Map Introduction

The Sui Dynasty's governance over the Lingnan region was primarily achieved through administrative reforms and ethnic policies. The commandery-level administrative divisions in this area underwent significant adjustments during the Sui period.

Administrative Adjustments

During the reign of Emperor Wen of Sui (581-604 AD), six commanderies were established in the Lingnan region: Cangwu, Shi'an, Yongping, Yulin, Hepu, and Ningyue. Among them, the seat of Shi'an Commandery was located in modern Guilin City, and its jurisdiction covered central and southern modern Guilin, the entire area of modern Liuzhou City, the northwestern part of Wuzhou City, and other territories. This administrative restructuring broke the Southern Dynasties' pattern of "fewer people, more officials," thereby improving governance efficiency.

Implementation of Ethnic Policies

The Sui Dynasty continued the Han Dynasty's "loose-rein" (jimi) policy, appointing Han officials to jointly administer ethnic minority areas alongside local chieftains. For example, Lady Xian was honored as the "Lady of Sacred Virtue," and her sphere of influence covered modern Guangdong, Guangxi, and other areas, serving as a stabilizing buffer between the central government and local powers. This policy effectively stabilized the situation in Lingnan and promoted integration between the Han Chinese and ethnic minorities.

Later Evolution

During the reign of Emperor Yang of Sui (604-618 AD), administrative divisions were further simplified, with provinces (Zhou) being changed back to commanderies (Jun). The territory of modern Guangdong Province was divided among 10 commanderies and 74 counties. However, due to the complex geographical environment, actual control in the Lingnan region was still primarily exercised along major transportation routes. Garrisons in key locations such as Gui Province (modern Guilin) and Jiao Province became crucial nodes for imperial control.

Typical Case

The area under modern Nanning's administration belonged to Yulin Commandery in the late Sui period, containing counties such as Xuanhua, Lingshan, and Ningpu. Most of these county-level units were converted from former provinces, reflecting the trend of extending administrative divisions down to the grassroots level.