Summary: (1) Contribution to the Silk Roads' OUV The Site of Weiyang Palace in Chang’an City of the Western Han Dynasty is the palace remains of the capital city of the Western Han Empire (2nd century BC-1st ...

 

 

 

 

(1) Contribution to the Silk Roads' OUV

The Site of Weiyang Palace in Chang’an City of the Western Han Dynasty is the palace remains of the capital city of the Western Han Empire (2nd century BC-1^st century AD) at the early period of the unified imperial history of China. Located in the southwest of the Chang’an City site in Guanzhong Basin of East Asia, the palace site stands on the earliest eastern starting point of the Silk Roads, demonstrating all the cultural characteristics of an early capital city for the unified empire of Chinese nation and witnessing the decisive role of the empire in the pioneering of the Silk Roads.

(2) General Information

Founded in 202 BC, Chang’an city was the capital of the Western Han Empire (2nd century BC - 1st century AD). The city was located on the tableland alongside Wei River in the northwestern suburb of present-day Xi’an, Shaanxi province. The city enjoys a favorable geographic position with Qin Mountains, Zao River and Wei River respectively to its south, west and north. The Guanzhong Basin in which the city was located was an important traditional farming district of China and one of the cradles of the Chinese civilization. Weiyang Palace, as the most important palace of the capital city of Western Han Dynasty, was the center of power of the Han Dynasty and kernel of the Chang’an city. The Palace was founded in 200 BC48. The Weiyang Palace was located in the southwest corner of Chang’an city of the Han Dynasty. The contour of the palace was approximately a square, covering an area of 4.8 square kilometers. Palace gates were built on the four sides of the Palace and turrets on the four corners. There are major east-west and north-south roads crossing the palace area. The front hall, located in the east-central of the palace, was a high-platform architectural complex consisting of several architectures constructed on the same platform. To the north of the front hall were the Jiaofang Hall, the royal offices such as central government offices and Shaofu office. The southwest district was the imperial garden area with remains such as Cangchi Pond. The north parts of the palace were royal cultural buildings with Tianlu Pavilion and Shiqu Pavilion. To the west and south of the Palace are the west wall and south wall of Chang’an city of the Western Han Dynasty. Until now, three city gates have been found, namely, Zhicheng Gate, Zhangcheng Gate and Xi’an Gate. In addition, city moat remains and road remains have also been discovered outside the site of the city.

(3) Attributes

With grandiose scale (4.8km2)49, square contour with the main hall (front hall) in the center, enormous highplatform architecture and other surrounding buildings of all types, the remains of the palace form a perfect witness to the urban cultural tendency50 of the early Chinese empires in displaying its imperial power through the shaping of grand scale capital city image, and to the sublime oriental civilization located on the eastern end of the Silk Roads. As the power center of the Han Empire, the Weiyang Palace is the decision-making and commanding center for the empire’s ambitious mission to pioneer a route leading to the West Regions. It witnessed the empire’s efforts in seeking possibilities of dialogue and exchange, and its significant historical accomplishments in pioneering the Silk Roads and the progress of Chang’an city. Thus it bears dual values as the starting point, both in space and time dimensions.

The site of Weiyang Palace in Chang’an City of the Western Han Dynasty, as the power center of the Oriental empire for over 200 years, revealed the origin of the Silk Roads as a cultural route of long-distance transportation and communication of mankind and provided important guarantees for cultural exchanges along the Silk Roads.