Yangguan
Encyclopedia
Yangguan, or Yangguan Pass , is a mountain pass
that was fortified by Emperor Wu
during the Western Han Dynasty
and used as an outpost in ancient China. It is located approximately 43 to 70 miles (112.7 km) southwest of Dunhuang
, in the Gansu
province of Northwest China, which was in ancient times China's westernmost administrative center. It was established as a frontier defense post, as well as a developed place in China's remote western frontier; Emperor Wu encouraged Chinese to settle there. Today Yangguan is located in Nanhu
Village, along the Hexi Corridor
.
Yangguan is one of China's two most important western passes, the other being Yumenguan
. In Chinese, yang means "south." Because Yangguan lies to the south of the Yumenguan Pass, it derived its name. Together with Yumenguan Pass, it was an important site on the Silk Road
.
Yangguan is the subject of one of China's most beloved ancient musical pieces, Yangguan Sandie , which is based on a poem by the Tang Dynasty
poet and musician Wang Wei. It was originally played on guqin
, but is often performed by guanzi
or other instruments.
Mountain pass
A mountain pass is a route through a mountain range or over a ridge. If following the lowest possible route, a pass is locally the highest point on that route...
that was fortified by Emperor Wu
Emperor Wu of Han
Emperor Wu of Han , , personal name Liu Che , was the seventh emperor of the Han Dynasty of China, ruling from 141 BC to 87 BC. Emperor Wu is best remembered for the vast territorial expansion that occurred under his reign, as well as the strong and centralized Confucian state he organized...
during the Western 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...
and used as an outpost in ancient China. It is located approximately 43 to 70 miles (112.7 km) southwest of Dunhuang
Dunhuang
Dunhuang is a city in northwestern Gansu province, Western China. It was a major stop on the ancient Silk Road. It was also known at times as Shāzhōu , or 'City of Sands', a name still used today...
, in the Gansu
Gansu
' is a province located in the northwest of the People's Republic of China.It lies between the Tibetan and Huangtu plateaus, and borders Mongolia, Inner Mongolia, and Ningxia to the north, Xinjiang and Qinghai to the west, Sichuan to the south, and Shaanxi to the east...
province of Northwest China, which was in ancient times China's westernmost administrative center. It was established as a frontier defense post, as well as a developed place in China's remote western frontier; Emperor Wu encouraged Chinese to settle there. Today Yangguan is located in Nanhu
Nanhu
Nanhu may refer to the following in mainland China or Taiwan:*Nanhu Mountain , 3,740 m-high mountain in Taiwan*Nanhu District , in Jiaxing, Zhejiang, ChinaLakes *South Lake , Guangxi*South Lake , Hubei...
Village, along the Hexi Corridor
Hexi Corridor
Hexi Corridor or Gansu Corridor refers to the historical route in Gansu province of China. As part of the Northern Silk Road running northwest from the bank of the Yellow River, it was the most important route from North China to the Tarim Basin and Central Asia for traders and the military. The...
.
Yangguan is one of China's two most important western passes, the other being Yumenguan
Jade Gate
Yumen Pass , or Jade Gate or Pass of the Jade Gate, is the name of a pass located west of Dunhuang in today's Gansu Province of China. In ancient times, this was a pass through which the Silk Road passed, and was the one road connecting Central Asia and China, the former called the Western Regions...
. In Chinese, yang means "south." Because Yangguan lies to the south of the Yumenguan Pass, it derived its name. Together with Yumenguan Pass, it was an important site on the Silk Road
Silk Road
The Silk Road or Silk Route refers to a historical network of interlinking trade routes across the Afro-Eurasian landmass that connected East, South, and Western Asia with the Mediterranean and European world, as well as parts of North and East Africa...
.
Yangguan is the subject of one of China's most beloved ancient musical pieces, Yangguan Sandie , which is based on a poem by the 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...
poet and musician Wang Wei. It was originally played on guqin
Guqin
The guqin is the modern name for a plucked seven-string Chinese musical instrument of the zither family...
, but is often performed by guanzi
Guan (instrument)
The guan is a Chinese double reed wind instrument. The northern Chinese version is called guanzi or bili and the Cantonese version is called houguan . It is classified as a bamboo instrument in the Ba Yin system...
or other instruments.