A Study On The Location Of Capital Cities In Early Ming Dynasty

The capital as the center of the national regime, is the materialized carrier of country or political power. Since ancient times, the capital location has been a event of every dynasty or regime. Many discussions about the location of capital about are very rich. For example,Rites of zhou speaks "when a king build a state, he will set up the capital that is located a geely place." "Pipe"and "Degree" speak "saints choose places as capitals that are located fertile lands and have got good positions. ""Ride a horse" speaks "saints choose places as capitals next rivers in order to irrigates crops. ""Lu spring and Autumn" speaks "saints choose places as capitals that are in the middle of their countries." "Tai Ping Yu Lan" speaks "saints choose places as capitals that are in the middle of their countries, which is to control the whole country.Choosing the location of the capital is one of the most important state of dynasties and at the beginning of the ruling establishment. The location, topography, climate, resources, transportation of the city become important factors for choosing the capital.The choice of the capital in Ming Dynasty was be sure finalized after five dynasties and seventy years. We think that Zhu Yuanzhang regarded Nanjing as capital, but Zhu di moved the capital to Beijing. So it became the system of two capitals.In the fact,the city was sure as the capital,which emperors and ministers saw changes of situations,then determined in the early Ming Dynasty.During the formation of the system of two capitals, Statuses of main capitals and ministrant capitals were changing. And we think that mainly capital was in Beijing, Nanjing was as staying the capitals. But the thought are not be keeping with all the time of dynasties. In the early Ming Dynasty being sure locations of capitals is a worthy case in ancient Chinese history.This paper is divided into five parts.The first part:Introduction. It mainly introduces the academic background and foundation of the research.The academic research on the location of the ancient capital of China has made great progress and achievements.This passage is based on achievements of saints, and strive to deeply discuss matters of locations of capitals in the Ming Dynasty.The second part:It combs the formation and evolution of the ancient capital of Chinese system.There are many names of Chinese ancient capitals.they are classified by main or auxiliary all regime.System of chinese ancient capitals includes three capitals system, four capitals system,five capitals system, six capitals system,and so on. This part combs names characteristics and forms of ancient capitals.Then the part easily combs forms of main capitals and evolution of contents according to chronological order, laying the groundwork for the composition of capital form in the early Ming dynasty.The third part:This part describes in detail the evolution of Ming Hongwu Period of site selection. From Jinling and Daliang as capitals to setting the middle capital in Ming dynasty, then abandoning Jinling and Daling,finally Zhu yuanzhang sent Zhubiao to inspect the Guanzhong and moved the capital to Guanzhong during as Nanjing of the capital.The fourth part:This part describes in detail that there are some wandering and determination about the system of two capitals from Yongle period to Zhengtong period. From Yongle wrested the power from the emperor by Jingnan military campaign and planed to move the capital to Beiping to his son named Ren emperor moved the capital to Nanjing, then Nanjing was main capital with Beijing as the second capital.In fact, the status between Beijing and Nanjing is opposite.The fifth part:Through the previous part of the paper, this part further discusses the influencing factors of the early Ming Dynasty on the basis of site selection. It includes changes of politics and military situation, will and interest of the ruling class, influence on locations of cities.Being as Nanjing of the capital,after setting up Kaifeng and Zhongdu as capitals and abandoning its, then emperor moved capitals to north in the early Ming dynasty, including the system of two capitals,which gave evidence of that affected factors.