西燕建都长子原因探究

Why State of Xiyan Made Zhangzi Its Capital

十六国时期曾定都山西长子的西燕政权历7帝共计11年。西燕建都长子主要由其政权的流动性特点、淝水之战后的政治格局以及上党盆地的地理形势和长子的战略地位等诸多因素所决定。长子东依太行山,逾太行八陉之南四陉通河北、河南,西靠太岳山,越乌岭关达临汾、河东;南过黄河联中原洛阳;北通晋阳接雁门、云中,历来为上党地区战略要地,从传说尧封其长子丹朱而命名,到春秋为上党乃至中国北方战略要地,战国赵、魏、韩三国在此置郡,秦设上党郡,两汉为上党郡治所,直至西燕为都9年,对中国北方的历史进程产生了重要影响。

During the 16-state period, the State of Xiyan which once made Zhangzi its capital, went through seven emperors for eleven years altogether. The reason why Xiyan made Zhangzi its capital was decided by .so many factors as the mobility of the state itself, political pattern with other states, the geographical condition of the Shangdang Basin, the strategic position of Zhangzi, and so on. In the easst, Zhangzi relied on Taihang Mountains and was connected to Hebei and Henan through the south four ones of the eight gaps of Taihang Mountains; in the west, it depends on Taiyuan Mountains and was connected to Linfen and Hedong through the Wulin Pass; in the south, it was linked to Luoyang of the Central Plains over the Huanghe River; it could be linked to Yanmen and Yunzhong over Jinyang. It had been the strategic point of Shangdang District all through thd ages. It was .said that the place was named Zhangzi because King Yu granted this territory to his eldest son （zhangzi in Chinese）Danzhu. From then th the Spring and Autumn Period, it was the strategic point of Shandong district and even of the whole north of China. During the Warring States, the three states of Zhao, Wei and Han set up county govern- ment there. During the Qin I）ynasty and the period of both the West Han and the East Han it was governed by Shangdang County. Later the State of Xiyan made it capital for nine years. So it had significant influence on the coume of history of North China.