Ruins of Jiang Wei City

Ruins of Jiang Wei City

The ruins of Jiang Wei City are a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

The ruins of Jiang Wei City are a highly representative and significant site on the upper reaches of the Min River, located on the hill behind the current Wenchuan Middle School in Weizhou Town, Wenchuan County. The ruins contain relics from the Neolithic Age, the Han Dynasty, and the Song Dynasty, boasting rich cultural significance. The remains and artifacts discovered during the excavation of Song Dynasty relics in 2003 provide important physical evidence for understanding the cultural and economic exchanges among various ethnic groups in the region at that time, as well as the governance of the central government. Legend has it that a great general of the Shu Han once stationed troops in the Wenchuan area, and the existing ancient city walls have led some to name the site Jiang Wei City.

Weizhou Town is the political, economic, cultural, and transportation hub of Wenchuan County, and serves as the gateway to the Aba Prefecture. Historically, this area belonged to the Ran Sang tribe, with Mianchi Town being the site of the former prefecture and county. Jiang Wei City is located in present-day Weizhou Town. Since the Han Dynasty, administrative divisions such as Wenjiang, Mianchi, Wenshan, and Wenchuan have all been named after the Min River within their territories (the characters “汶” and “岷” were used interchangeably in ancient times), with governance locations changing over the dynasties. It is now the Wenchuan Qiang Autonomous County. The county seat of Weizhou is surrounded by mountains, with Baoziguan Pass standing majestically between the Zagunao River and the Min River, earning the reputation of “three majestic mountains, two rivers in contention.” The Tibetan and Qiang peoples in Wenchuan historically were warlike ethnic groups, and the Qiang watchtowers are especially unique structures serving both residential and military purposes. The existence of Jiang Wei City also indicates that this was once a battleground where the Shu Han and ethnic minorities clashed.

Jiang Wei (202–264) was a renowned general of the Shu Kingdom during the Three Kingdoms period and once came to Wenchuan to quell border unrest. Jiang Wei was originally from Jixian in Tianshui (present-day eastern Gangu, Gansu). According to the "Book of the Later Han · Biography of the Western Qiang": “The origins of the Western Qiang are a branch of the Jiang clan.” Jiang Wei was of Qiang ethnicity, one of the few minority “officials” during the Three Kingdoms period. In his early years, he served as a middle-ranking officer in the Cao Wei, then defected to Shu Han, where he became a granary official, later advancing to Middle Supervisory Officer and General Who Pacifies the West. In the 12th year of the Jianxing era of Shu (234), when Zhuge Liang attacked Wei but fell ill and died in camp at Wuzhang Plains, Jiang Wei and others kept the death a secret, evaded the pursuing forces of Sima Yi, and calmly withdrew to Hanzhong. After the death of Fei Yi, he took control of the military power of Shu Han and was promoted to Grand General. In the sixth year of the Jingyao era (263), when Hanzhong fell, Jiang Wei withdrew his troops from Tazhong (present-day northwest Zhouqu, Gansu). The Wei general Zhuge Xu held the bridgehead at Yinping (present-day northwest Wen County, Gansu), cutting off their retreat. Jiang Wei launched a flanking attack from the rear, forcing the Wei army to retreat. Taking advantage of the situation, he crossed the bridge and joined forces with the Shu generals Liao Hua and Zhang Yi, holding the Jianmen Pass (present-day northeast Jiange, Sichuan), blocking 100,000 Wei troops. However, due to the surprise attack by the Wei general Deng Ai, who advanced directly on Chengdu, Emperor Liu Shan surrendered, and Jiang Wei was ordered to capitulate. After the fall of Shu, he attempted to use Zhong Hui to revive Shu Han, participated in Zhong Hui’s rebellion against Wei, and was executed in Chengdu after the failure, demonstrating his unwavering loyalty to Shu Han.

Jiang Wei made considerable efforts in inheriting and implementing Zhuge Liang’s policy of “harmonizing with the Yi (ethnic minorities),” making certain contributions. In 247 AD, when unrest broke out in Wenshan (present-day Mao County, Sichuan), Jiang Wei led troops to suppress it. He then marched into Longxi, Nanan, and Jincheng, engaging in major battles with the Wei generals Guo Huai and Xiahou Ba at Taoxi. On both of these campaigns, he paid attention to implementing Zhuge Liang’s posthumous policy of “harmonizing with the Yi,” appeasing the ethnic minorities. Perhaps Zhuge Liang held Jiang Wei in particularly high regard not only because of Jiang Wei’s own talents and strategies but also mainly because Jiang Wei was an ethnic minority general. Employing him was not only beneficial to the northern campaigns but also embodied the policy of “harmonizing with the Yi.”

On the eastern ridge of the Min River, which backs the county town, lies the ancient Jiang Wei City, coiled like a dragon lying in repose. Its vicissitudes have not diminished its grandeur. Along the mountain road to Jiang Wei City, which is currently under construction, one arrives at the Pointing Generals’ Platform. Standing amidst the vastness of heaven and earth, one is instantly struck by a sense of eternal desolation.

Chapter 94 of "Romance of the Three Kingdoms," titled "Zhuge Liang Defeats the Qiang Troops in the Snow, Sima Yi Captures Meng Da Promptly," contains a depiction of a battle between the Shu army and the Qiang people: “Suddenly, the Qiang troops divided on both sides, with iron chariots released in the center, surging forth like a tide, while bows and crossbows fired all at once. The Shu army suffered a major defeat, with the forces of Ma Dai and Zhang Bao retreating first...” Later, the Shu army was saved by the Heavenly God Guan Yu descending to assist, and it was only then that Zhuge Liang’s clever strategy won against the Qiang. Assuming this battle took place just outside Jiang Wei City, this land was once the battlefield of those times.

The ancient city walls, entirely rammed from earth, still retain clearly defined battlements despite more than 2,000 years of weathering. The spirit, integrity, soul, and essence of the ancient city require people to perceive with the touch of the soul, to blend with the furnace of the spirit, and to interpret with the sincerity of life. Amidst its mottled and fragmented shadows, I see the heroic life of the ancient sage, the great Shu Han general Jiang Wei, and even the beacon fires he lit to resist the Wei general Zhong Hui’s massive army...

Ascending the Pointing Generals’ Platform and standing amidst the vastness of heaven and earth, one can’t help but feel the insignificance of humanity. The feeling of eternal desolation described by Chen Zi’ang—“No ancients before me, no successors after; gazing at the vastness of heaven and earth, I am filled with sorrow and weep alone”—suddenly wells up. The historical depth and thickness accumulated over thousands of years at Jiang Wei City captivate and inspire awe.

Weizhou Town: A town under the jurisdiction of Wenchuan County. It is the seat of the county government. Established in 1953, it is located in the northeastern part of the county, covering an area of 129.2 square kilometers with a population of 28,000. National Highways 213 and 317 intersect here. The town administers 12 village committees including Shuanghe, Buwa, Tieyi, Yubeiling, Maoling, Xinqiao, Qipangou, Wancun, Cili, Ruli, Niunaizhai, and Zengpo, as well as two neighborhood committees, the First and the Second. The township enterprises are mainly engaged in manufacturing, commerce, services, and processing industries. The main agricultural products are corn and wheat, with specialties including apples, Sichuan pepper, and walnuts. Local institutions and enterprises include the Xiagzhuang Hydropower Plant under the prefecture, among others. 1... Detailed information about Weizhou Town++