HSING-T'AI

Pinyin Xingtai city in southwestern Hopeh sheng (province), China. It is situated in a fertile plain at the foot of the T'ai-hang Mountains, on the upper course of the Tzu-ya River. It became a settlement at an early date. There were several settlements of the Shang dynasty (c. 17661122 BC) in the area, and the name of Hsing appears on oracle bones found there. Since 1954 more than 10 such Shang sites have been found in the district, indicating both lengthy occupation and a relatively advanced urban complex. In the early years of the Chou dynasty (c. 1111255 BC), the site was the capital of the feudal state of Hsing. After Hsing transferred its capital farther east and was subsequently destroyed, Hsing-t'ai became a part of the state of Ch'in and later of Chao, and it was incorporated into the Ch'in empire on the fall of Chao in 228 BC. In the civil war following the defeat of the Ch'in dynasty (206 BC), Hsiang-Y, one of the chief contenders for the empire, made one of his supporters the king of Ch'ang-shan, with his seat at Hsing-t'ai. During the ensuing Han dynasty (206 BCAD 220), the area was divided among the surrounding commanderies and feudal kingdoms. In 319 it became the capital of the Later Chao dynasty, founded by Shih Lo (319333), but under his successor, Shih Hu, the capital was moved from Hsing-t'ai to Yen in 335. After the Sui dynasty (581618) conquered China, the area was given the name of Hsing-chou, which it retained until 1119, when it became Hsin-te prefecture. Under the Ming (13681644) and Ch'ing (16441911) dynasties, it became Shun-te prefecture. The actual prefectural town has been called Hsing-t'ai since Sung times (9601126). Hsing-t'ai is now largely a local market and commercial centre on the main railway line and highway from Peking to Cheng-chou and Han-k'ou, and it collects produce from the agricultural area in the plain to the east. Its importance has in recent times been overshadowed by its rapidly developing neighbours, which have better communications and considerable industry. Pop. (1990) 302,789.