Huining Fu

Huining Fu (simplified Chinese: 会宁府; traditional Chinese: 會寧府; pinyin: Huìníng Fǔ) was a prefecture in the Shangjing region of Manchuria . It served as the first superior capital of the Jin Dynasty (1115-1234) from 1122 to 1153 (and was a secondary capital after 1173).

History

During the early years of building up their empire, Jurchen rulers often moved people from elsewhere in China to their capital, Shangjing. The first Jin emperor, Wanyan Aguda (r. 1115-1123) resettled captives to the Shangjing area during his war against the Liao Empire. Aguda's successor, Wanyan Wuqimai (r. 1123-1134) conquered most of northern China in the Jin–Song wars. He continued the policy, resulting in numerous wealthy people, skilled craftsmen from Yanjing (Beijing) and the former Northern Song capital Bianjing (Kaifeng) being relocated to Shangjing. Historical accounts report that, after the fall of Bianjing in 1127, the Jurchen generals brought to Shangjing (and elsewhere in North China) several thousand of people, including: "about 470 imperial clansmen; erudites and students of the imperial academy; eunuchs; medical doctors; artisans; prostitutes; imperial gardeners; artisans of Imperial Constructions; actors and actresses; astronomers; musicians". A variety of valuable goods captured in Bianjing was brought to the Jin capital as well.