Chinese dynasties. First Chinese Emperor

Xi'an is the administrative center of Shaanxi province, a large metropolis with a population of over 7 million inhabitants. Xi'an is one of the four ancient capitals and one of the cradles of Chinese civilization. Today, the city, which has existed for more than 3,100 years, is a transport hub, a major cultural, educational and economic center that has repeatedly played a significant role in the history of China. In the metropolis and its surroundings there are many popular ones, including the famous and.

Ancient history

The oldest sites of primitive man in the area of ​​modern Xi'an are about half a million years old. In the eastern part of the city, archaeologists have found the Neolithic village of Banpo from the Yangshao culture, dating back to around 3000 BC. The city itself is more than 3100 years old. The closest ancestor of today's Xi'an was Chang'an, which served as the capital of several Chinese states. In ancient times, this was the final point of the Great Silk Road.

Xi'an has been the capital of China for thirteen dynasties. The capitals of the Zhou, Qin, Han, Sui, and Tang empires were located near the center of the modern city.

Great Wild Goose Pagoda and other monuments of the Tang Dynasty

One of the most interesting monuments of ancient Xi'an is. This multi-tiered brick structure was built during the Tang Dynasty in the city of Chang'an, the imperial capital. The design of the building shows the influence of Indian architecture. The original five-tier structure was built in 652. It housed numerous Buddhist relics and statues collected by the philosopher, monk, traveler and scientist Xuanzang during his travels.

In 704 AD, by order of Empress Wu, five more tiers were added. In subsequent centuries, the three upper tiers were heavily damaged by fighting, after which they were completely demolished. Currently the tower is seven-tiered. The height of the pagoda is 64 meters. The top tier of the Big Pagoda offers excellent views of the old city. Not far from the pagoda is the Temple of Motherly Love (built: 589, rebuilt: 647).

In 707-709, the Small Wild Goose Pagoda was built. Indian Buddhist manuscripts were kept in this tower. The pagoda has survived several earthquakes and lightning strikes. During a major earthquake in 1556, the 45-meter pagoda went two meters underground. The structure remains in a slightly “recessed” state to this day.

From Chang'an to Xi'an

Chang'an was founded in 202 BC. e. Liu Bang, founder of the Han Dynasty. On one bank of the river, the first Han emperor built the Palace of Eternal Happiness on the ruins of the Qin capital. On the other side of the river, the Weiyang Palace appeared in the year 200. Ten years later, the new capital was surrounded by a powerful defensive wall, stretching almost 26 kilometers in length and having a thickness at the base of twelve to sixteen meters. For comparison, the width of many sections of the Great does not exceed 5.5 and 6.5 meters at the top and base, respectively.

In 582, during the unification of China by the Sui Dynasty after many years of unrest, the emperor built a new capital, Daxing, located southeast of the Han capital. Daxing consisted of three parts: the imperial city, the Xi'an Palace and a settlement for all other capital residents. The Sui capital spread over 84 square kilometers and became the largest city in the world with a population of about a million people.

During the Tang Dynasty, several separate settlements in Chang'an became one city, the new capital of the new empire. The city had the shape of a large rectangle in plan, divided into square blocks, like a chessboard. At that time, Chang'an, with its population of over a million people, was the largest city of the Ancient World. After the fall of the Tang Empire, Baghdad became the most populous city on the planet. During the reign of the Ming Dynasty, the capital was moved to Beijing, and Chang'an received the name Xi'an, which remains to this day.

From the Ming Dynasty to the Xinhai Revolution

After the creation of the Chinese Ming Empire on the fragments of the Mongol state of Yuan, the city was once again surrounded by powerful walls, and it became one of the strategic defensive points in the fortification system of the Great Wall. The walls, stretching for 12,000 meters around the settlement, have been well preserved to this day.

At the end of the Ming Empire, Xi'an was captured by Li Zicheng's rebels, who once again returned the name Chang'an to it. Subsequently, the troops of the leader of a large peasant uprising were defeated by the Qing, and a large Manchu garrison was stationed in the city. When Beijing was captured by the armies of eight powers during the suppression of the Boxer Rebellion, Empress Dowager Cixi abandoned her beloved and fled the capital to Xi'an, where she remained for several months, until 1901.

From the Xinhai Revolution to the PRC

In the last days of the Qing dynasty, rebel soldiers destroyed the Manchu garrison stationed in Xi'an. Ten years after the Xinhai Revolution, the headquarters of the Beiyang general Feng Yuxian, who became Marshal of the Republic of China in 1927, was located here. In the year Hitler came to power in Germany, Xian became the temporary capital of the republic, but the government never moved there. In 1935-36, the former Chang'an became the main center of opposition to the Chinese Red Army. In 1949, Xi'an, shortly before the proclamation of the People's Republic of China in the square, was taken by the communists, and since then has been part of the People's Republic of China. Today Xi'an is one of the most popular megacities among tourists in the Middle Kingdom. Some of the flights from the Russian capital are from Moscow-Xi'an flights.

The issue of languages ​​and dialects is extremely complex, especially when it comes to the names of cities, countries, and other objects. Even if we take the capital of Russia, the Russians themselves call it Moscow, and the Europeans call it Moscow. The situation is exactly the same with Beijing, but here everything turns out to be even more complicated. Plus, a large number of Russian tourists making connecting flights to Beijing are perplexed and do not understand where to go, not seeing the word Beijing on the board.

In China itself there is a fairly large number of dialects, and in each of them the city has its own name - the sounds are sometimes transformed beyond recognition. And accordingly, everything is even more complicated with the name of the city as it sounds in European languages, and in Russian too. Chinese phonetics is extremely complex for a European, which is where even more serious transformations occur.

The original name of the city in the local dialect actually sounds like Beijing (Beijing). This is exactly how it sounds in the official Putonghua dialect, which is relevant today in the territory where Beijing is located. And during the period when it ceased to be an unknown point on the map, or rather, starting from the second half of the twentieth century, with the intensification of trade relations, a number of languages, including English, adopted this name exactly as it sounded among local residents . That is, the name of the city was written as Beijing. And this became something new, because in the past the city was called only by the old name Beijing, which remained in Russian usage.

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Where did the word Beijing come from?

The name Beijing appeared 400 years ago, since missionaries from France arrived on this land - it was they who assigned this name to the city. And the original, unmodified word Beijin is translated from the local language as “northern capital”. The city really has a northern location and is the capital, and is centrally subordinate to the PRC. It is located in Hebei province, also bordering Tianjin.

The French were partly right in calling the city Beijing in those distant times, and it is worth knowing that this name appeared before the revolution of the local language with the shift of consonants. After this happened, the sounds turned into , and accordingly, the sound of the words changed. This happened precisely in the northern dialects, but in the southern dialects such a modification was not recorded. Thus, one of the southern dialects, Cantonese, still calls the northern capital Bakgin, which is much closer in sound to the well-known Beijing.

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Linguistic oddities are sometimes surprising, and people wonder why such a shift could occur in the language. In fact, there is nothing surprising in this at all, and exactly the same shift occurred at one time even in the Latin language - it was because of this that Caesar suddenly became Caesar. The reasons for such shifts are unknown, but they do occur - in northern China this happened relatively recently.

The whole world still remembers Beijing as Beijing, but in China itself, it is the northern dialects that are considered more significant and are a priority, and the capital itself is located precisely in the northern regions. And so the new name stuck, taking into account the sound after the transformation, and many European countries recognized it - although others still operate with the word Beijing or a word close to it in sound.

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And while the British accepted the new sound of Beijin, other countries chose not to change anything. In Russia the same city is called Beijing, in France - Pekin, in Italy - Pechino, and so on.

Beijing in the modern world

Today Beijing is one of the most important cities in China. It is not an industrial or economic center like Shanghai, for example, or Hong Kong. However, it has enormous political, cultural and educational significance. This is one of the historical Chinese capitals - there were four of them. Nanjing is translated as “the southern capital”, as befits the Asian tradition; many cities here have their status right in their name. There were periods when Beijing bore the name Beiping, but later it was returned to its original name.

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Why is China called "The Celestial Empire"?

At the moment, Beijing is the only and official capital of China, and it is actively growing, along with population growth. Initially, it was a small city with suburbs, but later the urban area began to actively grow, this began along with industrial reforms.

In the past, the territory was enclosed between the second and third road rings, but now it reaches the fifth and sixth, and it is obvious that this is not the limit, although the local authorities are taking all measures to stop the growth and develop the city within the existing territories, which make up more than 17 thousand square kilometers. The city's population is more than 22 million people. The name of the city of Beijing may change and vary within different languages ​​and dialects, but its essence remains the same - it is the internationally recognized northern capital of China.

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The capital of China, Beijing, fascinates everyone who comes here with its grandeur; it amazingly combines two different times, two eras into one whole. On the one hand, it is a cultural center and a historical monument, reminiscent of the formidable emperors who ruled a great empire, and on the other hand, it is a modern, dynamically developing metropolis, home to more than 20 million people.

And this is not the most populous city in the Middle Kingdom; it is inferior in population to Shanghai. The Chinese call Beijing Beijing and it means “Northern Capital”.

Beijing is the capital of China

Today, the capital of the People's Republic of China is the largest political and cultural center, it is actively developing in terms of business activities, and all major transport routes (railway and road) converge here. The main air hub of the country, which is also the second in the world in terms of passenger traffic, is also located in the Chinese capital.

But what attracts tourists from all over the world most of all is the history of the Celestial Empire and ancient monuments: majestic temples and palaces, various architectural buildings that have miraculously preserved the centuries-old spirit.

Brief history

Archaeological excavations that were found in the vicinity of Beijing indicate that seven hundred thousand years ago synanthropes lived here (their remains were discovered in one of the caves). The first chronicles mention this city as existing during the reign of Qin Shihuang, the first emperor who unified China (259-210 BC), only then it was called Ji. At that time, the city was an important administrative center, and in 1045, under the reign of princes Ji and Yan, it received the status of the capital of Northern China. After the proclamation of the state - the People's Republic of China - in 1949, this city became its capital

City guide for tourists

Today, the most visited attractions in Beijing, the capital of China, are primarily those six that are included in the list of world heritage sites protected by UNESCO. These include the Forbidden City, the Great Wall of China, the Temple of Heaven, the Qing and Ming tombs, Yiheyuan Palace (the imperial summer residence) and Zhoukoudian Cave (famous for the discovery of the remains of Sinanthropus).

In addition, here is the largest Tiananmen Square in the world, and the capital also invites you to beautiful parks, including Beihai, Xiangshan, and those who have visited the Gongwangfu estate will have an indelible impression.

Architectural complex "Forbidden City"

This is the most important attraction in the capital of China. Here is a luxurious imperial palace, which previously served as the winter residence of rulers from the 15th century until the beginning of the 20th century (during which time there were twenty-four emperors).

Today, this is a historical and architectural complex, the vast territory of which occupies about 1000 hectares, and there are 8707 rooms in the palace! Interestingly, this may not be the limit, and if you believe the legend, then there are many secret rooms, giving a total of 9999 rooms. They contain ancient relics, luxury items and precious accessories of Chinese emperors, and artistic exhibits considered rare cultural treasures.

You can get to the palace through the gate of “Heavenly Peace” (Tiananmen), which bears the same name as the central square of the capital of China.

The great Wall of China

This historical monument is known all over the world, and it is difficult to find anyone who has not heard about it or has not seen a photo of this masterpiece, which is often called the “eighth wonder of the world.” In the vicinity of Beijing there is a good site of this powerful man-made structure, which once spanned 10 thousand kilometers, with the longest period of construction, beginning in the 3rd century and lasting until the 17th.

Beijing (in Chinese Beijing, Beijing) is the capital, which received its official status with the coming to power of the Chinese Communist Party. A large metropolis with a population of many millions is the country's tourist center.

Is the capital of China Hong Kong or Beijing?

The country's three largest cities (Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong) often cause confusion: which one is the capital of the Asian state. Since 1949, Beijing has been the official capital. The capital is also the political, cultural, historical and tourist center of China (China), economically giving the palm to Hong Kong and. The rich past of the city and its symbolism deserve the close attention of historians who are rediscovering the pages of the book called “China”.

History of Beijing

The first settlements of ancient people arose on the site of modern Beijing (Beijing) 10 centuries before the beginning of our era. The original name of the local city was Ji, and the Principality of Yan, which had strategic and political importance, developed here. It existed until the 3rd century BC.

After the conquest of this land, the Qin, Han and Tang empires occupied power over a large territory. The city was completely burned during a raid by Mongol tribes under the leadership of Genghis Khan. The city, rebuilt in the 13th century, received the Mongolian name Khanbalik. Even today in Beijing you can see the remains of the stone fortress walls of those times.

After a century, the Mongol Khanate fell and the city was destroyed again. The next construction began during the reign of the Ming Empire in the 15th century. The capital was initially moved to Nanjing, but from 1421 this status returned to Beijing. The history of the modern name (the Chinese say Beijing, Běijīng) dates back to those times. The main cultural sites in the historical areas of modern Beijing, in their architectural designs, date back to the reign of the Qing.

The fall of the Qing Empire as a result of the revolutionary uprising of Sun Yat-sen, a republican form of government was established in the country for a short time. Having returned to imperial status, the Celestial Empire, due to its military weakness, found itself subordinate to the Japanese. The capital was repeatedly moved to Nanjing, and Beijing itself changed its name to Beiping (Northern Calm).

Beijing has regained its place as the center after power was concentrated in the hands of the Communist Party. Since then, it has become a tradition to regularly hold a flag-raising ceremony in the central square. Tourists may enjoy such a spectacular event.

The expanding city by the end of the 20th century revealed significant problems - air pollution, traffic jams, destruction of historical areas, and a high degree of immigration. Therefore, the government decided to stop the growth of Beijing and focus only on its two regions in the western and eastern parts.

Symbols of the city

The symbol of the Northern capital is a monumental building with a rich history, built back in the 15th century. The territory of the temple complex is amazing in size; together with the park, it occupies about 280 hectares. Here are some interesting objects:

1. Temple of Harvest (also called Temple of Heaven);
2. Palace of Temperance;
3. Altar of Heaven;
4. Wish fulfillment plate;
5. Hall of Heavenly Majesty.

Such scales fully correspond to the Chinese ideas about the place where the emperor directly communicates with the highest power - Heaven. The main ritual for the country - a sacrifice to Heaven for the benefit of the entire nation - had to take place in a proper religious building. The forms of the temple embodied the Chinese ideas about the universe, world order and the law of Qi.

For 5 centuries, ruling emperors came to the territory of the temple to ask Heaven in peace and quiet for a fruitful year and the prosperity of the Celestial Empire. If misfortunes subsequently befell the country, this could lead to the overthrow of the emperor, since, according to the Chinese, he was displeasing to higher powers. If Heaven answered prayers with an abundance of harvest and the absence of wars, then great glory awaited the ruler, since he was able to convey the requests of the people. The good old tradition was subsequently abandoned.

The territory with the temple ensemble is protected by two rows of walls, forming a large square. This is a symbol of the Earth. The round structure of the Temple of Heaven with a conical blue roof symbolizes Heaven. The symbolic design of the complex had a significant impact on the entire architecture of the Far East.

The Gate of Heavenly Peace, behind which is the Imperial City, is another structure located on the northern side. It was built in 1420 and today is a symbol of the People's Republic of China; the image of the gate on the coat of arms is direct evidence of this.

Advice! “Those who want to see the raising of the national flag in the morning will have to get up early. If your visit to Beijing occurs during the winter months, there will be strong winds in the square. You need to dress warmer."

The Imperial City itself (also called “”) is the largest complex in the world, numbering 980 buildings, including the Imperial Palace. It was here that the emperors of the Qing and Ming dynasties lived with their families and ruled. Historical information suggests that China was ruled from the Forbidden City by 24 emperors from these two dynasties, whose total reign was about 500 years.

The Imperial City was included in the list of cultural heritage of humanity thanks to the actions of the world organization UNESCO. This was the first Chinese site to come under the protection of a specialized agency. The list has been supplemented with . In addition to the center of Beijing, the outskirts of Beijing can also boast of attractions. From the capital, you can easily reach the area with the Great Wall of China by train.

What province is Beijing in?

The division of the country into provinces and autonomous regions, characteristic of China, raises the question of where and in which province Beijing is located. Since it is one of the cities of central subordination, there can be no talk of any location within the province. Therefore, when describing the capital, they often talk about the environment - Hebei province surrounds Beijing on three sides. In the southeast, the city borders on another centrally subordinate settlement - Tianjin.

Ancient capital of China

Despite the fact that Shanghai was the capital during the reign of the first emperor, the city did not receive the status of the historical center of the Celestial Empire. This is what the scientists decided, so in addition to Beijing, the list includes only:

1. Nanking;
2. Chang'an;
3. Luoyang;
4. Kaifeng;
5. Hangzhou;
6. Anyang.

The last three cities were added to the list already in the 20th century.

Nanjing (“Capital of the South”) has been the main city of China several times; today it has the status of the administrative center of the eastern Chinese province of Jiangsu. The history of the southern capital is rich - it was in these places that the largest and most dangerous uprisings in the entire Celestial Empire took place. The founder, Zhu Yuanzhang, is also buried here. The city center is well developed and continues to be actively replenished with high-rise buildings, hotels and shopping centers. The number of foreigners coming here is growing every year.

Chang'an is the next city on the list. Literally translated from Chinese - “long peace.” It also acquired capital status several times, first acquiring it during the Tang Dynasty. A remarkable fact is that back in the 8th century, about a million citizens lived in Chang'an, making it the largest settlement in the world.

Throughout the history of its existence (from the 11th century BC), Luoyang became the capital of various empires. The reign of the Sui dynasty is associated with large-scale construction of the city, which grew literally within two years. Being an eastern city, Luoyang lost almost all its buildings at the end of the Tang Dynasty. The abundance of hostilities led to serious destruction. Today, Luoyang is a developed urban area in western Henan Province.

Kaifeng was included in the list of capitals in the 20th century. The city itself repeatedly changed its name at the discretion of the then reigning emperors. Banjing, Dalian, Bianlian are some of its names. During the Han Dynasty it acquired great military importance, but was later severely destroyed. According to some scholars, within 14 years in the 11th century, Kaifeng managed to become the largest city in the world. Today it is a medium-sized city with a population of one million, attracting a small number of tourists. There is an old Buddhist temple built in 555 - Daishango-si.

Another representative of the list is Hangzhou, which later became a province. Before the invasion of the Mongol tribes, the city was called Lin'an. Like other representatives of the list, it became the largest settlement in terms of number of inhabitants. Today, Hangzhou offers its guests beautiful views of nature, and lovers of tea traditions will love the local plantations. Tourists should also like two historical monuments - the Baochu Pagoda, whose size is impressive (its height is 30 meters) and the mausoleum of the national hero Yue Fei. Hangzhou is also one of the major industrial centers of China, and thanks to its developed infrastructure it has connections with other major Asian cities.

Anyang in the past bore the title of the center of China united into an empire (the Kingdom of Qin). At the end of the Sui era, one of the largest popular uprisings arose in Anyang. The city was greatly impoverished after the uprisings of An Lushan, who captured the imperial capital at Chang'an in the mid-8th century. According to some estimates, about 36 million Chinese died during the uprising. Anyang became a city under an organized province when the Communist Party came to power in China in 1949. The status of an urban district was given in 1983. Today it is a small urban district.

Conclusion

Beijing is the center of China in almost every sense of the word. The rich history and abundance of cultural sites attract a huge number of tourists every year. Despite its current situation, the role of the capital did not always belong to it. Beijing finally acquired the status of the central city of China in the middle of the last century, when the country began to bear the official name - One of the main objects of the city - the Gate of Heavenly Peace - appeared on the country's coat of arms.

The average person knows little about China. He can immediately name the quality of Chinese goods, the Great Wall of China and, perhaps, the fact that it is the most populated country in the world. Few people know that the history of this state goes back several thousand years and has many pages on which you can linger with delight. Today we will talk about the rulers of this country. The list of Chinese emperors who made a huge contribution to the history of the country looks like this:

• Qin Shi Huangdi.
• Jan Di.
• Li Shimin.
• Yongle.
• Kangxi.

The beginning of the march to greatness

Until 221 BC, there was no such country as China, but there were 6 counties: Han, Wei, Chu, Zhao, Yan, Qi. These small countries had different economies, had different religions, and spoke different languages. The first Chinese emperor united these lands. His name is Qin Shi Huang. Born in Qin County to a local prince and his concubine, the boy received the name Ying Zheng. He was first in line to the throne, which he ascended at the age of 13 after the death of his father. At first, the boy was treated like a puppet, and many decisions were made on behalf of the page Lu Bu Wei, the smartest person in charge of the education of the ward. It was the Chinese Emperor Qin Shi Huang who ordered the construction of an irrigation canal, which made it possible to increase the number of fertile lands and the growth of agricultural products to unprecedented proportions.

Independent steps to the throne

But after the owner came of age, the regent was expelled from Qin County, since Ying Zheng considered him a traitor who was plotting against him. The first thing he began his legal reign with was the annexation of other counties and the expansion of territory. His army had no mercy for those undesirable and after 20 years of struggle, in 221 BC. e., he managed to unite the Chinese lands and accept the imperial title - Qin Shi Huang.

Achievements and memory of descendants

His reign was remembered for the beginning of the construction of the Great Wall of China, which was supposed to protect the people from the raids of nomads, exterminated by the emperor later, and the introduction of a unified monetary system. He reformed the written system, built roads, and introduced an order so that all carts were the same size, which greatly facilitated the work of ordinary peasants. But at the same time, he was remembered as one of the cruelest rulers, since in case of refusal to follow the laws of the emperor, not only the violator was executed, but also his family, and distant relatives became servants of the nobles.

Vanity

The Chinese emperor was vain. During his lifetime, he began to build his tomb, which was distinguished by its luxury. 6 thousand terracotta soldiers made of clay stood guard over the peace of the deceased emperor. 48 concubines were buried alive to please their master even after death.

Period of Troubles

After the death of the great man, Chinese civilization began an almost 800-year period of turmoil. The united territory was subject to both external and internal disasters. The question of choosing Confucianism or Buddhism, attacks by nomads, an environmental disaster caused by a change in the course of the Yellow River, famine of the peasants, droughts and crop failures, a rebellion against the feudal lords, the inept leadership of Liu Bang, Wang Mang and other emperors leads to the fact that the once great country fell apart again into several principalities. The struggle for the throne lasted for several centuries, sometimes it seemed that an ordinary passerby, having gathered a couple of hundred military men, could seize the imperial throne. Uncertainty grew along with generations, and this led to the disunity of interests, culture, and religion.

Age of Hope

This is the name given to the Tang era of Li's reign. Chronology of existence - 618-907. During the “Just War,” when the peasants rebelled against the anti-people policies of Emperor Yang Di and intended to destroy the ruling stratum, Li Yuan, the dictator’s military leader, came to their aid, on the advice of his son. His son was destined to become the greatest emperor, during whose reign the Chinese Empire became the most developed country of that time. His name was Li Shimin.

Choosing a route

Coming from an aristocratic family, Li Shimin received an excellent education. It was developed in many branches of science and art. He devoted a lot of time to military equipment and martial arts classes. He understood that the main problem in China is disunity between people. After all, among those who called themselves Chinese, there were aristocrats who were accustomed to living well and enjoying wealth, and peasants who were looking for ways to earn food through hard work, and military step soldiers who were ready to immediately go into battle for their interests. To unite them, he pursued a policy of “good brother”, giving a helping hand to the poor, stroking the aristocrats who wanted it, and supporting step dancers by praising their ability to master the martial art.

Great power politics

Li Shimin directed his policy to help the largest population of his country - the peasants. He reduced taxes and allowed them to pay in food, shortened the days of work for the feudal lord, and allowed the trade of allocated land. He reformed the monetary system, issued a code of laws and rules in society, to facilitate trade, he established road connections between cities, and gave impetus to the development of land and sea transport.

He assigned the most important role in building the empire to officials, who now held their positions not by right of origin, but thanks to their knowledge in a particular industry. Book printing, silk-screen printing, and metal production began to develop. The Chinese began to grow new crops: tea, sugar cane, oak silkworm. A revolution took place in the agricultural environment when a field irrigation system was introduced, which significantly reduced the time it took to cultivate fields.

Changes also affected the military industry: shipbuilding developed, gunpowder was invented, and armor was improved. It is impossible not to mention the achievements of art of the Tang Dynasty - masterpieces of sculpture, poetry and fine art became the hallmark of this period of history.

Fall of the dynasty

Chinese history tells us that policies aimed at economic development have borne fruit for three centuries. But when local feudal lords put their own interests above the state, huge problems began. Often they bought up all the land in the surrounding area, imposed disproportionate taxes on the peasants, and then, if people could not pay, they sent them outside their native lands, transferring the debt per person to another feudal lord. This led to unprecedented economic prosperity for the nobles. Some of them became millionaires. With that kind of money, they were not afraid to go against the will of the emperor and openly oppose his policies. Rebellions have again come to the prosperous territory.

Period of Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms

After the fall of the House of Tang, a fifty-year period of five dynasties and ten kingdoms began in Chinese history. Perhaps the bloodiest era in Chinese history. At the end of the Tang dynasty, regional governors were given broad powers. They played the role of the emperor, sending him large taxes taken from the local residents. But sensing the sovereign’s precarious position, they wanted to take his place. As a result of this, 10 kingdoms were created with their leaders: Wu, Wu Yue, Min, Chu, Southern Han, Early Shu, Later Shu, Jingnan, Southern Tang, Northern Han.

This period in history was short-lived, because each of the rulers, not without reason, suspected their immediate circle of a possible coup. Inheriting domestic politics, there was also bloodshed in foreign policy for the expansion of territories. True, at the same time, the principalities did not forget to exchange goods and pursue a broad economic policy among themselves.

The era of the great dynasties of Chinese emperors

The Song Dynasty (960-1279), having existed for about 3 centuries, was split into two parts: northern and southern. During its 70 years of reign, the Yuan Dynasty (1279-1368) was remembered for its wars with the Mongols and their final expulsion from its territory. The Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), founded by Zhu Yuan-chang, with its policy of caring for the feudal lords, turned the peasants against themselves and inflamed their fighting spirit, which they could not extinguish even after the end of the existence of the Mings. The Southern (Nan) Ming Dynasty became a transitional stage to the establishment of the power of the Qin Dynasty.

Luxury for the Holy Emperors

The Ming era was remembered not only for the incitement of peasants against themselves and brutal showdowns with them, but also for the construction of the Purple Forbidden City - a complex of palaces used for housing and ceremonies for emperors. The Chinese Emperor Yongle ordered the construction of the Palace of the Emperor of China. About 100 thousand masters of various arts worked on this - stone and wood carvers and artists. It took no less than 1 million builders. It was with the completion of work in this complex that Beijing became the capital of the empire.

Roots of a new dynasty

The Chinese Jurchen people in Manchuria and Northeast China were destroyed by Mongol raids in the 13th century. Nomads lived comfortably in these territories for two centuries. But the troops of the Ming family drove them out of their habitats and formed three military districts - Haixi, Jianzhou and Yeren, which were led by regional governors.

In 1559, Jianzhou united the Jurchens and stopped sending tribute to the capital. He named his dominion Later (Hou) Jin, emphasizing the connection of the new power with the Jurchen emperors. The period of the Jin Dynasty went down in history under the name of the Great Qing Empire, or the Manchu Dynasty. The existence of this dynasty is significant - from 1644 to 1912. During this time, 12 emperors were replaced.

Challenging Challenges

Since its formation, the dynasty has shown a multicultural approach to its residents. The rulers used the official titles of the emperor, while remaining Mongol khans, and supported Confucianism and Buddhism. They believed that everyone deserved a promotion, but at the same time they launched a bureaucratic system that is still used in the modern Republic of China.

To begin with, the future empire had to fight the corruption of officials, high taxes and poverty of the population. But the main problem of this period was foreign policy. The Manchu dynasty lost the war against Great Britain and was forced to sign an unequal treaty, as a result of which it gave up its ports for free use and did not tax foreign goods, with which domestic goods could not adequately compete. The war with the Japanese further aggravated the plight of the Qing dynasty.

Golden era of the Chinese Empire

This is the name of the era of the reign of the great Chinese Emperor Kangxi. He came to power in 1679 when he overthrew his predecessor, Prince Songota. He reigned for about 60 years. He weakened the influence of the Council of Princes-Regents and dignitaries, listened only to himself regarding the most important decisions, and led the war to conquer and pacify China. During his reign, the number of armed uprisings against the Manchu conquerors sharply decreased.

The Emperor was interested in science and was aware of the latest developments in the scientific world. He was interested in the hydraulic engineering of cities, strengthened dams, and built new dams connecting different villages. At this time, he risked introducing a tax on monopolistic foreign goods, which led to an unprecedented development of the domestic market for consumption and production of products. Also, this Chinese emperor showed brilliant knowledge of foreign policy. He defeated Russia and conquered part of its territory, but subsequently established economic relations with it. In Northern Mongolia, he actively fomented an internal conflict in order to subsequently seize part of its territory, which he did very well by annexing Khalkha.

The diplomat also had a strong influence on culture. He allocated significant sums for the publishing of ancient manuscripts, anthologies and encyclopedias. True, he acted as an authoritarian censor, forcing publishers to cross out criticism of the Manchu rulers and free views on life. In his personal life, too, everything was in order: he had 64 wives, who gave him 24 sons and 12 daughters. He died at the age of 68, leaving a brilliant empire, which after his death began to decline.

This is only a small part of the most interesting history of the Chinese Empire, which modern China is rightfully proud of.