The history map of Qiongzhou's Prefectural Governor Department in the Western Han Dynasty of China

Map reference

The history map of Qiongzhou'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 Introduction

Liang Province during the Western Han Dynasty Period

Liang Province is an ancient Chinese geographical name, referring roughly to the majority of present-day Gansu. It is also an alternative name for modern Wuwei City in Gansu.

In 106 BCE (the 5th year of the Yuanfeng era of Emperor Wu of Han), the Western Han Dynasty "first established the thirteen provincial inspectorates". The Liang Province Inspectorate was created in the northwest, governing ten commanderies including Wuwei, Jiuquan, Jincheng, Dunhuang, Zhangye, and Longxi. Its administrative seat was set at Guzang County, Wuwei Commandery (present-day Liangzhou District, Wuwei City, Gansu Province).

The Liang Province Inspectorate, established in 106 BCE, was one of the thirteen inspectorates created by the Western Han Dynasty. It was responsible for supervising the regions of modern Gansu, Ningxia, eastern Qinghai, and the Ejin Banner of Inner Mongolia, later evolving into a full administrative division. Its seat was successively moved to Wuwei, Long County (present-day Long County, Shaanxi), and Jicheng (present-day Gangu County, Gansu).

Establishment and Function The Liang Province Inspectorate initially served as a supervisory body dispatched by the central government, responsible for monitoring the conduct of local officials and addressing judicial injustices. It originally oversaw ten commanderies, including Longxi, Tianshui, and Wuwei, with its seat at Wuwei. The Inspector's duties included impeaching corrupt officials and recommending candidates for office, but they had no fixed seat and were required to tour the various regions periodically.

Evolution of the Jurisdiction During the Eastern Han Dynasty, the Liang Province Inspectorate added commanderies such as Wudu and Yongyang, and briefly administered the Zhangye Dependent State. During the Jian'an period (196-220 CE), Liang Province's territory was reduced when the four Hexi commanderies (Wuwei, Jiuquan, Dunhuang, Zhangye) were separated to form Yong Province, restricting Liang Province primarily to the area east of the Yellow River.

Process of Administrative Transformation During the reign of Emperor Ling of Han (168-189 CE), the title of Inspector of Liang Province was changed to Governor, establishing the position as the supreme local military and administrative authority. During the Cao Wei period (220-280 CE), Liang Province was re-established, its seat was moved back to Guzang, and its control was consolidated. Measures such as agricultural garrisons and pacifying the Qiang and Hu peoples were implemented, promoting ethnic integration and agricultural development.

Historical Significance As the predecessor of Gansu Province, the Liang Province Inspectorate laid the foundation for the administrative structure of the Northwest. Its jurisdiction covered the entirety of modern Gansu and surrounding areas, making it a crucial institution for central control over the northwestern frontier.

Map Source

The history map of Qiongzhou'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.

地图分类列表

地图分类列表