Phong Châu

Phong Châu (峯州) was the capital city of Văn Lang (now Vietnam) for the most part of the Hồng Bàng period,^[1] from the Third dynasty to the eighteenth dynasty of Hùng kings.

LocationBạch Hạc District, Việt Trì, Phú Thọ Province, Vietnam

RegionNorthern Vietnam

Coordinates21°16′54″N 105°26′31″E

TypeSettlement

Quick facts Location, Region ...

Phong Châu
History
峯州
Phong Châu Shown within Vietnam
Location	Bạch Hạc District, Việt Trì, Phú Thọ Province, Vietnam
Region	Northern Vietnam
Coordinates	21°16′54″N 105°26′31″E
Type	Settlement
Builder	Unknown, was already in existence during the third dynasty of Hùng kings
Abandoned	3rd century BC
Periods	Third dynasty to Eighteenth dynasty of Hùng kings

History

The historical site was the third capital of Văn Lang, following the previous capital Nghĩa Lĩnh. Its ruins are located near Bạch Hạc District, Việt Trì, Phú Thọ Province, and also the name of Phong Châu district, Phú Thọ province.

Chinese sources, dated back to the Tang dynasty (7th- to 9th-century), were the earliest historical sources which mention Phong Châu as the capital of the ancient state of Văn Lang.^[2]^[3]^[4]^[5]^[a]

The 15th century book Đại Việt sử ký toàn thư (Đại Việt Complete History) gave more information about Phong Châu. According to legend, the site was where Âu Cơ, wife of King Lạc Long Quân, gave birth to their children,^[8] commemorated at the Hùng Temple in modern Phong Châu district, Phú Thọ province. For this reason, the history of Phú Thọ province is closely linked to that of the country itself. Phong Châu's eventual downfall was due to the weakening of the Hùng king, following the rise of foreign powers. In 258 BC, the Âu Việt tribes under the leadership of Thục Phán sacked Phong Châu during their invasion of Văn Lang. With the end of the Hùng King Epoch, the seat of government moved to Cổ Loa.

Notable people

Kiều Công Tiễn^[9]
Kiều Công Hãn (vi), a warlord who held Phong Châu, Bạch Hạc, Phu Tho Province, during the Anarchy of the 12 Warlords.

Note

[a]
However, Chinese records also state that another people, who lived elsewhere, were also called Văn Lang.^[6]^[7]

References

[1]
Anh Thư Hà, Hò̂ng Đức Trà̂n A brief chronology of Vietnam's history Page 4 2000 "while the remaining sons followed their father to the sea in the South, except for the eldest who was assigned to succeed his father as the next King Hùng. King Hùng named his country Văn Lang with Phong Châu (Bạch Hạc district, Phú Thọ ..."
[2]
Kiernan 2019, p. 53.
[3]
Du You, Tongdian, Vol. 184 "峰州(今理嘉寧縣。)古文朗國，有文朗水。亦陸梁地。" translation: "Fengzhou (now Jianing prefecture) [was] the ancient Wenlang nation; there was the Wenlang river; also a wanderers' land."
[4]
Taiping Yulan "Provinces, Districts, and Divisions 18", Section: Lingnan Circuit" 《方輿志》曰：峰州，承化郡。古文郎國，有文郎水。亦陸梁地。" Translation: "'Geographical Almanacs' said: Fengzhou, Shenghua district. It was the ancient Wenlang nation; there was the Wenlang river; also a wanderers' land...
[5]
Yuanhe Maps and Records of Prefectures and Counties vol .38 "峯州承化下... 古夜(!)郎國之地按今新昌縣界有夜(!)郎溪" translation: "Fengzhou, lower Shenghua... Territory of the ancient Ye(!)lang nation. Next to the border of the current Xinchang prefecture, there is the Ye(!)lang brook." Note: not to be confused with the Yelang Kingdom in today Guizhou, China
[6]
Taiping Yulan "Provinces, Districts, and Divisions 18", Section: Lingnan Circuit"《林邑記》曰：蒼梧以南有文郎野人，居無室宅，依樹止宿，食生肉，采香為業，與人交易，若上皇之人。'Records of Linyi' said: From Cangwu Commandery to the south there are the wild people of Wenlang. They don't dwell in houses, they use large trees as their resting places, eat raw meat; their profession is fragrance-gathering and they trade with other peoples, like people during the Sovereigns' time.'
[7]
Li Daoyuan, Commentary on the Water Classic Chapter 36 quote: "《林邑記》曰：渡比景至朱吾。朱吾縣浦，今之封界，朱吾以南，有文狼人，野居無室宅，依樹止宿，食生魚肉，採香為業，與人交市，若上皇之民矣。縣南有文狼究，下流逕通。" translation: "'Records of Linyi' said: Crossing Bijing to Zhouwu. Zhouwu prefecture's shores are the present borders. From Zhouwu to the south there were the Wenlang people. They dwell in the wilderness, not houses, they use large trees as their resting places, eat raw meat and fish, their profession is fragrance-gathering and they trade with other peoples at the markets. Like how people lived during the Sovereigns' time. To the south of the prefecture there is the Wenlang rapid; its lower reach is a narrow flow."
[8]
North East VietNam: mountains and ethnic minorities - Page 61 Tim Doling - 2000 "The Hùng Kings Temple - The Hùng Kings Temple complex is located some 2% kilometers from the main highway in the Phong Châu District. It was here, according to Vietnamese legend, that the Fairy Âu Cơ, wife of King Lạc Long Quân, gave ..."
[9]
according to Từ điển Bách khoa toàn thư Việt Nam

Preceded by

Nghĩa Lĩnh

Capital of Vietnam
26th or 20th century BC – 258 BC

Succeeded by

Cổ Loa

History

Notable people

See also

Note

References

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