Yang Zhai

Yang Zhai

Yangzhai, a place name in ancient China, is the capital of Xia Qi recorded in historical records in Yuzhou, Henan Province. It is said that in ancient times, Henan was still in a tropical climate, flourishing and colorful everywhere, so it was called "Yangzhai". It is said that Xia Qi once allied with the princes here to enjoy the Juntai. Yangzhai was also the capital of South Korea during the Warring States period.

"Emperor Century" says: "Yu was granted the title of Xia Bo, in the south of Yuzhou, now Nanyang Zhai is also Notes to historical records: Xu Guang said, "Xia lived in Henan, first in Yangcheng, then in Yangzhai." "Kuodizhi" says: "Yangzhai is also Luozhou county. "Historical records justice" says: Luozhou Yangzhai county is the capital of Han Wangxin.

brief introduction

It is said that in the ancient times, Henan was still in a tropical climate, with elephants, buffaloes, bamboos and other tropical animals and plants widely distributed. It is not difficult to speculate that Han Jinghou led his troops down here to enjoy the lush and lush primitive tropical rain forest. He was thriving and full of vitality everywhere. He also saw mountain pheasants flying around in groups. They were colorful and dazzling, presenting a wonderful landscape. So he lingered on, and could not help exclaiming: "Yang Zai Zhai ye, Yang Zai Zhai Ye!" What a beautiful pheasant! What a beautiful pheasant The civil and military ministers who were with them all echoed: "Yang Zai Zhai Ye!" "Yang Zai Zhai Ye!" Therefore, this place is called "Yangzhai".

It is said that it is the capital of Dayu, the king of Xia. According to the geographical records of the Han Dynasty, Yangzhai County of Yingchuan County wrote: "Xiayu state". Ying Shao said, "the capital of Xia Yu.". According to the emperor's century, Yu was granted the title of Xiabo, which was in the south of Yuzhou. Today, Zhai County in Nanyang is also a city. Xu Guang was quoted in historical records, zhoubenji and Jijie as saying, "Xia lived in Henan, first in Yangcheng, then in Yangzhai.". According to Shuijing yingshuizhu, "Yingshui ran out in the East and went to Yangzhai in the north of the city, where Xiayu was granted the title of Xia state.". Yangzhai is now Yuzhou City, Henan Province.

Historical evolution

In the 18th year of King Zhou Weilie (408 BC), Han Jinghou moved the capital of Korea from Pingyang to Yangzhai. In 375 BC, South Korea conquered the state of Zheng and moved its capital to Xinzheng. In only five years, 370 BC, Han Yihou moved the capital back to Yangzhai. After more than 2000 years of Qin, Han, Three Kingdoms, Jin, southern and Northern Dynasties, Sui, Tang, song and Yuan Dynasties, Yuzhou was called Yangzhai. Therefore, when many historical documents record historical events and places, they are used to refer to Xia, Xiayi, Lidi, and Liyi, which were not named Yangzhai in ancient times, as "Yangzhai" in Yudu, for example.

In the period of Yao and Shun, Yuzhou was called Xia, and it was the center of Xia tribe's settlement and activities. Dayu was the leader of Xia tribe and the great grandson of Huangdi. Yuzhou is known as "the state of Dayu" because Dayu was first granted here. Later, the Xia dynasty founded and established its capital here, also known as "Xia capital" or "the first capital of China." It is said that Yu was in power for eight years in Xiadu (today's Yuzhou City) and ordered the implementation of a unified calendar throughout the country, commonly known as the "summer calendar", also known as the "lunar calendar".

Juntai, also known as xiatai, was originally in the south of Yuzhou City, ten li away from the city. According to shuijingzhu, in the southeast of Sanfeng mountain and the west of Daling, there is a divination Pavilion on the mausoleum, which is called Juntai. A corner of the southeast flow of water, under the mausoleum, plot for the slope, slope side ten miles, known as Juntai slope. It is also the first place in the history of "Shangcheng" where Guo Junchuan was imprisoned. After the Shang Dynasty, the Tang Dynasty was powerful and united with the vassal states to attack the Xia Dynasty, bound the Xia Jie, and exiled to the present Chaoting mountain (today's Huijing). Three years later, Xia Jie died of anxiety and indignation, and Shang Tang established its capital in Bo (Bo Bo, Southeast of Shangqiu, Henan), but it was still in Xia Ting after it was granted Yu. The former site of XiaTing is Xiasi village, Hongchang Town, Yuzhou City. Later, the Marquis Li was granted to Xia, so at the end of Shang Dynasty and the beginning of Western Zhou Dynasty, Yuzhou was once called Li, or oak.

In Hongwu Period of Ming Dynasty, because there was "Juntai" in Yuzhou, Yangzhai was changed to Junzhou. In the third year of Wanli in the Ming Dynasty (1575 AD), Junzhou was changed to Yuzhou instead of the word "Jun" of Zhu Yijun.

textual research

What is the original meaning of Yang Zhai? There are different opinions on this. Some people think that the ancient "Zhai" and "Di" are connected. As early as the 16th year of King Xiang of Zhou Dynasty (636 BC), the northern Di people invaded and occupied the city, so it was located in the Yang of Songshan Mountain, so it was called Yangzhai. However, based on the historical records, Kong Zixiu wrote a biography of Chunqiu for Zuo Qiuming. Their time was much later than that when the Di people occupied the city. However, in Zuo Zhuan, they always called this place the city of oak, not Yangzhai. It can be seen that this place has always been called the city of oak in the spring and Autumn period. Moreover, although the Zhou Dynasty had declined at that time, Duke Huan of Qi was dominating.

With the help of Guan Zhong, the great statesman, Duke Huan of Qi held high the banner of "respecting the king and fighting against the barbarians" and led all the vassal states in the Central Plains to defeat the invasion of Rong Di many times, which effectively safeguarded the national unity under the regime at that time. Confucius once sincerely praised Guan Zhong and said, "micro Guan Zhong, I have left my lapel on my hair." (the Analects of Confucius · Xianwen) that is, without Guan Zhong, China might become a colony of Rongdi, and the Chinese might become slaves of subjugation, like the nomads in the northwest. It was because of Duke Huan of Qi and Guan Zhong that Rong Di did not stay in the Central Plains for a long time. Even if a small number of Di people stay here, they will never become the main body of the residents, which will affect the change of place names.

Dengfeng has Yangcheng, which is named for its location in the sun of Songshan mountain. Compared with Yangcheng, Yuzhou City is not just located in the sun of Songshan, and is far away from Songshan. It can be seen that the Yang of Yang Zhai is not the Yang of Songyang. Therefore, if we want to understand the original meaning of the place name "Yangzhai", we might as well separate the two words first. The original meaning of the word "Yang" refers to the sun; the extended meaning, according to the geographical location, is Yang in the south of the mountain and the north of the water; otherwise, it is Yin.

As for the original meaning of "Zhai", it refers to the mountain pheasant with long tail. Generally speaking, all things have their yin and Yang sides, so the book of changes says: "one Yin and one Yang is Tao." Its obvious side is called the sun, such as the above-mentioned mountains and rivers north and south, under the sun, showing a distinctive shape, so it is called the sun. Further extension, things bright and beautiful, can be Yang. Therefore, the book of songs says, "I am Zhu Kongyang, carrying the mystery and the yellow." The word "Yang" is a bright and beautiful meaning. According to the etymology, there are other explanations, which have nothing to do with this article. From this, we can preliminarily conclude that the ancients called this place Yangzhai because there were many pheasants in this place at that time, which was bright and beautiful.

The thing is so simple, the ancients about the name of the place, initially with the local geographical things. They are named after mountains, water, location or products. For example, Yingchuan county is named after Yingshui; Henan Province is named after its location in the south of the Yellow River. In ancient times, Henan was called Yuzhou, which was named after the fact that there were many elephants in ancient times. In ancient times, Yuzhou was called oak Town, which was named after its oak forest There are so many examples. Later, with the passage of time, the historical accumulation of various places became more and more profound, so the phenomenon of naming them with historical and cultural characteristics also increased. For example, Dengfeng was named after the ancient emperors who repeatedly ascended Mount Song to hold Fengchan ceremonies, while Xuchang was named after the place where Xu was once the hometown of the state.

Yuzhou has mountains, hills and plains, each accounting for one third. The superior geographical environment and rich products make Yuzhou one of the important birthplaces of the Chinese nation. Especially, this place was the old capital of Xia Yu, and was famous for the relics of Juntai historic sites, so it was later renamed Junzhou and Yuzhou. Throughout the evolution of Yuzhou place names, it is a long process from geographical characteristics to historical characteristics.

Back to the previous topic, Yuzhou was known as Zhai because of the number of pheasants at that time. According to legend, because the mountain pheasant's bright, far better than other birds, mountain pheasant is also very proud of this, often standing on the river, flying in the river, their beautiful figure reflected in the water, self appreciation, self intoxication, self complacency. Li Bai, a great poet of Tang Dynasty, in his Qiupu song, in order to exaggerate the beauty of the golden ostrich in Qiupu, he took the pheasant as a contrast and wrote: "pheasant is shy of green water and dare not shine on sweater." Because of the beauty of pheasant, the ancient Chinese people began to imagine and created the beautiful image of Phoenix. Because this kind of creation originates from reality and is higher than reality, the Phoenix is bigger, its tail is longer, and its feathers are more beautiful, but its shape is very similar to that of pheasant.

It is said that in the ancient times, Henan was still in a tropical climate, with elephants, buffaloes, bamboos and other tropical animals and plants widely distributed. The lush primitive tropical rain forest is thriving and full of vitality. There are also groups of pheasants flying around in colorful colors. Therefore, this place is called "Yangzhai".

The indigenous people here are also familiar with pheasants and have no fresh feeling. But for Han Jinghou, a newcomer, this bright and distinctive pheasant gives people a strong sense of freshness. No wonder they call this place "Yangzhai". Although this is a conjecture, it should be the same from the meaning of "Yangzhai" to the historical background and the evolution of place names at that time.

Chinese PinYin : Yang Zhai