Luy Lâu
First capital of Chinese-ruled Vietnam
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Luy Lâu (Nôm: 羸𨻻) (< Middle Chinese ZS *liuᴇ-ləu < Eastern Han Chinese *lyai-lo[note 1]) or Liên Lâu (Nôm: 𨏩𨻻) was the first capital of the Han commandery of Jiaozhi/Giao Chỉ from 111 BC following China's conquest of Nanyue/Nam Viet till 106 BC. present.[1]
Thành Dâu (Dâu Citadel) | |
Diên Ứng Pagoda at the center of Luy Lâu Citadel. | |
  Luy Lâu / Liên Lâu Location within Northern Vietnam. | |
| Location | Thanh Khương little zone, Thuận Thành ward, Bắc Ninh province |
|---|---|
| Region | Giao Chỉ |
| Coordinates | 21°02′18″N 106°02′59″E |
| Type | Citadel |
| History | |
| Periods | Han Dynasty |
| Cultures | Hanziphere |
History
According to the surveys of researcher Philippe Papin, at the beginning of Công Nguyên, the Southeastern area of modern Hanoi was still under the sea level. Therefore, it was very difficult to settle down.[note 2][note 3]
Since the middle of the belonging to the North, according to the records of the officials from the mainland China, the area of modern Bắc Ninh province was almost swampy.[2]
Luy Lâu was also the headquarters of the larger province of Jiaozhou/Giao châu and the center of China's maritime trade on the Gulf of Tonkin and South China Sea. The ancient citadel is at Thanh Khương ward in Thuận Thành town in the province of Bắc Ninh.[note 4][note 5]
Luy Lâu became a major center for Buddhism in Vietnam.[note 6] Although the Roman embassies probably arrived at the later capital Long Biên, it may have been the earlier Luy Lâu that was the origin of Ptolemy's Kottinagara.[citation needed]
On 7 October 2024, the Vietnam National Museum of History and the Bắc Ninh Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism jointly conducted an excavation at the Luy Lâu ancient citadel relic.[3]