Unearthing life in the mists of time

From 605, when Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty ordered the construction of Luoyang as the Sui's eastern capital, Luoyang became an important city for the Sui and the subsequent Tang Dynasty.

The city further flourished under the rule of Empress Wu, who wanted to defy the tradition that only men could rule. She therefore distanced herself from the Tang royal family, which was based in Chang'an (present-day Xi'an, Shaanxi province), to establish a new political order. She chose Luoyang as her capital city and called it the "divine capital".

The archaeological dig at Zhengpingfang is another highlight of the studies carried out on Luoyang during the Sui and Tang periods, which archaeologists have worked on for decades.

Shi says their earlier efforts have basically provided knowledge about the layout and evolution of the ancient city, as archaeological work has previously been carried out on the ruins of the palace complex, one of Sui's largest granaries called Hanjia and the lifang areas to the south and north of the Luohe River.

Shi says the team will continue excavating the northeastern part of the fang to learn more. They also plan further work at Lyudaofang, a ward with no official buildings, but one where Bai Juyi's poems vividly capture the dynamism of everyday life.

"With the refined tastes of literati and the vibrant realities of everyday life, we believe that Lyudaofang is also well worth archaeological efforts," says Shi.