"Escape, big also;" Brilliant and prosperous. "The magnificent Dunhuang has a long history.
As early as the end of primitive society, the Sanmiao people who migrated to Hexi after the defeat of the tribal war in the Central Plains flourished here. Sanmiao people mainly hunt, and they have mastered the primitive agricultural production technology. Neolithic stone knives, axes, pottery and bronzes were unearthed in Dunhuang area.
During the Xia, Shang and Zhou Dynasties, Dunhuang belonged to Guguazhou, where Qiang people and Rong people (descendants of Sanmiao) settled nomadically. Many rock paintings left by nomadic people in this period were found in Dunhuang area. During the Warring States Period and the Qin Dynasty, the Dayue family, Wusun family and Sai family lived in Dunhuang. Later, Dayue became stronger and merged with the original Qiangrong. At the end of the Warring States period, Dayue people drove away Wusun people and Saizhong people and monopolized Dunhuang until the end of Qin Dynasty and the beginning of Han Dynasty.
In the early years of the Western Han Dynasty, the Huns invaded Hexi, defeated Dayue twice, and forced Dayue to move westward to the Syr Darya and Amu Darya rivers. The whole Hexi Corridor became the territory of Huns. At this time, the Xiongnu's "more than 300,000 string controllers" posed a serious threat to the Han Dynasty and often harassed the border. After Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty succeeded to the throne, he adopted the strategy of strengthening defense and taking the initiative to attack. In the second year of Jianyuan (BC 138), Liang Wudi sent Zhang Qian to the Western Regions for the first time to contact Da Yue and Wusun to attack the Huns. In the spring of the second year of Yuanshou (12 1 years ago), Huo Qubing, a general with the rank of ancient general, sent Wan Qi out of Longxi and marched into Hexi Corridor, winning a great victory. He not only captured Ginkgo, the son of the evil king of Xiongnu, but also captured the "Jin Dynasty people" of Xiongnu, which dealt a heavy blow to Xiongnu. Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty placed this trophy in the "Ganquan Palace" (Fengxiang, Shaanxi Province) for offering. This story is painted on the mural on the north wall of Cave 323 in Mogao Grottoes. This summer, Huo Qubing personally led the cavalry across the Juyan River and rushed to Qilian Mountain, killing more than 30,000 people, which caused a devastating blow to the Xiongnu in Hexi. In the meantime, the Xiongnu ruling group clashed, and the evil king killed Xiutu and surrendered to the Han Dynasty with more than 40,000 people. In the second year of Ding Yuan in Han Dynasty (1 15), Zhang Qian went to the Western Regions for the second time and returned home from Wusun smoothly. Since then, the Silk Road to the Western Regions has been opened. Zhang Qian's mission to the Western Regions is a great feat in the history of Sino-Western exchanges, and he has made immortal contributions to promoting economic and cultural exchanges between China and foreign countries, the Central Plains and all ethnic groups in the Western Regions.
In order to completely cut off the connection between Xiongnu and Xiqiang, and to protect the border crossing and the Silk Road, Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty set up Jiuquan County and Wuwei County in Hexi in the second year of Yuanshou (12 1). At the same time, measures such as fortification, reclamation and resettlement were taken to continuously strengthen the construction of Hexi. In the sixth year of Ding Yuan in the Han Dynasty (11years ago), Jiuquan and Wuwei were respectively assigned to Dunhuang and Zhangye counties. From Lingju (now Yongdeng) to Yanze (now Lop Nur), the Great Wall and beacon tower were built, and Yangguan and Yumenguan were set up, which were called "four counties listed, according to two customs" in history, ensuring the smooth flow of the Silk Road. Since then, China's silk and advanced technology have been spread to Central Asia, West Asia and Europe. Jade, agate, rare birds and animals, and crops from Europe, the Mediterranean coast and the western regions can also be transported to the Central Plains for a long distance. Ambassadors, soldiers, businessmen and monks from all countries have to pass through Dunhuang, the main road of the Silk Road, and Dunhuang has become the "key to lock the throat" of Chinese and Western traffic. At that time, Dunhuang had a vast territory, governing six counties, with Longle Yangguan in the west, Yolanda (now west of Yumen City) in the east, Yiwu (now Hami City) in the north and Xiqiang (now Qaidam, Qinghai Province) in the south. After Dunhuang established a county, it laid a solid foundation for the Western Han Dynasty to govern the western regions. General Li Guang conquered Dawan State and got a bloody BMW. Zhao Ponu's attack on Gushi and the capture of King Loulan were based on Dunhuang.
In the early years of the Eastern Han Dynasty, the Huns grew stronger and occupied most of the western regions under the jurisdiction of the Western Han Dynasty, and the Silk Road was forced to be interrupted. In 75 AD, the Eastern Han Dynasty sent troops to attack the northern Xiongnu in four ways. Dou Gu, a shepherd in Liangzhou, led the soldiers in Hexi to defeat Xiongnu, recovered the lost land in Yiwu and reopened the gateway to the western regions. At the same time, Ban Chao, a famous soldier, sent two missions to the Western Regions, killed the Xiongnu envoys, and established friendly relations with the Eastern Han Dynasty, thus reopening the Silk Road which had been interrupted for 65 years.
During the hundreds of years from the establishment of the county in the Western Han Dynasty to the end of the Western Jin Dynasty, although the Silk Road has undergone several twists and turns, Dunhuang gradually presented a scene of prosperity, and gradually developed into a military and political center, a cultural and commercial center in the northwest, and a "Huarong Metropolis". During this period, Dunhuang culture was developed, and celebrities came forth in large numbers: Zhang Huan, a brave frontier warrior, Gai Xun, a courtier who understood the important principles, Hou Jin, a talented great writer, and Zhang Zhi, a famous brother calligrapher known as "Cao Sheng" and "Yasheng".
Eastern Jin Dynasty to Sui Dynasty
The Western Jin Dynasty collapsed, the Jin Dynasty moved south, and the Eastern Jin regime was established. In the vast northern region, there has been a situation of "five lakes" and "sixteen countries" divided by melee. During the Wei and Jin Dynasties, Hexi region successively established feudal regimes such as former cool, later cool, southern cool, western cool and northern cool. In the pre-Zhangliang period, Dunhuang was changed to sandbar. In 400 AD, Li? What is the significance of this system? After the founding of Xiliang, Dunhuang became the capital for the first time in history and later died in Beiliang. When Liang Qian, Xiliang and Beiliang ruled Hexi region, they all attached great importance to internal affairs, protected people and the environment, did not impose excessive taxes, advised farmers and mulberry farmers, advocated Confucianism, and set up education, thus maintaining social stability, economic prosperity and cultural prosperity in Hexi region.
During this period, Liangzhou became the cultural center of northern China, and Dunhuang was the cultural center of Liangzhou, with many celebrities and scholars. Suo Jing, Zhizhong, Zhang Biao, Suojie and Yong Suo are called "Dunhuang Five Dragons", and they are all famous for their literature. At that time, Suo Jing was also a famous calligrapher in history. Master of Dunhuang Confucian classics, Song Xian, Guo? R. Liu? Wait, give lectures and teach hundreds to thousands of people; Dunhuang people? Records of Thirteen States written by S is an important geographical work in ancient China. There are also astronomers Zhao and famous Dunhuang scholars Suoai, Suo Ai, Suo Ai and Suo Ai.
During the Sixteen Kingdoms period, the Central Plains competed with each other, and wars continued in various places, and people were displaced, while Hexi became a relatively stable area. A large number of scholars, Confucianism, scholars and ordinary people in the Central Plains fled to Hexi for refuge, bringing advanced culture and production technology, especially Buddhism, which flourished in Dunhuang. People who have suffered from war want to get rid of suffering, live a happy and stable life, and fall at the feet of Buddha. Dunhuang is the gateway and gateway of Buddhism spreading to the east, and also the center of Buddhism in Hexi area. A large number of Buddhist monks give lectures in Dunhuang, and Buddhist disciples from all over Hexi come here to study Buddhism. Zhu Fahu, a master of classics translation who lives in Dunhuang: Some Dunhuang people like Song Yun went to India to study Buddhism. Faxian, Kumarajiva and other Buddhist masters have left footprints in Dunhuang, no matter where they go.
In the second year of Jian Yuan in the former Qin Dynasty (AD 366), Le? The fifth monk first opened a grotto in Daquan Valley at the foot of Sanxian Mountain, and the Mogao Grottoes were born. After that, the practice of making Buddha by opening holes continued for thousands of years, creating the world-famous Dunhuang art.
The Northern Wei Dynasty destroyed the northern cool, unified the north and occupied Hexi. During this period, Dunhuang was relatively stable and Buddhism prevailed. The Northern Wei Dynasty excavated 13 caves in the Mogao Grottoes.
The Sui Dynasty ended the 300-year division since the Western Jin Dynasty and unified China. When Emperor Wendi of Sui Dynasty recovered Hexi, he successively put down the invasion of Turks and Tuguhun, ensured the smooth flow of the Silk Road, and renamed Shaxian County Dunhuang County. After Emperor Wen of the Sui Dynasty settled the separatist regime in the south, he moved a large number of nobles and their tribes in the Southern Dynasty to Dunhuang to fill the border and brought southern culture and customs to Dunhuang. The integration of northern and southern Han cultures in Dunhuang makes the local culture in Dunhuang more distinctive. Emperor Wendi of Sui Dynasty believed in Buddhism, and ordered several states to build pagodas as far away as Dunhuang. Under the advocacy of the rulers, there are only 37 years left in the Sui Dynasty, but there are 77 caves in the Mogao Grottoes, which are large in scale, with exquisite murals and colored sculptures. There are two completely different artistic styles in the north and south. In the early years of the great cause, Yang Di sent Pei Ju, assistant minister of the official department, to Zhangye and Dunhuang to learn about the Silk Road and the trade between China and the West. In the fifth year of the Great Cause (AD 609), Emperor Yang Di personally sent an envoy to the Western Regions and held a 27-nation trade fair in Zhangye, which was unprecedented.
Tang dynasty and its later period
Suzhou, melon and sand were established in Hexi in Tang Dynasty, and Hexi was owned by Tang Dynasty. In the 14th year of Zhenguan (A.D. 640), Emperor Taizong Li Shimin defeated the invading army dominated by western Turks, thus ensuring the smooth flow of the Silk Road. Dunhuang in the Tang Dynasty, like the whole country, was highly prosperous in economy and culture, and Buddhism was very prosperous. There are more than 1000 caves in Mogao grottoes, and 232 caves have been preserved so far. Murals and statues have reached a high artistic level. In the 19th year of Zhenguan (AD 645), Tang Xuanzang went to India to learn Buddhist scriptures and returned to Chang 'an via Dunhuang.
After the "An Shi Rebellion", the Tufan dynasty in the southwest became increasingly powerful, taking advantage of its weakness to attack Hexi and capture Liangzhou, Ganzhou, Suzhou and other places. The soldiers and civilians in Shazhou persisted in resisting 1 1 year, and finally ran out of ammunition and food, so they surrendered to the city. Since then, Tubo has ruled the whole Hexi for more than 70 years. Tubo also believes in Buddhism, and there are also a lot of mural art in the caves of the Mogao Grottoes in the middle Tang Dynasty, and there are also a lot of Tibetan scriptures in the Tibetan Sutra Cave.
In the second year of Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty (AD 848), the people of Dunhuang could not bear the rule of Tubo. Zhang Yichao took advantage of the civil strife in the Tubo dynasty to contact the local people of all ethnic groups, gather strength and recover the sandbar in one fell swoop. After 10 years of struggle, Hexi, Hehuang and other places were all recovered, and envoys were sent to the Tang Dynasty. In Tang Dynasty, Zhang Yichao was appointed as the envoy of eleven states in Hexi and Hehuang, and one state was responsible for sand control.
Later, the court ordered Zhang Yichao to be an official, and the Zhang family in Shazhou was in civil strife. His grandson, Zhang Chengfeng, rebelled against the Tang Dynasty and established himself as the "Jinshan Kingdom in the Western Han Dynasty", calling himself the "Golden Mountain White Emperor". At this time, Ganzhou Uighur controlled the central area of Hexi Corridor. In order to get through the east-west traffic, the "Jinshan Kingdom" fought with Huijuan, and the result was a big defeat. After Uighur attacked the sandbar, Zhang Chengfeng could not resist and had to surrender. In 9l4 AD, Jinshan State died, and Shi Jin, the governor of Sha, took charge of melon and sand on my behalf. During Cao Zhi's reign, he paid attention to the development of production, economic, military and cultural construction, and improved relations with neighboring ethnic groups. The east established diplomatic relations with Uighurs, and the west United with Khotan, and lived in harmony with neighboring countries, maintaining the stability and tranquility of 130 years.
165438+At the beginning of the 20th century, the Tangut in Northwest China rose. 1028 defeated Uighur in Gansu, then captured Guazhou and Shazhou, and dominated Hexi. 1038, the Xixia dynasty was established, forming a tripartite confrontation between Song, Liao and Xixia. Xixia ruled Dunhuang for more than 100 years, and paid attention to economic development, which made Dunhuang maintain the situation that "people are rich and things are expensive, which is different from the Central Plains" since the Han Dynasty. Xixia rulers believed in Buddhism, did not exclude Han culture, and made great progress in culture and art. Mogao Grottoes and Yulin Grottoes preserved a large number of rich and unique Xixia Buddhist arts. The world-famous Dunhuang suicide note was sealed in Cave 17 of Mogao Grottoes during the reign of Xixia (1036).
1206, Yuan Taizu Temujin (Genghis Khan) unified the tribes in Mobei. 1227, Mongolia destroyed Xixia and conquered Shazhou, and Hexi area was owned by Yuan Dynasty. Since then, Dunhuang has been upgraded to Shazhou Road, which belongs to Gansu Province. Later, he was promoted to the general manager of Shazhou. The Western Expedition of Yuan Dynasty must pass through Dunhuang. At that time, there were many garrisons in Guazhou and Shazhou, with numerous camps and farmers and soldiers all over Danghe and Shule River basins. Dunhuang presents a very prosperous economic and cultural scene, and its trade with the western regions is more frequent. Kyle Polo, a famous Italian traveler, roamed the Central Plains through Dunhuang during this period. The rulers of the Yuan Dynasty also believed in Buddhism, and the opening of the Mogao Grottoes continued. There are about 10 existing caves in the Yuan Dynasty. After the Yuan Dynasty, Hexi Qianli gradually lost its former glory.
After Zhu Yuanzhang established the Ming Dynasty, in order to sweep away the remnants of the Yuan Dynasty, he sent Sheng Feng and his troops to pacify the victory of Hexi Third Road, build Jiayuguan and the Ming Great Wall, rebuild Suzhou City and set up the Kansai Seventh Guard. 1405, Shazhouwei was established in Dunhuang. After Turpan captured Hami, Dunhuang was threatened. Han Dong Zuo Wei was also established in Shazhou in the Ming Dynasty. 15 16, Dunhuang was occupied by Turpan. 1524, the Ming dynasty ordered the closure of Jiayuguan, moved civilians from Kansai to Shanhaiguan, and abandoned Gua and Sha. In the next 200 years, Dunhuang has become a desert land where the wind spreads thousands of miles and the moon shines on quicksand for one day.
In the late Kangxi period of the Qing Dynasty, the Qing Dynasty gradually recovered the vast areas outside Jiayuguan. In the third year of Yongzheng (1725), Shazhouwei was established in Dunhuang, and 2,400 households from all over Gansu began to immigrate to Dunhuang for reclamation and settlement. At the same time, a large number of soldiers and civilians in Shazhou area moved to Turpan and Lop Nur. At the end of Yongzheng, there were more than 65,438+10,000 mu of cultivated land in Shazhou and 10 canals in Danghe River, and agriculture recovered rapidly, forming the Gobi oasis in the west of Hexi Corridor. In the twenty-five years of Qianlong (1760), it was changed to Shazhou Weishan Dunhuang County, which directly belonged to Anxi. Until the Revolution of 1911, Dunhuang was the seat of the county government after the establishment of 1949 People's Republic of China (PRC). 1987, Dunhuang was established with the approval of the State Council. 1986 was named "China's famous historical and cultural city" by the State Council.