Yangzhou (ancient China)

This article is about the ancient Chinese territory. For the modern city in Jiangsu province, see Yangzhou.

Not to be confused with Yanzhou (ancient China).

Yangzhou
Traditional Chinese	揚あげ州しゅう
Simplified Chinese	扬州
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Yángzhōu

Yangzhou, Yangchow or Yang Province was one of the Nine Provinces of ancient China mentioned in historical texts such as the 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 recorded, "The soil is damp and moist, poplars and willows thrive there, that is how the name originated." Shen Kuo (1031–1095) wrote that "Yangzhou is suitable for poplars (楊; yang) and Jingzhou is suitable for brambles (荊; jing)." Li Dou (fl. 18th century) wrote 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." Yangzhou is also sometimes written in Chinese as 楊州 instead of 揚あげ州しゅう; 楊 means "poplar".
• The origin of the name "Yangzhou" has something to do with water. The Chinese dictionary Shiming, which dates back to the Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 CE), states, "There are waters everywhere on Yangzhou's borders, the waters form waves." A commentary to the Classic of Poetry states, "Yang (揚あげ; lit. "rise / scatter"), like the Chinese character for it, gives people an arousing sensation."
• The name "Yangzhou" derives from climate and human nature. Guo Pu (276–324) mentioned 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.
• "Yangzhou" originated from "Yue" (越こし; a term for the area in southeastern China around modern Zhejiang province). Sun Yirang (1848–1908) wrote, "This land was inhabited by the Baiyue. "Yang" (揚あげ) and "Yue" (越こし) have the same meaning, so Yangzhou could have gotten its name from "Yangyue", just as "Jingzhou" and "Jingchu" have the same meaning."

Before the Sui dynasty (581–618) conquered the Chen dynasty (557–589) in 589, the Chinese terms 揚あげ州しゅう 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 Tribute of Yu, 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.

Tribute of Yu account

The Tribute of Yu records that Yangzhou was located between Huai and the Sea. Kong Anguo (fl. 2nd century BCE) explained in Shangshu Zhuan (尚書しょうしょ傳でん) 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, Hunan and Guangdong. The modern city of Yangzhou in Jiangsu is within the ancient Yangzhou's boundaries. However, in later dynasties, the Shangshu Zhuan was proven to be not written by Kong Anguo, hence the book's credibility was largely reduced.

Erya account

The ancient Chinese encyclopaedia Erya states that Jiangnan was Yangzhou, with the "jiang" (lit. "river") referring to the Yangtze River. 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. Xing Bing (邢昺; 931–1010) wrote in Erya Shu (爾しか雅みやび疏; 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 Shangshu Zhuan, which was verified to be not written by Kong, the Erya Shu's credibility is also disputed.

Rites of Zhou and Lüshi Chunqiu accounts

The Rites of Zhou records, "The southeast is called Yangzhou." By this saying, the ancient Yangzhou would then cover the entire southeastern China, an area larger than the Yangzhou defined in the Tribute of Yu 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 the Rites of Zhou itself is also in question. The Lüshi Chunqiu similarly mentioned that "the southeast is Yangzhou."

History

Han dynasty

Chinese provinces in the late Eastern Han dynasty period, 189 CE.

In 106 BCE, during the reign of Emperor Wu (r. 141–87 BCE) in 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 (刺史しし; 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 Hunan. 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 (刺史しし部ぶ; inspectorates) and were not under direct administration by the central government, and did not have any capitals. Instead, commanderies (郡ぐん; jun), which were nominally under the jurisdiction of inspectorates, were directly controlled by the central government, hence an Administrator (太守たいしゅ; taishou, an official in charge of a commandery) wielded more power than an Inspector even though the latter held a higher rank. In 8 BCE, during the reign of Emperor Cheng (r. 33–7 BCE), the post of cishi was replaced by zhoumu (州しゅう牧まき; Governor), and the administrative divisions were officially called zhous (州しゅう; provinces), and each had its own capital. The original cishis were renamed zhoucishis (州しゅう刺史しし; 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 (歷れき陽ひ; 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 control of the central government. He moved Yangzhou's capital to Shouchun (壽ことぶき春はる; present-day Shou County, Anhui) and later to Hefei (合ごう肥こえ; 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 (around present-day Suzhou, Jiangsu), but was later moved to Jingkou (京口きょうぐち; present-day Zhenjiang, Jiangsu) and eventually to Jianye (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 period (220–280).

Three Kingdoms period

A turtle-shaped gold seal of the Prince of Guangling in the Han dynasty. Excavated in Ganquan Town, Hanjiang District, Yangzhou in 1980, it is now on display in the Han Guangling Royal Tomb Museum in Yangzhou.

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 Wei and Wu: Wei controlled only a small part of Yangzhou and its provincial capital was at Shouchun (壽ことぶき春はる; present-day Shou County, Anhui); Wu occupied most of Yangzhou, and its provincial capital, which was also the state capital, was at Jianye (建けん業ぎょう; present-day Nanjing, Jiangsu). Yangzhou served as the foundation of 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 (廣陵こうりょう郡ぐん) in Xuzhou (徐じょ州しゅう) at the time, with Wei and Wu taking turns to occupy that area throughout the Three Kingdoms period.

Jin dynasty, and 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" (建けん鄴; same pronunciation as the old name, but written differently in Chinese), and later to "Jiankang" (建たて康やすし).

When the Yongjia Rebellion broke out in 311, the Jin government 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 (江え州しゅう), Southern Xuzhou (南みなみ徐じょ州しゅう) and Eastern Yangzhou (東ひがし揚あげ州しゅう), 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 unified China under Sui rule. The Sui government renamed Yangzhou to "Jiangzhou" (蔣州), and Wuzhou (吳くれ州しゅう; capital at present-day Yangzhou, Jiangsu) to "Yangzhou" (揚あげ州しゅう). 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 "Jiangdu Prefecture" (江こう都みやこ郡ぐん).

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 (江こう寧やすし縣けん; present-day Nanjing, Jiangsu) in Runzhou (潤うるう州しゅう) 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 (潤うるう州しゅう; capital at present-day Zhenjiang, Jiangsu); Hanzhou (邗州) was renamed back to "Yangzhou" (揚あげ州しゅう). 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" (廣陵こうりょう郡ぐん) 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" (揚あげ州しゅう府ふ). The Nationalist Government of the Republic of China (1912–49) renamed it "Jiangdu County" (江こう都縣とけん), but the government of the People's Republic of China (1949–present) restored the name "Yangzhou City" (揚あげ州しゅう市し) after 1949. The name "Jiangdu" survives to this day in the name of Jiangdu District in Yangzhou's eastern suburbs.

References

• (Author unknown). Chunqiu Yuan Ming Bao (春秋しゅんじゅう元もと命いのち苞つと).
• (Author unknown). Erya.
• (Authorship uncertain). Book of Documents (Shangshu).
• (Authorship uncertain). Classic of Poetry (Shijing).
• Guo, Pu. Erya Zhu (Commentary on the Erya).
• Ji, Dan et al. Rites of Zhou (Zhouli).
• Li, Dou (李り斗と). Yangzhou Huafang Lu (揚あげ州しゅう畫舫がぼう錄ろく).
• Liu, Xi (劉りゅう熙). Shiming.
• Lü, Buwei et al. Lüshi Chunqiu.
• Shen, Kuo. Dream Pool Essays (Mengxi Bitan).
• Sun, Yirang. Zhouli Zhengyi (周しゅう禮あや正義まさよし).

External links

• Illustrated Album of Yangzhou Prefecture from 1573–1620