Pre-Qin dynasty Pre-
Qin dynasty (221 BC–206 BC) historical texts such as the
Yu Gong or
Tribute of Yu chapter of the
Book of History,
Erya,
Rites of Zhou and
Lüshi Chunqiu all refer to the Nine Provinces. Yuzhou appears in all of these texts even though different names are provided for the Nine Provinces. The
Rites of Zhou states that Yuzhou was
Henan Province, while the
Lüshi Chunqiu records: "Yuzhou was between the
Yellow and
Han rivers. That was where
Zhou was located."
Han dynasty In 106 BC during the reign of
Emperor Wu of the
Western Han dynasty (206 BC-AD 9), China was divided into thirteen administrative divisions (excluding the area under the central government's control), each governed by an Inspector (刺史). Yuzhou was one of the thirteen. The areas it governed included: north of the
Huai River, east of the
Ru River basin, and
Feng and
Pei counties in
Jiangsu. However Yuzhou did not have a provincial capital and was only an administrative division in name. period(In the late Han dynasty period, 189 CE). In 188 during the reign of
Emperor Ling of the
Eastern Han dynasty (25-220), Yuzhou's capital was established in Qiao County (譙縣; present-day
Bozhou,
Anhui). The area under Yuzhou's jurisdiction included parts of eastern
Henan, western
Anhui. It was in charge of two
commanderies -
Yingchuan (潁川) and
Runan (汝南) - and four
states -
Liang (梁),
Pei (沛),
Chen (陳) and
Lu (魯).
Three Kingdoms During the
Three Kingdoms period (220-280), Yuzhou was in the state of
Cao Wei (220–265) and its capital was designated in Ancheng County (northeast of present-day
Zhengyang County,
Henan, on the southwestern bank of the south
Ru River). Under its jurisdiction were nine
commanderies - Yingchuan (潁川), Chen (陳), Lu (魯), Runan (汝南), Qiao (譙), Yiyang (弋陽), Yang'an (陽安), Xiangcheng (襄城) and Ruyin (汝陰) - and two
states - Liang (梁) and Pei (沛).
Jin dynasty and Sixteen Kingdoms During the
Western Jin dynasty (266-316), Yuzhou's capital was in Chen County (陳縣; present-day
Huaiyang County,
Henan), and it governed ten
commanderies and
states. Its capital constantly changed during the
Eastern Jin dynasty (317-420) and its boundaries were not fixed. Yuzhou controlled the
Huai River delta and parts of
Anhui and
Jiangsu along the
Yangtze River when its land area was greatest during Eastern Jin. In 329 Yuzhou's capital was set up in Wuyang County (蕪湖縣; east of present-day
Wuyang, Anhui). After 338 the capital kept changing, and its locations included: Zhucheng (邾城; northwest of present-day
Huanggang,
Hubei); Wuhu (蕪湖); Niuzhu (牛渚; present-day
Caishi Subdistrict,
Ma'anshan, Anhui); Liyang (歷陽; present-day
He County, Anhui); Matou (馬頭; southern bank of the
Huai River at south of
Huaiyuan County, Anhui); Qiao (譙; present-day
Bozhou, Anhui); Gushu (姑孰; present-day
Dangtu County, Anhui). From 416 onwards its capital was in Shouchun (壽春; present-day
Shou County, Anhui). During the
Sixteen Kingdoms period (304-439), Yuzhou was under
Later Zhao, and its capital was moved to Xuchang County (許昌縣; east of present-day
Xuchang, Henan). The
Former Qin kingdom later renamed it Dongyuzhou (東豫州; Eastern Yu Province) and designated its capital in Luoyang County (洛陽縣; northeast of present-day
Luoyang, Henan).
Southern and Northern Dynasties During the
Southern and Northern dynasties period (420-589), China was further divided into many administrative divisions so the land area in each division was reduced. Yuzhou fell under the control of several dynasties and experienced a series of renaming and changes to its capital. • The
Liu Song dynasty (420-479) established a Nanyuzhou (南豫州; Southern Yu Province) with its capital in Gure (姑熟; present-day
Dangtu County,
Anhui). • The
Southern Qi (479-502) set up another Yuzhou in addition to Nanyuzhou, with the former's capital in Shouchun (壽春; present-day
Shou County, Anhui). • In 500 Yuzhou fell under
Northern Wei (386-535) control and was renamed Yangzhou (揚州). It was later renamed to Luozhou (洛州), and Sizhou (司州) was renamed Yuzhou, with the latter's capital in Shangcai County (上蔡縣; present-day
Runan County,
Henan). • In 506 the
Liang dynasty (502-557) set up Yuzhou's capital in Hefei (合肥; present-day
Hefei, Anhui). In 526 it was renamed Nanyuzhou. Towards the end of the Liang dynasty its capital was moved to Huaining (懷寧; present-day
Qianshan County, Anhui). In 550 it was renamed to Jinzhou (晉州) with its capital in Nanchang (南昌; present-day
Nanchang,
Jiangxi). In 557 it was renamed Jiangzhou (江州). • In 550 Yuzhou came under
Eastern Wei (534-550) and was renamed back to Yangzhou. • In 573 Yuzhou came under the
Chen dynasty (557-589) and was renamed back to Yuzhou. • In 579
Northern Zhou (557–581) renamed Yuzhou to Yangzhou (揚州), and later to Shuzhou (舒州) and Zhenzhou (溱州).
Sui and Tang dynasties During the early Daye era (605-618) of the
Sui dynasty (589–618), Yuzhou was renamed Caizhou (蔡州) and its capital designated in Luoyang (洛陽; present-day
Luoyang,
Henan). In 607 it was renamed to
Henan Commandery (河南郡). Yuzhou was restored in the early
Tang dynasty (618–907) and its capital set up in Ruyang County (汝陽縣; present-day
Runan County, Henan). In 742 it was renamed
Runan Commandery (汝南郡), and in 758 it was renamed back to Yuzhou. Around 762 and 763 it was renamed to Caizhou (蔡州) again.
Liao dynasty During the
Khitan-led
Liao dynasty (907–1125), Yuzhou was under the control of the Prince of Chen (陳王) lineage. It was established as a military division of the capital Shangjing (上京; present-day
Baarin Left Banner,
Inner Mongolia). Its capital was near northwest of present-day
Jarud Banner, Inner Mongolia.
Jin dynasty Yuzhou was abolished during the
Jurchen-ruled
Jin dynasty (1115–1234). ==References==