Why Chang'an Can't Become Capital After Tang Dynasty?｜Chinese History｜Kenny Chinese Culture Vlog

Hey there, it's Kenny again, your favorite history nerd. Today's video is all about why Chang'an lost its status as the capital of China after the Tang Dynasty. You see, for centuries, Chang'an was the center of the Eastern world, attracting foreign diplomats, monks, and merchants from far and wide. But after the Tang Dynasty, something changed, and Chang'an was no longer the capital. So, what happened? Was it warfare, natural disasters, or something else entirely? In this video, we'll explore the reasons for Chang'an's decline as the capital. So buckle up, grab some popcorn, and let's dive into the fascinating history of China's ancient capital. The Yellow River Basin, the birthplace of the Chinese civilization, was the center of political power during the early stages of Chinese history. Xi'an, also known as Chang'an during ancient times, is undoubtedly the number one city when it comes to the capital cities of China's dynasties. The Western Chao Dynasty, one of the three dynasties of ancient China, established its capital in Chang'an, and it was followed by the Qin and Western Han dynasties. The glorious Tang Dynasty, which was the peak of ancient China, also had its capital in Chang'an. In total, there were 13 dynasties that established their capitals in Chang'an, including the Western Chao, Qin, Western Han, Sui, and Tang, for more than 120 years. From 221 BC to 907, Chang'an served as the economic and cultural center of China. Chang'an is not only a city with a long history, but it is also the starting point of the ancient Silk Road, which connected the cultures of China and the West. In 1981, United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization designated Chang'an as a World Historical City. Why did no dynasty choose Chang'an as their capital after the Tang Dynasty? To answer this question, let's first explore why Chang'an became such a popular choice for a capital city before Song Dynasty. During the Chao Dynasty and before, the economic center of China was entirely in the north, mainly in the Yellow River Basin. The Yellow River was the origin of Chinese civilization, with fewer floods and clearer water in those times. The fertile land on both sides of the river was perfect for agriculture, which was the dominant economic activity at the time. Therefore, the Yellow River Basin had an absolute advantage in economic status in that era, becoming the center of Chinese civilization and economy. However, Chang'an, located on the Guanzhong Plain, was not in the Yellow River Basin, so what made it a desirable location for a capital city? Although Chang'an is not along the Yellow River, it is along its largest tributary, the Huai River. This river, which runs east to west across the Guanzhong Plain, not only provides a constant supply of water to the Yellow River, but also carved out this enormous piece of land. The Guanzhong Plain shares similar features with the Yellow River Basin, with a flat terrain and fertile soil, nurturing an agricultural civilization. In conclusion, Chang'an's location on the Guanzhong Plain, with its fertile land and the Huai River, made it an attractive choice for a capital city. Despite not being in the Yellow River Basin, the Guanzhong Plain shared many similarities and advantages with it, nurturing an agricultural civilization and serving as a political center in Chinese history. When it comes to why Chang'an became the capital of China, geography was the most critical factor, more so than economics or politics. The region where Chang'an is located, called Guanzhong, is an easily defensible area surrounded by mountains. During the Qin and Han dynasties, the only way to enter this plain was by crossing the mountains, which were treacherous and difficult to navigate. However, there were four relatively flat mountain passes, called Siuguan, Dasenguan, Wuguan, and Tongguan, that made travel easier. By building fortresses in these mountain passes, invaders could easily be repelled. With these four fortresses protecting the area, it was challenging to break through the defense system of Guanzhong during a time when transportation was difficult. The geography of Guanzhong, with its natural defenses and stable economic foundation, made it an ideal location for a capital city. The four fortresses in the mountain passes surrounding the area made it nearly impossible to invade, while the stable economy provided a solid foundation for the city's development. Consequently, Chang'an became the preferred location for establishing a capital city. So, why Chang'an lost its capital status? Chang'an lost its capital status not because of political factors, but due to the loss of two critical advantages, economics and geography. In comparing the two, the decline in economic status played a more significant role. Regarding geography, Guanzhong, the plain where Chang'an is located, was renowned for its natural defense system, which consisted of four mountain passes that made it challenging for enemies to invade. However, as time passed, people's exploration and understanding of the region's geography improved, and more routes were discovered to access Guanzhong. The most significant threat came from the south, with a route that bypassed the four mountain passes and led directly to Guanzhong. This made the natural defense system less effective and the region more vulnerable to attack. However, the loss of geography's advantage was secondary to the decline in economic status. A capital city in ancient China was typically the most densely populated city, and Chang'an was no exception. The rapid population growth meant that the agricultural output of the Guanzhong plain could no longer meet the demands of Chang'an and its neighboring regions. To solve this issue, the only option was to transport resources from other regions. During the Han and Three Kingdoms periods, the Jianghuai and Jiangnan regions were extensively developed, becoming the country's economic backbone. By the Sui and Tang dynasties, the southern regions, especially in terms of food production, were far more prosperous than the north. This meant that the Jianghuai and Yangtze river basins became the primary sources of supplies for Chang'an. However, transporting these resources to Chang'an was incredibly difficult. The distance between the two regions was vast, and the treacherous terrain surrounding Guanzhong made transportation extremely challenging. The cost and time required for the transportation of resources were incredibly high. During the Tang dynasty, it took six months to transport goods from Yangzhou to Luoyang, which was only halfway to Chang'an. The second half of the journey was even more challenging, requiring land transportation around the Yellow River's Tianjin Gorge before finally arriving in Chang'an via the Huai River. The economic constraints were so severe that it made the natural defense system of Guanzhong almost obsolete. This was because a long-distance supply chain was not only inefficient but also made Chang'an vulnerable to enemy attacks. During the Anci Rebellion, An Lokeshan captured Luoyang, effectively cutting off Chang'an's supply line, causing severe problems for the Tang dynasty. To alleviate the pressure on Chang'an's supply of resources, the first few emperors of the Sui and Tang dynasties had to shuttle between Chang'an and Luoyang to govern. This was why both Emperor Yong of Sui and Empress Wuchak Tin did not stay in Chang'an for very long, despite it being the capital. In a nutshell, although Chang'an was the capital during the Sui and Tang dynasties, its status was somewhat awkward due to its economic and geographical disadvantages. Another crucial factor that prevented Chang'an from remaining the dynasty's capital was the shift of northern nomadic invasions from west to east. During the Qin and Han dynasties, the northern nomadic invasions mainly focused on the northwest, with Hou Lan Mountain and Yin Mountain serving as the front lines of battle between the Central Plains dynasty and nomadic tribes. However, with the strong attacks against ethnic groups like the Qingnu during the Han dynasty, and the establishment of nomadic states in northern China during the Huai, Jin, Southern, and Northern dynasties, the northwest nomadic invasions were either defeated or assimilated into the Central Plains. As a result, the northwest invasion threat was alleviated. However, after the Tang dynasty, during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period, the ethnic minorities in the northeast began to rise, with the Khitan, Jurchen, and Mongols being the most representative. The front line of defense against northern invasions shifted from Hou Lan Mountain and Yin Mountain to Taihang Mountain and Yan Mountain. The sixteen prefectures of Yan and Yuan became a strategic location, while the strategic position of Guanzhong and Chang'an further declined. Apart from that, the answer to why Chang'an lost its status as the capital after the Tang dynasty may lie in the ecological degradation of the Guanzhong Plain and its surrounding areas. In addition to the destruction caused by warfare and population displacement, the ecological environment played a crucial role in the decline of Chang'an's status as the capital. The ecological degradation of the Guanzhong area did not happen overnight. During the Sui and Tang dynasties, the population in the area increased significantly. At its peak, Chang'an had nearly one million people and played a central role in the eastern world, attracting foreign diplomats, monks, and merchants. However, supporting such a massive population required vast resources and the overdevelopment of the lowest plateau. The rapid disappearance of forests and the significant reduction of natural vegetation led to severe soil erosion, declining soil fertility, and frequent floods and droughts. As a result, the land could no longer support such a large population. One argument for the decline of the Guanzhong area is the destruction caused by warfare. The wars during the late Tang dynasty destroyed the world-renowned Chang'an city and left the Guanzhong area in ruins. The Five Dynasties period was a time of chaos, making it impossible to carry out large-scale urban construction. With Chang'an destroyed and the Guanzhong area in ruins, it was not as suitable as Luoyang or Kaifeng to be the capital. Consequently, during the Five Dynasties, Chang'an lost its status as the capital and became a typical local city. After the Five Dynasties, China's political, economic, and military situation underwent significant changes, with the eastern region becoming the focus of attention for successive dynasties. On the other hand, the recovery of the Guanzhong area was slow, and by the Song and Yuan dynasties, it was still in ruins. During the Northern Song dynasty, the region suffered from continuous warfare, and the people of Guanzhong were left with nothing. The Jin occupation of the Guanzhong area also led to further destruction in the area. Since the Anci Rebellion, the region had been in a long-term process of decline. The continuous warfare left the rivers and canals in disrepair, leading to severe soil erosion. Additionally, the climate in China began to cool around the end of the Tang dynasty, and the beginning of the Song dynasty, and the line of demarcation between nomadic and farming areas began to move southward. This trend continued until the early Qing dynasty. Soil erosion and climate change resulted in a significant decrease in food production in the Guanzhong area, making it impossible to sustain the huge population of the capital. During the Tang dynasty, Emperor Dazong had to go to Luoyang to get food due to the capital's food shortage, and the Forbidden Army in Chang'an almost mutinied due to famine. And that's a wrap! Folks, I hope you enjoyed learning about why Chang'an lost its status as the capital of China after the Tang dynasty. The change in economic and political factors and the ecological degradation of the Guanzhong plain and surrounding areas played a crucial role in Chang'an's decline, and it's fascinating to see how the environment can affect the course of history. 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