Turning to the history of China, since the beginning of the Qin and Han Dynasties, the Hexi Corridor has always been in a flurry of activity, and has become a road of exchange between the Central Plains Dynasty and successive Western civilizations, and even the Western world, as well as a place of wrestling between the Central Plains Dynasty and the neighboring ethnic minority regimes. Retracing this historical development helps us to understand the ethnic integration of the Hexi region.
I. The superior geography of the Hexi Corridor
The Hexi Corridor is located in the area of today's Gansu, and its name is derived from the following: "Ganliangsu in the west of Gansu, because it is located in the west of the Yellow River, since ancient times known as the Hexi. [1] its place in Mongolia between the plateau and the Tibetan plateau, but also in the "Qilian Haili two mountains in the north and south and confrontation" [2] between the formation of a plains, suitable for farming and cultivation, and the transportation detained travel rest, for a natural corridor. As this area connects the central plains and the western region, favoring walking. And the north bordering Ningxia, the south rely on Qinghai, southeast and Shaanxi, northwest and Xinjiang, Inner Mongolia border, China's longest east-west railroad line Longhai - Lanxin line through here, the railroad line has Wuwei, Zhangye, Jiuquan, and other important cities, this is still the link between Asia and Europe, communication between the Pacific Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean is an important channel. The Hexi Corridor is surrounded by dangerous terrain, and has been a place of war since ancient times. Peripheral minority regimes to seize this place, the north and south can be linked, **** offenses against the Central Plains. The center of the regime to defend it, then can cut off the western minority between the north and south connection, and can be split to send troops in order to control it.
The specific advantages of the Hexi Corridor are as follows: (a) the Hexi Corridor north of the pillow Haili, Longshou two mountains, south of the Qilian, two veins confronting the long, narrow and flat area, shaped like a corridor, the length of the corridor more than 1,000 kilometers, only 100 kilometers wide, since the Western Han Dynasty, Zhang Qian to open up the corridor with a lifetime of hard work, this place has stretched up to 2,000 years of bleakness and splendor of the famous Ancient Silk Road passed through from here, which is the This is the world-famous Hexi Corridor, which is the main gateway from eastern China to the western regions. Hexi Corridor is located in the Qilian Mountains, and the Qilian Mountains by the cold climate of the plateau, the Qilian Mountains at an altitude of 4200 meters above the alpine zone, snow all year round, in the spring when the flowers bloom, the Qilian Mountains of ice and snowmelt water into the streams, the Hexi Corridor is the people of the region rely on the basis of subsistence is the basic guarantee of the prosperity of the economy and culture here. Oasis dotted in the arid northwestern land, is the ancient and modern stagecoach travelers must pass through. As a pass in the Qilian Mountains of the Hexi Corridor - Jiayuguan Pass, meaning "beautiful valley", is the starting point of the western end of the Great Wall of China's Great Wall of China, an important pass on the Silk Road, standing majestically between the Qilian Mountains and Montenegro, located in the western section of the Hexi Corridor at the narrowest point, the terrain is precipitous, imposing and majestic, and it is a place for business travelers. Steep, majestic, has always been a place of war, known as "the world's strong pass" (B) irrigated agriculture and ecological agriculture in the West Corridor region's climate type for the temperate continental climate, precipitation is scarce, the climate is dry, due to the special geographic location and the soil, water, climatic conditions, resulting in this ancient oasis of water that is good land, no water is a desert. Without water, it is a desert. As the topography of the Hexi Corridor is characterized by high north and south, low in the middle, east and west for the long and narrow corridor, the southern high Qilian Mountains, is an important source of water in the Hexi Corridor, its ice and snowmelt and rivers on the formation of the Hexi Corridor oasis, the distribution of the population, as well as the rise of towns and cities and the development of a huge role; central corridor plains, irrigated agriculture with a long history is China's Northwest Oasis Irrigation District of the essence of the treasure. The level of agricultural production technology and economic development in the Hexi Corridor is at the forefront of Gansu Province, with a long history of irrigation, and spring wheat, millets, cereals, corn, sorghum, potatoes, and houmous are the main crops in the oasis. However, the oasis also faces severe ecological and environmental conditions and the resulting difficult task of sustainable socio-economic development. Hexi Corridor oasis only accounts for 17.4% of the total area, the rest for the desert, the Gobi and difficult to use the oasis, the Hexi Corridor every year the number of days of high winds of about 60 days -70 days, the average wind speed of up to 4 kilometers per hour, where not only is China's sand and wind eastward and southward passage, or China's northern region, one of the main sources of sand and dust area. The existing ethnic groups are Han, Mongolia, Hui, Tibet, Kazakhstan, Yugu and other ethnic groups.
Two, the Hexi Corridor ancient history
Qin to the early Han Dynasty, the Hexi Corridor successively for the Wusun, Yuezhi, Xiongnu land. [In 174-161 B.C., King Huitu of Xiongnu and King Hunxie drove away the Wusun and Yuezhi clans who had been living and grazing here, and occupied the Hexi Corridor. In the Western Han Dynasty, a county was established in the second year of Emperor Wu's reign [121 B.C.], with the county being subordinate to the Liangzhou Assassin's Department. Later, it was extended to the Western Jin Dynasty under the jurisdiction of the Liangzhou Assassins. During the Eastern Jin Dynasty, it successively belonged to the territories of Qianliang, Qianqin, Houliang, Xiliang and Beiliang. When the Northern Wei Dynasty unified the north, it was still Liangzhou. Later, the Northern Wei Dynasty was divided into several prefectures. In the Tang Dynasty, after the first year of Dali [766], the Western Corridor was successively occupied by the Tubo. In the fifth year of Dazhong [851], Zhang Zhichao recaptured the western part of the river and returned it to the Tang. During the Five Dynasties period, migratory birds occupied several areas, and after the establishment of the Western Xia, the Hexi Corridor became under the jurisdiction of the Western Xia. After the 17th year of Jiading [1224], it belonged to Mongolia. In the Yuan Dynasty, Mongolia abolished the Western Xia's Fan and County, and in the 18th year of the Yuan Dynasty [1293], it established Gansu Xingzhongshu Province [in Zhangye]. Ming Dynasty, Hongwu five years [1372], the Hexi Corridor under the Shaanxi Buzhengji. Twenty-seven years [1394], under the Shaanxi line of command [in Shaanxi less]. At the beginning of the Qing dynasty, followed the Ming system. Yongzheng seven years [1729], directly under the Gansu province, Buzhengji [in Lanzhou].
China's exchanges with exotic civilizations have a long history, and ancient artifacts from archaeological excavations around the world have amply demonstrated this. The second century BC, Zhang Qian "chiseling" the Western Regions, the Silk Road officially became the communication between China and foreign countries, "State Road", messengers, merchants and businessmen in the road, so that when the Western Regions, "the secret" is not secret. Oasis Silk Road from Chang'an (Xi'an), by the Wei River into the Long, over the Hexi Corridor to Dunhuang, and then by the Yangguan, Yumen Pass, Hami is divided into the South, in the North Road. As the largest quantity of goods exported through this road was silk from the Central Plains, it was later named the "Silk Road" by the German geographer Richthofen, which originally meant the transportation route between China and Central Asia (between the Amu Darya River and the Syr Darya River), as well as between China and India in the Han Dynasty. Because the "Silk Road" can be a vivid image of the nature of the high degree of generalization of the traffic between China and the West, and since then Chinese and foreign historians have followed the use, and the generalization of China to Asia, Africa and Europe, the general name of the traffic. Thus talk about the Silk Road, there are four kinds of statements, namely, the northern steppe across the Eurasian continent of the Silk Road; through the Central Asian desert area of the oasis Silk Road; through Southeast Asia, India, arrived in the Persian Gulf, the Red Sea of the Maritime Silk Road; through the Sichuan, Guizhou, Yunnan, Tibet, Guangxi, India, Southeast Asia and the Southwest Silk Road. Generally known as the Silk Road, is the Oasis Road, here focus on the interpretation of the Silk Road is also the Oasis.
The opening of the Silk Road, for the Chinese and foreign culture and art in the heart of Asia to create the conditions for the convergence of exchanges in the region, when the transportation to camel and horse, car-based, round trip takes more than three years. China's silk, jade, gunpowder, paper, papermaking, papermaking from this into Asia, Africa, Europe, a vast area, Zoroastrianism, Nestorianism, Manichaeism, Buddhism, Islam from this into the Central Plains, civilization of the world's Silk Road has become a veritable connecting link. After Xuanzang went west to India to get the scriptures, the book written by the Datang Records of the Western Regions described the geographical scenery along the way, ethnic customs, historical legends. Today on the Silk Road, still remains reflecting the cultural, economic and political exchanges and integration of many of the relics, since modern times, constantly unearthed investigation and excavation continue to confirm the prosperity of the original years.
Third, the Hexi Corridor of the major historical events
(a) Hexi Corridor took shape during the period of the event
1. In the second year of Yuanhao [121], in order to eliminate the threat and open up the connection with the western region, Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty sent General Huo Daizi to lead the army to conquer the Huns, who were entrenched in the western part of the river, and King Huotu, in the spring and summer. Huo Zaiwei led his troops deep into the hinterland and swept away five Xiongnu kingdoms, winning a great victory and forcing King Hunxie to kill King Huutu to return to the Han Dynasty. Legend has it that Huo Zaiwei once celebrated his success at the Jinquan here and drank wine with his soldiers, hence the name "Wine Spring". The Han Dynasty took this name and set up Jiuquan County and Wuwei County in the west of the river.2. Four counties were set up according to the two passes. In order to consolidate the western part of the river and manage the western region, the Western Han Dynasty set up Zhangye and Dunhuang counties from Wuwei and Jiuquan counties respectively in 111 BC. In the west of the river, there were four counties, namely, Wuwei, Zhangye, Jiuquan and Dunhuang. At the same time, it also built Yangguan Pass and Yumen Pass, which were the gateways to the western regions. For the operation of the western region, open up the western and eastern transportation to create more favorable conditions, in China's history has had a far-reaching impact.3. Repair the Great Wall, set up pavilions and barriers. The Western Han Dynasty, on the basis of the victory against the Xiongnu, extended the Great Wall built by Emperor Qin Shi Huang westward to Jiuquan, and then from Jiuquan to Longle County in Dunhuang County, which extended the Great Wall of Qin more than 1,000 kilometers westward. Along the Great Wall every five miles, ten miles and set up pavilions, barricades, that is, beacon piers. The big one is called the barrier, the small one is called the pavilion, there is a garrison defense bears the reclamation of production, fighting to protect the border of the dual task. 4. The Han Dynasty's immigration policy, the development of Hexi played a major role. According to "Han Shu", "Historical Records" records, the Western Han in the set Zhangye County, Jiuquan County, that is, after the opening of the field officials, has moved from the interior of the plug pawns 600,000 people to the garrison here. A large number of immigrants in Jiuquan, Dunhuang, not only increased the population of labor, but also brought the advanced production technology in the Central Plains, culture, the development of the Jiuquan area, made a significant contribution. 5. Zhang Qian twice through the Western Regions, the opening of the "Silk Road". Western Han in the Hexi according to the two passes, build four counties to strengthen the control of the Hexi area at the same time, but also focus on the development of the Hexi area of the social economy, the prosperity of the Silk Road. In 138 BC, Emperor Wu sent Zhang Qian to cross the Hexi Corridor occupied by the Xiongnu to the Western Region to liaise with the Yuezhi clusters and **** against the Xiongnu. Qian returned in 126 BC without success. In 119 years ago, the emperor again sent Zhang Qian to the Western Regions, Qian with an entourage of more than 300 people, carrying 10,000 heads of cattle and sheep, gold, silk and property 10,000,000 money, out of Chang'an, through the Hexi Jiuquan, through the Xinjiang region to the Usun, and sent deputy envoys as far as India, Iran's Hamadan. Yuan Ding two years [115] Qian returned to Chang'an, "Silk Road" opened. After the emperor and moved to Iraq, Egypt, Alexandria and other countries. From then on, the Chinese and Western exchanges unprecedentedly frequent, the Silk Road, across Asia, connecting Africa and Europe, up to 7,000 kilometers long, connecting the world's oldest cultural birthplace of a China, India, Babylon, Egypt and Ancient Greece, Rome, the seat of culture, and the Jiuquan, Dunhuang is the place where it must pass. Envoys to the Western Regions "look at each other in the road, large hundreds, less than a hundred people, more than ten batches a year, less than five or six batches". China's four great inventions were spread westward through this road, and the specialties of the Western Regions and Central and Western Asia were also introduced into the Central Plains along the Silk Road.
(2) Historical Events in the Period of Consolidation and Development
1. Dugu defeated the northern Xiongnu, and Banchao operated the Western Regions. At the beginning of the Eastern Han Dynasty, in the first year of Jianyuan [25 A.D.], the Northern Xiongnu became powerful and conquered most of the Western Regions, which had once been ruled by the Western Han Dynasty, and the Silk Road was cut off again. In 29 A.D., Dou Rong, a warlord who occupied the western part of the river, led five counties in the western part of the river to submit to the Eastern Han Dynasty. In 73 A.D., Liu Xiu, the Ming Emperor of the Han Dynasty, sent Dou Gu to lead the armored soldiers of Zhangye, Jiuquan, Dunhuang, and other places, along with twelve thousand Qianghu cavalrymen, from Jiuquan, defeating the king of the northern Xiongnu's Huyan, and opening the door into the Western Regions. The famous Ban Chao made great achievements in this battle, and Dou Gu sent him to the Western Regions. After hard work, Ban Chao repaired with the countries in the Western Regions and finally restored the transportation between the mainland and the Western Regions, which had been interrupted for more than sixty years, and he became the Capital Protector of the Western Regions in 91 A.D.. After more than thirty years of activity in the Western Regions, Ban Chao wrote to the Emperor of the Eastern Han Dynasty, saying, "I do not dare to hope to reach the Jiuquan County, but I wish to enter the Yumen Pass in life," and asked to leave the Western Regions. In 102 A.D., Ban Chao was finally ordered to return to Luoyang, and he was already an old man.2. The King of Xiliang moved the capital to Jiuquan. During the more than three hundred years of civil strife in the period of the two Jin and the North and South Dynasties, Jiuquan experienced the reigns of nine ruling regimes, including the Western Jin, the Former Liang, the Former Qin, the Later Liang, the Western Liang, the Northern Liang, the Northern Wei, the Western Wei, and the Northern Zhou, etc. The longest reign of the Northern Wei lasted for ninety-six years, and the shortest one, the Former Qin, lasted only for ten years. Among them, Li Hao (李暠), the capital of the Xiliang Kingdom, was established at Dunhuang in the fourth year of Long'an [400], and then moved to Jiuquan in the first year of Yixi [405]. During these three hundred years of turbulent times and the period of great integration of the people, the Hexi Corridor became a cosmopolitan city for trade between the East and the West and for the fusion of cultures. The Hexi Corridor became a cosmopolitan city of East-West trade and cultural fusion, and was home to many celebrities and talents. Suo Jing, Zhu Falu, Song Yun, Song Fiber, Guo Li, Liu Jie, Placebo, Qijia, etc. are all well-known local scholars. Such as Jiuquan Qijia, specializing in Dunhuang Palace reading, proficient in the scriptures, and then open the door in Jiuquan to teach students, disciples of more than 2,000 people. 3. Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty Western Tour. In 581 A.D., the Sui dynasty was established in 589, the destruction of Chen, the end of more than two hundred and eighty years of division between the north and the south, the unification of the country. In the first year of Daye [605 years], dismissed Suizhou, with Fulu County into Zhangye County. In 609 A.D., Emperor Yang went to Zhangye on his western tour, and the messengers from twenty-seven local regimes in the western region came to meet with him, wearing gold and jade, wearing brocade, burning incense and playing music, singing and dancing noisily. Emperor Yang and made Zhangye, Wuwei women dressed up, around dozens of miles, to show the strength of China. This is an unprecedented event in the history of Jiuquan Dunhuang, also reflects the prosperity of Jiuquan, Dunhuang at that time. 3. Tang monks through the Suzhou to get the scriptures. Tang Zhenguan three years [629] in the fall, Xuanzang from Chang'an, by Qinzhou, Lanzhou, Liangzhou, Suzhou, a short stay, that is, the wind and sleep to Guazhou, Hu Shi wallpapers as a disciple, awarded the "five precepts", and in Guazhou state Li Chang and an old man's help, embarked on the road of the long west. With the help of Wang Xiang and Wang Bolong, the captains of the Beacon Tower, he was able to reach Iwu via Dunhuang. 4. Zhang Zhichao returned to the Tang Dynasty. In the first year of Guangde [763], Suzhou fell to the Tubo. Dazhong two years [848] in March, the sand state people Zhang Zhi Chao led the masses of uprising, expulsion of the Tubo generals, one after another captured Guazhou, Izhou, West state is Turpan], Ganzhou, Suzhou, Lanzhou, Shanshan state [east of Qinghai], and the state [Linxia] Minzhou [Minxian], the contour of the state [Hualong in Qinghai] and so on the ten continents. After the success of Shazhou Uprising, Zhang Zhichao sent an envoy to Chang'an to return to justice. Dazhong five years [851] in August, Zhang Zhichao official worship Shazhou defense, November, then promoted to Shazhou Festival Minister. The west of the river is stabilized and affluent.
(C) the unification of the Hexi Corridor
1. Genghis Khan to take Jiuquan. 1206, Genghis Khan united the tribes in the northern desert, built a strong tribal alliance and a brave and warlike Mongolian cavalry. 1225 years of Mongolian soldiers returned from the western expedition, because of the default of the Western Xia, which had been subjugated to the 1211, did not go on the western expedition, and the Western Xia. 1226 years in March, the Hexi states of drought, the people have nothing to eat. In March 1226, the western states of Henan had a severe drought, and the people had nothing to eat. In April, the Mongolian soldiers attacked Western Xia. Genghis Khan led the troops to go first melon, Shazhou. Shazhou guards were false surrender ambush lost, turned to attack Suzhou. Suzhou for the Western Xia town, heavily guarded, Temujin siege for several days, inside very anxious. Chia defends the city for Mongolia thousand Xili Inscription Department of the brother lift Lisha dedication, family members were exempted from the death of 106 households, return to their fields. Seal his son Asha and other hereditary Daru Hua Chi for Suzhou. The rest of the townspeople were killed. The following year, broken Shazhou, following the conquest of Gan, Liang and other states, in 1227 the Western Xia perished, Su, Gua, Shazhou 3 states all for the Mongolian soldiers all. Because of the war was burned, captured, destroyed the land of agriculture and mulberry, to Yuan 27 years although there is a recovery, su, sand 2 states still not ten thousand people, su state only eight thousand seven hundred people. Suzhou for Daru Huachu resident, and the lower river Qing imperial city, Wenshu Mountain, Jinta Prince Zhuang, Yumen Chikin, Blongier, Shazhou and other places are the Yuan dynasty size of the king's residence. 2. Feng Sheng repair Jiayuguan. In the fifth year of Hongwu's reign (1372), the Ming Emperor sent Feng Sheng, a general of the Ming Dynasty, to lead his troops to defeat the Yuan army and pacify the whole territory of the western part of the river. Feng Sheng built Jiayuguan Pass to control the gateway to the western region, abandoning Gua and Sha states outside the Pass. 3. Pei Cheng expanded Suzhou City. Hongwu 28 [1395], Suzhou Wei commanders Pei Cheng, expanding Suzhou City. Ming Chenghua two years [1466] governor Xu Tingzhang and additional construction of the East Pass. In the east city outside the exhibition of 4 miles and 80 paces, the old and new city around **** 8.3 miles. 4.m. Ding's chaos. Qing Shunzhi four years [1647], the Qing Dynasty, the initial settlement of the country, some of the Ming Dynasty generals, secretly anti-Qing banner, waiting for an opportunity to move. And rice prick India, Ding Guodong two first Lanzhou as a stronghold, the city broke after running Ganzhou. Ganzhou broken, rice died. Ding went to Suzhou, embraced the Tulongtai as the king, will gather Suzhou Hui people and Hami and other places Uyghur reinforcements according to the state city. Jiayuguan inside and outside back, Uyghur and other ethnic groups have responded. In May, the Qing army pursued to Suzhou under the guidance of Yu Xianlong. In December, Zhang Yong and General Ma Ning broke through Suzhou. Killed Ding Guodong. Anxi, Dunhuang from the scourge of war, Mi Ding of the rebellion began to level.
(D) modern Hexi Corridor events
1. Zuo Zongtang governance of Hexi. Guangxu three years [1877] in February, Zuo Zongtang moved section Suzhou. In July of the following year, Zuo Zongtang donated funds to restore the Jiuquan College, for the neighboring counties where students want to study. 1880, Zuo Zongtang supervised the injury of the camps of the leisure, the next to undertake the repair of the county houses, roads, bridges, shrines and temples, schools, and repairing dams, extensive planting of trees. The following year, change jiuquan academy for the college, open exams, take students on the spot. Cowpox sub-bureaus in all counties and societies, planting pox for children. Sino-Russian Treaty of Ili was signed, the provisions of the Russians in Xinjiang and Lanzhou to Jiayuguan can be traded, the beginning of the temporary exemption from taxation, the Russian goods imported, checking and release. 1890 October, Xi'an to Suju Telegraph Line was completed, more than 2,900 miles long. It cost 200,000 taels of silver for labor and materials. In 1904, the Drum Tower of Sujhou City was rebuilt. 2. Wenjia Circle Uprising. On the eve of the Xinhai Revolution, the darkness and corruption of the Qing government and its humiliating foreign policy provoked more and more resistance from the people. The vast number of peasants in the west of the river area by the harsh taxes, catching the soldiers sent the pain, the revolutionary mood to trigger. 1911 October 10 Wuchang Uprising took place, the provinces have responded. Winter, the revolutionaries Qi Delong to practice medicine in the name of Jiuquan, Jinta and other places, actively organizing and liaising with the revolutionary action, and in Jiuquan organized four. Five hundred people of the team, in order to wai mao wenjia circle as a stronghold, training army, manufacturing gunpowder, weapons, scheduled for the waxing moon 30 [February 17, 1912] five night uprising, in response to the Xinhai Revolution, the joint attack on the city of Jiuquan. The result was leaked, was suppressed by the Qing army, was killed more than a hundred people, Qi Delong in the Fangjiatunzhuang near the martyrdom. 3. Red Army bloodbath out of Qilian. Republic of 26 years [1937] in February, the West Road Army into the Qilian Mountains, the Kuomintang deployed Jiuquan County's three militia, with the Ma Bukang Department in the red cliffs and along the Qilian Mountains in the Gaotai blocking the Red Army westward, but also Jiuquan merchants with the Ma army to Anxi, Shibaocheng, and other places in pursuit of the Red Army. The left detachment of the West Road Army out of the Qilian Mountains, rest and recuperation Mushroom Terrace. Attack Anxi city lost, in Wangjiazhuang breakout, and after a bitter battle red willow garden, into Xinjiang.4. Peaceful liberation of the west of the river. 1949 August 25 after the liberation of Lanzhou, the first field army two corps along the Ganxin highway pursuit of the enemy of the west corridor, one after another to liberate the city along the line, and set up all levels of the military control committee.
Re-study the history of the Hexi Corridor, we should not only recognize the importance of the location of the Hexi Corridor, but also to see the history of the Hexi Corridor is China's multi-ethnic mingling of the region, which is the local multi-ethnic mix of historical reasons. To study history, it is important to learn from the past as well as to draw experiences and lessons from it. Good ethnic relations are conducive to both the prosperity of the Hexi Corridor region and the stability of China's western frontier.