Search results
People also ask
Why is Beijing called Beijing?
What is Beijing known for?
When did Beijing become a city?
Where is Beijing located?
Dec 24, 2019 · Marjorie Perry 24 December 2019. China’s capital city has been called Beijing (北京) for centuries, though it hasn’t always been the case. Riding the vicissitudes of empires and dynasties, each change in leadership left an imprint on the city, some of which resulted in a new name. Here is a brief overview of its (relatively) recent ...
- Marjorie Perry
- Overview
- The early empires
With but few interruptions, Beijing has been the capital of China for some eight centuries, and in number of years as the imperial capital it is exceeded only by Xi’an (Chang’an) in Shaanxi province and Luoyang in Henan province. In prehistoric times the area around Beijing was inhabited by some of the earliest-known human beings. Between 1918 and 1939 the fossil remains of Peking man (formerly Sinanthropus pekinensis; now known as Homo erectus pekinensis), who lived about 770,000 to 230,000 years ago, and of Upper Cave man, who lived about 50,000 years ago, were unearthed at Zhoukoudian, a village in Beijing municipality about 30 miles (50 km) southwest of the central city.
While long periods in Beijing’s early history remain blank, it is certain that some 3,000 years ago Neolithic communities settled on or near the site where the city now stands. During the Zhanguo (Warring States) period (475–256 bc) of the Zhou dynasty (1046–256 bc), one of the powerful feudal states, the kingdom of Yan, established its capital, named Ji, near the present city of Beijing; this was the first capital city to be associated with the site. The city was destroyed by the troops of Shihuangdi, founder of the Qin dynasty (221–207 bc).
During the Qin, the Yan capital was incorporated into one of the 36 prefectures then established throughout the country. A new town was built during the succeeding Han dynasty (206 bc–ad 220) that was also known as Yan. Throughout the Han period and the turbulent centuries that followed, however, the place remained a provincial town, most of the time caught in the fateful struggle between the Han Chinese to the south and the nomadic Xiongnu, or Huns, to the north.
During the period of Sanguo (Three Kingdoms; ad 220–280), the city was again called Yan. The northern border of ancient China ran close to the present city of Beijing, and northern nomadic tribes frequently broke in from across the border. Thus, the area that was to become Beijing emerged as an important strategic and a local political centre.
For nearly three centuries (from the end of the Xi [Western] Jin dynasty in 316/317 to the beginning of the Sui dynasty in 581), the northern territory, including the site where Beijing now stands, was largely under the control of invading nomads. It was not recovered by the Han people until the Tang dynasty (618–907), when it became known as Youzhou. By the middle of the Tang, measures were being taken to prevent the nomadic Tangut tribes of Tibet, such as the Xi Xia, and the Khitans (a Turco-Mongolian people from Manchuria) from raiding the borderlands and the local capital. The position of Youzhou consequently became increasingly important. A number of states emerged in North China after the fall of the Tang dynasty. One of these was established by the Khitans, who, after destroying Youzhou, founded the Liao kingdom (907–1125) and built one of their capitals on approximately the same site, calling it Nanjing (“Southern Capital”) to distinguish it from other capitals in their Manchurian homeland. The Liao capital was bounded by a square wall with a perimeter of almost 14 miles (23 km) and a height of some 32 feet (10 metres). It had eight gates and enclosed a fine imperial palace in the centre, which indicated the strong influence of Chinese city planning.
In the mid-12th century, when the Juchen, a Tungus people from eastern Manchuria, defeated the Liao and established the state of Jin, the Liao capital was rebuilt as the new Jin capital and renamed Zhongdu (“Central Capital”). Zhongdu under the rule of the Juchen was constructed on a larger scale, with splendidly decorated palaces and halls.
With but few interruptions, Beijing has been the capital of China for some eight centuries, and in number of years as the imperial capital it is exceeded only by Xi’an (Chang’an) in Shaanxi province and Luoyang in Henan province. In prehistoric times the area around Beijing was inhabited by some of the earliest-known human beings. Between 1918 and 1939 the fossil remains of Peking man (formerly Sinanthropus pekinensis; now known as Homo erectus pekinensis), who lived about 770,000 to 230,000 years ago, and of Upper Cave man, who lived about 50,000 years ago, were unearthed at Zhoukoudian, a village in Beijing municipality about 30 miles (50 km) southwest of the central city.
While long periods in Beijing’s early history remain blank, it is certain that some 3,000 years ago Neolithic communities settled on or near the site where the city now stands. During the Zhanguo (Warring States) period (475–256 bc) of the Zhou dynasty (1046–256 bc), one of the powerful feudal states, the kingdom of Yan, established its capital, named Ji, near the present city of Beijing; this was the first capital city to be associated with the site. The city was destroyed by the troops of Shihuangdi, founder of the Qin dynasty (221–207 bc).
During the Qin, the Yan capital was incorporated into one of the 36 prefectures then established throughout the country. A new town was built during the succeeding Han dynasty (206 bc–ad 220) that was also known as Yan. Throughout the Han period and the turbulent centuries that followed, however, the place remained a provincial town, most of the time caught in the fateful struggle between the Han Chinese to the south and the nomadic Xiongnu, or Huns, to the north.
During the period of Sanguo (Three Kingdoms; ad 220–280), the city was again called Yan. The northern border of ancient China ran close to the present city of Beijing, and northern nomadic tribes frequently broke in from across the border. Thus, the area that was to become Beijing emerged as an important strategic and a local political centre.
For nearly three centuries (from the end of the Xi [Western] Jin dynasty in 316/317 to the beginning of the Sui dynasty in 581), the northern territory, including the site where Beijing now stands, was largely under the control of invading nomads. It was not recovered by the Han people until the Tang dynasty (618–907), when it became known as Youzhou. By the middle of the Tang, measures were being taken to prevent the nomadic Tangut tribes of Tibet, such as the Xi Xia, and the Khitans (a Turco-Mongolian people from Manchuria) from raiding the borderlands and the local capital. The position of Youzhou consequently became increasingly important. A number of states emerged in North China after the fall of the Tang dynasty. One of these was established by the Khitans, who, after destroying Youzhou, founded the Liao kingdom (907–1125) and built one of their capitals on approximately the same site, calling it Nanjing (“Southern Capital”) to distinguish it from other capitals in their Manchurian homeland. The Liao capital was bounded by a square wall with a perimeter of almost 14 miles (23 km) and a height of some 32 feet (10 metres). It had eight gates and enclosed a fine imperial palace in the centre, which indicated the strong influence of Chinese city planning.
In the mid-12th century, when the Juchen, a Tungus people from eastern Manchuria, defeated the Liao and established the state of Jin, the Liao capital was rebuilt as the new Jin capital and renamed Zhongdu (“Central Capital”). Zhongdu under the rule of the Juchen was constructed on a larger scale, with splendidly decorated palaces and halls.
1 day ago · Beijing, city, province-level shi (municipality), and capital of the People’s Republic of China. The city has been an integral part of China’s history over the past eight centuries. Redolent with historical, cultural, and political significance, it is one of the world’s great cities.
- What Chinese language is spoken in Beijing?The residents of Beijing speak a dialect of Mandarin Chinese that forms the basis of Modern Standard Chinese (Guoyu), or putonghua (“common languag...
- What UNESCO World Heritage site is found at the heart of Beijing?The Forbidden City is an imperial palace complex at the heart of Beijing, designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1987 in recognition of its imp...
- What is the former name of Beijing?The former name of Beijing is Beiping (Pei-p’ing; “Northern Peace”). The third Ming emperor gave it the new name of Beijing (“Northern Capital”) du...
- How long has Beijing been the capital of China?Beijing has been the capital of China since the early 15th century, except for a brief period during the 20th.
- When did Beijing host the Summer Olympics?Beijing hosted the Summer Olympics for the first time in 2008.
Beijing was then called "Fanyang." But during the fall of the Eastern Han Empire, control of the city changed often, as state after state, and empire after empire, fought over the area. Many states and kingdoms rose and fell, and Ji wasn't the capital of any for 500 years, except for briefly in the late 300s when it was the capital of the ...
Beijing was not always called Beijing. Before settling in on the name "Beijing" in 1403, the city had a series of names: Jicheng ('City of Ji'), Yanjing (Capital of Yan'), Nanjing ('Southern Capital'), Zhongdu ('Central Capital'), Dadu ('Great Capital'), Beiping ('Central Peace'), etc. Beijing ('Northern Capital') was the 16th name given to the ...
Mar 6, 2023 · In fact, they called it “Beijing” which translates directly as “Northern Capital” but carries more implications of authority and power than its western counterpart. It was also considered more representative of Chinese culture and customs than Peking.
Dec 12, 2023 · Beijing is known to many as the Forbidden City, a moniker derived from the city’s long history of power and authority. For centuries, significant parts of Beijing were off-limits to ordinary citizens, and much of the city was known only to the ruling elite.
