Characteristics of Chang 'an City in Tang Dynasty

Chang 'an in the Tang Dynasty was a rectangle with a slightly longer east and west and a slightly narrower north and south. According to archaeological investigation, the east-west width from Chunmingmen in the east wall to Guangjinmen in the west wall is 972 1 m (including the thickness of two city walls). From Mingdemen in the south wall to Xuanwu Gate in the north wall, the length from north to south is 865 1 m (including the thickness of two city walls). By contrast, the east-west length is 65438 meters. Covering an area of 84 square kilometers, the buildings in the city are divided into three parts: Miyagi, Imperial City and Outer Guo Cheng. Miyagi is located in the center of the north of the city, the imperial city is in the south of Miyagi, and the outer Guo Cheng is centered on Miyagi and the imperial city, spreading to the southeast and southwest.

Judging from the layout of the city, planners have strict requirements for left and right symmetry. The whole city takes Chengtianmen in Miyagi, Suzaku Gate in Imperial City and Mingdemen in Outer Guo Cheng as the north-south axis, that is, Chengtianmen Street and Suzaku Street as the center, developing from left to right. In order to highlight the position of the northern central part of Miyagi, Chengtianmen, Taijitang, Liang Yitang, Ganlutang, Yanjiatang and Xuanwu Gate were used.

1. Dongcheng and Xicheng

The commercial areas of Chang 'an City in Tang Dynasty were mainly distributed in the east and west, namely "Duyi" (East) and "Liren City" (West) in Sui Dynasty. They are located in the southeast and southwest of the imperial city, and their positions are symmetrical.

Dongcheng and Xicheng were the economic activity centers of Chang 'an in Tang Dynasty, the national industrial and commercial trade centers at that time, and the important places for economic exchanges between China and foreign countries. There are many businessmen, houses and shops here, and the trade is very prosperous.

2. Three palaces

There were three palaces in Chang 'an in Tang Dynasty, Tai Chi Palace in the west, Daming Palace in the east and Xingqing Palace in the south.

Taiji Palace (also known as Xi Palace) was called Daxing Palace in Sui Dynasty, and it was the political center in early Tang Dynasty. Tang Gaozu Li Yuan and Emperor Taizong Li Shimin reigned for more than 30 years. The main palaces are Taiji Hall and Liangyi Hall, which are the main administrative places, and there are many buildings such as Ganlu Hall and Wude Hall. The main entrance of Taiji Palace is called Chengtianmen, and the north entrance is called Xuanwu Gate, where the famous changes of Xuanwu Gate took place.

Daming Palace (also known as Dongnei) was originally built by Li Shimin in Longshou Palace, Forbidden Garden in Miyagi in the eighth year of Zhenguan (AD 634), and was renamed Yong 'an Palace in the second year. In the second year of Tang Longshuo (AD 662), it was expanded and moved from Taiji Palace to handle court affairs. Since then, most emperors have lived in Daming Palace. There are mainly three halls, including Yuan, Yuan, Yuan and Yuan. The width from north to south is 42.3 meters, which exceeds the size of the existing three halls in the Forbidden City. During the Linde period, Emperor Li Zhi built the Linde Palace, which was the largest palace in Daming Palace and also a place for banquets.

Xingqing Palace (also called Nannei), located in Xingqing Square in Chang 'an, is the former residence of Li Longji, Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty. It was originally a detached palace. In the second year of Kaiyuan (AD 7 14), it was changed to Xingqing Palace. After several expansions, it became the official palace where the emperor lived and listened to politics. Xingqing Palace is north-south long1250m and east-west wide180m.

Now the heritages of the Han and Yuan Dynasties and Linde Dynasties are available for viewing in Xingqing Park.

3. Residential area-Li Fang

Chang 'an in the Tang Dynasty divided the residents outside Guocheng into many alleys, which were criss-crossed and surrounded by high walls, guarded by Li Zheng and Li Zicheng, leaving early and returning late. This big hutong has four lanes on all sides, and there is a cross street in the middle. There are east, west and a street in the alley. These criss-crossing streets form a traffic network, which is orderly.

4. Imperial City and Temple

The imperial city is close to the south of Miyagi, covering an area of about 5.2 square kilometers, with seven streets in the north and south and five streets in the east and west. Chengtianmen Street divides the imperial city into two parts, and all the buildings are symmetrically arranged around it. The east and west sides of Chengtianmen Street are from north to south, with East Hall and West Hall. There are provinces in the east and provinces in the west; There are left Wu Wei in the east and right Wu Wei in the west; There is Shangshu Province in the east and Sinong Temple in the west. There are left guards in the east and right guards in the west; There is Taibu Temple in the east and Zongzheng Temple in the west. There are Taichang Temple in the east and Split Temple in the west. As for Anshangmen Street in the east and Hanguangmen Street in the imperial city, the principle of east-west symmetry was not fully observed because the arranged organs were not important.

The existing Xi 'an ancient city wall was partially expanded eastward from Chang 'an Imperial City in Tang Dynasty and Taiji Palace in early Ming Dynasty.

The Sui and Tang Dynasties were a prosperous period of religious development in the history of China. Chang 'an City is the center of national religious activities. There are many religions in Chang 'an, not only local Taoism, but also Buddhism introduced from India since the Han Dynasty, Zoroastrianism, Nestorianism and Manichaeism introduced from Persia from the Southern and Northern Dynasties to the Tang Dynasty. Buddhism and Taoism flourished in the Tang Dynasty, and their spread was not only at home, but also abroad, especially at that time.