The history map of Southern Bingzhou and Shuofang’s Prefectural Governor Department in the Western Han Dynasty of China

Map reference

The history map of Southern Bingzhou and Shuofang’s Prefectural Governor Department in the Western Han Dynasty of China

发布时间：2016-10-24 11:29:00 UTC

类别：Qin and Han Dynasties Historical Maps

Map Description

Evolution of the Bing Province Inspectorate

The Bing Province Inspectorate was established in 106 BCE (the 5th year of the Yuanfeng era of Emperor Wu of Han). It initially governed nine commanderies, including Taiyuan, Shangdang, and Xihe. During the Eastern Han Dynasty, its administrative seat was moved to Jinyang (present-day Taiyuan, Shanxi). In 213 CE (the 18th year of the Jian'an era), it was merged into Ji Province. It was re-established in 220 CE (the 1st year of the Huangchu era of the Cao Wei state during the Three Kingdoms period), governing six commanderies including Taiyuan, Shangdang, and Yanmen, with Jinyang remaining as its seat. The Western Jin Dynasty continued this administrative structure. However, during the Jianxing era, effective governance was lost due to warfare.

Evolution of the Shuofang Inspectorate

The Shuofang Inspectorate was one of the thirteen provincial inspectorates of the Western Han Dynasty, established in 127 BCE (the 2nd year of the Yuanshuo era). Its provincial seat was at Shuofang County (north of present-day Hangjin Banner, Ordos City, Inner Mongolia). In 35 CE (the 11th year of the Jianwu era of the Eastern Han Dynasty), it was merged into the Bing Province Inspectorate.

Core Adjustments

During the Eastern Han period, the national administrative divisions were adjusted into thirteen inspectorates, including Bing and Shuofang. As the central government strengthened its control over the regions, the function of the Inspectors evolved from purely supervisory duties towards incorporating administrative responsibilities, laying the foundation for subsequent administrative divisions.

Map Source

The history map of Southern Bingzhou and shuofang’s Prefectural Governor Department in the Western Han Dynasty of China is sourced from The Historical Atlas of China, Volume 2(2)—Maps of the Western Han Dynasty, published by SinoMaps Press on October 1, 1982, with Tan Qixiang as its author.

The Historical Atlas of China is an atlas focusing primarily on the historical administrative divisions and territories of China throughout its dynasties, compiled under the chief editorship of Tan Qixiang. The entire work spans from the primitive society to the end of the Qing dynasty, organized into 8 volumes and 20 sections according to historical periods, containing a total of 304 maps (not including illustrations). All maps juxtapose historical and modern geography. The compilation of this atlas began in the 1950s, it was seriously disturbed during the cultural revolution. The internal edition was published in 1975 but contained numerous errors. Publication of Volumes 1-8 occurred successively starting in 1982. The Historical Atlas of China is a rare and valuable resource for studying the historical administrative divisions of China.

Map link ： The history map of Southern Bingzhou and Shuofang’s Prefectural Governor Department in the Western Han Dynasty of China

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