From Nomadic Roots to Royal Capital

In 677 BCE, under the reign of Duke De of Qin, the semi-nomadic Qin people established their capital at Yong (modern-day Fengxiang, Shaanxi). This marked a pivotal transition from tribal mobility to centralized statehood during the tumultuous Spring and Autumn period. The site’s strategic location—nestled between the Yong River to the south and Zhifang River to the east—provided natural defenses while allowing access to fertile lands and trade routes.

Archaeological evidence reveals Yong served as the political and ceremonial center for over three centuries, even after the official capital moved to Jingyang in the early Warring States period. Remarkably, Yong retained symbolic significance—the future First Emperor Qin Shi Huang would return here for his coronation ceremony in 238 BCE, demonstrating the enduring sacred status of this “spiritual capital.”

Architectural Marvels of a Rising Power

Excavations since 1959 by Shaanxi archaeologists have uncovered a sprawling 10.9 km² irregular rectangular city, protected by massive earthen walls up to 15 meters thick. The urban plan showcased advanced engineering:

– Defensive Systems: The western wall stretched 3.2 km with three gatehouses (8-10m wide), while a 25m-wide moat enhanced western perimeter security. A 60m² defensive platform on the northern wall suggests sophisticated military architecture.
– Royal Precincts: The elite northern district contained three monumental complexes:
– Yaojiagang Palace (20,000 m²) yielded 64 exquisite bronze architectural fittings with intertwined serpent motifs, likely from the legendary Dazheng Palace.
– Majiazhuang Complex featured China’s earliest intact ancestral temple (181 sacrificial pits containing chariots, humans, and animals), revealing Qin religious practices.
– A five-courtyard administrative center (326.5m long) may represent the Qin dukes’ court, with its “品”-shaped hall arrangement anticipating later imperial designs.

Ice Houses, Markets, and Urban Life

Beyond palaces, Yong boasted remarkable infrastructure:
– The Lingyin ice-storage facility could preserve 190m³ of winter ice—an ancient “refrigerator” with drainage channels connecting to the Baiqi River.
– China’s earliest excavated marketplace (20,000 m²) at Zhaijiasi had gated walls and yielded Qin banliang coins, while stamped pottery shards reading “Xianyang Ward” hint at neighborhood administration.
– Workshops producing bronze weapons (evidenced by mold fragments) and ritual vessels clustered near the northern walls, showcasing early industrial specialization.

The Silent Sentinels: Qin Royal Necropolis

South of Yong, the 12km² necropolis contains 13 burial complexes with 33 tombs, including:
– Four “中”-shaped royal tombs (reaching 300m length) flanked by chariot pits
– Three concentric moat systems (inner, middle, outer) creating ritual boundaries
– Over 200 commoner graves at Gaozhuang, demonstrating strict social stratification through burial practices

Legacy of a Forgotten Capital

Though superseded by Xianyang in 350 BCE, Yong’s influence endured:
1. Architectural Prototypes: The axial temple layouts and ceremonial courtyards foreshadowed Han dynasty palatial designs.
2. Cultural Synthesis: Bronze fittings blend Zhou dynasty motifs with distinctive Qin zoomorphic elements, reflecting state formation.
3. Historical Irony: The very city where Qin rulers plotted unification became, by 206 BCE, the site where their dynasty collapsed—the last Qin ruler surrendered at Zhiyang Palace near Yong.

Modern excavations continue rewriting history—the 2022 discovery of a 5,500 m² bronze workshop confirms Yong’s role as an early industrial hub. As archaeologists painstakingly reconstruct this 2,700-year-old urban landscape, Yong emerges not merely as a political capital, but as the crucible where Qin’s imperial ambitions were forged.