Huining Fu
Encyclopedia
Huining Fu was a prefecture in the Shangjing region of Manchuria
. It served as the first superior capital of the Jin Dynasty (1115-1234) between 1122 to 1234 (and was a secondary capital after 1173).
The first Jin emperor, Wanyan Aguda
(r. 1115-1123) resettled captives to the Shangjing area during his war against the Liao Empire
.
Aguda's successor, Wanyan Wuqimai
(r. 1123-1134) continued the policy, resulting in numerous wealthy people, skilled craftsmen from Yanjing (Beijing
) and the former Northern Song capital Bianjing (Kaifeng
) being relocated to Shangjing. Historical accounts report that, after the fall of Bianjing
in 1127, the Jurchen generals brought to Shangjing (and elsewhere in North China) several thousand of people, including: "about 470 imperial clansmen; erudites and students of the imperial academy; eunuchs; medical doctors; artisans; prostitutes; imperial gardeners; artisans of Imperial Constructions; actors and actresses; astronomers; musicians". A variety of valuable goods captured in Bianjing was brought to the Jin capital as well.
In Aguda's days, palaces were not much more than tents, but in 1123 Jurchen built their first ancestral temples and tombs (where the captured Song emperors Huizong and Qizong were to venerate the Jin ancestors in 1128), and in 1124 the new emperor Wuqimai
ordered a Chinese architect, Lu Yanlun, build a new city on uniform plan. The city plan on Shangjing emulated major Chinese cities, in particular Bianjing (Kaifeng), although the Jin capital was much smaller than its Northern Song prototype.
The capital was moved to Yanjing (now Beijing
) in 1153 by Wanyan Liang, the fourth emperor of the dynasty. Yanjing was more centrally located within the Jin Empire, and it was easier to supply it with food. Liang is said to have support of most of his officials in this move. In 1157, to show his commitment to being the ruler of a Chinese empire, Liang even went so far as to destroy all palaces in his former capital.
While Yanjing (today's Beijing
) and later Bianjing (today's Kaifeng
) were the Jin's principal capitals thereafter, Shangjing continued to sometimes play an important role in the empire. Wanyan Liang's successor, Wanyan Yong (Emperor Shizong), who strove to revive Jurchen language
and culture, spent a year in Shangjing 1184-85, greatly enjoying hunting, traditional dancing, and talking to people in Jurchen.
in the Heilongjiang Province
of the People's Republic of China
, about 2 km from Acheng's central urban area.. The site of the ruins is a national historic reserve, and includes a museum open to public, renovated in the late 2005. Many of the artifacts found there are on display in nearby Harbin
.
Manchuria
Manchuria is a historical name given to a large geographic region in northeast Asia. Depending on the definition of its extent, Manchuria usually falls entirely within the People's Republic of China, or is sometimes divided between China and Russia. The region is commonly referred to as Northeast...
. It served as the first superior capital of the Jin Dynasty (1115-1234) between 1122 to 1234 (and was a secondary capital after 1173).
History
During the early years of building up their empire, Jurchen rulers often moved people from elsewhere in China to their capital, Shangjing.The first Jin emperor, Wanyan Aguda
Wanyan Aguda
Emperor Taizu of Jin was Emperor of Jin from January 28, 1115 to September 19, 1123.He was the chieftain of the Jurchen Wanyan tribe, founder and first emperor of the Jin Dynasty . He was the younger brother of Wanyan Wuyashu...
(r. 1115-1123) resettled captives to the Shangjing area during his war against the Liao Empire
Liao Dynasty
The Liao Dynasty , also known as the Khitan Empire was an empire in East Asia that ruled over the regions of Manchuria, Mongolia, and parts of northern China proper between 9071125...
.
Aguda's successor, Wanyan Wuqimai
Emperor Taizong of Jin
Emperor Taizong of Jin was emperor of the Jin Dynasty, which ruled northern China from September 27, 1123 to February 9, 1135. His birth name was Wányán Wúqǐmǎi , and his reign name was Tiānhuì ....
(r. 1123-1134) continued the policy, resulting in numerous wealthy people, skilled craftsmen from Yanjing (Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
) and the former Northern Song capital Bianjing (Kaifeng
Kaifeng
Kaifeng , known previously by several names , is a prefecture-level city in east-central Henan province, Central China. Nearly 5 million people live in the metropolitan area...
) being relocated to Shangjing. Historical accounts report that, after the fall of Bianjing
Jingkang Incident
The Jingkang Incident , the Humiliation of Jingkang , or The Disorders of the Jingkang Period took place in 1127 when invading Jurchen soldiers from the Jin Dynasty besieged and sacked Bianjing , the capital of the Song Dynasty of China...
in 1127, the Jurchen generals brought to Shangjing (and elsewhere in North China) several thousand of people, including: "about 470 imperial clansmen; erudites and students of the imperial academy; eunuchs; medical doctors; artisans; prostitutes; imperial gardeners; artisans of Imperial Constructions; actors and actresses; astronomers; musicians". A variety of valuable goods captured in Bianjing was brought to the Jin capital as well.
In Aguda's days, palaces were not much more than tents, but in 1123 Jurchen built their first ancestral temples and tombs (where the captured Song emperors Huizong and Qizong were to venerate the Jin ancestors in 1128), and in 1124 the new emperor Wuqimai
Emperor Taizong of Jin
Emperor Taizong of Jin was emperor of the Jin Dynasty, which ruled northern China from September 27, 1123 to February 9, 1135. His birth name was Wányán Wúqǐmǎi , and his reign name was Tiānhuì ....
ordered a Chinese architect, Lu Yanlun, build a new city on uniform plan. The city plan on Shangjing emulated major Chinese cities, in particular Bianjing (Kaifeng), although the Jin capital was much smaller than its Northern Song prototype.
The capital was moved to Yanjing (now Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
) in 1153 by Wanyan Liang, the fourth emperor of the dynasty. Yanjing was more centrally located within the Jin Empire, and it was easier to supply it with food. Liang is said to have support of most of his officials in this move. In 1157, to show his commitment to being the ruler of a Chinese empire, Liang even went so far as to destroy all palaces in his former capital.
While Yanjing (today's Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
) and later Bianjing (today's Kaifeng
Kaifeng
Kaifeng , known previously by several names , is a prefecture-level city in east-central Henan province, Central China. Nearly 5 million people live in the metropolitan area...
) were the Jin's principal capitals thereafter, Shangjing continued to sometimes play an important role in the empire. Wanyan Liang's successor, Wanyan Yong (Emperor Shizong), who strove to revive Jurchen language
Jurchen language
Jurchen language is an extinct language. It was spoken by Jurchen people of eastern Manchuria, the creators of the Jin Empire in the northeastern China of the 12th–13th centuries. It is classified as a Southwestern Tungusic language.-Writing:...
and culture, spent a year in Shangjing 1184-85, greatly enjoying hunting, traditional dancing, and talking to people in Jurchen.
Modern state
Ruins of the city were discovered and excavated at present-day AchengAcheng
Acheng District is an administrative county-level district of Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, China. The city, located at at an elevation of 140 m with a population of 234,057 Acheng District is an administrative county-level district of Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, China. The city,...
in the Heilongjiang Province
Heilongjiang
For the river known in Mandarin as Heilong Jiang, see Amur River' is a province of the People's Republic of China located in the northeastern part of the country. "Heilongjiang" literally means Black Dragon River, which is the Chinese name for the Amur. The one-character abbreviation is 黑...
of the People's Republic of China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
, about 2 km from Acheng's central urban area.. The site of the ruins is a national historic reserve, and includes a museum open to public, renovated in the late 2005. Many of the artifacts found there are on display in nearby Harbin
Harbin
Harbin ; Manchu language: , Harbin; Russian: Харби́н Kharbin ), is the capital and largest city of Heilongjiang Province in Northeast China, lying on the southern bank of the Songhua River...
.
Sources
- "Acheng City", Harbin government web site. (Retrieved September 25, 2006).
- "Huining, China". PlanetWare, 2006. (Retrieved September 26, 2006).
- Jin Hongjui. "The Setting of the Forbidden City and Its Protection". Chinese Association of Cultural Relics Protection. (Retrieved September 28, 2006).
- Lu Rucai. "Beijing's 850th Anniversary as National Capital". China Today. December 2003. (Retrieved September 28, 2006).
- Theobald, Ulrich. "Chinese History — Jinn Dynasty (1115-1234) map and geography". ChinaKnowledge. 2000. (Retrieved September 28, 2006).
- Jing-shen Tao, "The Jurchen in Twelfth-Century China". University of Washington Press, 1976, ISBN 0-295-95514-7.