Kuqiu Alliance Platform

Kuqiu Alliance Platform

The states of Zheng, Xu, Cao, and others gathered here to form an alliance. The "Book of Han, Volume 25 Part 1: Treatise on Sacrifices, Part 5" also records: "After Duke Huan of Qi became hegemon, he convened the feudal lords at Kuqiu and intended to perform the Feng and Shan sacrifices." Shigu commented: "Kuqiu is located east of Waihuang County in Chenliu." Chenliu: During the Spring and Autumn period, it was territory of Zheng, later encroached upon by Chen, hence called Chenliu. In the Warring States period, King Hui of Wei made Daliang his capital, which was in this same area. After Qin Shi Huang unified China, he abolished the feudal system and established commanderies and counties, creating Chenliu County under Sanchuan Commandery, with its seat in what is now Chenliu Town, Kaifeng.

During Emperor Wu of Han’s Yuanshou era, Chenliu Commandery was split off from Henan Commandery. By the Xingping era, Dong Zhuo dominated the realm, and Cao Cao rose in arms and championed righteousness from here. In terms of today’s administrative divisions, it corresponds to the region in eastern Henan extending west to Minquan and Ningling, east to Kaifeng County and Weishi, north to Yanjin and Changyuan, and south to Qixian and Suixian. Later, the commandery seat changed several times but never strayed beyond the boundaries of present-day Kaifeng City. It was abolished early in the Sui Dynasty. In 1957, it was merged into Kaifeng County. Waihuang: Established as a county in the Qin Dynasty and abolished in the Tang Dynasty. The "Yuanhe Counties and Districts Gazetteer," Volume 7, states: "The old city of Waihuang lies sixty li east of (Yongqiu) County." Yongqiu is present-day Qixian in Henan. Thirty li east of Qixian County, it lies within the territory of Minquan County. Second, Waihuang is also known as Dai City. Ancient historical texts frequently mention Waihuang, identifying it as Dai City. Du Yu’s commentary in the "Spring and Autumn Annals, Year 10 of Duke Yin" notes: "The State of Dai, now southeast of Waihuang County in Chenliu, has a Dai City." The Republican-era "Kaocheng County Annals" states: "(Kaocheng) was called Dai in the Zhou, Dai in the Spring and Autumn, and Waihuang in the Warring States." There is a succession relationship between Waihuang and Dai.

Kuqiu Alliance Platform

Located 17.5 kilometers east of Minquan County, Henan Province, east of Xiaowangzhuang Village in Linqi Township, on the northern bank of the old course of the Yellow River. In the ninth year of Duke Xi of Lu during the Spring and Autumn period {651 BCE}, Duke Huan of Qi first became hegemon and convened the feudal lords at Kuqiu, historically referred to as the Conference of Kuqiu. According to the "Spring and Autumn Annals – Year 9 of Duke Xi": "In summer, [Duke Huan] met with the Duke of Zhou’s Minister of State, the Duke of Qi, the Viscount of Song, the Marquis of Wei, the Earl of Zheng, the Earl of Xu, and the Earl of Cao at Kuqiu. On the day Wushen in the ninth month, the feudal lords formed an alliance at Kuqiu." The two conferences at Kuqiu, held in summer and autumn, aimed for the feudal lords to ally, foster harmony, and work together toward a peaceful and prosperous era. The Kuqiu Alliance established five agreements: "Do not block water flow, do not hoard grain purchases, do not replace the designated heir, do not elevate a concubine to the status of wife, and do not involve women in state affairs." It holds a prominent place in Chinese history. The remaining site of the alliance platform still exists, standing 2 meters high. A stone stele is erected, inscribed with “Site of the Kuqiu Alliance Platform.” In 1995, government funding enabled expansion, adding pavilions, a gate tower, enclosing walls, covering an area of 1,500 square meters. The Kuqiu Alliance Platform is surrounded by water on three sides with lush greenery, and the “Sunset over the Alliance Platform” has long been one of the Eight Scenic Spots of Old Kaocheng.