History of Ordos

Prehistoric civilization

Genghis Khan Mausoleum in the Ejin Horo Banner
At the southern end of the Ordos grassland, there is a river originating from Dingbian County in northwestern Shaanxi, flowing through the Otog Banner and Uxin Banner in Inner Mongolia, and then flowing from the east of Batuwan Village into the territory of northern Shanxi, after converging with Xiangshui River. It flows into the Wuding River, a tributary of the Yellow River, to the southeast. In the loose Mu Us Sandyland, a “U” shaped river valley is washed out. This river is known as the Sarawusu River. Sara Wusu, Mongolian means yellow water, which means that the river here is yellow all the year round; on both sides of the river is covered with swaying red willows, so people also call this river “Hongliu River”. It is in this river. In 1922, the French Catholic priest Sang Zhihua first discovered a fossil of the “Hetao People” here. Since then, Chinese archaeologists have visited the site many times. A large number of cultural relics have been discovered, and as early as 35,000 years ago, “Hetao people” lived here. The material culture created by the “Hetao People” is now called “Salawusu Culture”. After a comprehensive analysis of geology, animal fossils and stone tools, the Sarawusu culture was identified as the late Paleolithic culture.

Hetao civilization is the product of the integration of grassland culture and Yellow River civilization. Its long-term development and complex transmutation process, especially the relationship with Urad and Ordos Mongolian culture, also illustrates the relationship between Hetao civilization and Yellow River civilization. Hetao culture is one of the important components of the mainstream culture of the northern grasslands. In the grassland culture, the Hetao culture is both a source and a stream. As a source, Hetao culture has a historical accumulation of symbiosis with the northern grassland culture. As a stream, it is different from the Mongolian classic culture in the eastern part of Inner Mongolia, such as Hongshan culture and Khorchin Mongols culture. It has its unique development trend. In the origin of grassland culture, it is a source of the late Paleolithic period, which originated from the prosperity of ancient ethnic minorities. It was formed in the Qin, Han, Ming and Qing Dynasties, and it is a cultural system of modern and contemporary civilization. It is an independent unit culture circle of grassland culture and a complete regional cultural system, which plays an important role in the composition of grassland culture.

Ancient history

Before the Zhou Dynasty, it was a nomadic area such as the Guifang and Lin Hu. In the Warring States Period, it was the Yunzhong County of the Zhao State Territory, and later belonged to the Qin State. At the beginning of the Han Dynasty, it was the front line of the Xiongnu and Han wars. Emperor Wu of Han Dynasty set up the Shuofang County here. When Emperor Xuan of Han called the Huxie Chanyu to come, he became the residence of the Southern Xiongnu. Later, Hu Han lived in harmony, and the Uprising of the Five Barbarians broke out in the Western Jin Dynasty. Sixteen Kingdoms were the pre-Qin and post-Qin territory. The Northern Dynasties belonged to the Northern Wei Dynasty, the Western Wei Dynasty, and the Northern Zhou Dynasty. In the Sui and Tang Dynasties, they were all territories. In the Tang Dynasty, they were placed in the party, and the famous General Guo Ziyi once held this position. During the Anshi Rebellion, Emperor Suzong of Tang fled to this place.

Before the Zhou Dynasty, it was a nomadic area such as the Guifang and Lin Hu. In the Warring States Period, it was the Yunzhong County of the Zhao State Territory, and later belonged to the Qin State. At the beginning of the Han Dynasty, it was the front line of the Xiongnu and Han wars. Emperor Wu of Han Dynasty set up the Shuofang County here. When Emperor Xuan of Han called the Huxie Chanyu to come, he became the residence of the Southern Xiongnu. Later, Hu Han lived in harmony, and the Uprising of the Five Barbarians broke out in the Western Jin Dynasty. Sixteen Kingdoms were the pre-Qin and post-Qin territory. The Northern Dynasties belonged to the Northern Wei Dynasty, the Western Wei Dynasty, and the Northern Zhou Dynasty. In the Sui and Tang Dynasties, they were all territories. In the Tang Dynasty, they were placed in the party, and the famous General Guo Ziyi once held this position. During the Anshi Rebellion, Emperor Suzong of Tang fled to this place.

Source From: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ordos_City#History_of_Ordos_City