Taosi
Taosi Longshan Town · Taosi Yao Capital Hypothesis
Late Longshan Taosi phase 2300–1900 BCE → Erlitou transition·Longshan (Taosi culture) → Early Xia? (Yao/Shun legend)·🇨🇳 Shanxi Province, Linfen City, Xiangfen County, Taosi Township (Tao Temple basin, Linfen Basin south end, 10 km from Linfen), China
About
About Taosi
Late Longshan (Taosi phase) walled regional capital (c.2300–1900 BCE) at Tao Temple basin near Linfen, Shanxi — 280 ha enclosure (largest Longshan city in Yellow River basin) with rammed-earth outer wall 7 km and inner palatial enclosure 12 ha, excavated 1978–present by Chinese Academy (He Nu). Taosi shows: earliest astronomical observatory in China (13-pillared 2300 BCE beaten-earth platform sighting solstices from central point, 7 m diameter), elite tombs with jade, painted dragon pottery, drum and 100 d drums, and alleged 'Yao capital' hypothesis (textual Yao diarchy). Late phase 2100 BCE walls were destroyed and palace burnt (violent collapse) contemporary with Shijiahe 4.2ka.
Why it mattersEarliest astronomical observatory in China (2300 BCE 13 pillars) proving Longshan solstice tracking predating shamanic astronomy; largest Yellow River Longshan capital and Yao capital hypothesis pivotal to Xia origins.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Was Taosi Yaodi's capital as texts claim?
Theories
- 01Taosi → Erlitou transition as Yaoness→Xia state formation (He)
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c.2300 BCE early walled town; observatory 2300–2100 BCE
- Period
- Late Longshan Taosi phase 2300–1900 BCE → Erlitou transition
- Culture
- Longshan (Taosi culture) → Early Xia? (Yao/Shun legend)
- Builders
- Taosi Longshan urbanists (He River basin chiefs)
- Purpose
- Longshan regional capital with astronomical ritual palace controlling Linfen Basin rice-millet agriculture
- Abandoned
- c.1900 BCE (violent destruction 2100 BCE then Erlitou eclipse)
- Rediscovered
- 1978 exploration; 1980s observatory; He Nu leading since 2000
- Excavation
- Excavation ongoing
c.2300–2100 BCE
Walled city 280 ha with rammed earth, palace, painted dragon pottery, drum culture
c.2300 BCE
Observatory 13 pillars — earliest astronomy in East Asia
c.2100 BCE
Palatial destruction and levelling — internal conflict before Erlitou
On the ground
Structures & features
35.8992° N · 111.4994° E · 460 m · 2 mapped features
Observatory Platform
observatory13-pillared semicircular beaten-earth platform (2300 BCE) for solstice observation
35.8995° N · 111.4997° EPalatial Enclosure and Elite Cemetery
palace400×300 m palatial inner wall with tombs containing jade cong and dragon basin
35.8989° N · 111.4991° E