The ancient Sizhou or old Sizhou ruins were located in Xuyi County, Jiangsu Province in 2013. "Fengyang Prefecture Chronicles" says: "Sizhou overlooks the Huaihe River in the south and controls the Bianliu River in the north. Although the land is flat and open, it is covered with hills and ridges, the mountains and rivers arch towards each other, and the atmosphere is green, making it a beautiful area."
< p>In ancient Sizhou, it was the state of Xu during the Xia, Shang and Zhou dynasties. During the Spring and Autumn Period, the State of Xu was destroyed by the State of Wu, and Xu belonged to the State of Wu. After the Yue Kingdom destroyed Wu, Xu belonged to Yue again. During the Warring States Period, after Chu destroyed Yue, Xu belonged to Chu. Qin belonged to Sishui County, which was Sishui County in Shandong Province after the founding of the People's Republic of China. When Chu and Han were fighting, Xu belonged to Western Chu. After the establishment of the Western Han Dynasty, Xu first belonged to Chu and then to Pei State, which was Peixian County of Jiangsu Province after the founding of the People's Republic of China. At the beginning of the Eastern Han Dynasty, Guangwu merged into Donghai (today's Tancheng, Shandong), and later became Linhuai County, which is today's Linhuai Town, Sihong County. In the 15th year of Emperor Yongping of the Han Ming Dynasty (AD 72), it was changed to Xiapi State and governed by Xiapi (Pizhou, Jiangsu after the founding of the People's Republic of China). During the Three Kingdoms period, it was also Linhuai and belonged to Xiapi. In the Jin Dynasty, Xiapi belonged to the county, and Linhuai County was placed in Xuyi in Huainan, and Xu belonged to Linhuai. The Later Wei Dynasty moved Xu County to the south of Xuzhou, the Liang Dynasty changed it to the east Xuzhou, the Chen Dynasty changed it to Anzhou, and in the Later Zhou Dynasty it was changed to Sizhou. From then on, Sizhou got its name. In the Sui Dynasty, Sizhou was renamed Xucheng County, under the jurisdiction of Xiapi County, and later renamed Sizhou. From the Tang Dynasty to the beginning of Germany, Sizhou was under the jurisdiction of Henan Province and governed six counties, namely: Linhuai, Lianshui, Xucheng, Xiapi, Suqian, and Hongxian (today's Si County). During the Five Dynasties, Sizhou was occupied by the Southern Tang Dynasty. Zhou Shizong took it and it was still Sizhou. In the second year of Jianlong of the Song Dynasty (961), Xucheng County was abolished. In the first year of Qiande (963), Xuyi from Chuzhou and Zhaoxin came from Haozhou. In the third year of Taiping and Xingguo's reign (978), Lianshui was cut off and established as Lianshui County. Sizhou administered Linhuai, Zhaoxin, and Xuyi counties under the jurisdiction of Huainan Road. In the third year of Jingde (1006), Linhuai County was moved to Xuchengyi. From then on, Linhuai was no longer a county. In the 5th year of Song Xining (1072), it belonged to Huainan East Road. In the 11th year of Shaoxing in the Southern Song Dynasty (1141), it was ceded to the Jin Dynasty through peace talks. It was still Sizhou. It was a defense historical administration office. It belonged to Nanjing Road and had jurisdiction over five counties: Huaiping, Hongxian, Linhuai, Lingbi and Suining. In the 27th year of Yuan Dynasty (1290), Xuyi and Tianchanglai belonged to Henan Province. During the Zhizheng period, Yangzhou established the province of Huainan and changed its prefectural status. The reform was in Linhuai County, and the prefecture became more friendly to the people. In the Ming Dynasty, Sizhou belonged to Fengyang Prefecture, which governed Xuyi and Tianchang. In the 2nd year of Yongzheng in the Qing Dynasty (1724), Sizhou was promoted to Zhili Prefecture, and Wuhe came under it. It governed Xuyi, Wuhe and Tianchang counties and belonged to Fengyang Prefecture.According to "Sizhou Chronicles": "Sizhou is located in the extreme south of the state, facing the Huaihe River and facing Xushan Mountain. The city was built in the Song Dynasty. There were two old east and west cities, both built with earth. They were built with bricks in the early Ming Dynasty. It was made of stone and combined into a city, with the Bian River passing through it, and it was nine miles and thirty steps in circumference, and it was two feet and five feet high." Sizhou City has 5 city gates, the east gate has Huilong Bridge, the west gate has Yongning Bridge, and the south gate imitates the Yueyang Tower, which is majestic and majestic. Between the south gate and the west gate, there is a gate named Xianghua Gate, and the north gate is called Chaoque Tower. All the gates of Sizhou City have water gates, the west gate is Jingangdu, and the north gate is iron window lattice. In order to prevent floods, there are 6 moon cities and 6 moon gates built outside the city. The moon gates are like two gates within a gate. When there is a flood outside the city, the moon gates are blocked first, and pedestrians can enter and exit from the moon city embankment. This form of ancient city is rare in China.
Although Sizhou City is low-lying and has long been known as the Zexiang Water Country, its political, economic, cultural and military status is very important because of its developed water and land transportation. It is the throat of the Central Plains and the key point between the north and the south. During the Tang and Song Dynasties, royal grain supplies were transferred here, and groups of ships were anchored here. At that time, there was a poem praising: "The official boats and passengers are full of bream in Huai-Bian, and the carriages and horses are rushing without stopping."
Sizhou City not only had developed water and land transportation at that time, but also had a prosperous economy, and it also had the ten scenic spots of Sizhou: That is, Fuliang practicing shadows, Huilan evening bell, Huai River smoke, Xushan towering green, Yuwangtai dawn moon, Lingrui pagoda morning glow, Shicuitang spring Ji, Guajiantai autumn wind, Jiugang mountain winding shape, a The word river belt. There is also Puzhaowang Temple, one of the five famous temples in the country at that time. Its main building is the Sangha Pagoda, which is 300 feet high and casts a spectacular shadow on the Huai River. Ouyang Xiu praised these charming scenery: "The sky is blue with blue clouds and the bamboos are quiet, and the warm sun hits the ground and the flowers are blooming day by day." Su Dongpo praised her: "The water is trickling, the jade is leisurely, and the long bridge is brightly lit." "In the Ming Dynasty, Sizhou City was full of ships, shops, merchants, and wine flags. The politics, economy, and culture of Sizhou City reached its heyday.
Sizhou City In addition to the unique geographical conditions, there is another important reason for the unprecedented prosperity, that is, the construction of the Ming Dynasty's ancestral tomb. After Zhu Yuanzhang conquered the country, he found the Zhu family's ancestral tomb 13 miles north of Sizhou City, so he built the first tomb of the Ming Dynasty. Mausoleum - the Ming Zu Mausoleum. Here Zhu Yuanzhang buried his great ancestor, his clothes, and the bones of his grandfather. The prestige of the Ming Zu Mausoleum brought unprecedented prosperity to Sizhou City and also brought hidden dangers to it.
In the end, in the 19th year of Kangxi (1680), this ancient and famous city in a beautiful area was completely destroyed. It was submerged at the bottom of Hongze Lake by the roaring waves of the Yellow River. of the second Pompeii. As a result, the myth and legend of the Jellyfish Queen sinking into Sizhou has been spread among the people to this day.
Myths are myths. In fact, there are two reasons for the sinking of Sizhou City: First, the Yellow River moved southward and blocked the entrance to Qingkou, preventing the Huaihe River from flowing directly down. In addition, a flash flood occurred in the 19th year of Kangxi's reign, and the lower reaches of the Huaihe River were silted up. The water was several feet higher than the embankment. Lingrui Pagoda stood like a pillar in the water, and later sank together with the city. Secondly, Pan Jixun, a flood control expert in the Ming Dynasty, adopted the method of storing clear water, brushing yellow, and improving transportation. The policy of river control is to build large embankments on both sides of the Yellow River to block breaches and divert water to attack sand. At the same time, build Gaojia Weir (the Hongze Lake Embankment) to force Huaihe water into the Yellow River to attack sand. He overhauled the Taihang Embankment on the north bank of the Yellow River, built embankments on the south bank of the Yellow River, and extended the embankments on both sides of the Yellow River down to Huaiyin. After this large-scale management, the Yellow River became stable for a while. However, due to the continuous siltation of the river bed, the number of breaches on both sides of the Yellow River increased. During the 23 years of Wanli's reign in the Ming Dynasty (1596-1619), the Yellow River burst 18 times, almost every year. During the rule of the Ming Dynasty, the Huaihe River Basin changed. In addition to the main stream of the Yellow River turning from south to east, passing through Xuzhou to seize the Si and Huaihe Rivers, and the disaster area moving down to Jiangsu and Shandong, the Hongze Lake embankment was also built, and on the embankment Sluice gates and dams were built to divert the Huaihe River from flowing into the sea and into the river. In the 32nd year of Wanli in the Ming Dynasty (1604), a canal was opened from Weishan Lake to Luoma Lake to avoid the danger of Yellow River shipping. This is now part of the Hanzhuang Canal. Although peace and tranquility in the Yellow River were temporarily achieved, the water level was artificially raised. After Pan Jixun was dismissed from his post, the imperial court sent Shao Bi, the imperial censor, to Sizhou to control the water. The Shaogong Embankment built by Shao Bi and the masonry embankment to protect the Mingzu Mausoleum brought temporary peace, but the outcome was doomed to Sizhou. The city cannot escape the fate of being flooded. According to research: From the 19th to the 21st year of Wanli in the Ming Dynasty (1591-1593), there were floods in Sizhou for three consecutive years. The floods came over the city, fish swam through the city gates, boats sailed through the treetops, and countless people died. In the Qing Dynasty, the foreign rulers only knew how to build dams to block the water, but did not think about channeling and curing the floods. In the end, they directed the tragedy of the sinking of this ancient city.
After the sinking of Sizhou City, the state office was moved to the northwest foot of Xushan Mountain, hanging over Huaihu Lake. It was not until 97 years later in the 42nd year of Qianlong (1777) that "Governor Min Gong was ordered to govern across Huaihu Lake. It was inconvenient to control the city. The rainbow was closest to Si, so he asked Hong to return to Si. The territory and folk customs were combined in Si, and the city was used as the city. The government of the state was moved from Xushan to Hong (today's Si County), and the three counties of Xuyi, Tianchang and Wuhe were still under its jurisdiction. It's time. Hong County was demoted to Hong Township. "Fengyang Prefecture Chronicle" records: Xinsizhou "naps on Pingshan Mountain in the north, stretches to the Huaihe River in the south, has a heavy hill in the east, is surrounded by Lingbi in the west, Panlong and Zhushan are blocking it on the left, deer roaring and Yinling are surrounding it on the right, strangling Xu Huai. The gateway leads to the boats and carriages of Yanyu. Although the wilderness is flat, the feng shui is naturally prosperous and it is a metropolis in the southeast." Sizhou was abolished and became Si County, directly under Anhui Province. By 1949, Si County was separated into Sihong County, which was under the jurisdiction of Jiangsu Province. In 1955, Xuyi County was also transferred from Anhui Province to Jiangsu Province.
According to "Sihong Hezhi": Although there were ten scenic spots in ancient Sizhou, they were old rather than new. There are eight sceneries in Hongxiang in Xinsizhou, namely: evening rain on Chishan Mountain, spring scenery in Yangcheng, evening sunshine on Pingshan Mountain, night moon in Yinling, wind with cypresses and lotuses, coiled dragons in snow, smoked willows on Sui embankment, and clear waves in Bianshui River.
1. Chishan Muyu: Chishan is 70 miles northeast of the state, winding for thousands of feet, with red soil and rocks. In the twilight drizzle, the flying rainbow drips green, like a flying dragon and a dancing phoenix, walking gracefully. The ancients wrote in their poems about traveling to Chishan, "There are looming grasses in the clouds. I also learned from the experts to pick weeds. When I walk to the peach garden and the flowing water, I can pick up the bright moon with the head of my stick."
2. Spring scenery in Yangcheng: Yangcheng The lake is located forty miles west of the state. It is said that it was the ancient Hong Jiuzhi and has been submerged in water for a long time. It is said that the towering city walls can often be seen in the mist, just like a mirage. Every spring, the grass on the lakeside is luxuriant, wild flowers bloom, deer chase sheep, rabbits hop and birds fly. There are also octagonal glazed wells dotting the scene, making the scenery even more charming. There is poetry to prove it. Gong Qihui, a man from the Qing Dynasty, wrote: The ripples are blue when the ice is thawed, and the spring returns to the sand. There are resident egrets hidden in Zhupu and clear kites underwater in the wild. The fragrant swallows dance in the mud, and the fish are startled by the green algae. From then on, the stick quinoa passed by, returning with traces of green fragrance.
3. Evening photo of Pingshan: Pingshan is located 20 miles north of the state and is surrounded by greenery like a screen, so it is named Pingshan. This mountain looks like a sleeping tiger, so it is also called Crouching Tiger Mountain. Mountains produce beautiful rocks. Legend has it that there is a huge white stone on the hillside. Under the setting sun, it shines like silver, which can also be seen when standing on the north city gate tower. The ancients called it a wonder.
4. Yinling Night Moon: Yinling Mountain is 50 miles west of the state. Although the mountain is not big, its name is mentioned in "Historical Records" and has long been famous. There is also a saying that "Yinling Mountain is ten thousand feet high and it is difficult for birds to fly." "This mountain is where the overlord of Chu lost his way. In the past, the mountain path was winding, and in the dead of night, when the moon was high, it still looked quiet and charming. Ye Zhishu of the Ming Dynasty chanted: "To the east of the small village in the north of Yinling Mountain, it used to be said that the heavy pupils were fascinated by this place. Today I occasionally pass by the battlefield, and the ancient trees in the setting sun are allowed to be roosted by crows." There is a historic site in the north of the mountain, the tomb of Yu Ji, with a subtitle on the tombstone: Yu Xi However, beauties have had a bad life since ancient times; Ji Ye is safe, leaving only the green grave to face the dusk. There is also a poem from "Yu Meiren": The song of Chu chases the sorrowful clouds, and in the night tent, under the bright lights, I shake my clothes and dance to wipe the dragon spring, and pour my blood in front of the king. Gu Zhui was speechless. The situation in the army changed, like a snowy knife shining in chaos. Pieces of peach blossoms fall in the east wind, and the flowers are the source of the fragrant grass with red tears.
5. Baipu Lotus Wind: In Baijia Lake, 50 miles north of the state, whenever the lotus blooms, the fragrance is fragrant and unique. The lake is full of lotus flowers, white and green contrasting each other, and the scenery is elegant. Ancient literati often went boating on the lake, reciting poems and painting.
6. Panlong Snow: Panlong Mountain, commonly known as Laoshan, is 30 miles north of the state. The rocks are layered on top, spiraling up, shaped like a coiled dragon, with scales like armor. The Jade Emperor Pavilion was once built on the mountain, which is particularly spectacular against the white snow. The ancients called it Panlong Snow.
7. Sui Dyke Yanliu: Sui Dyke is Biandi, and Bianshui River is Tongji Canal, also called Sui and Tang Canals. It was excavated in AD 605. Willows are planted on the banks of the Qianli Bian embankment, covering the ground with thick shade, like a green sea. In the spring season, the woods are filled with pink and white apricots, competing for glory, birds chirping, and bees flying saucers. Bai Juyi of the Tang Dynasty chanted Liu Yun in the Sui Dynasty: "During the Daye year, the emperor raised willows and planted rows of willows beside the flowing water. In the spring of February during the Daye year, the willows were as colorful as smoke and catkins, with the Yellow River in the west and the Huaihe River in the east, and the green shadow was 1,300 miles away."
8. Clear Waves in Bianshui: A poem by Li Yi of the Tang Dynasty said: "The Bianshui flows eastward with endless spring, and the palaces of the Sui family have turned into dust. Pedestrians should not look towards the long embankment, for the poplar flowers in the wind will make people sad. During the Daye period of the Sui Dynasty, Sui Dynasty Emperor Yang wanted to go to Yangzhou to see Qionghua, so he mobilized millions of people to dig a Tongji Canal. The river was more than a thousand miles long, passing through Suzhou and Lingbi and passing through Sizhou. The water was especially wide and deep in the Qingyang Town area. The flying bridge looks like a rainbow. When you look down from the bridge, you can see the clear blue waves of the Bian River. The fish are swimming in the light green water, and the fish are singing to each other in the clear sunset. ”