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Nanjing, a renowned Chinese city with over 7,000 years of civilization, nearly 2,600 years of city construction, and nearly 500 years of history as a capital, has weathered numerous hardships since its founding. Research indicates that the city has had over twenty different official names, including Yecheng, Yuecheng, Jianye, Jiangning, Moling, Yingtian, and Tianjing. The most well-known, elegant, and ancient of these official names is undoubtedly "Jinling." So why is Nanjing called Jinling? Where did the term originate? And where can we find the stories of those days?
Nanjing is renowned throughout China for its majestic landscape. The most official historical name for Nanjing is "Jinling." There are two theories about the origin of the name:
The word "ling" as a noun has two meanings. First, it refers to the "da fu" mentioned in the Shuowen Jiezi (Explanation of Chinese Characters), which refers to a relatively high mountain. Second, it refers to the tomb of an emperor. The ancients likened a mountain to the supreme ruler, and the death of an emperor was called "shanling collapse." Imperial tombs, rising like a mountain, were often built while the emperor was still alive. To avoid inauspiciousness, the term "ling" or "shanling" was used instead.
Therefore, "Jinling" was originally the name of a mountain, and "Ling" means "mountain mausoleum." Jinling is now Zhongshan, also known as Jiangshan and Zijinshan.
▲Purple Mountain (Zhongshan Toudaoling)
The "Geographical Records" from the Northern and Southern Dynasties records that "Jiangshan was formerly called Jinlingshan, and the county was named after this mountain." Therefore, many places at the time were named after mountains. Ling means mountain, and Jinling means golden mountain. Adding the character "shan" after "Jinling" is a later custom, and it was probably called Jinling in ancient times. The rocks atop Zhongshan Mountain are purple, almost red, hence the name Jinling. The name comes from the color of the rocks, though there are actually no gold mines on the mountain.
The "jin" in "Jinling" refers to the color of copper, not gold. Copper is also called red gold, and we now call pure copper purple copper. This is similar to why later generations called it Purple Gold Mountain. Of course, according to modern understanding, it should be called "Copper Mountain."
▲Zhongshan Scenic Area——Meiling Palace
▲Zhongshan Scenic Area——Linggu Temple
▲Zhongshan Scenic Area——Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum
▲Zhongshan Scenic Area——Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum
Compared with the story of naming the mountain after itself, the story of the emperor burying gold is more widely circulated.
In 333 BC, the State of Chu conquered the State of Yue and seized all of its territory, including present-day Nanjing. However, not long after, some feng shui practitioners warned King Wei of Chu that someone would claim the throne in this area, potentially threatening his position. Bewildered by the practitioners' warnings, King Wei buried a small golden figure in the countryside around Shizi Mountain and Qingliang Mountain to suppress the "imperial aura." He named the figure's tomb "Jinling." He also built a city on Shitou Mountain (present-day Qingliang Mountain) to prevent anyone from stealing the imperial aura. He named it "Jinling Town." This is how the name Jinling originated.
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Song Dynasty's "Jingding Jiankang Records" states: "Why is Jinling named so? In prehistoric times, during the reign of King Wei of Chu, the land was said to have a royal aura, so gold was buried to suppress it, hence the name Jinling."
Volume 90 of the Song Dynasty's Taiping Huanyu Ji quotes the Jinling Tujing, saying: "In the past, King Wei of Chu saw the presence of an imperial aura here, so he buried gold to suppress it, hence the name 'Jinling'. After Qin unified the world, fortune tellers predicted the presence of an imperial aura east of the Yangtze River, so they dug into the earth's veins, severed the Liangang Mountains, and renamed Jinling Moling, placing it under the jurisdiction of Danyang County. Therefore, the Danyang Ji states: 'The First Emperor dug through the square mountain of Jinling, and the section that was severed became a ditch. The Huai River then flowed through the city into the Yangtze River, hence the name Qinhuai.'
▲The image of King Wei of Chu in the TV series
There has long been debate about whether the mountain was named after the emperor or the emperor buried gold there. However, research indicates that the term "Jinling Wangqi" dates back to the Three Kingdoms period. Therefore, neither King Wei of Chu nor Qin Shihuang could have buried gold out of fear of the emperor's aura. More importantly, when "ling" is used to mean "grave," it can only refer to the burial site of an emperor; a place where gold is buried cannot be called a ling.
From this we can see that the "buried gold theory" is difficult to establish, but the widespread circulation of the "buried gold theory" is an important feature of the confusion between historical facts and legends in ancient historical books. Because legends appear to be more exciting than historical facts and are interspersed with many mysterious colors, they are easier for people to accept.
▲List of Nanjing city names throughout the ages
While the story of the emperor burying gold is shrouded in mystery, a vast city, "Jinling," did exist in the area surrounding present-day Qingliang Mountain. In the 16th year of the Jian'an reign of the Eastern Han Dynasty (211 AD), Sun Quan of the Wu Kingdom relocated to Moling (present-day Nanjing) and built a city on the site of Jinling on Shitou Mountain, naming it Shitou City. It straddled the confluence of the Qinhuai River and the Yangtze River, boasting a rugged terrain and exceptional strategic advantages. It served as a crucial military stronghold safeguarding the western portion of the capital, Jiankang, and a crucial battleground, earning it the nickname "Stone City Tiger's Crouching."
Legend has it that during the Three Kingdoms period, on the eve of the Battle of Red Cliffs, Zhuge Liang was sent as an envoy to the Eastern Wu to discuss with Sun Quan the strategy of defeating Cao Cao. It is said that while passing through Moling County, Zhuge Liang rode his horse to Shitou Mountain to observe the terrain. He saw the mountains, headed by Zhongshan, winding like a dark dragon in the southeast, while the western mountains, terminating at Shitou Mountain, lorded over the Yangtze River like fierce tigers. He exclaimed, "Zhongshan coils like a dragon, Shitou crouches like a tiger! Truly the abode of an emperor!" and suggested to Sun Quan that the capital be relocated to Moling.
▲Tiger crouching (Stone City) Dragon coiling (Purple Mountain)
After the Battle of Chibi, Sun Quan relocated to Moling (present-day Nanjing) and renamed it Jianye. The following year, he built the famous Stone City on the site of the original Qingliang Mountain (formerly the site of Jinling). With the Yangtze River flowing beneath Qingliang Mountain at the time, Stone City held a prominent military position, and Sun Quan used it as a primary naval base. For centuries thereafter, it became a strategically important military base, with the capture of Stone City often deciding the outcome of the Civil War.
▲Dongwu·Jianye Map (Stones and the river can be seen on the left)
During the Southern Dynasties, Shitoucheng maintained its status as a military fortress defending the capital. In ancient times, the Yangtze River flowed eastward around the foothills of Qingliang Mountain, where its massive waves frequently crashed against the mountain walls, sculpting them into sheer cliffs. After Emperor Wen of the Sui Dynasty conquered the Chen Dynasty and destroyed Jiankang City, he established Jiangzhou in Shitoucheng. In the early Tang Dynasty, the Yangzhou Grand Military Governor's Office was established there. Shitoucheng served as the center of the Nanjing region during the Sui and early Tang dynasties.
▲Map of Jiangzhou during the Sui Dynasty (Stone City and the Yangtze River can be seen on the left)
During the Five Dynasties period (921-927 AD), Prime Minister Xu Wen rebuilt the temple on Shitou Mountain and named it Xingjiao Temple, inviting Zen Master Wukong Xiufu to be the abbot.
In the early years of the Shengyuan Period of the Southern Tang Dynasty (938 AD), Emperor Yuanzong Li Jing expanded the Xingjiao Temple into the Qingliang Dadaochang and invited Zen Master Wenyi to be the abbot. From then on, Shitou Mountain was renamed Qingliang Mountain.
▲Photo of Qingliang Zen Temple during the late Qing Dynasty. The current Qingliang Temple was rebuilt in April 2014
After the Tang Dynasty, the river water gradually moved westward. After the eighth year of the Wude period of the Tang Dynasty (625), the Stone City began to be abandoned. Therefore, the mid-Tang poet Liu Yuxi wrote a poem "Stone City" which said: "The mountains surround the old country, and the tide hits the empty city and returns lonely. The old moon on the east side of the Huai River still comes over the women's wall late at night." The Stone City described by the poet has become a desolate and lonely "empty city".
▲A map of Jiankang Prefecture during the Southern Song Dynasty (Jinling Town and Shitou City are visible on the left, with the Yangtze River having moved westward)
After Zhu Yuanzhang established Nanjing as the capital in the Ming Dynasty, he built a city wall in the second year of Hongwu. The Stone City here became part of the Nanjing city wall. Because it was carved from natural rock, there are several pieces of red sandstone in the middle section. Due to the erosion of the Yangtze River in ancient times, it has become uneven and looks like an animal face. Therefore, it is commonly known as the "Ghost Face City".
▲The winding Ming City Wall, built against the mountain, was built by the Yangtze River at the foot of the wall in ancient times. It has now been developed into a park.
"A dragon coils on Zhongshan Mountain, a tiger crouches on Shitou Mountain"—the Stone City, dating back 1,800 years, marks the beginning of Nanjing's history as a capital. In 212 AD, Sun Quan built a city on the site of Jinling County on Shitou Mountain, naming it "Shitou City." Because of its "treacherous and rugged terrain and unique advantages," it has served as a vital part of the capital for six dynasties ever since.
But where exactly is Stone City? Although there are numerous historical records, due to the long history and urban changes, the exact location and boundaries of Stone City have long been a matter of debate in the academic community. For example, some scholars believe it is located near Caochang Gate, others around Hanzhong Gate, and even some believe it is near Bazi Mountain.
▲The scope of academic discussion on the location of Stone City in Nanjing
From July to December 1998, archaeologists conducted large-scale surveys and explorations in Qingliang Mountain, Lushan Mountain, National Defense Park, Qingliang Gate and other areas, and proposed that the real Six Dynasties Stone City ruins should be in a larger area near the Guilian City section.
In 2010, Nanjing University and others conducted further investigation and exploration of the Six Dynasties Stone City ruins.
From June 2016 to February 2017, partial trial excavations were conducted to further understand the direction, structure and related relics of the Stone City from the Eastern Wu to the Southern Dynasties period, providing valuable information for determining the true location and preliminary situation of the Six Dynasties Stone City ruins.
During the 2017 excavation, a large number of important relics were discovered one after another, including the brick-paved road surface of Shuncheng Wall from the Sun Wu period, the remains of rammed earth city walls and corner towers from the Eastern Jin Dynasty to the early Southern Dynasties, the remains of city gates from the Southern Dynasties, and large bricks with the Chinese character "official" printed on them. After discussion, experts from all parties unanimously agreed that this was "the most important discovery in the archaeology of Stone City over the years."
▲The word "stone" is printed on the bricks and is now in the collection of Nanjing Museum.
During this archaeological excavation, a brick from the late Eastern Jin Dynasty was unearthed with the word "stone" engraved on it. The archaeological "ironclad evidence" provided by these two words has made the "positioning problem" of the Stone City ruins no longer controversial.
The discovery of the city gates and corner towers for the first time fills a gap in the archaeological history of the Six Dynasties capital. It is generally believed that the Six Dynasties Stone City had four gates: the East Gate (near Jiangsu Provincial People's Hospital), the North Gate (near No. 29 Middle School on Huju Road), the South Gate (near National Defense Park), and the Southwest Gate (near Qingliang Gate).
▲A "new city gate" discovered unexpectedly - the ruins of the Nanchao Gate (Photo courtesy of the Institute of Cultural and Natural Heritage, Nanjing University)
The excavation of the city gate ruins fills a gap in the archaeological history of the Six Dynasties capital. (Image courtesy of the Institute of Cultural and Natural Heritage, Nanjing University)
▲Nanchaomen Ruins (Photo courtesy of the Institute of Cultural and Natural Heritage, Nanjing University)
▲ Ruins of the Corner Tower (Photo courtesy of Yue Zhengchang)
Corner towers, a crucial component of ancient city defense systems, were typically built at the four corners of a city wall. Their protrusions from the wall and their attics afforded them a wide field of vision, serving both as a lookout and a defensive tool. The discovery of these corner towers at the Stone City site is a first in the archaeological history of Six Dynasties capitals.
▲Tile ends with human face patterns
Based on available archaeological data, archaeologists have inferred that the Six Dynasties Stone City site in Nanjing is indeed located within the Qingliang Mountain and National Defense Park area, and that the remains of a massive city wall should still be preserved underground within this area. The main structure of the city wall discovered so far utilizes the natural mountainside, using partial rammed earth construction and a brick cladding on the exterior. Based on dated bricks unearthed in the trenches along the northern wall of Stone City, combined with other unearthed artifacts, it is inferred that the brick cladding dates from the Eastern Jin Dynasty to the Southern Dynasties period.
In addition, the excavation also discovered relics that were later than the Six Dynasties and were used to repair and rammed the city walls, proving that the Stone City of the Six Dynasties was still being repaired and used in the Sui and Tang Dynasties. This provides important evidence that the Stone City was the seat of Jiangzhou in the Sui Dynasty and the location of the Yangzhou Grand Marshal's Office in the early Tang Dynasty.
Modern archaeology has finally confirmed the location of the Stone City site from the Six Dynasties period. This place marks the beginning of the history of Nanjing and has been a key point in Nanjing throughout multiple dynasties. The Eastern Wu Kingdom, with its capital in Nanjing, began and ended in Stone City. Today, the area is divided into two scenic areas by a road called Huju South Road: Qingliangshan Park and Guofangyuan Park. As a very niche tourist attraction in Nanjing, even local tourists are rare. However, if you have listened to the above introduction and truly understand the history of Nanjing, then these two places that run through the entire history of Nanjing are definitely not to be missed.
Here's a brief introduction to what to see and do in Qingliang Mountain and National Defense Park today! Discover the beauty hidden beneath the surface of history.
Nanjing's Qingliang Temple, originally built during the Southern Dynasties, is the birthplace of the Fayan School, one of the five schools of Zen Buddhism in Chinese Buddhism. Founded by the eminent monk Wenyi of the Southern Tang Dynasty, the Fayan School holds a high position and significance in the history of Chinese Buddhism, with influence reaching as far afield as Japan, South Korea, and Southeast Asia, wielding profound historical significance.
The temple derives its name from Qingliang Mountain. As the premier temple of the Southern Tang Dynasty, Qingliang Dadaochang, during its heyday, represents a significant part of Nanjing's traditional Buddhist culture, the elite culture of Qingliang Mountain, and the regional culture of Jinling. "Asking the Buddha in Qingliang" is a time-honored scene, one of the "Forty-Eight Scenic Spots of Jinling."
▲Qingliang Temple in late autumn is colorful and extremely charming.
"Non-duality" means non-duality, transcending all opposition. "Door" refers to the Dharma door, the path to Zen meditation and enlightenment. Red walls and green trees create a tranquil and ancient atmosphere. (Image source: Jin Yu)
▲The red maples at Qingliang Ancient Temple. In autumn, red and gold cover Qingliang Mountain.
Chongzheng Academy, founded during the Jiajing reign of the Ming Dynasty, boasts a history of over 500 years. This academy was an official imperial institution, founded by Geng Dingxiang, a renowned Ming Dynasty scholar who later rose to the position of Minister of Revenue. The academy was named "Chongzheng," meaning to promote orthodox Confucianism. Geng Dingxiang personally taught, and his most renowned student was Jiao Hong, known as the "Top Scholar." During the Taiping Rebellion, the ancient Chongzheng Academy was destroyed by war. In 1982, renowned Nanjing architect Yang Tingbao oversaw its reconstruction, which took two years to complete.
▲Ancient Chongzheng Academy, a cool and scenic spot
▲Aunties practicing recitation in the pavilion (Photo courtesy of Jin Yu)
The ancient Chongzheng Academy in Qingliang Mountain is undoubtedly a lesser-known attraction in Nanjing, but its scenery is truly remarkable. The academy boasts a series of interconnected levels, including rockery and pavilions. Its sparsely populated environment makes it even more tranquil and relaxing. From May to July, when the hydrangeas bloom, the academy is filled with the fragrance of flowers and the chirping of birds, creating a truly idyllic atmosphere.
▲The ancient Chongzheng Academy is extremely quiet and beautiful regardless of spring, summer, autumn or winter (Photo courtesy of Jinyu)
▲The old house and the big tree complement each other beautifully (Photo courtesy of Jin Yu)
Qingliangshan Park has the largest ginkgo forest in Nanjing. There are more than 300 ginkgo trees planted in the entire Ginkgo Valley. These ginkgo trees are about 60 years old, with an average height of 20 meters and a trunk diameter of about 50 centimeters.
After walking up the mountain path from Saoye Tower for two or three minutes, you'll see a golden ginkgo forest gleaming in the sunlight. Because Ginkgo Valley is located on a flat part of the mountainside within Qingliangshan Park, when the leaves are falling, the entire grove is covered with yellow leaves, like a natural golden carpet, a truly enchanting sight.
▲As you climb the mountain road in Qingliang Mountain, you will see golden autumn colors all along the way.
▲In late autumn, the valley is covered with golden fallen leaves, and the stone benches and pavilions are also covered with a thick layer of leaves, which is gorgeous and ancient.
Inside Ginkgo Valley, a vast expanse of golden color greets the eye, perfectly embodying the meaning of "golden autumn." (Photo courtesy of tourists@小卢澄子)
▲Three hundred ginkgo trees are showing off their beautiful figures in the sunshine in late autumn.
Saoye Tower was the late residence of Gong Xian, the leader of the "Eight Masters of Jinling," renowned painters in the late Ming and early Qing dynasties. It was expanded in 2000 to become the Gong Xian Memorial Hall. Built in the Ming and Qing style, it features a three-story brick and wood structure covered with small tiles. In front of the building, lush green bamboo sway and trees shade the view. From the terrace, one can overlook the vast landscape. Behind the building, a cascading rockery forms a courtyard, seamlessly integrated with the stone steps in front of Shanqing Temple.
Ascending the stairs, you'll see an archway inscribed with "Ancient Sweeping Leaf Tower" and the inscription "Built by Imperial Order." Legend has it that Emperor Qianlong, during his southern tours, visited Qingliang Mountain several times and even penned a poem titled "Remotely Inscribed on Sweeping Leaf Tower." He was deeply interested in the tower's origins and inquired about it three times. Perhaps due to taboos, no one has yet clarified its details.
▲Saoye Tower·Statue of Gong Xian
Located on the west side of Qingliang Mountain, it has become a famous national defense and patriotism education center in Nanjing. Construction began in August 1992. The five gilded characters on the gatehouse are the name of the park written by General Secretary Jiang Zemin before its construction.
▲There are many national defense education objects in the park, allowing visitors to get close to the actual weapons and equipment on display.
▲Ancient Yanwang River
The name Yanwang River comes from a historical legend about Emperor Chengzu of the Ming Dynasty, Zhu Di. Legend has it that the young Zhu Di pointed out the flaws in Zhu Yuanzhang's construction of the Nanjing City Wall, a move that the emperor disapproved of. Empress Ma arranged for Zhu Di to escape the capital via this river. Empress Ma later granted Zhu Di the title of Prince of Yan, leading to the name Yanwang River.
Shicheng, a city steeped in history, seamlessly blends its rich history with natural beauty, integrating ancient battlefields with modern national defense education. Today, it's not only a national defense education base but also a private retreat for enjoying autumn and ancient history in Nanjing. Towering ancient trees and dense forests abound. Since the Eastern Wu period, the cliffs flowed beneath a surging river, creating a fortress built from the mountain and a pond from the river. The rugged terrain creates a unique and formidable landscape. Walking along the city walls to Qingliang Gate, one of the thirteen gates of the Ming Dynasty capital, is like walking through a breathtaking painting.
▲The Ming City Wall in Stone City is the most unique section of Nanjing's Ming City Wall. The wall is more than one kilometer long, with steep cliffs on one side and lush forests on the other.
▲A short section of the city wall road is very suitable for hiking in any season, a hidden niche attraction in Nanjing.
▲Walking here is like walking through a time tunnel.
Qingliang Gate is one of the thirteen Ming Dynasty city gates of Nanjing's Ming City Wall. It is named after the Qingliang Mountain where it is located. It is now composed of a city gate and a circle of elliptical urns. The main city gate is a single-hole arch structure. The tower on the gate tower no longer exists. There is a keystone on the top of the city with two keyholes carved on it. The urn city is semicircular, facing the city gate, sitting east and facing west.
▲The Qingliangmen Gate remains the same in any season, quietly guarding here for 600 years.
▲The Stone City Archway standing outside the National Defense Park is also one of the boarding points for the Qinhuai River outside Nanjing.
▲Under the city wall, brown rocks that were once eroded by the river
▲The city is built on the mountain, and the city walls are built on stones.
▲When the river water receded, the turtle rocks that originally formed the river beach beside the city wall were revealed.
The park is nicknamed "Ghost Face City" because a protruding oval-shaped red sedimentary rock protrudes from the middle of the ancient city wall. Over the years, weathering has shaped it into a ferocious ghost face. In front of the stone wall lies a pond where the ghost face is reflected, known as "Mirror Lake." The famous historical attraction "Ghost Face Looking in the Mirror" refers to this spot. In 1975, Deng Xiaoping accompanied Kim Il-sung on a special visit here.
▲Looking at the mirror with a grimace
▲One of the Forty-eight Scenic Spots of Jinling------Snow Covering the Stone City
