Loulan is a small country in the ancient west of China, which is one of the thirty-six countries in the western region. It connects Qiemo, Jingjue, Jimi, Khotan in the southwest, Cheshi in the north, Yanqi in the northwest, bailongdui in the East and Dunhuang in the north. It is the key to the silk road.
The earliest recorded name of "Loulan" in the restoration of Loulan ancient city is "historical records": "Shanshan state, formerly known as Loulan, Wangzhi's Mud City, goes to Yangguan for 1600 Li and Chang'an for 6100 Li. According to historical records, Loulan people established their own country in the 3rd century BC. At that time, Loulan was ruled by Yueshi. From 177 B.C. to 176 B.C., the Huns defeated the Yueshi, and Loulan was under the jurisdiction of the Huns. In the Western Han Dynasty, Loulan had more than 14000 residents and nearly 3000 soldiers.
Before the Han Dynasty, people in the Central Plains didn't know there was such a mysterious ancient country. Zhang Qian, the great explorer of the Han Dynasty, sent to the western regions and for the first time brought Loulan into the sight of people in the Central Plains. With the development of the Silk Road, the ancient city of Loulan has become the only way along the ancient Silk Road. The prosperous commerce has brought huge profits to Loulan, and made Loulan people live a rich life. The commodities and culture of the central plains were also introduced into Loulan through the Silk Road, bringing the developed material civilization and spiritual civilization to Loulan. Loulan has become a paradise in the western regions and a paradise in the desert.
The relics of Loulan ruins | Loulan hat | however, the Western Han Dynasty inevitably declined, and the Central Plains began to fight incessantly, with no time to care about the western regions, and Loulan gradually lost contact with the Central Plains. In A.D. 400, the eminent monk FA Xian traveled to the west to learn the way. When he passed through this place, there were no birds on the top and no animals on the bottom. He looked at the eyes all over the place, only the dead bones were used as the sign ears. Loulan, an important town on the Silk Road, gradually disappeared from the stage of history after nearly 500 years of glory.
What is the power of the whole picture of Loulan ancient city to promote Loulan's decline? The loss of internal power or the invasion of irresistible external force? Where are the people of Loulan?
For the disappearance of Loulan City, the most popular view is that it is caused by the changes of the silk road. After the two Jin Dynasties, the Silk Road changed to the North Road, and the Central Plains Garrison and land reclamation in Loulan also moved northward. In this case, the ancient city of Loulan was gradually abandoned and finally disappeared.
Some people think that the war destroyed Loulan city. As an important place, Xiongnu, Tubo and Yueshi ruled Loulan in history. It can be seen from many cemeteries around Loulan city that there are different ethnic groups buried in the same area and in the same period. It is possible that after Loulan was occupied, the occupiers slaughtered the city and then evacuated, so Loulan was slowly annihilated by the sandstorm.
In addition, some people think that climate change is the cause of tragedy. There are two opposite guesses: one is Loulan destroyed by drought, the other is Loulan destroyed by flood. Those who hold the former view believe that Loulan is the only place to pass the silk road. Han, Hun and other nomadic countries often wage wars on Loulan's land, causing serious damage to water conservancy facilities and vegetation. After the 3rd century A.D., the riverbed of the lower reaches of Tarim River flowing into Lop Nur was silted up by wind and sand.
According to shuijingzhu, Loulan was seriously short of water after the Eastern Han Dynasty. In Dunhuang, Soller led 1000 soldiers to Loulan, and 3000 soldiers from Shanshan, Yanqi and Kucha were gathered. The water was diverted into Loulan by the riverside, day and night, which alleviated the water shortage of Loulan. But after that, although Loulan made the greatest efforts and attempts to dredge the river, the ancient city of Loulan was finally cut off. The lack of water resources makes people's health condition worsen and their resistance weaken, so the plague broke out. In order to survive, the residents of Loulan ancient city had to abandon the city and leave a dead city.
In the raging desert storm, Loulan was finally annihilated by the sand dunes. The basis of this statement is that explorers at home and abroad have not only found a large number of precious documents, but also various properties in the ruins of Loulan ancient city. It seems that Loulan ancient city was suddenly abandoned, but there is no trace of war here. Perhaps, only plague can create the scene of ten rooms and nine empty rooms, and make people desperate to escape.
The opposite guess is that the ancient city of Loulan was destroyed by the flood. Some people think that there was a large area of forest and various vegetation in Lop Nur depression and its surrounding areas 1600 years ago, where birds and beasts came and went. The ecological environment is very different from that of today. During this period, Tarim River, Peacock River and other rivers had sufficient water sources. The Peacock River was parallel to the ancient city of Loulan and only about 22 kilometers. If Loulan city was short of water, it could lead the Peacock River into the city.
Excessive logging causes serious damage to the natural environment, resulting in soil erosion and siltation of rivers and lakes, elevation of river bed and siltation of lake depth. Loulan ancient city is built on the top of the highland platform, surrounded by water outside the city.
The destruction of Loulan city may be that Lop Nur raised the lake water in a certain period of time, leading to the rise of water level and the spread of Loulan city to the West. At the same time, Loulan city and its surrounding crust sank, and the lower reaches of Peacock River and Tarim River poured into Loulan City, leading to the destruction of Loulan ancient city.
No matter what causes the ancient city of Loulan to become the ruins in the desert, the brilliant culture of Loulan will always exist in our memory & hellip;