs further research. Map by @Hanqing/Planetary Research Institute)

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The circular three-way pavilion at the corner

Based on the shape of the Central Plains Hanque

In addition, the styles of Tubo and Uighur

It is a precious orphan

(Reconstruction of the circular three-que tower, drawn by @Hanqing/Planetary Research Institute)

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Firing method of building components

The shape and structure originated from the Central Plains

The lion face decoration

The lotus pattern originated from Buddhism

(Lion-faced tiles and lotus-patterned drips, pictures from @Ningxia Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology, drawn by @Hanqing/Xingxing Institute)

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The main building of the cemetery is the giant mausoleum tower

It may have been built based on Buddhist ideas.

Because of its vertebral shape

Once known as the "Pyramid of the East"

This is the tomb of the emperors of all dynasties in China.

Unique creation

(Please watch in horizontal screen, L3 Tomb Restoration Map, Photographer @刘杰, Map @汉青/星球研究院)

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Mausoleum towers were used after the Qin and Han dynasties.

The rammed earth platform is rarely used.

The rammed earth works account for about 50%

Brick and tile works account for about 35%

Woodwork and stonework account for about 15%

(Reconstruction of the mausoleum structure, drawn by @Hanqing/Planet Research Institute)

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Western Xia Tombs

The huge volume of rammed earth building

With the vast Helan Mountains behind

Fusion in momentum

(Please watch in horizontal mode, Western Xia Mausoleum, picture from @Visual China)

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Outside the building

Xixia murals

It also formed a unique style

Use a lot of malachite as the base

Give the picture a unique cool tone

The green mural

(Fragments of Xixia murals unearthed in Heishui City, picture from @Russian Winter Palace Museum, map @Hanqing/Planet Research Institute)

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Water bladder for daily use

Incorporating the porcelain firing and carving techniques of the Central Plains

And the style of sewing Dangxiang leather

Upgrade to a porcelain flat pot

The ears are placed on the ventral side

To carry with you

Or hang it on the back of a horse or camel.

(Xixia carved four-handled flat pot, picture from @Huitu.com, map @Hanqing/Xingxing Research Institute)

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Clothing of the Xixia people

Through the improvement of printing and dyeing and textile technology in the Central Plains

Become more exquisite and gorgeous

(Xixia printed silk, with a pattern of children playing with flowers, photographer @柳叶氘, map @汉青/星球研究院)

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There are also many designs on the upper

Including embroidery, embroidery birds, etc.

(Reconstruction of Xixia embroidered shoes, picture from @Huitu.com, map by @Hanqing/Xingxing Research Institute)

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besides

Gold ornaments of Western Xia

(Gold medal with grape pattern, picture from @Ningxia Cultural Relics and Archaeology Research Institute, map by @Hanqing/Planetary Research Institute)

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Stone Carving

(Xixia Stone Dog, picture from @Huitu.com, map @Hanqing/Planet Research Institute)

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Woodcarving

(Xixia painted and gilded wooden table, picture from @Ningxia Cultural Relics and Archaeology Research Institute, map @Hanqing/Planetary Research Institute)

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silk flower

(Xixia painted woodcarving vase and silk flowers, picture from @Ningxia Cultural Relics and Archaeology Research Institute, map @Hanqing/Xingxing Research Institute)

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Bronze ware production process

are more or less influenced by different cultures.

They have also reached a relatively high level

(Western Xia gilded bronze bull, picture from @Ningxia Cultural Relics and Archaeology Research Institute, map @Hanqing/Xingxing Research Institute)

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It is these precious cultural relics and remains

Let us take a glimpse

This brilliant and diverse Xixia culture

04

Ningxia! Ningxia!

Even if we create a splendid culture

Xixia eventually perished in the war

During its 189 years of existence

There have been wars for 142 years.

Accounting for more than 75%

The fierce battle between Xixia and Song in the early period

Then the Jurchens rose

The Liao Dynasty and the Northern Song Dynasty were successively destroyed

Genghis Khan founded the Mongol Empire

Xixia survived between Jin and Mongolia

(The data on the war years above are from the chronology of the Xixia wars in the "Xixia War History". The picture below is a Xixia-language "Chi Ran Ma Pai". "Chi Ran Ma Pai" means "the imperial order for the post horses to run day and night". It is a symbol for the delivery of urgent documents, orders and other official documents. It is often used in the army to convey urgent military orders. Photographer @柳叶氘, map @汉青/星球研究院)

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pity

Mongolia does not want dependence

But a complete conquest

1226 AD

Genghis Khan's expedition to Western Xia

With his great reputation, he forced the Blackwater City to surrender.

Afterwards, the Mongols and Xia fought a decisive battle on the frozen Yellow River.

The bodies of the dead soldiers were lying on the ice

Blood splatters like flowers blooming from the underworld

Not only was the war extremely brutal,

Genghis Khan himself was also

Died of illness during the conquest of Western Xia

(Sketch of the Mongolian invasion route, drawn by @陈志浩/Planet Research Institute)

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After the Mongol victory

The Xixia royal family may have been massacred

Or scattered all over the world

The Western Xia imperial tombs were severely damaged

Many Xixia documents turned to ashes

When the Yuan Dynasty was compiling the history books of previous dynasties

There are Liao History, Jin History, and Song History

Only the history of Xixia is missing

(After the fall of the Western Xia Dynasty, no one maintained the Western Xia Buddha statues. Under the high temperature, the black glaze of the eyeballs melted and flowed out, like "tear marks". Many Buddha statues were like this, which can be called "Buddha's tears". The picture comes from @Ningxia Cultural Relics and Archaeology Research Institute, and the map is @Hanqing/Planet Research Institute)

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Western Xia

Rise and fall because of war

Perhaps it was to quell the years of war here.

Maybe it's to let go of the blood and hatred

In the Yuan Dynasty, the name "Ningxia Road" was established, which means "peace in the land of Xia".

The name "Ningxia" was first used

After the fall of the country

The remnants of the Western Xia still live

They may move to Sichuan and Anhui

Shandong, Henan, Hebei, Tibet

Qinghai, Gansu, Yunnan and other places

Integrate with the masses

(Some scholars believe that the Yugur people inherited the bloodlines of the Dangxiang, Uighur and Mongolian peoples. The picture below shows Bai Jinhua, the inheritor of the Yugur folk song intangible cultural heritage. The photographer is @吴玮)

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The influence of the Western Xia continues

It can be considered that Tibetan Buddhism

The stupa (commonly known as the white stupa)

It was introduced to the Central Plains through the Western Xia

Emulating the Western Xia court

Mongolia, where Buddhist monks were the imperial teachers

From the founding emperor Kublai Khan to the last emperor Shundi of Yuan

No matter which emperor is in office, he cannot do without the imperial teacher.

(White Pagoda of Mount Wutai, photographer @翟东润)

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now

At the foot of Helan Mountain

The Western Xia Tombs still stand

(Ningxia Xixia Mausoleum, photographer @佐蚁)

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In Ejin Banner, Inner Mongolia

Blackwater City under the invasion of quicksand

Still standing tenaciously

(Heishui City in Ejin Banner, Inner Mongolia. The city corners and pagodas in the picture below are not original from the Western Xia period, but were expanded and renovated during the Yuan Dynasty. The picture comes from @Visual China)

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Niu Shou Mountain in Qingtongxia

One hundred and eight pagodas

Still looks like it grew on the rock

(The 108 towers in Qingtongxia face the Yellow River and blend into the vast mountains. Photographer: @风沉郁)

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In the Mogao Grottoes in Dunhuang

More than 80 caves still record

The spiritual world of the Xixia people

(Cave 3 of the Guazhou Yulin Grottoes, built during the Western Xia period, photographer @孙志军)

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In Ningxia, Gansu, Shaanxi, Qinghai

There are more than 100 city ruins that have survived to this day.

Telling the rise and fall of a dynasty

(Please view in horizontal mode, full map of Yinchuan today, Xingqing Prefecture of Western Xia in the past, photographer @陈剑峰)

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Indeed

In Chinese official history

There is no History of Western Xia

Among the fifty-six ethnic groups in China

No Dangxiang

However

As a real national regime

Descendants of the Western Xia

It has long been integrated into the blood of the Chinese nation.

Share our joys and sorrows

The Story of Xixia

Disappeared in the yellow sand

Integrate with the world of the Northwest

It is also sung in the folk songs of herding

Still echoing on the earth

Sad and desolate

(The Yellow River flows between Xiangshan and Tengger Desert, where the story of Western Xia was staged. Photographer: @陈剑峰)

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This article was created by

Written by: Lingjun

Image: Keep warm

Map: Chen Zhihao

Design: Hanqing

Proofreading: Lushumao, Ding Jiaxin, Zheng Yi

Expert reviewer: Mr. Shi Jinbo, member of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences

References:

[1] Chen Yuning, Tang Xiaofang, Lei Runze. Research on Xixia Architecture[M]. Beijing: Social Sciences Academic Press, 2016.

[2] Yang Rui. Research on Xixia Geography[M]. People's Publishing House, 2008.

[3] Shi Jinbo. Xixia Society[M]. Shanghai People's Publishing House, 2007.

[4] Ningxia Cultural Relics and Archaeology Research Institute, Yinchuan Xixia Tombs Management Office. Xixia Tomb No. 3[M]. Beijing: Science Press, 2007.

[5] Du Jianlu. Economic History of Western Xia[M]. China Social Sciences Press, 2002.

[6] Wang Tianshun. History of the War against Western Xia[M]. Ningxia People's Publishing House, 1996.

Planetary Research Institute

A group of National Geographic fans, focusing on exploring the extreme world

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