Luoyang 洛阳
—  Prefecture-level city  —
洛阳市
Luoyang in Henan
Luoyang Location in China
Coordinates: 34°40′11″N 112°26′32″E / 34.66972°N 112.44222°E / 34.66972; 112.44222Coordinates: 34°40′11″N 112°26′32″E / 34.66972°N 112.44222°E / 34.66972; 112.44222
Country	People's Republic of China
Province	Henan
Government
• Mayor	Li Liushen
Area
• Prefecture-level city	15,492 km2 (5,981 sq mi)
• Urban	4,304 km2 (1,662 sq mi)
Elevation	144 m (472 ft)
Population (2010 census)
• Prefecture-level city	6,549,486
• Density	420/km2 (1,100/sq mi)
• Urban	1,500,000
• Urban density	350/km2 (900/sq mi)
Time zone	China Standard (UTC+8)
Area code(s)	379
GDP	¥30,080 per capita (2008)
Ethnicities	Han, Hui, Manchu, Mongolian
County-level divisions	15
Township-level divisions	unknown
License plate prefixes	豫C
Website	http://www.ly.gov.cn

Luoyang (simplified Chinese: 洛阳; traditional Chinese: 洛陽; pinyin: Luòyáng; Postal map spelling: Loyang; IPA: [lwɔ̂jɑ̌ŋ]) is a prefecture-level city in western Henan province of Central China. It borders the provincial capital of Zhengzhou to the east, Pingdingshan to the southeast, Nanyang to the south, Sanmenxia to the west, Jiyuan to the north, and Jiaozuo to the northeast.

Situated on the central plain of China, one of the cradles of the Chinese civilization, Luoyang was one of the Four Great Ancient Capitals of China.

Names[link]

The origin of the name "Luoyang" is the city's location to the north side ("yang") of the Luo River. The river flows from west to east and the sun is on south of the river, so that the sun shine is always on north side of the river. Luoyang has had several names over the centuries, including "Luoyi" (洛邑) and "Luozhou (洛州)", though Luoyang has been its primary name. It has been called, during various periods, "Dongdu" (东都, meaning the Eastern Capital, during the Tang Dynasty), "Xijing" (西京, meaning the West Capital, during the Song Dynasty), or "Jingluo" (京洛, meaning the general capital for China).

History[link]

Statue of the Duke of Zhou who founded a city here c. 1036 BCE

White Horse Temple gate

The greater Luoyang area has been sacred ground since the late Neolithic period. This area at the intersection of the Luo and Yi rivers was considered to be the geographical center of China. Because of this sacred aspect several cities, all of which are generally referred to as "Luoyang", have been built there. In 2070 BCE, the Xia Dynasty king Tai Kang moved the Xia capital to the intersection of Luo river and Yi River and named the city Zhenxun (Chinese: 斟鄩; pinyin: Zhēnxún). In c 1600 BCE, King Tang of Shang defeated Jie, the final Xia Dynasty king, and built Western Bo (Chinese: 西亳; pinyin: Xībó), a new capital on the Luo River. The ruins of Western Bo are located in Luoyang Prefecture.

In the 1136 BCE a settlement named Chengzhou (Chinese: 成周) was constructed by the Duke of Zhou for the remnants of the captured Shang nobility. The Duke also moved the Nine Tripod Cauldrons to Chengzhou from the Zhou Dynasty capital at Haojing. A second Western Zhou capital, Wangcheng (also: Luoyi) was built 15 km west of Chengzhou. It became the capital of the Eastern Zhou Dynasty in 771 BCE. The Eastern Zhou Dynasty capital was moved to Chengzhou in 510 BCE. Later, the Eastern Han Dynasty capital of Luoyang would be built over Chengzhou. The ruins of Chengzhou are still visible today 2 km east of the White Horse Temple area.^[1] Modern Luoyang is built over the ruins of Wangcheng, which are still visible today at Wangcheng Park.^[2]

In 25 CE, Luoyang became the capital of Eastern Han Dynasty. For several centuries, Luoyang was the focal point of China. In AD 68, the White Horse Temple, the first Buddhist temple in China, was founded in Luoyang. The temple still exists, though the architecture is of later origin, mainly from the 16th century. An Shigao was one of the first monks to popularize Buddhism in Luoyang.

In 166 CE the first Roman envoy(s) sent by "the king of Da Qin [the Roman Empire], Andun (Marcus Aurelius Antoninus, r. 161-180 CE)", reached Luoyang after arriving by sea in Rinan Commandery in what is now central Vietnam.^[3]

The late 2nd century saw China decline into anarchy.

"The decline was accelerated by the rebellion by the Yellow Turbans, who, although defeated by the Imperial troops in 184 CE, weakened the state to the point where there was a continuing series of rebellions degenerating into civil war, culminating in the burning of the Han capital of Luoyang on 24 September 189 CE. This was followed by a state of continual unrest and wars in China until a modicum of stability returned in the 220s, but with the establishment of three separate kingdoms, rather than a unified empire.^[4]

In 190 CE, Chancellor Dong Zhuo ordered his soldiers to ransack, pillage and raze the city as he retreated from the coalition set up against him by regional lords from across China. The court was subsequently moved to the more defensible western city of Chang'an. Following a period of disorder, Luoyang was restored to prominence when Emperor Wen of the Wei Dynasty declared it his capital in 220 CE. The Jin Dynasty, successor to Wei, was also established in Luoyang. When Jin was overrun by Xiongnu forces in 311 CE, it was forced to move its capital to Jiankang (modern day Nanjing), the Xiongnu warriors then sacked and nearly totally destroyed Luoyang. The same fate befell Chang'an in 316 CE.

In 493 CE the Northern Wei Dynasty moved its capital from Datong to Luoyang and started the construction of the rock-cut Longmen Grottoes. More than 30,000 Buddhist statues from the time of this dynasty have been found in the caves. Many of these sculptures were two-faced. The Empress Dowager Wenming tomb and Yongning Temple (永宁寺), which had a pagoda nine stories high, were also built here.

During the Tang Dynasty, Luoyang was the 'Eastern Capital' and at its height had a population of around one million, second only to Chang'an, the 'Western Capital', and the largest city in the world.^[5] During the short-lived Five Dynasties, Luoyang was the capital of the Later Liang, Later Tang, and Later Jin.

During the North Song Dynasty, Luoyang was the 'Western Capital' and birthplace of Zhao Kuangyin, the founder of Song Dynasty. It served as a prominent culture center, housing some of the most important philosophers.

Geography[link]

Administrative divisions[link]

The prefecture-level city of Luoyang administers 6 districts, 1 county-level city and 8 counties.

• Jianxi District (涧西区)
• Xigong District (西工区)
• Laocheng District (老城区)
• Chanhe District (瀍河区)
• Luolong District (洛龙区)
• Jili District (吉利区)
• Yanshi City (偃师市)
• Mengjin County (孟津县)
• Xin'an County (新安县)
• Luoning County (洛宁县)
• Yiyang County (宜阳县)
• Yichuan County (伊川县)
• Song County (嵩县)
• Luanchuan County (栾川县)
• Ruyang County (汝阳县)

Geography[link]

With 6,549,486 inhabitants at the 2010 census whom 1,500,000 in the built up area (6 urban districts), it's the third built up area of Henan region.

Culture[link]

The Longmen Grottoes were listed by UNESCO in the list of World Heritage Sites in November 2000. White Horse Temple is located 12 km east of the modern town. Guanlin is a series of temples that were built in honor of Guan Yu, a hero of the Three Kingdoms period, close to the grottoes to the south of the city. China's only tombs museum, the Luoyang Ancient Tombs Museum opened to the public in 1987 and is situated north of the modern town. Founded in 1958, the Luoyang Museum features ancient relics dating back to the Xia, Shang and Zhou Dynasties. The total number of exhibits on display is 1700.^[6]

Luoyang is also famous for the Water Banquet Shui Xi, which consists of 8 cold and 16 warm dishes cooked in various broths, gravies or juices, hence its name.

Luoyang has a reputation as a cultivation centre for the peony, the city flower of Luoyang.

An ancient Chinese musical piece, Spring in Luoyang, was adopted by Korea during the Goryeo Dynasty (918-1392), and is still performed in its Koreanized (Dangak) version, called Nakyangchun (hangul: 낙양춘; hanja: 洛阳春). The American composer Lou Harrison also created an arrangement of this work.

The Dengfeng Observatory (also known as "The Tower of Chou Kong") stands 80 km south-east of Luoyang. It is a tower constructed during the Yuan Dynasty in 1276 by Guo Shoujing as a giant gnomon for the 'Measurement of the Sun's Shadow'. Used for establishing the Summer and Winter Solstices, this astronomical instrument is described in detail by Joseph Needham in his seminal work Science and Civilisation in China.

Asteroid (239200) 2006 MD13 was named after Luoyang.

Language[link]

Luoyang residents typically speak a variety of Zhongyuan Mandarin. Although Luoyang dialect served as a prestigious form of spoken Chinese until the Ming Dynasty, it differs greatly from Beijing-based Modern Standard Chinese.

Colleges and universities[link]

• Luoyang Institute of Science and Technology (洛阳理工学院)
• Henan University of Science and Technology (河南科技大学)
• Luoyang University Normal College (洛阳大学师范学院)
• Luoyang PLA College of Foreign Languages (解放军洛阳外语学院), now known as PLAUFL (PLA University of Foreign language)

Famous residents[link]

• Lao Zi (Lao Tzu: dates uncertain), founder of Daoism.
• Kuei Ku-tzu, Inaugurator of Numerology and Geomancer. Elocutionist.
• Xuan Zang,Tripitaka Master Hsuan-Tsang of Tang Dynasty
• Liu Yuxi, poet
• Zhao Kuangyin, Founder of Song Danasty
• Gao Hong, pipa player
• Ma Jinfeng, Henan Opera (豫剧) player
• Gao Yufeng, Orthopedics expert
• Du Wei, footballer

Sister cities[link]

• Okayama, Japan, since April 6, 1981
• Tours, France, since April 6, 1981
• Buyeo, South Korea, since August 13, 1996
• La Crosse, Wisconsin, USA
• Plovdiv, Bulgaria, Bulgaria
• Tolyatti, Russian Federation, since April 2000

See also[link]

• Luoyang Longmen Railway Station
• Silk Road transmission of Buddhism

Notes[link]

References[link]

• Abramson, Marc S. (2008). Ethnic Identity in Tang China. University of Pennsylvania Press, Philadelphia. ISBN 978-0-8122-4052-8.
• Cotterell, Arthur (2008). The Imperial Capitals of China: An Inside View of the Celestial Empire. Pimlico, London. ISBN 978-1-84595-010-1.
• Hill, John E. (2009) Through the Jade Gate to Rome: A Study of the Silk Routes during the Later Han Dynasty, 1st to 2nd Centuries CE. BookSurge, Charleston, South Carolina. ISBN 978-1-4392-2134-1.
• Yang Hsüan-chih (1984): A Record of Buddhist Monasteries in Lo-Yang. The Lo-yang ch'ieh-lan chi translated by Yi-t'ung Wang. Princeton University Press. Princeton, New Jersey. ISBN 0-691-05403-7
• Luoyang Travel., Ruins of the Old Han-Wei City, http://www.lyta.com.cn/english/activitis/scenery/hanwei.asp, retrieved 2009 
• China.org.cn (June 24), Wangcheng Park in Luoyang, http://www.china.org.cn/travel/where_to_go/2009-06/24/content_18003940.htm, retrieved 2009 

Further reading[link]

• Jenner, W. J. Memories of Loyang (Clarendon Press, Oxford, 1981).

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Luoyang

• Government website of Luoyang

v t e Major cities along the Yellow River Provinces and Autonomous regions Cities (from upper reaches to lower reaches) Gansu Lanzhou · Baiyin Ningxia Zhongwei · Wuzhong · Yinchuan · Shizuishan Inner Mongolia Wuhai · Ordos · Bayan Nur · Baotou · Hohhot (boundaries of upper and middle reaches) Shanxi Xinzhou · Lüliang · Linfen · Yuncheng Shaanxi Yulin · Yan'an · Weinan Henan Sanmenxia · Luoyang · Jiyuan · Jiaozuo · Zhengzhou(boundaries of middle and lower reaches)  · Xinxiang · Kaifeng · Puyang Shandong Liaocheng · Tai'an · Jinan · Dezhou · Binzhou · Zibo · Dongying

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Wang Hong (王弘) (379–432), courtesy name Xiuyuan (休元), formally Duke Wenzhao of Huarong (華容文昭公), was a high level official of the Chinese dynasty Liu Song. He served during the administrations of Emperor Wu (Liu Yu), Emperor Shao, and Emperor Wen of Liu Song, becoming prime minister during Emperor Wen's reign.

During Jin Dynasty[link]

Wang Hong was a great-grandson of the famed Jin prime minister Wang Dao. His father Wang Xun (王珣) served as prime minister during the reign of Emperor Xiaowu of Jin, although he lost much of his power after Emperor Xiaowu's death. During Emperor An's reign, when Emperor Xiaowu's brother and Emperor An's uncle Sima Daozi the Prince of Kuaiji served as regent, Wang Hong served on his staff, and, impressed with Wang Hong's suggestions, Sima Daozi wanted to promote him, but Wang Xun, believing his son to be too young for greater posts (Sima Daozi's regency lasted from 397 to 399, so Wang Hong would be only 18 to 20 by this point), declined on his son's behalf. Wang Xun had been very interested in financial matters and earned much money from investments, including loans to commoners, and after his death in 400, Wang Hong burned all of the promissory notes to forgive those commoners' debts. During his three-year mourning period, Sima Daozi's son Sima Yuanxian, who succeeded his father as regent, tried to have him come out of his mourning period and serve as a general, but he repeatedly declined invitations by both Sima Yuanxian and Sima Daozi. After the warlord Huan Xuan defeated and killed Sima Yuanxian in 402 and arrested and exiled Sima Daozi, most of Sima Daozi's old associates did not dare to see him off at the dock of the capital Jiankang, but Wang Hong arrived to do so, and was praised for his faithfulness.

After Huan Xuan seized the throne in 403 and established a new state of Chu, Liu Yu rose in rebellion in 404 to try to reestablish Jin, and Wang joined Liu Yu's army. After Huan Xuan was defeated and killed, Wang was created the Marquess of Huarong in recognition of his contributions. He later successively served as the governor of several commanderies, and he accompanied Liu Yu on his campaign against Later Qin in 416. After Liu Yu took the important city Luoyang, he sent Wang back to Jiankang to pressure Emperor An into granting him the nine bestowments, surprising Liu Yu's chief assistant Liu Muzhi (劉穆之), who had been left in charge of the capital that he was not informed first. Liu Muzhi, in fear and anger, died. Initially, Liu Yu wanted to have Wang succeed Liu Muzhi, but at the recommendation of other officials had Xu Xianzhi replace Liu Muzhi instead. Wang became the governor of the strategically important Pengcheng Commandery (彭城, roughly modern Xuzhou, Jiangsu) instead. While at that post, he wrote articles of impeachment against the official Xie Lingyun, a talented poet who was however inattentive to his responsibilities, leading to Liu Yu's removal of Xie from his posts. In 418, Liu Yu made him the governor of Jiang Province (江州, modern Jiangxi and Fujian), and he was said to be a capable governor.

During Emperor Wu's and Emperor Shao's reigns[link]

After Liu Yu seized the throne from Emperor Gong of Jin in 420, ending Jin and establishing Liu Song (as Emperor Wu), he created Wang Hong the Duke of Huarong. Wang briefly visited the capital Jiankang in 422, but then was returned to his post at Jiang Province, and he was not one of the officials whom Emperor Wu entrusted his son and crown prince Liu Yifu to before he died later that year, and Wang did not appear to have increased authority after Liu Yifu took the throne as Emperor Shao. Rather, authority vested in the hands of Xu Xianzhi, Fu Liang, and Xie Hui.

In 424, Xu, Fu, Xie, dissatisfied with Emperor Shao's tendencies to trust people lacking virtues and believing him to be unfit to be emperor, resolved to depose him. Because they were apprehensive about the powerful armies that Tan Daoji and Wang had, they summoned Tan and Wang to the capital and then informed them of the plot. They then sent soldiers into the palace to arrest Emperor Shao, after first persuading the imperial guards not to resist. Before Emperor Shao could get up from bed in the morning, the soldiers were already in his bedchamber, and he made a futile attempt to resist, but was captured. He was sent back to his old palace. The officials then, in the name of Emperor Shao's mother Empress Dowager Zhang, declared Emperor Shao's faults and demoted him to Prince of Yingyang, offering the throne to his younger brother Liu Yilong the Prince of Yidu instead. Liu Yilong, after some hesitation, took the throne as Emperor Wen.

During Emperor Wen's reign[link]

Emperor Wen tried to pacify the officials who made him emperor by giving them greater titles and fiefs, and he tried to create Wang the Duke of Jian'an (a commandery, as opposed to the county that he was the duke of), but Wang insisted on refusing both that title and greater offices that Emperor Wen conferred on him.

Emperor Wen, angry that Xu, Fu, and Xie had, immediately after they deposed Emperor Shao, assassinated both Emperor Shao and another brother of his, Liu Yizhen (劉義真) the Prince of Luling, had Xu and Fu arrested and killed in 426, and declared Xie, then the governor of Jing Province (荊州, modern Hubei) a renegade. Believing that neither Tan nor Wang was involved in the plot to depose and kill Emperor Shao (perhaps because Wang Hong's brother Wang Tanshou (王曇首) was a trusted advisor of his and presumably told him about Wang Hong's lack of involvement in the plot), he summoned them to the capital, and he made Wang Hong prime minister and the governor of the capital region Yang Province (揚州, modern Zhejiang and southern Jiangsu). Later that year, Tan, who was put in charge of the army, defeated Xie.

In 428, Wang Hong, believing that the powers that he and his brother Wang Tanshou possessed were too great and that this would bring jealousy and disaster, recommended to Emperor Wen that he recall his brother Liu Yikang the Prince of Pengcheng to the capital to share the responsibility. Emperor Wen agreed, and Wang Hong then offered to resign. Emperor Wen did not accept his resignation but did transfer some of Wang Hong's responsibilities to Liu Yikang. However, Liu Yikang later grew increasingly impatient, complaining in particular that Wang Hong was frequently ill and cannot govern from his sickbed. Wang was able to placate Liu Yikang by transferring some of his staff members to Liu Yikang's staff. Wang Hong died in 432, and Liu Yikang took over the prime minister post officially thereafter.

Historians commented that Wang Hong was intelligent and open-minded, but was also often arrogant and frivolous, and this hurt his reputation. Consistent with what he did with his father's promissory notes, Wang left his household with relatively little property, and upon hearing this, Emperor Wen awarded his family a large grant.