Ruins of the Ancient City of the State of Lai

Ruins of the Ancient City of the State of Lai

The ruins of the ancient city of the State of Lai are a cultural heritage site protected by Henan Province.

Ancient City of the State of Lai, Zhou Dynasty, Xixian County

The ruins of the ancient city of the State of Lai are located about 1 kilometer southeast of the Lvhe Bridge in Baoxin Town, Xixian County, Henan Province, within the territory of Fuzhuang Village. In 1122 BC, King Wu of Zhou enfeoffed the State of Lai here, and it was destroyed by the State of Chu in 538 BC.

Based on extensive analysis of the ancient Lai sites and unearthed relics in the area, experts have confirmed that Baoxin Town in Xixian County was the original site of the State of Lai. Shu Ying was enfeoffed and established the state in the Lai region, now Baoxin Town in Xixian County, historically known as the "State of Lai." It existed from 1122 BC to 538 BC, lasting 584 years across 14 generations. It was later destroyed by King Ling of Chu, and its people were relocated to Yan. The former citizens, nostalgic for their homeland, adopted the name of their state as their surname—this is the origin of the Lai surname. The local inhabitants who remained changed their surnames to Fu and Luo to avoid persecution by Chu. About two kilometers southeast of Baoxin Town in Xixian County, on the banks of the Lvhe River, there lies an ancient city site, which is the ancient city of the State of Lai from the Zhou Dynasty. There are also many legends about the ancient State of Lai in this area. Approximately 200 meters in front of Hou Lou Village, Fu Village West, Baoxin Town, there is the tomb of Shu Ying, the king of the ancient State of Lai, which has been designated as a cultural heritage protection site by the local government.

About 800 meters northwest of the ancient city, on the southern bank of the Jianhe River, lies the site of Hagelishan (Clam Mountain). According to folklore, Shu Ying dug a moon-worshiping pool for his wife and the clams used in the ritual piled up to form the "Hagelishan" site, as well as the tomb of the Nine Martyred Ladies of the State of Lai. In 538 BC, when King Ling of Chu led a coalition of feudal lords to attack Lai, nine noble women of the State of Lai, unwilling to suffer humiliation, embraced each other and threw themselves into the river, drowning. The local inhabitants, who had changed their names and surnames to avoid Chu’s persecution but were not taken captive, were moved by the bravery of the nine ladies. They retrieved the bodies and buried them together, hence the name "Tomb of the Nine Martyred Ladies of the State of Lai." The ancient tomb is currently 18 meters long from east to west, 14 meters wide from north to south, and 2 meters high.

Further Reading:

· Fourth Batch of Cultural Heritage Protection Units in Henan Province