Yueyang ( zh, s=栎阳, t=櫟陽) was a capital of the

Qin state Qin () was an ancient Chinese state during the Zhou dynasty. Traditionally dated to 897 BC, it took its origin in a reconquest of western lands previously lost to the Rong; its position at the western edge of Chinese civilization permitted ex ...

in 4th century BC, during the

Warring States era The Warring States period () was an era in ancient Chinese history characterized by warfare, as well as bureaucratic and military reforms and consolidation. It followed the Spring and Autumn period and concluded with the Qin wars of conques ...

of China. It is now known as Yueyang City Ruins ( zh, s=栎阳城遗址, t=櫟陽城遺址) and located in

Yanliang District Yanliang District () is one of nine districts of Xi'an, the capital of Shaanxi province, China. The northernmost and least-populous of Xi'an's county-level divisions, it borders the prefecture-level cities of Xianyang to the west and Weinan to the ...

Xi'an Xi'an ( , ; ; Chinese: ), frequently spelled as Xian and also known by other names, is the capital of Shaanxi Province. A sub-provincial city on the Guanzhong Plain, the city is the third most populous city in Western China, after Chongqi ...

Shaanxi Shaanxi (alternatively Shensi, see § Name) is a landlocked province of China. Officially part of Northwest China, it borders the province-level divisions of Shanxi (NE, E), Henan (E), Hubei (SE), Chongqing (S), Sichuan (SW), Gansu (W), N ...

province.

History

Yueyang was the capital of Qin during Duke Xian and Duke Xiao's rule. During this period,

Shang Yang Shang Yang (; c. 390 – 338 BC), also known as Wei Yang () and originally surnamed Gongsun, was a Chinese jurist, philosopher, and politician.Antonio S. Cua (ed.), 2003, p. 362, ''Encyclopedia of Chinese Philosophy'"The fifth important legali ...

's reforms transformed Qin into a prominent power in ancient China. During the Chu–Han contention period of late 3rd century BC, Yueyang served as the capital of

Sima Xin Sima Xin (died 204 BC) was a military general of the Qin dynasty. He surrendered to Xiang Yu after the Battle of Julu in 207 BC. In 206 BC, following the collapse of the Qin dynasty, he was conferred the title of "King of Sai" by Xiang Yu and gi ...

, King of Sai. The city was also briefly the seat of power of

Liu Bang Emperor Gaozu of Han (256 – 1 June 195 BC), born Liu Bang () with courtesy name Ji (季), was the founder and first emperor of the Han dynasty, reigning in 202–195 BC. His temple name was "Taizu" while his posthumous name was Empe ...

, the future Emperor Gaozu of Han.

Site

Archaeologists have located the ruins of Yueyang in

province. The Warring States era city was identified in 2016. A 440m long section of the north city wall was discovered. There were also a square encircled by rammed earth walls measuring 100m long on each side, and several major buildings, which were believed to be palaces. Two walled cities dating back to the Qin–Han period (after 221 BC) was discovered in 1980 and 2013, respectively. The second city was 3100m long from east to west and 3800m from south to north. Archeological evidence indicated that the city had been abandoned by the

Xin dynasty The Xin dynasty (; ), also known as Xin Mang () in Chinese historiography, was a short-lived Chinese imperial dynasty which lasted from 9 to 23 AD, established by the Han dynasty consort kin Wang Mang, who usurped the throne of the Emperor Pin ...

(9 – 23 AD).

References

{{reflist Major National Historical and Cultural Sites in Shaanxi Ancient Chinese capitals Qin (state)