Huining Fu

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Plan of Huiningfu

Huining Fu (simplified Chinese: 会宁府; traditional Chinese: 會寧府; pinyin: Huìníng Fǔ) was a prefecture in the Shangjing region of Manchuria . It served as the first superior capital of the Jin Dynasty (1115-1234) between 1122 to 1234 (and was a secondary capital after 1173[1]).

History

During the early years of building up their empire, Jurchen rulers often moved people from elsewhere in China to their capital, Shangjing. The first Jin emperor, Wanyan Aguda (r. 1115-1123) resettled captives to the Shangjing area during his war against the Liao Empire. Aguda's successor, Wanyan Wuqimai (r. 1123-1134) conquered most of northern China in the Jin–Song wars. He continued the policy, resulting in numerous wealthy people, skilled craftsmen from Yanjing (Beijing) and the former Northern Song capital Bianjing (Kaifeng) being relocated to Shangjing. Historical accounts report that, after the fall of Bianjing in 1127, the Jurchen generals brought to Shangjing (and elsewhere in North China) several thousand of people, including: "about 470 imperial clansmen; erudites and students of the imperial academy; eunuchs; medical doctors; artisans; prostitutes; imperial gardeners; artisans of Imperial Constructions; actors and actresses; astronomers; musicians". A variety of valuable goods captured in Bianjing was brought to the Jin capital as well.[2]

In Aguda's days, palaces were not much more than tents, but in 1123 Jurchen built their first ancestral temples and tombs (where the captured Song emperors Huizong and Qizong were to venerate the Jin ancestors in 1128), and in 1124 the new emperor Wuqimai ordered a Chinese architect, Lu Yanlun, build a new city on uniform plan. The city plan on Shangjing emulated major Chinese cities, in particular Bianjing (Kaifeng), although the Jin capital was much smaller than its Northern Song prototype.[2]

The capital was moved to Yanjing (now Beijing) in 1153 by Wanyan Liang, the fourth emperor of the dynasty. Yanjing was more centrally located within the Jin Empire, and it was easier to supply it with food. Liang is said to have support of most of his officials in this move.[3] In 1157, Liang even went so far as to destroy all palaces in his former capital.[3]

While Yanjing (today's Beijing) and later Bianjing (today's Kaifeng) were the Jin's principal capitals thereafter, Shangjing continued to sometimes play an important role in the empire. Wanyan Liang's successor, Wanyan Yong (Emperor Shizong), who strove to revive Jurchen language and culture, spent a year in Shangjing 1184-85, greatly enjoying hunting, traditional dancing, and talking to people in Jurchen.[4]

Modern state

Ruins of the city were discovered and excavated at present-day Acheng in the Heilongjiang Province of the People's Republic of China, about 2 km from Acheng's central urban area.[5][6] The site of the ruins is a national historic reserve, and includes a museum open to public, renovated in the late 2005.[6] Many of the artifacts found there are on display in nearby Harbin.

Sources

References

  1. ↑ "A-ch'eng". (2006). In Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved December 4, 2006, from Encyclopædia Britannica Online
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Tao (1976). Pages 28-32.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Tao, p.44
  4. ↑ Tao (1976). Chapter 6. "The Jurchen Movement for Revival", Pages 78-79.
  5. ↑ The Remains of Huining in Shangjing of Jin Dynasty
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 金上京历史博物馆 (Jin Dynasty Shangjing History Museum) (Chinese)

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