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The Kingdom of Dali (937–1253) was aBai-dominated ethnic kingdomcovering areas of present-day Yunnan Province, Guizhou Province, southwestern Sichuan Province, and northern Burma, Laos and Vietnam.
Thekingdom is notablefor its long duration and influence on religion. It lasted about 316 years, and this is longer than any of the big empires that have existed in the region. It lasted longer than the Ming and Qing Empires.
The kingdom was founded by Duan Siping in 937 and conquered by the Mongol Empire in 1253. The dynastic period is divided into two eras calledFormer Dali and Later Daliby an insurrection in the year 1094.
The Origin of the Dali Kingdom (902–937)
The Kingdom of Dali took over the area of theKingdom of Nanzhao。The Kingdom of Nanzhao was a powerful and advanced empire that existed during the time of the Tang Empire.
The Kingdom of Nanzhao was overthrown in 902 by a high official of the kingdom. In the next 35 years, three dynasties rose and fell in quick succession.
In 937, Duan Siping's army fought against Yang Ganzhe and was successful. He was enthroned in 937 andfounded the Kingdom of Dali。
The Dazhongguo Kingdom (1094–1096)
In the reign of the 4th king of Duan Siping's dynastic line, one of the rulers in the kingdom, Gao Shengtai gradually took power. In 1094, hedeposed the Duan king。
In 1095, he changed the title of the kingdom toDazhongguo。However, he soon died. Due to the tribes' opposition, Gao Shengtai asked his son Gao Taiming to return the throne to the Duan family when he was approaching his end.
Gao Taiming madeDuan Zhengchun kingin the year 1096. But the Gao family still had the real power until the kingdom's end.
Latter Dali (1096–1253)
At the end of the Later Dali era (1096–1253) in 1253,Mongol Empire troops ended the Kingdom of Dali。
Kublai Khan wanted his Mongol empire to expand southwards to cover all of Southeast Asia. The prosperous kingdom at the crossroads of Southeast Asia was a prize he couldn't pass off. He led an armyto conquer the Daliin 1253.
The Dali king surrendered, and he was appointed as hereditary vassal. Most of the officials of Dali were appointed as "Tusi" (national minority hereditary headmen).
Dali's Economy
The Daliinherited the economic structureof the Kingdom of Nanzhao since the dynasty took over the territory only a little more than a generation after the fall of the Nanzhao Kingdom.
The Nanzhao hadintroduced advanced science and cultureto their large empire, and they developed an extensive trade network with the Tang Empire, Southeast Asia, India, Tibet and Persia.
The Dali had control of what is called theChama Road or the Southern Silk Road。These were important land trade routes through their strategic central location east of the Himalayas.
Theprinciple exports were tea and silk。该地区生产优质茶called Pu'er tea that was and still is highly valued. Imports included horses from Tibet.
The Dali Kingdom's Buddhist Influence
The Dali were notable for their influence inpreserving and spreadingBuddhism。The Dali rulers and the Nanzhao before them were Buddhists, and they constructed large Buddhist temples around Dali and on Shibaoshan Mountain. These were centers for Buddhist teaching.
While theTang Dynasty(618–907) and influential leadership of the Song Empire turned against Buddhism, the Nanzhao and Dali Kingdom supported it. The Dali rulershelped it spreadin the region before and during theSong Dynastyera (960–1279).
Dali Kingdom Sights and Tours
The Three Pagodas
Three very large and famousBuddhist pagodascalled theThree Pagodasstill remain from their rule.
The pagodas are tall and more than 1,000 years. The tallest is 70 meters tall and may be thetallest pagoda surviving从唐代的时代。很漂亮。
These pagodas are themain historical attractions of the Kingdom of Dalinear modernDali。They demonstrate the wealth and technology of the Nanzhao Kingdom and the Dali Kingdom.
Precious Stone Mountain
Precious Stone Mountain(Shibaoshan) would be a highlight of a trip to Dali. Sideng Market was put on the World Monuments Watch list, and the Buddhist grottoes with intricate carvings and artwork are world famous. The Shibaoshan Nature Reserve is a great place to hike.