Beijing - Earliest History - Liao, Jin & Yuan Dynasties (1153 AD

Beijing - Earliest History as The Capital of China

Beijing became the Capital of China for the first time during the years of the Liao Dynasty (907 AD - 1125 AD), of which remnants can still be found in the city today.

The Liao Dynasty, who are also known as the Khitan Empire arose in North China, Mongolia and Manchuria immediately after the Fall of the Tang Dynasty Empire in 907 AD.

During the Tang Dynasty Era (618 AD - 907 AD), Beijing was named Youzhou.

Before counterbalanced by the might of Tang Forces, after their Fall the Khitan People managed to conquer considerable parts of China before being absorbed by the Jurchen Jin Dynasty of later years. The Liao Dynasty was established in 907 AD, and

the inner Palace of the Kublai.

Starting with the settling of the Mongol Kublai's and the subsequent Yuan Dynasty , Beijing has been the Capital City of China, with some interruptions, at least since the Year 1271 AD. Important Monuments of the City that arose during the Yuan Dynasty include the Imperial Academy (or College), which would play a central role in the Entry Exams for the Imperial Administration for the next 7 Centuries. Adjacent stands the Temple of Confucius established during the Same Time, another example of how the invading Mongols were by no means primitive and also adopted the majority of the customs of the sedentary city-bound lifestyle of the now oppressed Han Chinese. The Mongol Empire was the largest land Empire in history, and its creation provided entirely new circumstances for trade and migration across the continent. Thus, among things Beijing saw an influx of Muslim migrants and traders. The Muslims were highly appreciated allies of the Mongols in their conquest, and for their emissaries a special Mosque was built in the Dongcheng District. Today this Mosque, the Dong Si is still regarded as the Largest and Main Mosque in Beijing, and is the only one with a Minaret in the City. In fact, together with the Oldest Mosque in Beijing at Oxen Street (Niu Jie') in Xuanwu outside the City Walls it is listed among the 11 Historic Mosques in China (Read more in: "History of Islam in China").

The Liao Era Capital was divided into 26 Districts or Fang, a result of the strictly ruled district market system handed down from the Tang Dynasty. The Fang themselves were sub-divided into Shanlan, which were small sections of the City enclosed by Fences, inside of which a tight-knit community lived their lives plying (nearly) the same Trade. Shanlan were the economical building blocks of the City. This system of Shanlan would last throughout the following centuries and was still in use in Beijing throughout the Ming Dynasty Era.

The oldest building in Beijing dates from the Liao Dynasty Era (907 AD - 1125 AD) an Era of Foreign Domination for the Han. That is, the only and now unique stone Pagoda in Beijing, a part of the Temple of Heavenly Peace (Tianning Si) was proven to be

some decennia later in 938 AD, they established a secondary capital in what is now Beijing. Under the Liao Dynasty it was named Nanjing (the "Southern Capital") opposing the Northern Capital Shangjing in Inner-Mongolia. It was also known as Yanjing.

When the Emperor in China moved home, the Capital was moved and the new Home City became the Political as well as the economical center of the

Yanjing - Beijing as Capital of the Jurchen Jin Dynasty

The Liao Dynasty established by the Khitans was eventually overrun by more powerful forces descending from the Far North in the shape of the Jurchen Tribes.

In the following period of the Jurchen Jin Dynasty (1115 AD–1234 AD), the City of Beijing was the Capital of China under the Name Zhongdu. It was so chosen by Imperial Decree in the year 1153 AD, and named Zhongdu (中都), or "Central Capital".

The City of Zhongdu was located along the river near the village of Fengtai and today's Temple of Heavenly Peace (Tianning Si).

During the Liao- and Jin- and during the Jurchen Jin Dynasties, the Northern Tribes (Mongols) had become an increasingly strong military power. After capturing western lands along the famous the Silk Road, The Mongolians moved on Jurchen Jin China. Under leadership of Genghis Khan, war was declared in 1211 AD, and in the resulting war the Jin suffered continuous loss of territory. In 1215 AD already, the 3 Mongolian Armies dispatched reached the Jin Capital, which was taken and destroyed after a short siege.

Zhongdu was wiped from the Map and existed no more. The Jin Empire however wasn't broken completely and the fleeing Emperor moved his Capital to Kaifeng, due East of LuoYang the current Capital of Henan Province. His the final defeat at the hands of the Mongols came in the year 1234 AD. The City was overrun, and essentialy burned to the ground.

With the gaining of the Title of Imperial Capital the City of Beijing became the end-point of the then stil active land-bound Silk Road. The Caravans laden with goods started arriving at the City Walls in the 12Th Century. Their movements would continue throughout the years and centuries until well into the 1900's when they were finally replaced by railroads as the main means of long distance transportation.

constructed in 1119/20 AD during the 9Th and 10Th Years of the TianQing Reign. Its Proud 58 Meter Tower for a long time was a landmark of Fengtai Village.

A twin Tower of the TianNing Stone Pagoda, the Balizhuang Pagoda Tower stood in balance on the Eastern approaches to the City, however it was destroyed in the last Century by a heavy earthquake and no traces of it can be found today.

Tianning Temple was recently restored and reopened in 2005 AD. It is open to visitors.

Earliest Origins of Today's Beijing

After the armies of Djenghis Khan conquered Zhongdu and raised it to the ground, slums emerged due south of the Mongol nomadic Encampments, creating the earliest Xuanwu District. In 1266 AD the reconstruction of the city began. Renaming what was left, the Yuan Mongols rebuilt the City, recreating it as their Capital, the City of Dadu also know as Khanbalik, the City of the Khan. Later after the establishment of the Yuan Dynasty in 1271 AD, the Capital of Beijing, would become the home of a giant Imperial Palace.

As mentioned, the first parts of the City to emerge were mere Hutong, however it were the Mongols who chose a new geographical location of the power Center within this Grandiose new Capital. The site first chosen was on the Eastern Bank of what was long know as Lake Jishuitan, which is the congregation of large lakes in the Center of adjacent satellite image.

Marco Polo visited the City in the Year 1273 AD during the second visit of the Polo Family to China and described his visit to the Imperial Palace as an awe inspiring experience. Other intercontinental travelers arrived around the same Time, most notably Ibn Battuta (1304 AD–1368 0r 69 AD), the Morroccan traveler who according to some historians visited Beijing as well.

The remnants of this ancient Mongol Palace City can roughly be located in Dongcheng- & Xicheng Districts and North of DeshengMen (Moral Victory Gate) on the 2nd Ring Road. The circular city of Beihai Park is said to be another remnant, a part of