Wuling Commandery
| Wuling Commandery 武陵郡 | |
|---|---|
| Former subdivision of Western Han → Eastern Han → Shu Han / Eastern Wu → Jin → Southern dynasties | |
| 202 BCE–589 CE | |
| Capital | Wuyang 武陽 (modern Changde) |
| Historical era | Imperial China |
• Created by Emperor Gaozu of Han | 202 BCE |
• Abolished by the Sui dynasty | 589 CE |
| Today part of | North-western Hunan (centred on modern Changde) |
Wuling Commandery (武陵郡) was an administrative commandery of imperial China located in the middle reaches of the Yuan River and the eastern foothills of the Wuling Mountains. Founded in 202 BCE under the Western Han, it persisted—through multiple boundary changes—until the commandery system was abolished by the Sui dynasty in 589 CE.[1]
History
[edit]Western Han (202 BCE – 9 CE)
[edit]Emperor Gaozu created Wuling Commandery from the former Qin Qianzhong prefecture to pacify the “Five Streams” tribal region. A 2 CE census recorded 45 879 households and 210 220 individuals under fifteen counties.[2]
Eastern Han (25 – 220)
[edit]During the Xin interregnum (9 – 23) the commandery was briefly renamed Xidu Commandery. Restored under Emperor Guangwu of Han, Wuling faced major unrest in 179 CE when a “Five Streams” uprising killed the Administrator; the revolt was quelled by General Liu Xian in 184.[3]
Three Kingdoms era (208 – 280)
[edit]In 208 CE the warlord Liu Bei advanced into southern Jing Province; Wuling’s Administrator Jin Xuan surrendered and the commandery submitted to Liu Bei. In 215 the province was partitioned: Liu Bei ceded Wuling to Sun Quan of Eastern Wu.[4] Wu split off Xidu and Chenyang counties to create a new Xidu Commandery, leaving Wuling with twelve counties.
Jin and Southern dynasties (280 – 589)
[edit]Reunified under the Western Jin in 280, Wuling was listed with ten counties and about 38 000 households.[5] Frequent Miao and Yao uprisings forced the seat to move temporarily to Yuanling in 306. Under the Eastern Jin and successive Southern dynasties the commandery shrank to six counties. In 589 CE Emperor Wen of Sui abolished all commanderies; Wuling became part of Langzhou (朗州) Prefecture.[6]
Administrative divisions
[edit]Western-Han peak (fifteen counties):
- Wuyang 武陽
- Yuanling 沅陵
- Linyuan 零陽
- Taoyang 桃陽
- Hanshou 漢壽
- Liuyang 瀏陽
- Chenxi 辰谿
- Luxi 漉溪
- Chenyang 沈陽
- Zhijiang 枝江
- Jinshan 津山
- Anxiang 安鄉
- Huchang 滬長
- Xidu 溪都
- Maotian 牟田
After the Wu reorganisation (3rd century) Wuling comprised Wuyang, Yuanling, Hanshou, Linyuan, Taoyang, Yuanling, Liuyang, Chenxi, Luxi, Jinshan, Anxiang and Maotian.
Economy and trade
[edit]The commandery’s fertile river terraces produced rice, lacquer and timber for shipment down the Yuan River to Dongting Lake. Beacon towers on the Wuling ridges signalled between Wuyang and the Yangtze corridor. Military-agricultural colonies (tuntian) at Wuyang and Yuanling supplied grain to frontier garrisons.
Archaeology
[edit]Excavations at Changde’s Dingcheng reveal Han brick tombs with carved chamber walls and lacquerware workshops. Stone-drum inscriptions from Taoyang show a hybrid Han–Miao script style, while bronze tallies stamped 武陵郡 confirm commandery administration. The region’s landscape inspired Tao Yuanming’s fable “Peach Blossom Spring”, traditionally located near Yuanling.
Legacy
[edit]The name Wuling survives in the Wuling Mountains and modern Wulingyuan Scenic Area. Under the Tang and Song dynasties the former commandery territory formed the core of Langzhou and later Changde Prefecture.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Tan Qixiang (ed.). Zhongguo Lishi Ditu Ji (中国历史地图集, Historical Atlas of China), vol. 2. Beijing: China Cartographic Publishing House, 1982.
- ^ Ban Gu. Book of Han (《漢書》), Geography Treatise.
- ^ Fan Ye. Book of the Later Han (《後漢書》), vol. 113, Geography Treatise.
- ^ Chen Shou. Records of the Three Kingdoms (《三國志》), Wu Chronicles vol. 46.
- ^ Fang Xuanling et al. Book of Jin (《晉書》), Geography Treatise.
- ^ Wei Zheng et al. Book of Sui (《隋書》), vol. 31, Geography Treatise II.