Gao State Ruins

Gao State Ruins

Gao State Ruins is a cultural tourism attraction.

Gao State Ruins

After King Wu of Zhou overthrew the Shang Dynasty, he implemented a major system of enfeoffment, granting a younger half-brother the territory of the Gao State, with its capital at Gaocheng.

In 711 BC, Hua Du of the Song State killed Duke Xiang of Song. Fearing retaliation from other feudal lords, he presented the precious Gao Tripod, looted during the annexation of the Gao State, to the State of Lu.

Before the Qin Dynasty, this place was called "Gao" or "Gao." When the Qin established commanderies and counties, Gaocheng was situated at the border between Dongjun and Dangjun. The Han Dynasty followed the Qin system, establishing Gaocheng County here. Together with nearby Shanfu, Chengwu, Xifang, and twenty-three other counties, it belonged to Shanyang Commandery, with the commandery seat at Changyi. During the Eastern Han Dynasty, it was merged into Chengwu County.

In 500 AD, Chengwu was under the rule of the Northern Wei (Yuan Wei), and the county seat was moved to Gaocheng. In 550 AD, the Northern Qi elevated Chengwu to the status of Yongchang Commandery, with the commandery seat at Gaocheng. By 596 AD, Emperor Wen of the Sui Dynasty established Dai Prefecture in Chengwu, moving the prefectural seat to the former Chengwu city. After the 7th century, Gaocheng gradually declined. However, as it had been the capital of the ancient Gao State and housed the "Ruins of the Gao Tripod," and had once served as the seat of a commandery or county, it remained an important town in Chengwu County. In the sixth year of the Tianqi era of Emperor Xizong of the Ming Dynasty (1620 AD), a stone stele known as the "Gaocheng Market Stele" was erected, inscribed with the words "Ruins of the Gao Tripod." Then, in the 20th year of the Guangxu era of Emperor Dezong of the Qing Dynasty (1894 AD), another stele was erected, referred to as the "Twin Steles."