探索河南的古都辉煌

Explore the Glory of Ancient Capitals in Henan

1. 郑州：黄河之都

Photo/The Paper

郑州，传说中的黄帝诞生地。它有史料记载的历史开始于西周时期的管国。然而，对于郑州人来说，鲜活的记忆始于郑国，这也是郑州这座城市的由来。

Zhengzhou, the legendary birthplace of the Yellow Emperor, has historical records dating back to the Western Zhou period, specifically the State of Guan. However, for the people of Zhengzhou, vivid memories begin with the State of Zheng during the early Spring and Autumn period, which coincides with the origin of the city of Zhengzhou.

春秋初期，郑国举国从陕西迁移到黄河以南的郑州地区，并在这里统治了长达二百五十多年。在这段时期，郑国一度强盛。《史记》一书中对郑州商业就曾经有这样的描述：“天下熙熙，皆为利来；天下攘攘昂，皆为利往来。”商业的发展带来了当地人思想的开放。关于春秋时期郑州地区民歌的记载，《郑风》二十一首，绝大多数都是爱情歌曲，并且即使在外交事务中，诗歌也经常被用来表达感情。这种开放的民风一直持续到魏晋南北朝时期，仍然有着勃勃生机。传说，生活在郑州的美男子潘安，只要一出门就会引来少女们的追逐。他们纷纷向潘安扔桃子，以表达自己的爱慕之情。

In the early Spring and Autumn period, the State of Zheng relocated from Shaanxi to the south of the Yellow River and was governed here for over 250 years. During this period, Zheng was a powerful state. Descriptions in the book "Records of the Grand Historian" portray the commercial vitality of Zhengzhou: "The whole world comes for profit." The development of commerce brought about an open-mindedness among the local people. Records of folk songs from the Zhengzhou region, such as "Odes of Zheng," mostly revolved around love, and even in diplomatic affairs, poetry was often used to express emotions. This open-minded spirit persisted into the Wei, Jin, Northern, and Southern Dynasties as well. Legend has it that Pan An, a handsome man living in Zhengzhou, would attract the pursuit of young girls whenever he stepped outside. They would throw peaches at him to express their admiration.

然而，好景不长，随着中国封建王朝的建立，郑州地区自由开放的民歌逐渐式微，妇女丧失了追求爱情的自由，商人遭受歧视。历史学家提到它时，更多的把这座城市和这样一个词汇联系在一起——逐鹿中原。

However, this golden era didn't last. With the establishment of feudal dynasties in China, the open-minded folk songs in Zhengzhou began to disappear, and women lost the freedom to pursue love while merchants faced discrimination. When historians mention this city, it's often linked with the idiom "Chasing Deer in the Central Plain" (to attempt to seize the throne).

Photo/Henan Provincial Administration of Cultural Heritage

郑州位于中原腹地，中国南北之交通要道。被称作是天下之中的郑州，自古就是兵家必争之地。战争给自然、经济、社会带来了巨大的破坏，但从另一个角度讲，它也将四面八方的文化带到这里。中国佛家、道家、儒家都在这里找到了生存的土壤，并得到发扬光大。天下闻名的少林寺，道家圣地中岳庙，儒家四大书院之首的嵩阳书院，都坐落在郑州境内就是一个很好的证明。

Situated in the heartland of the Central Plains, Zhengzhou is a crucial transportation hub connecting northern and southern China. Known as the center of the world, Zhengzhou has always been a contested territory. While wars significantly damaged nature, economy, and society, they also brought diverse cultures from all directions. Chinese Buddhism, Daoism, and Confucianism all found a place to not only survive but also flourish here as well. The world-renowned Shaolin Temple (Buddhist monastery), the Daoist sacred site Zhongyue Temple, and Songyang Academy (one of the four great academies in ancient China) are all located in Zhengzhou, bearing witness to this cultural convergence.

Photo/VCG

虽然郑州的文化血脉从未断过，但是作为一个城市，郑州的地位开始下降。郑、韩两国后，郑州再也没有以一个国家都城的身份出现过。在隋唐宋明清五个朝代，郑州都是一个州城。可以说，这个城市它太包容了，那么它可能就显得没有那么有棱角。正是这种包容形成了它大气而又厚重的独特魅力。

Though Zhengzhou's cultural heritage has never been severed, its status as a city has begun experiencing decline. After the states of Zheng and Han, Zhengzhou never regained its status as a national capital. Throughout the dynasties of Sui, Tang, Song, Ming, and Qing, Zhengzhou remained a provincial capital. This city is exceptionally inclusive, which might make it seem less distinctive. Yet, precisely, this inclusivity contributes to its grand and substantial unique charm.

Photo/VCG

穿越千年光阴，如今的郑州宛若朝霞初升，荣耀登峰，成为河南省的省会之城。它是国际枢纽之城。陇海、京广铁路在这里交会，中国首个米字型高铁也汇聚于此。铁路、公路、航天三位一体，跨境电商联通全球，缩短了郑州与世界的距离。两小时经济圈和两小时航空圈覆盖中国近90%人口和经济总量，让郑州成为亚太物流中心，辐射全国并联通世界。

Over thousands of years, Zhengzhou has emerged like the gentle glow of dawn, ascending to glory as the capital city of Henan province. It is an international hub where the Longhai and Beijing-Guangzhou railway meet, and China’s first asterisk-shaped high-speed rail converges. Well-developed highways, railways, aviation systems, and cross-border e-commerce shorten the distance between Zhengzhou and the world. Its two-hour economic and aviation circle covers nearly 90% of China's population and economic production aggregate, making Zhengzhou a logistics center in the Asia-Pacific region, radiating across China and connecting the world.

随着中国（河南）自由贸易试验区、郑洛新国家自主创新示范区核心城市、郑州航空港经济综合实验区三区叠加的国家战略在这里集合，郑州已成为全国功能性口岸最多的城市。郑州商品交易所是中国三大期货交易所之一。“郑州价格”指导着世界粮食生产和流通价格。如今，郑州已经站在了国际舞台的中央，为中原大地赢得了崭新的辉煌。

The three national strategies are integrated here, including the China (Henan) Pilot Free Trade Zone, the Zheng-Luo-Xin National Self-Dependent Innovation Demonstration Area, and the Zhengzhou Airport Economy Zone. Zhengzhou has become the country’s largest inland city, with the most functional ports. Zhengzhou Commodity Exchange is one of China’s three largest future exchanges. “Zhengzhou Price” guides the grain production and circulation price. Today, standing at the center of the international stage, Zhengzhou has reached a new peak of glory for the Central Plains, securing a bright future for the region.

Photo/cctv.com

2. 洛阳：千年帝都

洛阳，地处亚欧大陆桥东段，横跨黄河中游两岸，因处洛水之北而得名，素有“九州腹地”之称，已有5000多年文明史，是中国文明的主要发祥地之一。自中国“第一个王朝”——夏朝开始，先后有商、西周、东周、东汉、曹魏、西晋、北魏、隋、唐、后梁、后唐、后晋等13个王朝在此建都。这里建都年代最早、建都朝代最多、建都时间最长（长达1700多年）、堪称中华古都之首。

Luoyang, located in the eastern region of the Eurasian continent, spans the banks of the central reaches of the Yellow River. Its name is derived from its location north of the Luo River, earning it the title of the "Heartland of the Nine Provinces." With a history of over 5000 years, Luoyang is a significant birthplace of Chinese civilization. Starting from the Xia Dynasty, the "first dynasty" in China, it became the capital for a total of 13 dynasties, including the Shang, Western Zhou, Eastern Zhou, Eastern Han, Cao Wei, Western Jin, Northern Wei, Sui, Tang, Later Liang, Later Tang, and Later Jin. Luoyang holds the record for being the earliest capital, the most dynasties hosting their capitals, and the most prolonged duration as a capital (lasting over 1700 years), making it the foremost ancient capital in Chinese history.

即使是在洛阳作为非国都的时期，依然有人建议建都于此。西汉建都长安时期，时人经学家翼奉曾上书汉元帝迁都洛阳。北宋开宝九年（976年），太祖赵匡胤准备迁都洛阳，后被劝阻。民国时期，关于战后建都问题曾展开了较为充分的讨论，提出了战后国都的不同地点，其中就有倡议抗战结束后应以洛阳作为国都的意见。由此可见对于洛阳区位优势和古都地位的认同。

Even when Luoyang was not the capital, there were suggestions to relocate the capital to this ancient city. During the Western Han period, when Chang'an was the capital, the scholar Yifeng proposed to Emperor Yuan of Han to move the capital to Luoyang. In the ninth year of the Kaibao era in the Northern Song Dynasty (976 AD), Emperor Taizu Zhao Kuangyin considered relocating the capital to Luoyang but was dissuaded. During the Republican era, there were comprehensive discussions about the post-war capital, with proposals suggesting Luoyang as the national capital. This reflects the recognition of Luoyang's advantageous location and its status as an ancient capital.

Photo/VCG

洛阳除却是千年帝京之外，也是“英才之都”。“张衡创制天地仪”、“蔡伦造纸”、“毕升印刷”、许慎《说文解字》（中国最早的字典）、贾思勰的《齐民要术》（世界农学史上最早专著之一）、司马光《资治通鉴》等等，太多的鸿篇巨制成就于洛阳。

Beyond being a thousand-year imperial capital, Luoyang is also known as the "City of Outstanding Talent." Many great achievements originated here, such as Zhang Heng's creation of the celestial globe, Cai Lun's invention of paper, Bi Sheng's invention of printing, Xu Shen's "Shuowen Jiezi" (the earliest Chinese dictionary), Jia Sixie's "Qimin Yaoshu" (one of the earliest works on agriculture in world history), and Sima Guang's "History as a Mirror."

Photo/VCG

洛阳城，几千载，牡丹花娇艳不谢，繁华亦不曾歇。新中国成立以来，洛阳从火热的重工业建设中走来，大工业时代激情燃烧的岁月，铸就了老工业基地的昔日荣光。新中国第一台国产拖拉机，第一条浮法玻璃生产线都诞生在工业重镇洛阳。新中国第一颗原子弹，第一颗人造卫星，都镌刻着洛阳制造的历史痕迹。

For millennia, the city of Luoyang has witnessed the perennially vibrant and unfading bloom of peony flowers, symbolizing a prosperity that has stood the test of time. Luoyang flourished in modern China as the center of heavy industrial factories. The city was once an old industrial base. China's first domestically made tractor made its debut in Luoyang. The first float glass production line was made here, as well. China's first atomic bomb and the country's first satellite were all imprinted with marks "made in Luoyang."

改革开放的春风催生出古都向南跨河发展的建设浪潮，也赋予了洛阳开放的胸襟和创新的活力。装备制造、石油化工等主导产业浴火重生，从三峡工程、西气东输、南水北调到神舟飞天、蛟龙入海、中国天眼，传统产业匠心不改，铸造大国重器。机器人、新能源等新兴产业异军突起，形成国内最大特种机器人研发制造基地。新能源汽车关键零部件及配套产品国内领先。新兴产业锐意创新，支撑现代产业格局。千年古都，辉煌如诗，始终在新的篇章中续写。

The policy of reform and opening up has prompted Luoyang to develop southward and endowed the city with openness and innovation. Leading industries like equipment manufacturing and petrochemical production have been upgraded. Its involvement in major projects includes Three Gorges Dam, West-East natural gas transmission, South-to-North water diversion, the Shenzhou spacecraft, the Jiaolong deep-sea exploration device, and the Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Radio Telescope all have roots in this area. Emerging industries such as robotics and renewable energy products have sprung up rapidly. The most significant research and development centers for specialized robots are in Luoyang, including state-of-the-art factories producing accessories for alternative energy vehicles. Such innovation and new technologies continue to support and develop Luoyang's emerging industries. Glorious as poetry, the millennium-old capital continues to write new chapters in its history.

3.开封：北方水城

开封，古称汴京，是我国的七大古都之一和世界上唯一一座城市中轴线从未变化的都城。夏朝帝杼之时起，曾在开封一带建都232年，史称老丘。商朝曾在开封一带建都27年，史称嚣。公元前8世纪的春秋时期，郑庄公在这里修筑储粮仓城，取“启拓封疆”之意，定名“启封”。至汉，因避汉景帝刘启名讳，更名为开封。从公元前364年至公元1233年，先后有8个朝代在这里建都，尤其北宋，建都时间长达168年，成为北宋全国政治、经济、文化中心，著名的《清明上河图》便是刻画了当时开封繁华的景象。

Kaifeng, formerly known as Bianjing, is one of China's seven ancient capitals and the only city in the world whose central axis has never changed. From the time of Emperor Zhu of the Xia Dynasty, Kaifeng served as the capital for 232 years, known as Lao Qiu. During the Shang Dynasty, it was the capital for 27 years, known as Xiao. In the Spring and Autumn period of the 8th century BCE, Duke Zhuang of Zheng constructed a granary city here, naming it "Qifeng," whose meaning roughly translates as "expanding the borders." During the Han Dynasty, it was renamed Kaifeng to avoid using the name of Emperor Jing of Han. From 364 BC to 1233 AD, eight dynasties established their capitals here. Particularly during the Northern Song Dynasty, Kaifeng served as the national political, economic, and cultural center for 168 years, depicted vividly in the famous painting "Along the River During the Qingming Festival" or "Qingming Shanghe Tu" in Chinese.

Photo/China Daily

然而，这棵生长在黄河南岸的生命之树，在2000多年里，曾经无数次遭遇灭顶之灾。从汉唐时期至今，开封被黄河之水淹没过7次。而令人难以置信的是，在每次掩埋之后，开封人都毫不犹豫地把一个新的开封建设起来，并且至今没有改变那条城市中轴线。也就是说，在今天的开封城下，还有7个开封，从地面向下，每隔2米就埋藏着一个更加古老的开封。

However, this tree of life, growing on the south bank of the Yellow River, has faced numerous disasters over the past 2000 years. From the Han and Tang dynasties to today, Kaifeng has been submerged by the Yellow River seven times. Incredibly, after each inundation, the people of Kaifeng fearlessly rebuilt a new city, and to this day, the city's central axis remains unchanged. In other words, beneath today's Kaifeng are seven more ancient Kaifeng cities, each buried 2 meters apart.

Photo/China Daily

也许现在我们能够理解开封人为何那样喜爱菊花。作为“四君子”之一的菊花自有城以来便被养育，至唐，已是蔚然成风。所以有著名诗人刘禹锡“家家菊尽黄，梁园独如霜”的诗句。北宋时，养菊和赏菊均至鼎盛。此时诞生的世界上第一部菊花专著《菊谱》，已经奠定了开封作为世界菊花之都的地位。市井人家常有赛菊、换菊、送菊之习，皇宫相府多有插菊花枝、挂菊花灯、开菊花会、饮菊花酒之好。甚至曾有今人赞之曰：古今中外，天上人间，绝无可与当代开封菊花媲美者。

Now we can understand why the people of Kaifeng have such an affection for chrysanthemums. Since the city's inception, chrysanthemums, one of the "Four Gentlemen of Flowers" in Chinese art, have been cultivated, becoming particularly popular during the Tang Dynasty. The renowned poet Liu Yuxi wrote the verse, "At every home, chrysanthemums bloom in gold. Only in Liang Garden do they stand like frost." During the Northern Song Dynasty, both cultivation and appreciation of chrysanthemums reached their peak. The world's first monograph on chrysanthemums, "Chrysanthemum Treatise," was born during this period, establishing Kaifeng as the world's capital of chrysanthemums. The common people often have the custom of competing, exchanging, and sending chrysanthemums. In the imperial palace and the residence of the prime minister, there are many customs of planting chrysanthemum branches, hanging chrysanthemum lights, holding chrysanthemum parties, and drinking chrysanthemum wine. Some have even praised Kaifeng's chrysanthemums as unparalleled in the past and present, both in heaven and on earth.

Photo/Qingming Riverside Landscape Garden

文化的魅力始终是开封最大的魅力。“文化开封”是如今这个城市的第一品牌，其深入挖掘自身的优秀文化旅游资源，并进行创造性转化、创新性发展，逐步打造一批高质量的文化旅游项目。具体来说，开封文旅融合发展的新业态主要有三个方面：一是通过“文化 + 科技”的手段。清明上河园迎宾门前广场上的“中华巨马”便是最好的例子，它摆脱了传统机械马简单的仿真马表演模式，可以与游客进行互动，施展喷水、喷火等杂技，是一个移动的表演舞台；

The charm of culture has always been Kaifeng's greatest attraction. "Cultural Kaifeng" is the city's premier brand, delving deep into its outstanding cultural and tourism resources, creatively transforming and innovatively developing them, gradually creating a batch of high-quality cultural tourism projects. Specifically, there are three aspects to the new formats of integrated cultural and tourism development in Kaifeng. Through "culture + technology. " The "Chinese Giant Horse" in front of the Millennium City Park's reception square is an especially appropriate example. It has broken away from the simple simulation horse performance mode of traditional mechanical horses and can interact with visitors, performing acrobatics such as spraying water and fire, serving as a mobile performance stage.

二是通过“文商旅”模式。其中最具代表性的就是小宋城。小宋城是全省首个综合性的文商旅融合发展平台，既有宋代古城的风味，又具备现代都市特色；

Additionally, the "culture-commerce-tourism" model is another avenue through which culture and technology are linked. The most representative example is Xiaosong City, the province's first comprehensive platform for the integrated development of culture, commerce, and tourism. It possesses the flavor of the ancient Song Dynasty city and features modern urban characteristics.

三是通过“文化+ 演艺”的方式。目前，清明上河园的演出《大宋·东京梦华》已经成为文化演艺的知名品牌，深受国内外广大游客的喜爱，一些重要节庆更是一票难求。Finally, the "culture + performing arts" approach combines musical and artistic representations, effectively displaying cultural import to the region. Currently, "The Song Dynasty — Dreaming About Prosperity in Dongjing,” the Large Outdoor Scene Show on Water at the Millennium City Park, has become a well-known brand in cultural performing arts, deeply loved by many domestic and foreign tourists, with tickets for some crucial festivals in high demand.

文字资料来源于《文化河南名城（卷一）》郭俊民主编、《发现河南之美》蔡清新编、《千年帝京洛阳城》王丹、韩建新、万汝立编、《古都郑州》张松林主编

图源网络 侵删

文字翻译: 郭宇萌 南京师范大学 外国语学院硕士研究生

Translator: Yumeng Guo, Postgraduate Student, School of Foreign Languages and Cultures, Nanjing Normal University

译稿审校: 薛丽娜 副教授 河南大学 大学外语教研部; Michael McCormmach Hagen，博士研究生，路易斯安那大学门罗分校

Translation Proofreaders: Lina Xue, Associate Professor, School of College English Teaching and Research, Henan University; Michael McCormmach Hagen, EdD Student, University of Louisiana at Monroe

文稿编辑: 王云松 南京师范大学 外国语学院硕士研究生

Manuscript Editor: Yunsong Wang, Postgraduate Student, School of Foreign Languages and Cultures, Nanjing Normal University

项目主持: 王永亮 博士 南京师范大学 外国语学院硕士生导师

Project Coordinator: Yongliang Wang, Ph.D., Master's Supervisor, School of Foreign Languages and Cultures, Nanjing Normal University

本文系河南省哲学社会科学规划项目 "跨文化传播视域下河南文化符号的挖掘与对外传播研究”（编号：2021BXW007）的部分研究成果。

This article is a partial research result of "Exploring and Disseminating Henan Cultural Symbols from the Intercultural Perspective (Grant No.: 2021BXW007)" funded by the Philosophy and Social Sciences Program of Henan Provincial Government.

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