Luoyang, situated in present-day Henan province, was one of the great urban centres of pre-Qin and early imperial China, the favoured site for dynastic capitals for almost two millennia. This book, the first in any Western language on the subject, traces the rise and fall of the six different capital cities in the region which served eleven different dynasties from the Western Zhou dynasty, when the first capital city made its appearance in Luoyang, to the great Tang dynasty, when Luoyang experienced a golden age. It examines the political histories of these cities, explores continuity and change in urban form with a particular focus on city layouts and landmark buildings, and discusses the roles of religions, especially Buddhism, and illustrious city residents. Overall the book provides an accessible survey of a broad sweep of premodern Chinese urban history.
Author(s): Victor Cunrui Xiong
Series: Asian States and Empires 13
Publisher: Routledge
Year: 2017
Language: English
Pages: viii+300
Cover
Half Title
Title Page
Copyright Page
Table of
Contents
List of Maps
Introduction
Notes
1. Genesis: From Luoyi to Wangcheng
Western Zhou
Eastern Zhou
An archaeological perspective
Zhou LUOYANG
and early urbanism
Notes
2. Eastern Han Luoyang: The Imperial capital
Emperor Guangwu’s choice
General layout
The growth of the city
The Southern and Northern Palaces
Local government
The cultural city
Late Han power struggle and the fall of Luoyang
Notes
3. Towards a national metropolis: Cao-Wei and Western Jin Luoyang
Revival under the Cao-Wei
The national metropolis under the Western Jin
The cultural milieu
311: The sack of Luoyang
Notes
4. Rebirth and destruction: Northern Wei Luoyang
Luoyang after 311
Rebirth of Luoyang
Design and structure of Northern Wei Luoyang
The palace, Jinyong Castle, and royal parks
The government quarter
Population and residential wards
Cultural and religious
Decline and fall
Notes
5. The Sui eastern capital
The building of Sui Luoyang
The Palace City and Imperial City
The Western Park
Suburban ritual centers
Markets
Residential wards
Ward residents
Literature and religion
Luoyang in the last years of the Sui
Notes
6. Tang Luoyang I: A historical perspective
Path to divinity
High-Tang Luoyang
The An Lushan Rebellion
After the rebellion
Post-Tang Luoyang
Notes
7. Tang Luoyang II: Physical characteristics
The palaces and the Western Park
Wards and markets
Ritual centers
Monasteries
Notes
Appendix to Chapter 7: Controversial Tang Luoyang ward names
Notes
8. Tang Luoyang III: The inhabitants
Population and ordinary residents
Royals
Officials
Scholars and artists
Eminent monks
Foreigners
Notes
9. Epilogue
Notes
Glossary
Bibliography
Index
