Yangzhou (ancient China)
| Yangzhou | |||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 扬州 | ||||||
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| Traditional Chinese | 揚州 | ||||||
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Yangzhou or Yang Province was one of the Nine Provinces of ancient China mentioned in classic historical texts including the Yu Gong or Tribute of Yu, Erya and Rites of Zhou.
Name
There are four different theories regarding the origin of the name "Yangzhou":
- "Yangzhou"'s etymological root is related to trees. The Chunqiu Yuan Ming Bao (春秋元命苞) records, "The soil is damp and moist, poplars and willows thrive there, that is how the name originated."[1] The Northern Song Dynasty polymathic scientist and statesman Shen Kuo (1031–1095) wrote in his book Dream Pool Essays that "Yangzhou is suitable for poplars (楊; yang) and Jingzhou is suitable for brambles (荊; jing)."[2] The Qing Dynasty writer Li Dou (李斗; fl. 18th century) wrote in Yangzhou Huafang Lu (揚州畫舫錄) that "Yangzhou is suitable for poplars (楊; yang) and those growing on dykes are even larger. There is one (poplar tree) every five steps and two every ten steps, in pairs and threes they stand in gardens."[3] Yangzhou is also sometimes written in Chinese as 楊州 instead of 揚州, as 楊 means "poplar".
- The origin of "Yangzhou" has to do with water. The Chinese dictionary Shiming dating to the Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220 CE) states, "There are waters everywhere on Yangzhou's borders, the waters form waves."[4] A commentary to the Classic of Poetry states, "Yang (揚; lit. "rise / scatter"), like the Chinese character for it, gives people an arousing sensation."[5]
- The name "Yangzhou" derives from climate and human nature. The Erya Zhu (爾雅注; Commentary on the Erya) by the Eastern Jin Dynasty writer Guo Pu (276–324) records that the Jiangnan region had a warm and wet climate, its vegetation was dense and there were flowing waters in rivers and lakes, which gave people a feeling that the area was full of vigour and life, therefore it was called Yangzhou.[6]
- "Yangzhou" originated from "Yue" (越; a term for the area in southeastern China around modern Zhejiang province). The Zhouli Zhengyi (周禮正義), by the late Qing Dynasty writer Sun Yirang (1848–1908), states, "This land was inhabited by the Baiyue. "Yang" (揚) and "Yue" (越) have the same meaning, so Yangzhou could have gotten its name from "Yangyue", just as "Jingzhou" and "Jingchu" have the same meaning."[7]
Before the Sui Dynasty (581–618) destroyed the Chen Dynasty (557–589) in 589, the Chinese terms 揚州 and 楊州 were used interchangeably when referring to "Yangzhou".
Geographical location
According to legend, when Yu the Great (c. 2200–2100 BCE) tamed the flood, he divided the land of China into the Nine Provinces, of which Yangzhou was one. Pre-Qin Dynasty (221–206 BCE) historical texts such as the Yu Gong chapter of the Book of Documents, Erya, Rites of Zhou and Lüshi Chunqiu all mention the Nine Provinces. Yangzhou appears in all these texts even though they provide different names for the Nine Provinces. However, there are three different accounts of the geographical location of Yangzhou.
Book of Documents account
Chapter six of the Book of Documents, the Yu Gong, records that Yangzhou was located between Huai and the Sea.[8] The Western Han Dynasty Confucian scholar Kong Anguo (fl. 2nd century BCE), explained in Shang Shu Zhuan (尚書傳) that the text meant that Yangzhou was bordered by the Huai River in the north and the South China Sea in the south. In modern China, the area covered by the ancient Yangzhou corresponds to Jiangsu, Anhui (the region south of the Huai River), Shanghai, Zhejiang, Fujian, Jiangxi, and parts of Hubei, Henan and Guangdong. The modern city of Yangzhou in Jiangsu is within the ancient Yangzhou's boundaries. However, in later dynasties, the Shang Shu Zhuan was proven to be not written by Kong Anguo, hence the book's credibility was largely reduced.
Erya account
Chapter nine of the ancient Chinese encyclopedia Erya states that Jiangnan was Yangzhou, with the "jiang" (lit. "river") referring to the Yangtze River.[9] The Eastern Jin Dynasty writer Guo Pu (276–324) mentioned in his annotations to the Erya that Yangzhou was defined as the region between south of the Yangtze to the Sea. This area in modern China covers roughly parts of Jiangsu and Anhui that are located south of the Yangtze, as well as Shanghai, Zhejiang, Fujian, and parts of Jiangxi and Guangdong. However, the modern city of Yangzhou in Jiangsu is not within these boundaries, because it is situated north of the Yangtze. The Northern Song Dynasty writer Xing Bing (邢昺; 931–1010) wrote in Erya Shu (爾雅疏; Sub-commentary to the Erya) that Jiangnan was a large portion of the ancient Yangzhou, and the lands covered by the ancient Yangzhou was not only limited to Jiangnan. Going by this account, the modern city of Yangzhou was therefore within the ancient Yangzhou. However, as Xing Bing's Erya Shu makes references to Kong Anguo's Shang Shu Zhuan (verified to be not written by Kong), the Erya Shu's credibility is also disputed.
Rites of Zhou and Lüshi Chunqiu accounts
The "Clan Responsibilities" (職方氏) section in chapter four of the Rites of Zhou records, "The southeast is called Yangzhou."[10] By this saying, the ancient Yangzhou would then cover the entire southeastern China, an area larger than the Yangzhou defined in the Book of Documents and Erya. This definition is even more sketchy than the above two, because it is unclear whether the modern city of Yangzhou in Jiangsu could be within the ancient Yangzhou or not. The accuracy of Rites of Zhou itself is also in question. Volume 13 of the Lüshi Chunqiu similarly mentioned that "The southeast is Yangzhou."[11]
History
Han Dynasty
In 106 BCE, during the reign of Emperor Wu (r. 141–87 BCE) of the Western Han Dynasty (206 BCE – 9 CE), China was divided into 13 administrative divisions, or provinces, (excluding the capital Chang'an and seven commanderies in its vicinity), each governed by a cishi (刺史; Inspector). 11 of them were named after the Nine Provinces mentioned in the historical texts Classic of History and Rites of Zhou. Yangzhou was one of the 11, and it covered parts of modern Anhui (south of the Huai River) and Jiangsu (south of the Yangtze River), as well as Shanghai, Jiangxi, Zhejiang, Fujian, and parts of Hubei and Henan. The modern city of Yangzhou in Jiangsu was not within the ancient province of Yangzhou; it was in another administrative division called Xuzhou.
Initially, the 13 administrative divisions were known as cishi bu (刺史部; inspectorates) and were not under direct administration by the central government, and did not have any capitals. Instead, commanderies (郡; jun), which were nominally under the jurisdiction of inspectorates, were directly controlled by the central government, hence an Administrator (太守; taishou, an official in charge of a commandery) wielded more power than an Inspector even though the latter was superior in rank. In 8 BCE, during the reign of Emperor Cheng (r. 33–7 BCE), the post of cishi was replaced by zhoumu (州牧; Governor), and the administrative divisions were officially called zhous (州; provinces), and each had its own capital. The original cishis were renamed zhoucishis (州刺史; Provincial Inspector) to reflect the new changes. Despite so, the provinces were still not under direct administration by the central government.
During the Eastern Han Dynasty (25–220 CE), Yangzhou's provincial capital was designated in Liyang (歷陽; present-day He County, Anhui). In 188, after the Yellow Turban Rebellion (184-205) was mostly pacified, Emperor Ling (r. 168–189) promoted many Provincial Inspectors to Governors and granted them autonomy in the administration of civil and military affairs in their respective provinces. This helped to facilitate the Governors in suppressing revolts, but also empowered them with greater authority, as the provinces were now directly administered by the central government.
Towards the end of the Han Dynasty, the warlord Cao Cao rose to power and took charge of the central government. He moved Yangzhou's capital to Shouchun (壽春; present-day Shou County, Anhui) and later to Hefei (合肥; northwest of present-day Hefei, Anhui). However, most of Yangzhou (south of the Yangtze River) was independent of the Han central government's control, as it was ruled by the warlord Sun Quan. Sun Quan's capital was initially in Wu County, Wu Commandery (吳; present-day Suzhou, Jiangsu), but was later moved to Jingkou (京口; present-day Zhenjiang, Jiangsu) and eventually to Jianye (建業; present-day Nanjing, Jiangsu). Yangzhou was effectively divided between the domains of the warlords Cao Cao and Sun Quan in the late Eastern Han Dynasty, and later between the states of Cao Wei (220–265) and Eastern Wu (229–280) in the Three Kingdoms era (220–280).
Three Kingdoms period
In 220, Cao Pi ended the Han Dynasty and established the state of Cao Wei, marking the start of the Three Kingdoms period (220–280). A year later, in 221, Liu Bei proclaimed himself emperor of the state of Shu Han. In 222, Sun Quan received the title of "King of Wu" and became a vassal under Cao Wei, but later declared himself emperor of Eastern Wu in 229.
Yangzhou was divided between Cao Wei and Eastern Wu: Wei controlled only a small part of Yangzhou and its provincial capital was at Shouchun (壽春; present-day Shou County, Anhui); Wu occupied most of Yangzhou, and its provincial capital, which was also the state capital, was at Jianye (建業; present-day Nanjing, Jiangsu). Yangzhou served as the foundation of Eastern Wu, so the situation in the Wu-controlled Yangzhou was rather stable. On the other hand, the Wei-controlled portion of Yangzhou was located at the border between Wei and Wu, with many battles between the two states taking place in that region, including the Three Rebellions in Shouchun (251–258). The modern city of Yangzhou was part of Guangling Commandery (廣陵郡) in Xuzhou (徐州) at the time, with Wei and Wu taking turns to occupy that area throughout the Three Kingdoms period.
Jin Dynasty, Southern and Northern Dynasties period
In 265, Sima Yan ended the state of Cao Wei and established the Western Jin Dynasty (265–316). However, even then, Yangzhou was still divided between Jin and Eastern Wu. In 280, Jin forces invaded Wu's capital Jianye and conquered Wu after the last Wu emperor, Sun Hao, surrendered to Jin. After the fall of Wu, the Jin Dynasty reunified Yangzhou and set up its provincial capital at Jianye, which was renamed to "Jianye" (建鄴; same pronunciation as the old name, but written differently in Chinese), and later to "Jiankang" (建康).
When the Yongjia Rebellion broke out in 311, the Jin Dynasty moved south to Jiangnan and established the Eastern Jin Dynasty (317–420) there, with Jiankang as the state capital. The Eastern Jin government subsequently partitioned Yangzhou into smaller provinces and prefectures such as Jiangzhou (江州), Southern Xuzhou (南徐州) and Eastern Yangzhou (東揚州), thus reducing the size of the original Yangzhou in the Western Jin Dynasty. The modern city of Yangzhou remained part of Guangling Commandery and was never part of the historical Yangzhou (Yang Province) throughout the Jin Dynasty and the subsequent Southern and Northern Dynasties period (420–589).
Sui Dynasty
In 589, during the reign of Emperor Wen (r. 581–604) in the Sui Dynasty (557–589), Sui forces conquered Jiankang (present-day Nanjing, Jiangsu), the capital of the Chen Dynasty (557–589) and reunified China under Sui. The Sui government renamed Yangzhou to "Jiangzhou" (蔣州), and Wuzhou (吳州; capital at present-day Yangzhou, Jiangsu) to "Yangzhou" (揚州). Since then, a link was established between the historical Yangzhou (Yang Province) and the modern city of Yangzhou.
In 605, Emperor Wen's successor, Emperor Yang (r. 604–618), reduced provinces to prefectures (or commanderies). Yangzhou was renamed to "Jiangdu Prefecture" (江都郡).
Tang Dynasty and after
In 620, during the reign of Emperor Gaozu (r. 618–626) in the Tang Dynasty (618–907), the modern city of Yangzhou was renamed "Yanzhou" (兗州; not to be confused with the modern city of the same name in Shandong) while Jiangning County (江寧縣; present-day Nanjing, Jiangsu) in Runzhou (潤州) was renamed "Yangzhou". Three years later, Yanzhou (兗州) was renamed "Hanzhou" (邗州). Traces of the name "Hanzhou" can still be found in the name of Hanjiang District of the modern Yangzhou city.
After the Xuanwu Gate Incident in 626, Emperor Taizong (r. 626–649) ascended the throne and made the following changes: Yangzhou (the original Jiangning County) was merged into Runzhou (潤州; capital at present-day Zhenjiang, Jiangsu); Hanzhou (邗州) was renamed back to "Yangzhou" (揚州). Only since then was the modern city of Yangzhou officially named "Yangzhou".
In 742, during the reign of Emperor Xuanzong (r. 712–756), provinces were reduced to prefectures again, and Yangzhou was renamed "Guangling Prefecture" (廣陵郡) but it was still commonly referred to as "Yangzhou" even though its official name had been changed. In 760, Emperor Suzong (r. 756–762) restored the provinces and Guangling Prefecture was renamed back to "Yangzhou". The name "Guangling" survives to this day in the name of Guangling District, which includes Yangzhou's historic centre.
Since then, the name "Yangzhou" has been more or less fixed to that particular location. During the Ming (1368–1644) and Qing (1644–1911) dynasties, Yangzhou was called "Yangzhou Prefecture" (揚州府). The Republic of China (1912–1949) government renamed it "Jiangdu County" (江都縣), but the People's Republic of China (1949–present) government restored its name as "Yangzhou City" (揚州市) after 1949. The name "Jiangdu" survives to this day in the name of Jiangdu District in Yangzhou's eastern suburbs.
References
- ↑ (厥土下濕而多生楊柳，以為名) Chunqiu Yuan Ming Bao
- ↑ (揚州宜楊，荊州宜荊) Shen Kuo. Dream Pool Essays.
- ↑ (揚州宜楊，在堤上者更大。……或五步一株，十步雙樹，三三兩兩，立園中) Li Dou. Yangzhou Huafang Lu.
- ↑ (揚州州界多水，水波揚也。) Liu Xi et al. Shiming.
- ↑ (揚，如字，激揚也) Commentary to the Classic of Poetry.
- ↑ (江南其氣躁勁，厥性輕揚，故曰楊。楊，揚也。) Guo Pu. Erya Zhu.
- ↑ (此州地苞百越，揚、越聲轉，義亦同，揚州當因揚越得名，猶荊州之與荊楚義亦相因矣) Sun Yirang. Zhouli Zhengyi.
- ↑ (淮、海惟揚州。) Book of Documents, Chapter Six, Yu Gong.
- ↑ (江南曰楊州) Erya, Chapter Nine, Explaining Earth.
- ↑ (東南曰揚州) Rites of Zhou, Chapter Four, Offices of Summer, Clan Responsibilities.
- ↑ (東南為揚州) Lü Buwei et al. Lüshi Chunqiu, Volume 13, Youshi.
External links
- Illustrated Album of Yangzhou Prefecture from 1573–1620
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