Loulan is a small country in the west of ancient China, one of the 36 countries in the western regions. It connects Qiemo, Jingjue, Jumi, and Khotan in the southwest, Cheshi in the north, Yanqi in the northwest, bailongdui in the East, and Dunhuang in the East. It is the hub of the silk road.
Restoration of Loulan ancient city
The earliest record of the name 'Loulan' is in the records of the Historian: "the original name of the Shanshan state is Loulan. Wang Zhichi goes to Nicheng, which is 6000 Li to Yangguan and 6100 Li to Chang'an. According to historical records, Loulan people established their own country in the 3rd century BC. Loulan was ruled by Yueshi at that time. From 177 B.C. to 176 B.C., the Xiongnu defeated the Yueshi, and Loulan was ruled by the Xiongnu. Loulan had more than 14000 residents and nearly 3000 soldiers in the Western Han Dynasty.
Zhang Qian's mission to the western regions through Loulan
Before the Han Dynasty, people in the Central Plains did not know that there was such a mysterious ancient country. Zhang Qian, the great explorer of Han Dynasty, was sent to the western regions and brought Loulan into the sight of the Central Plains for the first time. With the opening up of the Silk Road, the ancient city of Loulan has become the only way of the ancient Silk Road. The prosperous business has brought huge profits to Loulan and made Loulan people live a rich life. The commodities and culture of central plains were introduced to Loulan through the Silk Road, which brought developed material civilization and spiritual civilization to Loulan. Loulan has become a paradise in the western regions and a paradise in the desert.
Loulan cultural relics | Loulan hat
However, the Western Han Dynasty inevitably declined, the Central Plains heroes began to fight incessantly, no time to care about the western regions, Loulan also gradually lost contact with the Central Plains. In 400 A.D., the eminent monk FA Xian traveled westward. When he passed through this place, it was already 'no birds on the top, no animals on the bottom, everywhere, only dead bones as the sign ear'. Loulan, an important town on the Silk Road, gradually disappeared on the historical stage after nearly 500 years of glory.
Complete picture of Loulan ancient city
What forces led to the decline of Loulan? The loss of internal force or the invasion of irresistible external force? Where did the people of Loulan go?
urban map
For the disappearance of Loulan City, the most popular saying is that it was caused by the changes of the silk road. After the two Jin Dynasties, the Silk Road changed to the North Road, and the garrison and garrison business of the Central Plains in Loulan also shifted 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. In many cemeteries around Loulan City, we can see that there are different ethnic groups in the same area and at the same time. It is possible that after the occupation of Loulan, the occupiers slaughtered the city and then evacuated, so Loulan was slowly annihilated by the wind and sand.
Eyes gaze at Loulan far away, want to cry without tears
In addition, some people believe that climate change has led to the tragedy. There are two kinds of tit for tat speculation, one is Loulan destroyed by drought, the other is Loulan destroyed by flood. Those who hold the former view hold that Loulan is the only place to pass along the silk road. The Han, Xiongnu and other nomadic countries often provoked wars on Loulan, causing serious damage to water conservancy facilities and vegetation. After the 3rd century, the riverbed of the lower reaches of the 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. Soller of Dunhuang led 1000 soldiers to Loulan, and summoned 3000 soldiers from Shanshan, Yanqi and Qiuci to pour water into Loulan day and night, alleviating the water shortage in Loulan. But after that, although Loulan man-made efforts and attempts to dredge the river, the water supply of Loulan ancient city was finally cut off. The lack of water resources worsened people's health and weakened their resistance, so the plague broke out. In order to survive, the residents of Loulan had to abandon the city and leave behind a dead city.
Loulan was finally annihilated by sand dunes in the raging desert storm. This view is based on the fact that domestic and foreign explorers 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 the plague can create the scene of "nine empty rooms" and make people desperate to escape.
The opposite guess is that Loulan ancient city was destroyed by flood. Some people think that before 1600 years, there was a large area of forest, a wide variety of vegetation, birds and beasts in Lop Nur depression and its surrounding areas, and the ecological environment was very different from now. During this period, Tarim River, Kongque River and other rivers had sufficient water resources. Kongque River was parallel to Loulan ancient city and only about 22 kilometers away. If Loulan city was short of water, Kongque River could be diverted into the city.
Due to the excessive cutting, the river bed of the lake is seriously eroded and the environment of the lake is seriously damaged. Loulan ancient city is built on the top of the highland platform, surrounded by water.
The destruction of Loulan city may be due to the uplift of lake water in Lop Nur at that time, which led to the rise of water level and the westward spread of Loulan city. At the same time, the crust of Loulan city and its surrounding areas sank, and the lower reaches of Kongque River and Tarim River poured into Loulan City, resulting in the destruction of Loulan ancient city.
No matter what causes the ancient city of Loulan to become ruins in the desert, the splendid culture of Loulan will always exist in our memory & hellip; & hellip;