Luoyang
In 2070 BC, the Xia dynasty king Tai Kang moved his capital to an intersection of the Luo and Yi rivers. He named this new settlement Zhenxun. This location became the first of many cities built in what is now Luoyang. By 1600 BC, Tang of Shang defeated Jie, the final Xia dynasty ruler. Tang then constructed Western Bo on the banks of the Luo River. The ruins of Western Bo remain within the modern prefecture boundaries today.
A second major settlement emerged in 1036 BC when the Duke of Zhou built Chengzhou. This city housed remnants of captured Shang nobility. The Duke also transported the Nine Tripod Cauldrons from Haojing to Chengzhou. A third capital called Wangcheng rose west of Chengzhou. It served as the Eastern Zhou dynasty seat starting in 771 BC. The Eastern Zhou court later shifted back to Chengzhou in 510 BC. Modern Luoyang sits directly atop these ancient layers. Archaeologists can still see the visible ruins at Wangcheng Park.
Emperor Guangwu of Han declared Luoyang the capital of the Eastern Han dynasty on the 27th of November 25 AD. City walls formed a rectangle measuring four kilometers south to north and two point five kilometers west to east. The Gu River flowed just outside the northern eastern walls. Two massive palaces stood three kilometers apart, connected by a structure known as The Covered Way.
In 48 AD, the Yang Canal linked the new capital to the Luo River. An imperial observatory called the Spiritual Terrace was constructed in 56 AD. The most significant cultural shift occurred in 68 AD with the founding of the White Horse Temple. This became the first Buddhist temple in all of China. An Shigao emerged as one of the earliest monks to popularize Buddhism within the city limits.
The diplomat Ban Chao restored the Silk Road during this era. His efforts made Luoyang the eastern terminus of that vast trade network. A Roman mission arrived in 166 AD after traveling by sea through Rinan Commandery. This delegation came from Marcus Aurelius Antoninus, who ruled the Roman Empire between 161 and 180 AD.
Chancellor Dong Zhuo ordered his soldiers to ransack and pillage the city on the 4th of April 190 AD. He retreated before a coalition formed by regional lords across China. The court moved west to Chang'an for safety. Warlord Cao Cao held the last Han emperor Xian in Xuchang from 196 to 220. Cao Pi, son of Cao Cao, declared Luoyang his capital again in 220 AD.
The Jin dynasty followed Wei and also established itself in Luoyang. At its height under Jin rule, the population reached 600,000 people. It likely ranked as the second largest city globally behind Rome. Chaos returned at the start of the fourth century during the War of the Eight Princes. Rebel forces of the Xiongnu-led Han-Zhao dynasty sacked the city in 311 AD. This event became known as the Disaster of Yongjia.
For two centuries following this destruction, Luoyang ceased being a major population hub. It remained a contested region among various states. In winter 416, Luoyang fell to Jin general Tan Daoji. Northern Wei captured it in 422. Emperor Xiaowen moved the capital from Datong to Luoyang in 493 AD. Over 150,000 people relocated to the site by 495. Construction began on the rock-cut Longmen Grottoes that same year.
Emperor Yang of Sui took control in 604 AD and founded a new Luoyang on existing grounds. He used a layout inspired by his father Emperor Wen's work in Chang'an. During the Tang dynasty, the city served as Dongdu or Eastern Capital. Its peak population reached around one million residents. Only Chang'an surpassed it as the largest city in the world at that time.
Empress Wu moved her Zhou dynasty capital to Luoyang during an interval in Tang rule. She named it Shen Du or Capital of the God. She constructed the tallest palace in Chinese history on the current site of Sui Tang Luoyang. Epitaphs found in the area reveal a cosmopolitan society. A Nestorian Christian Sogdian woman named Lady An died in 821. Her husband Hua Xian was a Han Chinese man who died in 827.
Another epitaph records a Sogdian woman surnamed An placed in her tomb by her military officer son on the 22nd of January 815. Her husband bore the surname He and was a Han Chinese man. These mixed-race sons enjoyed many career paths available to them. Neither their ethnicity nor faith barred them from becoming civil officials or military officers.
After the People's Republic of China was established, Luoyang revived as a major heavy industrial hub. The first five-year plan launched seven of 156 Soviet-aided major industrial programs within Jianxi District. Dongfanghong Tractor Factory opened alongside Luoyang Mining Machines Factory and Luoyang Bearing Factory. Later, the Third Front construction moved additional factories to the city. Luoyang Glass Factory became part of this new industrial landscape.
Industrial development significantly shifted the demographic makeup of the region. About half of Luoyang's population are new immigrants after 1949 from outside the province. Their descendants now form a large portion of the citizenry. By the 31st of December 2018, the city held a total population of 6,888,500 inhabitants. Two point seven million people lived in the built-up metro area. This included five out of six urban districts plus Yanshi District.
Administrative reorganization occurred on the 28th of March 2021 when the central government approved changes. Yanshi City became an urban district while Jili District merged with Mengjin County. This effectively doubled the urban area of Luoyang. Line 1 of the Luoyang Subway opened on that same date.
The Longmen Grottes south of the city received listing on the UNESCO World Heritage List in November 2000. More than 30,000 Buddhist statues from the Northern Wei dynasty exist within these caves. They were chapels dug into cliffs by Emperor Xiaowen. The classical temple Gate of Dragons protected many of these sculptures. Some statues featured two faces.
The White Horse Temple stands east of the modern town and remains extant today though its architecture dates mainly to the 16th century. The Grand Canal Huiluo Barn and Hanjia Barn joined the UNESCO list in 2014. Silk Roads sites including Dingding Gate Site of Sui Tang Luoyang also gained recognition that year.
Erlitou Site represents the Zhenxun capital of the Xia dynasty. Yanshi Shang City Site marks the Xibo capital of the Shang dynasty. Wangcheng Site preserves the Eastern Zhou capital. The Luoyang Ancient Tombs Museum opened to the public in 1987. It is China's only tomb museum and sits north of the modern town. The Luoyang Municipal Institute of Archaeology operates a mobile laboratory for artifact conservation during excavations.
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Common questions
When did the Xia dynasty king Tai Kang move his capital to Zhenxun?
In 2070 BC, the Xia dynasty king Tai Kang moved his capital to an intersection of the Luo and Yi rivers. He named this new settlement Zhenxun.
Who founded the White Horse Temple in Luoyang and when was it established?
The most significant cultural shift occurred in 68 AD with the founding of the White Horse Temple. This became the first Buddhist temple in all of China.
What happened to Luoyang on the 4th of April 190 AD?
Chancellor Dong Zhuo ordered his soldiers to ransack and pillage the city on the 4th of April 190 AD. He retreated before a coalition formed by regional lords across China.
How many people lived in Luoyang during the Jin dynasty at its height?
At its height under Jin rule, the population reached 600,000 people. It likely ranked as the second largest city globally behind Rome.
When did Emperor Xiaowen move the Northern Wei capital from Datong to Luoyang?
Emperor Xiaowen moved the capital from Datong to Luoyang in 493 AD. Over 150,000 people relocated to the site by 495.
What is the total population of Luoyang as recorded on the 31st of December 2018?
By the 31st of December 2018, the city held a total population of 6,888,500 inhabitants. Two point seven million people lived in the built-up metro area.