Ruins of Zhou City in Wen County

Ruins of Zhou City in Wen County

The ruins of Zhou City in Wen County are a cultural heritage site protected by Henan Province.

The ruins of Zhou City are located in Xizhangji Village, Wude Town, about 15 kilometers northeast of Wen County. The site stretches over 1,700 meters from north to south and more than 1,600 meters from east to west, with most of it now buried underground. In the northeastern part of the site stands an "Oath-Taking Platform." In 1930, 1942, and 1963, stone slate alliance documents were unearthed here, including a batch discovered in 1942 that is now housed at the Institute of Archaeology of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. In 1980, archaeologists from the Henan Provincial Cultural Relics Research Institute excavated over 30 sacrificial pits containing sheep skeletons, as well as more than 10,000 fragments of "alliance documents" made of stone gui and stone slips. These documents recorded an oath-taking ceremony on December 27, the 15th year of Duke Ding of Jin’s reign (January 16, 491 BC), involving Han Jianzi and other feudal lords. The discovery of this alliance site confirms that Zhou City was an important urban center during the Spring and Autumn period, offering significant value for the study of the political system, diplomatic practices, as well as calligraphy art of that time.

On November 21, 1986, the People's Government of Henan Province designated it as a cultural heritage protection site.

Xizhangji Village: Xizhangji Village... More information on Xizhangji Village++

Further reading:

· Second Batch of Cultural Heritage Protection Units in Henan Province