Map Introduction

Colonel-Director of Dependent States during the Eastern Han Dynasty

The Colonel-Director of Dependent States was a significant supervisory institution during the Eastern Han period. Its historical evolution is primarily reflected in two aspects: jurisdictional adjustments and functional changes.

Jurisdictional Adjustments During the Eastern Han Dynasty, Henan Commandery was renamed Henan Yin. Consequently, the supervisory scope of the Colonel-Director of Dependent States was adjusted to include the four commanderies of Hedong, Henei, Hongnong, and Henan Yin. This administrative structure continued into the Cao Wei period (220–265 CE), albeit with minor territorial modifications. For instance, in 247 CE Pingyang Commandery was created from part of Hedong Commandery, and in 264 CE the Agricultural Commandant of Yewang was elevated to Yewang Commandery.

Functional Evolution Originally responsible for supervising the capital region, the Colonel-Director of Dependent States gradually saw its functions shift towards specialized oversight of both central and local officials. Its powers encompassed impeaching officials, monitoring local administration, and adjudicating major legal cases. For example, during the reign of Emperor Cheng of Han, the title "Colonel" was temporarily removed, retaining only the "Director of Dependent States" function. Under Emperor Ai of Han, its military functions were further weakened.

Institutional History Due to warfare in the late Eastern Han period, the seat of the Colonel-Director of Dependent States was relocated to places such as Hefei and Xingyang. During the Western Jin Dynasty, it was renamed Si Province and its seat returned to Luoyang. Later, the Later Zhao state established a separate Si Province at Xiangguo. After the Eastern Wei moved its seat to Ye, it was renamed Xiang Province. Finally, Wang Shichong reinstated Si Province at Luoyang toward the end of the Sui Dynasty.

Map Source

Historical map Silixiaoweibu Chinese in the Eastern Han Dynasty is sourced from The Historical Atlas of China, Volume 2(3)—Maps of the Eastern 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.

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