Ancient Qin Dynasty Capital Unearthed: Subway Construction Reveals 2000-Year-Old City of Feiqiu

A recent discovery in China has left the world of archaeology buzzing after construction crews discovered a series of artifacts and ancient buildings in the city of Xi'an by construction crews while excavating for the placement of a new subway line placement. 

This is not the first time this has happened in Xi'an. Xi'an is an ancient city in China, already home to some of the most famous and valued cultural relics of Ancient China. However, what makes this particular discovery so remarkable is the sheer amount of items researchers have recovered so far. 

A City Lost to Time

So far, around 1,600 individual relics have been discovered, along with an additional 1,400 tombs. While these findings are of course, spectacular, it is the other implications that come with this discovery that are so remarkable. 

Researchers are almost certain that these remains are what is left of the long-lost city of Feiqiu. Feiqiu was once the capital of the Qin region during the chaotic and turbulent times of the Warring States period that took place more than 2,000 years ago. 

This time in Chinese history was one of the most important as it would lay the groundwork for much of the nation's cultural identity and pride. It would also birth the first Chinese empire. 

The First Chinese Empire

From 771 BC to 221 BC the area that is today known as China was not a single unified nation but rather a collection of small feudal states that were in regular conflict against one another. The endless wars and subsequent instability that came out of this period cost millions of lives.

Originating in the state of Qin, the people who lived there were some of the last people in the region to embrace a form of culture that could be described as "Chinese" and instead followed a highly martial lifestyle that valued ability in war and combat over everything else.  

By the 2nd century BC, the Qin government began to centralize heavily and they soon found themselves much more organized and capable than their neighbors. The Qin started to conquer more and more land in the coming decades slowly and eventually became the unquestioned power within China. In 221 BC the Qin Dynasty was established under the rule of Qin Shihuangdi. 

A Lasting Legacy

Arguably the most long-lasting legacy that the Qin left behind was the simplification and standardization of the Chinese language. The Qin were obsessed with moving China away from its fractured feudal past and wanted to ensure that the state would be held together over a common language and culture. 

Not only did the Qin ignite the beginnings of the written Chinese language they would also leave us with some of the most significant cultural icons in Chinese history. Under the Qin, the First Great Wall was constructed. This first wall was not its own stand-alone structure but rather the joining together of other smaller walls that had previously existed.

The Qin would also leave behind the famous Terracotta Army which was kept secret for nearly 2000 years until it was accidentally found on the outskirts of Xi'an by a group of farmers in the late 1970s. This grand tomb remains as one of the most incredible archeological finds of the last century. 

Crushing Downfall

The rule of Qin did not last long. While the Qin were the first great unifiers of China, this great centralization effort came at a great cost. The Qin brutally cracked down on any form of dissent and introduced heavy taxes to pay for their large infrastructure projects and wars. 

The Qin were also famous for their suspicion of scholars and the educated and went as far as to burn books in a vain attempt to try and quell unrest amongst the upper classes. This only enraged the existing nobility even further and eventually led to a full-scale revolt in 210 BC after Shihuangdi died unexpectedly. 

China would once again fall into a brief period of anarchy and chaos until the Han Dynasty gained control of China in 207 BC. 

Hope For the Future

Feiqiu, the ancient capital of the Qin, much like the tomb of Shihuangdi, was eventually lost to time. This recent discovery in Xi'an could be a window into a deeper understanding and appreciation of one of the oldest and most fascinating cultures in the world. 

Each month more progress is being made at this site and even more artifacts are being pulled out from the ground. There is no telling what kind of invaluable secrets and information this site might hold. 

As far as we know, the unearthing of Feiqiu could provide an entirely new understanding of the empire that for all intents and purposes laid the groundwork for every Chinese Dynasty that proceeded it for the next 2000 years. 

Summary

The Qin Dynasty only lasted 14 years but it would establish itself as the first great Chinese Empire and usher in an unprecedented golden age witnessed under the Han Dynasty. Many of China's greatest cultural achievements were built under the supervision of the Qin. 

Even though little is known about the Qin, hopefully, this new breakthrough and Xi'an will shine some light on the darker areas of Chinese history.