Jianwei Commandery
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| Jianwei Commandery 建威郡 | |
|---|---|
| Former subdivision of Western Han → Eastern Han → Shu Han → Western Jin → Southern dynasties | |
| 2nd century BCE–589 CE | |
| Capital | Jianwei 建威 (near modern Yibin) |
| Historical era | Imperial China |
• Established under the Western Han | 2nd century BCE |
• Abolished during the Sui dynasty reforms | 589 CE |
| Today part of | Southern and western Sichuan (centered on modern Yibin) |
Jianwei Commandery (建威郡) was an administrative commandery of imperial China located in what is now southern and western Sichuan, centered on the upper reaches of the Yangtze River near modern Yibin. It was established during the Western Han dynasty in the 2nd century BCE and continued through the Eastern Han, Three Kingdoms, Western Jin, and Southern dynasties until its abolition by the Sui dynasty in 589 CE.
Geography and counties
[edit]According to the Book of Han, Jianwei was one of the original commanderies under Yizhou Province. It administered seven counties and served as a key frontier outpost between the settled Sichuan Basin and the tribal uplands of southern Yunnan.[1]
By the late Han period, major counties included:
| County | Chinese | Modern location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jianwei (seat) | 建威 | Yibin | commandery capital at river junction |
| Fu | 涪 | Fushun, Sichuan | fertile lowland |
| Pingyi | 平夷 | Xuyong or Junlian | Di tribal contact zone |
| Yi | 夷 | Changning | Di tribal settlements |
| Qiongdu | 邛都 | Near Pingshan or Leshan | trading center |
| Wuyang | 武陽 | Gong County | likely merged in Jin period |
| Nanxi | 南溪县 | South of Yibin | river valley trade |
Han dynasty
[edit]Jianwei was created to govern the upper Yangtze basin and support Han efforts to integrate the southwest frontier. It administered traffic between the Dian and Shu regions and managed the Di and Bo tribal populations. Han governors promoted settlement, irrigation, and copper exploitation. The river junction at Yibin became a transit point for goods moving between Jianning Commandery and the Sichuan interior.
The commandery was strategically situated to defend Yizhou Province’s southern flank, and its steep terrain made it difficult to govern without local alliances. Dian-style artifacts continued to appear in tombs during this period, suggesting a gradual assimilation of indigenous traditions.
Three Kingdoms period
[edit]Following the Han collapse in 220 CE, Jianwei came under the control of Shu Han. It was part of the southern defense zone of the kingdom and supplied troops and grain to support campaigns in Nanzhong and against Cao Wei.
In 225 CE, Jianwei served as a base of operations during Zhuge Liang’s southern expedition against rebel tribes and warlords such as Yong Kai. Its location at the convergence of the Min and Jinsha rivers gave it strategic importance in controlling access to Jianning Commandery and Yunnan Commandery.[2]
Jianwei remained a secure interior commandery under Shu control throughout the Three Kingdoms period and was not directly contested by Wei forces.
Jin and Southern dynasties
[edit]Under the Western Jin, Jianwei became part of Yizhou Province. It retained strategic importance as a logistics base in the upper Yangtze but faced population decline due to conflict and migration during the 4th century. The Di tribes of the borderlands frequently raided the valleys, and many Han settlements contracted toward the river plains.
During the Eastern Jin and the Southern dynasties (Liu Song, Southern Qi, and Liang dynasty), Jianwei governed a reduced number of counties and was often administered from fortified market towns. It remained a gateway between Sichuan and the southwest frontier until the Sui dynasty abolished commanderies in 589.
Economy
[edit]Jianwei’s economy relied on rice farming, salt wells, forest products, and copper mining. Its rivers allowed movement of goods downstream to Chengdu and upstream toward Nanzhong. The area also served as a redistribution point for tribute from the southern tribes.
Archaeology
[edit]- Han and Shu-era bricks stamped 建威官 have been found near Yibin.
- Dian-style bronze drums excavated in Pingyi County show continued indigenous presence.
- A Shu-period tax register discovered in Fushun records transport quotas for Zhuge Liang’s southern campaigns.
See also
[edit]- Jianning Commandery
- Yizhou Province
- Zhuge Liang’s southern campaign
- Di (people)
- Shu Han
References
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