Map Introduction

The Three Kingdoms (220–280 AD)

The Three Kingdoms period was a historical era following the Eastern Han Dynasty and preceding the Western Jin Dynasty, characterized by the division of China into three rival states: Cao Wei, Shu Han, and Eastern Wu. The Battle of Red Cliffs, where Cao Cao was defeated by the alliance of Sun Quan and Liu Bei, established the prototype of the tripartite division. These three states largely inherited the territorial boundaries and administrative system of the Eastern Han Dynasty, which consisted of a three-tier structure: Provinces (Zhou), Commanderies (Jun), and Counties (Xian). A Provincial Inspector (Cishi) or Governor (Zhoumu) was appointed to administer a province. A Grand Administrator (Taishou) governed a commandery. Larger counties were headed by a Magistrate (Ling), and smaller ones by a Chief (Zhang).

Territory of the Wei State

The territory of Cao Wei expanded significantly under Cao Cao and was largely consolidated after Cao Pi declared himself emperor and founded the dynasty. It encompassed virtually the entire North China Plain. Its borders generally extended north to modern Shanxi, Hebei, and Liaodong, adjacent to the Southern Xiongnu, Xianbei, and Goguryeo; east to the Yellow Sea. To the southeast, it faced Eastern Wu along the Huai River-Yangtze line and the Han River-Yangtze line, with Shouchun and Xiangyang as key strongholds. To the west, it reached Gansu, bordering the Hexi Xianbei, Qiang, and Di peoples. To the southwest, it confronted Shu Han along the Qinling Mountains and the Hexi corridor, with Chang'an as a vital garrison. Upon its founding, it initially comprised 87 commanderies and 12 provinces: Sili, Xuzhou, Qingzhou, Yuzhou, Jizhou, Bingzhou, Youzhou, Yanzhou, Liangzhou, Yongzhou, Jingzhou (holding its northern part), and Yangzhou (holding its northern part). In the Western Regions, it established a Chief Clerk of the Western Regions, stationed at Haitou (west of modern Lop Nur, Xinjiang), and a Wuji Colonel to administer Gaochang. In 221 AD, after Sun Quan nominally submitted as a vassal, Cao Wei granted him the title of Governor of Jing Province and designated the territories under Sun Quan's control in the Jing-Yang region as "Jing Province," while the northern part of Jing Province previously directly controlled by Cao Wei was renamed Ying Province. After the relationship soured, Cao Wei changed Ying Province back to Jing Province. Between 220 and 226 AD, the Longyou region was separated to form Qin Province, which was later merged back into Yongzhou.

Territory of the Wu State

The territory of Eastern Wu, under Sun Ce, already included most of Yang Province. After the Battle of Red Cliffs, Sun Quan gradually acquired the western part of Jing Province and Jiao Province, and after defeating Guan Yu, he gained the entire southern part of Jing Province. The borders stabilized after Sun Quan declared himself emperor. Eastern Wu faced Cao Wei to the north along the Huai River-Yangtze line and the Han River-Yangtze line, with Jianye and Jiangling as crucial command centers. To the west, it bordered Shu Han in the Three Gorges area, with Xiling as a key fortress. To the east and south, it extended to the East China Sea and South China Sea, reaching as far south as modern central Vietnam. Eastern Wu originally had 32 commanderies and 3 provinces: Jingzhou, Yangzhou, and Jiaozhou. In 226 AD, Guangzhou was established but was later merged back into Jiaozhou. It was re-established in 264 AD, bringing the total to four provinces.

Territory of the Shu State

Shu Han's territory consisted solely of Yi Province. Its founder, Liu Bei, only began his expansion from southern Jing Province after the Battle of Red Cliffs with the assistance of Zhuge Liang. His influence once covered parts of Jing Province (its western part), Yi Province, and Hanzhong. Around the time of its founding, it fought several wars with Eastern Wu and lost its Jing Province territories. After Zhuge Liang pacified the Nanzhong region to the south, it gained the territory of modern Yunnan, after which its borders gradually stabilized. Its territorial scope: to the north, it confronted Cao Wei along the Qinling Mountains, with Hanzhong as the major garrison; to the east, it bordered Eastern Wu in the Three Gorges area, with Baxi as an important center; to the southwest, it extended to the Min River and Nanzhong, adjacent to the Qiang, Di, and Southern Man peoples. Shu Han administered 22 commanderies within the single province of Yi Province. It established the Military Governorship of Laixiang within Yi Province, headquartered at Wei County (modern Qujing, Yunnan), specifically to administer the southern part of Yi Province.

Historical Atlas of China's Three Kingdoms Period Legend includes: * Capital --- Luoyang * Provincial Seat --- Yong Province * Commandery Seat --- Dong Commandery * Other Settlements --- Pingcheng * Regime/Tribal Boundary * Provincial-Level Administrative Boundary * Modern National Boundary * Modern Capital --- Beijing * Modern Municipality, Provincial, Autonomous Region Government Seat --- Shanghai * Modern Municipal Government Seat --- Dandong * Modern Other Settlements --- Mohe

Note: This map depicts the situation in the 3rd year of the Jingyuan era of Wei, the 5th year of the Jingyao era of Shu Han, and the 5th year of the Yong'an era of Wu (corresponding to 262 AD).