Guanzhong
Encyclopedia
Guanzhong or Guanzhong Plain, is a historical region of China corresponding to the lower valley of the Wei River
. It is called Guanzhong or 'within the passes' to distinguish it from 'Guandong' or 'east of the pass', that is, the North China Plain
. The North China Plain is bordered on the west by mountains. The Yellow River
cuts through the mountains at the Hangu Pass
separating Guanzhong from Guandong. During the Warring States Period
Guanzhong was the western edge of Chinese civilization and was controlled by the state of Qin
. As Qin became more millitaristic its enemies claimed that it had adopted barbarian customs and was not fully Chinese. It was said that 'Guanzhong produces generals and Guandong produces ministers'. The state of Qin united China and Guanzhong was the center of the Qin and several later dynasties.
The Passes that enclose Guanzhong are:
Historically the most important pass was the eastern one along the Yellow River
which separates Guanzhong from the North China Plain
. Guanzhong includes the central part of Shaanxi
and the extreme west of modern Henan
.
The average altitude
of the Guanzhong Plain is around 500 metres. Xi'an
, the capital of Shaanxi, is the largest city in the Guanzhong plain, which also contains the cities of Tongchuan, Baoji
, Xianyang
and Weinan
.
The plain was the central region of the Qin
during the Warring States period
. Having fertile soil and good irrigation systems, Qin
rose from this region to gain preeminence among the Warring States, and eventually unified China. Since the Zhou Dynasty
, the area was the capital region of China for a total of 12 dynasties including the Han Dynasty
, Sui Dynasty
, and Tang Dynasty
. By the Tang Dynasty the economic center of China had shifted south to the Yangtze River
basin and Guanzhong became increasingly dependent on imports via the Grand Canal. After the destruction of Chang'an
in the last years of the Tang, Guanzhong became less significant politically as well as economically in later dynasties.
Wei River
The Wei River is a major river in west-central China's Gansu and Shaanxi provinces. It is the largest tributary of the Yellow River and very important in the early development of Chinese civilization....
. It is called Guanzhong or 'within the passes' to distinguish it from 'Guandong' or 'east of the pass', that is, the North China Plain
North China Plain
The North China Plain is based on the deposits of the Yellow River and is the largest alluvial plain of eastern Asia. The plain is bordered on the north by the Yanshan Mountains and on the west by the Taihang Mountains edge of the Shanxi plateau. To the south, it merges into the Yangtze Plain...
. The North China Plain is bordered on the west by mountains. The Yellow River
Yellow River
The Yellow River or Huang He, formerly known as the Hwang Ho, is the second-longest river in China and the sixth-longest in the world at the estimated length of . Originating in the Bayan Har Mountains in Qinghai Province in western China, it flows through nine provinces of China and empties into...
cuts through the mountains at the Hangu Pass
Hangu Pass
Hangu Pass was a strategic pass in ancient China just south of the great eastern bend of the Yellow River in today's Lingbao, Henan Province...
separating Guanzhong from Guandong. During the Warring States Period
Warring States Period
The Warring States Period , also known as the Era of Warring States, or the Warring Kingdoms period, covers the Iron Age period from about 475 BC to the reunification of China under the Qin Dynasty in 221 BC...
Guanzhong was the western edge of Chinese civilization and was controlled by the state of Qin
Qin (state)
The State of Qin was a Chinese feudal state that existed during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States Periods of Chinese history...
. As Qin became more millitaristic its enemies claimed that it had adopted barbarian customs and was not fully Chinese. It was said that 'Guanzhong produces generals and Guandong produces ministers'. The state of Qin united China and Guanzhong was the center of the Qin and several later dynasties.
The Passes that enclose Guanzhong are:
- Xiao Pass (萧关/蕭關) to the north,
- Hangu PassHangu PassHangu Pass was a strategic pass in ancient China just south of the great eastern bend of the Yellow River in today's Lingbao, Henan Province...
(函谷关/函谷關) to the east (see also Tongguan CountyTongguan CountyTongguan County is a county in Weinan, Shaanxi, China. It is located in the east of the Central Plain, north of the Qin Mountains, south of Wei and Luo River, east of the Mount Hua and in between the three provinces of Shanxi, Shaanxi and Henan...
), - Wu PassWuguanWuguan was one of four strategic mountain passes along the southern border of the ancient state of Qin.-See also:*Hangu Pass...
(武关/武關) to the south, and - Dasan Pass (大散关/大散關) to the west,
Historically the most important pass was the eastern one along the Yellow River
Yellow River
The Yellow River or Huang He, formerly known as the Hwang Ho, is the second-longest river in China and the sixth-longest in the world at the estimated length of . Originating in the Bayan Har Mountains in Qinghai Province in western China, it flows through nine provinces of China and empties into...
which separates Guanzhong from the North China Plain
North China Plain
The North China Plain is based on the deposits of the Yellow River and is the largest alluvial plain of eastern Asia. The plain is bordered on the north by the Yanshan Mountains and on the west by the Taihang Mountains edge of the Shanxi plateau. To the south, it merges into the Yangtze Plain...
. Guanzhong includes the central part of Shaanxi
Shaanxi
' is a province in the central part of Mainland China, and it includes portions of the Loess Plateau on the middle reaches of the Yellow River in addition to the Qinling Mountains across the southern part of this province...
and the extreme west of modern Henan
Henan
Henan , is a province of the People's Republic of China, located in the central part of the country. Its one-character abbreviation is "豫" , named after Yuzhou , a Han Dynasty state that included parts of Henan...
.
The average altitude
Altitude
Altitude or height is defined based on the context in which it is used . As a general definition, altitude is a distance measurement, usually in the vertical or "up" direction, between a reference datum and a point or object. The reference datum also often varies according to the context...
of the Guanzhong Plain is around 500 metres. Xi'an
Xi'an
Xi'an is the capital of the Shaanxi province, and a sub-provincial city in the People's Republic of China. One of the oldest cities in China, with more than 3,100 years of history, the city was known as Chang'an before the Ming Dynasty...
, the capital of Shaanxi, is the largest city in the Guanzhong plain, which also contains the cities of Tongchuan, Baoji
Baoji
Baoji is a prefecture-level city in Shaanxi province, China.-Geography:The prefecture-level city of Baoji has a population of 3,716,731 according to the 2010 Chinese census, inhabiting an area of . The city itself has a population of approximately 800,000. Surrounded on three sides by hills,...
, Xianyang
Xianyang
Xianyang is a former capital of China in Shaanxi province, on the Wei River, a few kilometers upstream from Xi'an. It has an area of...
and Weinan
Weinan
Weinan is a Municipality in the province of Shaanxi, PRC. The Grand Historian Sima Qian was born in Weinan.-Administration:...
.
The plain was the central region of the Qin
Qin (state)
The State of Qin was a Chinese feudal state that existed during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States Periods of Chinese history...
during the Warring States period
Warring States Period
The Warring States Period , also known as the Era of Warring States, or the Warring Kingdoms period, covers the Iron Age period from about 475 BC to the reunification of China under the Qin Dynasty in 221 BC...
. Having fertile soil and good irrigation systems, Qin
Qin (state)
The State of Qin was a Chinese feudal state that existed during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States Periods of Chinese history...
rose from this region to gain preeminence among the Warring States, and eventually unified China. Since the Zhou Dynasty
Zhou Dynasty
The Zhou Dynasty was a Chinese dynasty that followed the Shang Dynasty and preceded the Qin Dynasty. Although the Zhou Dynasty lasted longer than any other dynasty in Chinese history, the actual political and military control of China by the Ji family lasted only until 771 BC, a period known as...
, the area was the capital region of China for a total of 12 dynasties including the Han Dynasty
Han Dynasty
The Han Dynasty was the second imperial dynasty of China, preceded by the Qin Dynasty and succeeded by the Three Kingdoms . It was founded by the rebel leader Liu Bang, known posthumously as Emperor Gaozu of Han. It was briefly interrupted by the Xin Dynasty of the former regent Wang Mang...
, Sui Dynasty
Sui Dynasty
The Sui Dynasty was a powerful, but short-lived Imperial Chinese dynasty. Preceded by the Southern and Northern Dynasties, it ended nearly four centuries of division between rival regimes. It was followed by the Tang Dynasty....
, and Tang Dynasty
Tang Dynasty
The Tang Dynasty was an imperial dynasty of China preceded by the Sui Dynasty and followed by the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period. It was founded by the Li family, who seized power during the decline and collapse of the Sui Empire...
. By the Tang Dynasty the economic center of China had shifted south to the Yangtze River
Yangtze River
The Yangtze, Yangzi or Cháng Jiāng is the longest river in Asia, and the third-longest in the world. It flows for from the glaciers on the Tibetan Plateau in Qinghai eastward across southwest, central and eastern China before emptying into the East China Sea at Shanghai. It is also one of the...
basin and Guanzhong became increasingly dependent on imports via the Grand Canal. After the destruction of Chang'an
Chang'an
Chang'an is an ancient capital of more than ten dynasties in Chinese history, today known as Xi'an. Chang'an literally means "Perpetual Peace" in Classical Chinese. During the short-lived Xin Dynasty, the city was renamed "Constant Peace" ; yet after its fall in AD 23, the old name was restored...
in the last years of the Tang, Guanzhong became less significant politically as well as economically in later dynasties.
See also
- Guanzhong HuaGuanzhong HuaGuanzhong dialect , is a dialect of Zhongyuan Mandarin spoken in Shaanxi's Guanzhong region, including the prefecture-level city of Xi'an. Since people from Xi'an are considered the prototypical Guanzhong speakers, Guanzhong dialect is sometimes referred to as Shaanxi hua 陕西话 or Xi'an hua 西安话...
- Maps : 1, 2
