Shengle () was the capital of the
Xianbei
The Xianbei (; ) were a Proto-Mongolic ancient nomadic people that once resided in the eastern Eurasian steppes in what is today Mongolia, Inner Mongolia, and Northeastern China. They originated from the Donghu people who splintered into t ...
-led
Dai state and the first capital of the
Northern Wei dynasty in the 4th century. The ruins of ancient Shengle is located at present-day Xiyaozi and Tuchengzi village, Shengle Township of
Horinger County, 40 kilometre south of
Hohhot
Hohhot,; abbreviated zh, c=呼市, p=Hūshì, labels=no formerly known as Kweisui, is the capital of Inner Mongolia in the north of the People's Republic of China, serving as the region's administrative, economic and cultural center.''The ...
,
Inner Mongolia
Inner Mongolia, officially the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, is an autonomous region of the People's Republic of China. Its border includes most of the length of China's border with the country of Mongolia. Inner Mongolia also accounts for ...
.
During the
Han dynasty
The Han dynasty (, ; ) was an Dynasties in Chinese history, imperial dynasty of China (202 BC – 9 AD, 25–220 AD), established by Emperor Gaozu of Han, Liu Bang (Emperor Gao) and ruled by the House of Liu. The dynasty was preceded by th ...
, the city was part of the
Dingxiang Commandery and known as Chengle County. Towards the end of the dynasty, the commandery was abandoned due to Xiongnu invasions. The city was then settled by
Tuoba Liwei
Tuoba Liwei () was the first leader of the Tuoba
The Tuoba (reconstructed Middle Chinese pronunciation: *''tʰak-bɛt''), also known as the Taugast or Tabgach ( otk, 𐱃𐰉𐰍𐰲 ''Tabγač''), was a Xianbei clan in Imperial China. Wei Sho ...
(219-277), the first leader of the
Tuoba
The Tuoba (reconstructed Middle Chinese pronunciation: *''tʰak-bɛt''), also known as the Taugast or Tabgach ( otk, 𐱃𐰉𐰍𐰲 ''Tabγač''), was a Xianbei clan in Imperial China. Wei Shou. ''Book of Wei''. Vol. 1
During the Sixteen Kin ...
clan of the Xianbei. In 315,
Tuoba Yilu became the first King of Dai and made Shengle the northern capital of Dai.
Tuoba Gui, the grandson of the last Dai king, founded the Northern Wei empire. In 398, he moved the capital to the city of
Pingcheng (modern-day Datong) in Shanxi Province. The site would later become the capital of the Zhenwu County of the
Liao dynasty
The Liao dynasty (; Khitan: ''Mos Jælud''; ), also known as the Khitan Empire (Khitan: ''Mos diau-d kitai huldʒi gur''), officially the Great Liao (), was an imperial dynasty of China that existed between 916 and 1125, ruled by the Yel� ...
.
Parts of the rammed-earth walls of the ancient city are still intact. The peripheral walls run 1,550 meters from east to west and 2,250 meters from north to south.
[http://nmg.sina.com.cn/travel/2019-04-09/detail-ihvhiqax1223659.shtml 北魏鲜卑王朝的早期都城—盛乐古城. Sina.com, April 09, 2019]
References
{{reflist
Archaeological sites in China
Major National Historical and Cultural Sites in Inner Mongolia
Ruins in China
Northern Wei