The northern Shanxi region, that is, the northern part of Shanxi Province today, with Datong City as the main area, has been a battleground for military strategists since ancient times. As long as the dynasties of the past dynasties defended this place, the Central Plains would be safe and secure. Here, the nomads in the north can control their horses to go south at any time and harass the Central Plains. From the Warring States Period to the Qing Dynasty, there were thousands of recorded wars in northern Shanxi. Such an important strategic location prompted rulers of all dynasties to attach great importance to this place. Interestingly, there are many place names in and around today's Datong City that are related to ancient military affairs. As early as the Warring States Period, King Wuling of Zhao built the Great Wall in the north to defend against the Huns. After Qin Shihuang unified the six countries, he sent General Meng Tian to lead 300,000 troops and began to build the Great Wall on a large scale. Later, the Han Dynasty, Northern Wei Dynasty, Northern Qi Dynasty, and Ming Dynasty all used a lot of labor to build the Great Wall. Therefore, there are many place names in Datong area related to the Great Wall. At the passes and important passages of the Great Wall, the place names all contain the word "口". Most of these passes are now villages and towns. For example, Xinrong District of Datong City has Zhumakou, Jumenkou, Zhenchuankou, etc.; Tianzhen County has Xiaomokou , Yulingkou, Baiyangkou, etc.; Zuoyun County has Dahejiakou, Heitukou, Xihuangtukou, etc., and Youyu County to the west of Datong City also has the famous Killing Tiger Pass. During the construction of the Great Wall, in order to facilitate defense, along the line of the Great Wall. A large number of piers, platforms, and forts were also built at transportation hubs. ""Dun" is a military observation tower. Generally, a pier is built one or two miles away, and five soldiers are stationed to check the enemy's situation. If there is an alarm, they can fire cannons (chòng) during the day. , lit fires at night. From then on, people living here took dun as place names, such as Liudungou, Anyandun, Liyandun, Baiyandun, Taipingdun in Zuoyun County; Yuandun, Taipingdun in Xinrong District. Sandun, Liudunzi, etc.; Yanggao County has Erdun, Sandun, Wudun, Shidun, etc.; Tianzhen County has Sandundian, Sifangdun, Wulitun, Shidun, etc. ""Tai" refers to Fenghuo. There is a difference between a platform and a pier. A pier is mainly used for observation, while a beacon tower is mainly used for warning people. They smoke during the day and raise fires at night. Because wolf dung is often used to burn smoke, they are also called wolf smoke towers. There are many, such as Ertaizi, Santaizi, Bataizi, etc. in Zuoyun County; Ertaizi and Gaoxiangtai in Xinrong District; Wulitai in Datong County; Shilitai, Balitai, Daduntai, etc. in Yanggao County; There are Jinjiayan, Baijiayan, Wangjiayan, etc. in Tianzhen County. ""Forts" are castles for garrison defense. Later, these castles gradually became villages. There are 60 towns and villages named after forts in Datong today. There are many, such as Yangqian Fort in Zuoyun County; Juiqiang Fort, Polu Fort, and Zhenchuan Fort in Xinrong District; Taiping Fort in Yanggao County; Guqian Fort, Xiaxiaobao, and Xinping Fort in Tianzhen County; There are also Chaigou Forts in Hebei Province to the east of Tianzhen County. ""Tun" refers to garrisoning troops and garrisoning fields. As early as the Han Dynasty, the Datong area was an important place for garrisoning troops. In order to solve the problem of military supplies for the garrison, rulers of all dynasties began from the Han Dynasty. They all regard tuntian as an important measure to develop frontier fortresses. Therefore, there are many villages with tun as place names in Datong area, such as Tunjunzhuang, Shuangguantun, Maoguantun, Xuguantun, etc. in Zuoyun County; There are Xiaowei Tun, Wuguan Tun, Huayuan Tun, etc. in the district and southern suburbs; Wangguan Tun, Liguan Tun, Beixu Tun, etc. are located in Yanggao County; Jiajiatun, Hujiatun, Xiajiatun, etc. are located in Tianzhen County. The ancient garrison places were also called "". "Ying" or "Yingpan", the field is also called Yingtian, so naming it after the camp is a common place name. For example, there are Yuanyingzi, Xiaoying, and Zhangzhiyingying in the suburbs of Datong City; there are Luoying camp and Yingfanggou in Datong County; There are Gujiaying, Xiliu Camp, Qianying, Houying, etc. in Yanggao County; Dayingpan and Sui Qiying are located in Tianzhen County. Cavalry was the main force in the ancient army, so there were many horse breeding sites and horse breeding personnel. Those with the word "" soap" in them are places where horses are raised. For example, in Datong County there are Mengjia soap, Liren soap, and Beijia soap; in Yanggao County there are Anjia soap, Majia soap, Donglijia soap, etc.; in the south of Datong City In Huairen County, there were post stations such as Maozao. In ancient times, there were Xiaozhan, Shilipu and Shilipu in the suburbs of Datong; in Datong County, there were Shilipu, Sansanlipu and Shilipu. Shop, etc., these are all the names of inns in the past. The military establishment in the Ming Dynasty was a guard system. The guard chief was called the commander, and the guard chief was called Qianhu or Baihu. Today's Youyu, Zuoyun, Pinglu, Yanggao, Tianzhen and other counties in northern Shanxi were all first established as guards and then changed to county names. Zuoyun County was originally Zuowei. During the Zhengtong period of the Ming Dynasty, it merged with Yunchuan Wei to form Zuoyunchuan Wei, and was renamed Zuoyun County in the Qing Dynasty. Yanggao County was merged with Yanghe Wei and Gaoshan Wei to form Yanggao Wei, and was renamed in the Qing Dynasty. Yanggao County; Tianzhen County was the merger of Tianchengwei and Zhenluwei to form Tianzhenwei, and was changed to Tianzhen County in the Qing Dynasty.
Judging from the above-mentioned military-related place names along the Great Wall, it shows how important the strategic position of the northern Shanxi region was in ancient history. Readers, do you have any relevant military place names around you? Welcome to discuss together. References for this article: "Historical Notes of Datong" Text source: The Rhyme of Historians Copyright belongs to the original author. If there is any infringement, please contact us to delete it Editor: Yao Yuhui Please indicate the calligraphy and painting channel Shanxi Work Center for reprinting