Shangdang
Encyclopedia
The Shangdang Prefecture or commandery , was an administrative subdivision of ancient China from the time of the Spring and Autumn Period (771–403 BCE). Consisting of a number of districts or Zhōu (州), the prefecture covered roughly the area of modern day Changzhi
Changzhi
Changzhi is a prefecture-level city in Shanxi Province, People's Republic of China. It lies between the city of Huozhou in Shanxi and the city of Hebi in Henan....

 City in south east Shanxi Province.

Geography

Ancient Chinese sources describe Shangdang as an “upland location in the mountains”. The east and south east areas included the Taihang Mountains
Taihang Mountains
The Taihang Mountains are a Chinese mountain range running down the eastern edge of the Loess Plateau in Henan, Shanxi and Hebei provinces. The range extends over 400 km from north to south and has an average elevation of 1,500 to 2,000 meters. The principal peak is Xiao Wutaishan...

 on the borders of Hebei
Hebei
' is a province of the People's Republic of China in the North China region. Its one-character abbreviation is "" , named after Ji Province, a Han Dynasty province that included what is now southern Hebei...

 and Henan
Henan
Henan , is a province of the People's Republic of China, located in the central part of the country. Its one-character abbreviation is "豫" , named after Yuzhou , a Han Dynasty state that included parts of Henan...

 Provinces. In the south west lay Mount Wangwu
Mount Wangwu
Mount Wangwu is a mountain situated about north west of Jiyuan City in China’s Henan Province. Located in the Wangwushan-Yuntaishan National Park, Mount Wangwu is a famous Taoist site that includes the “Celestial Grotto of the Small Pristine Void” , one of the Ten Grotto-heavens of...

 and the Zhongtiao Mountains
Zhongtiao Mountains
The Zhongtiao Mountains are a major mountain range located in the south of China’s Shanxi Province.Running from north east to south west the range connects with the Taihang Mountains to the east, overlooks the Yellow River to the south and faces the Fen River valley to the north west...

. To the west were the Taiyue Mountains (太岳山) with Mount Wuyun (五云山) to the north. King Wuling of Zhao
King Wuling of Zhao
King Wuling of Zhao reigned in the State of Zhao during the Warring States Period of Chinese history...

 (r. 325–299 BCE) is reported to have said to his son: “Zhao’s territory encompasses Changshan
Changshan
In traditional Chinese dress, a changshan is the male equivalent of the women's cheongsam . It is also known as a changpao or dagua ....

 Prefecture (常山郡) and Shangdang Prefecture. To the east lies the State of Yan
Yan (state)
Yān was a state during the Western Zhou, Spring and Autumn and Warring States Periods of Chinese history. Its capital was Ji...

 bordering Donghu
Donghu
Donghu was the name of a Mongolic nomadic tribal confederation that was first recorded from the 7th century BCE and was destroyed by the Xiongnu in 150 BCE. Donghu was later divided into the Wuhuan and Xianbei Confederations, from which the Mongols are derived...

 lands. In the West there is Loufang Prefecture (楼烦郡) and the Han/Qin border.”

Spring and Autumn Period (771–476 BCE)

The earliest written record of Shangdang is towards the end of the Spring and Autumn Period (771–426 BCE) in connection with the State of Jin. At the time of Duke Ping of Jin (r. 557–532 BCE), official Xie Hu (解狐) appointed Xing Boliu (邢伯柳) as Provincial Governor of Jin’s Shangdang Region.

Warring States Period (475–221BCE)

After the Partition of Jin
Partition of Jin
The Partition of Jin , the watershed between the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, refers to the division of the State of Jin between rival families into the three states of Han, Zhao and Wei....

 by the states of Wei
Wei (state)
The State of Wei was a Zhou Dynasty vassal state during the Warring States Period of Chinese history. Its territory lay between the states of Qin and Qi and included parts of modern day Henan, Hebei, Shanxi and Shandong...

, Zhao
Zhao (state)
Zhao was a significant Chinese state during the Warring States Period, along with six others...

 and Han
Han (state)
Han was a kingdom during the Warring States Period in China, located in modern-day Shanxi and Henan. Not to be confused with South Korea which shares the same character....

 in 403 BCE, each one occupied a portion of Shangdang Prefecture with their respective capitals located in the territory. The area became the front line in the conflict that followed between these three states given its strategic position. Officials responsible for defending these three frontier prefectures were given the title Shŏu (守 literally guardian) and addressed by the honorific title Tai Shŏu (太守) which in time came to mean provincial governor.

By 265 BCE only seven warring states remained. In Shangdang, Han possessed the northern districts of Yi (仪州) and Qin (沁州) as well as half of Lu (潞) and the southern Ze (泽) districts with the other half held by Zhao and Wei.
Han territory within Shangdang was the first to suffer hardship at the hands of the State of Qin
Qin (state)
The State of Qin was a Chinese feudal state that existed during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States Periods of Chinese history...

 because of its location on the border with Qin. From the time of King Huiwen of Qin (r. 338–311BCE), Qin’s power grew and the state expanded eastwards across the Yellow River
Yellow River
The Yellow River or Huang He, formerly known as the Hwang Ho, is the second-longest river in China and the sixth-longest in the world at the estimated length of . Originating in the Bayan Har Mountains in Qinghai Province in western China, it flows through nine provinces of China and empties into...

. By the time of King Zhaoxiang of Qin
King Zhaoxiang of Qin
King Zhaoxiang of Qin or King Zhao of Qin was the son of King Huiwen and younger brother of King Wu. After the death of Wu in 306 BC, Zhao contended for the crown of Qin with his younger brother. With the support of King Wuling of Zhao, Zhao finally ascended the throne...

’s reign (306–250 BCE) Qin already effectively controlled the entire western part of Shangdang Prefecture. In 262 Qin attacked Han’s Shangdang Prefecture whereupon records show: “A Han official Feng Ting (冯亭) arrived as an emissary to King Xiaocheng of Zhao and said: ‘Our state cannot defend Shangdang, it has been overrun by Qin. Han wants peace with Zhao and does not desire occupation by Qin. 17 of our cities are willing to pay homage to Zhao, Great King, help our government and people.’ King Xiaocheng was exultant and sent troops to Shangdang.”
As a result, Han’s Shangdang Prefecture thereafter extended the entire length of the western border of the Shangdang Region. Zhao’s control over Shangdang at this early stage in the Warring States period covered Niè (涅) (the northwest of modern day Wuxiang County
Wuxiang County
Wuxiang County is a county of Shanxi, China. It is under the administration of Changzhi city.-References:*...

), Túnliú (屯留) (the south of modern day Tunliu County
Tunliu County
Tunliu County is a county of Shanxi, China. It is under the administration of Changzhi city.-References:*...

), Zhǎngzĭ (长子) (the south west of modern day Zhangzi County
Zhangzi County
Zhangzi County is a county of Shanxi, China. It is under the administration of Changzhi city.-References:*...

, Chángpíng (长平) and Xuànshì (泫氏) (both in modern day Gaoping
Gaoping
Gaoping is a county-level city in Shanxi Province, China with a history stretching back to the Warring States Period . Part of the city was formerly known as Changping where a noted battle took place in 260 BCE between forces from the rival States of Qin and Zhao.Gaoping is also famed as the...

 City) along with Duānshì (端氏) (east of modern day Qinshui County
Qinshui County
Qinshui County is a county of Shanxi, China. It is under the administration of Jincheng city.-References:*...

). This borderline lay north of the Lu District (潞州) with the Nie River (涅水) rising in the north west then flowing south into the turbid waters of the upper Zhang River (漳水). Thereafter the river flowed through the Chang Ping Pass (长平关) into the Lu District before arriving first at Gaoping (高平) then joining up with the Qin River (沁水). All of the conflicts between Han, Zhao and Wei occurred in this area, predominantly in the Túnliú, Niè and Zhǎngzĭ areas with territory frequently changing ownership. For example Zhangzi changed hands at least three times. During the Spring and Autumn period, some scholars suggest that Zhao Xiangzi (襄子) “rushed to Zhangzi” thereafter gaining control of the area for Zhao. Later on, in 370 BCE, Zhao attacked the State of Zheng
Zheng (state)
Zheng () was a vassal state in China during the Zhou Dynasty located in the centre of ancient China in modern day Henan Province on the North China Plain about east of the royal capital at Luoyang. It was the most powerful of the vassal states at the beginning of the Eastern Zhou...

 and thereafter Han, retaking Changzi and showing that by this time Han had retaken control of the area. In 359 BCE, Zheng, by then a Han vassal retook Túnliú, Niè and Zhǎngzĭ. A decade later in 349 BCE Zhao seized territory belonging to Jin in the area of modern day Qinshui County
Qinshui County
Qinshui County is a county of Shanxi, China. It is under the administration of Jincheng city.-References:*...

, Shanxi showing that once more it had returned to Han ownership.
Using the nomenclature of Tang Dynasty
Tang Dynasty
The Tang Dynasty was an imperial dynasty of China preceded by the Sui Dynasty and followed by the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period. It was founded by the Li family, who seized power during the decline and collapse of the Sui Empire...

 administrative divisions, Han controlled the whole of Yi District (沁州), the western part of Lu District (潞州) and a small part of the east of Jin District (晋州). Zhao possessed Yi District (仪州) and the larger eastern part of Lu District. Shangdang also contained the Zhao capital Handan
Handan
Handan is a prefecture-level city located in the southwestern part of Hebei Province of China.- History :Handan was the capital of the State of Zhao during the Warring States period , after the capital moved from Zhongmu. The city was conquered by the State of Qin after the virtual annexation of...

. The Battle of Changping
Battle of Changping
The Battle of Changping was a military campaign that took place during the Warring States Period in China. It concluded in 260 BC with a decisive victory by the State of Qin over the State of Zhao, and ultimately allowed Qin to conquer and unify China decades later...

 which broke the power of Zhao and left Qin the major power in China took place in Shangdang between 262 and 260 BCE.

Later history (221 BCE–

After Qin Shi Huang
Qin Shi Huang
Qin Shi Huang , personal name Ying Zheng , was king of the Chinese State of Qin from 246 BC to 221 BC during the Warring States Period. He became the first emperor of a unified China in 221 BC...

’s 221 BCE unification of China Shangdang became one of the 36 Qin prefectures with control over Changzhi. During the Western Han
Han Dynasty
The Han Dynasty was the second imperial dynasty of China, preceded by the Qin Dynasty and succeeded by the Three Kingdoms . It was founded by the rebel leader Liu Bang, known posthumously as Emperor Gaozu of Han. It was briefly interrupted by the Xin Dynasty of the former regent Wang Mang...

 Dynasty (206 BCE–8 CE) Shangdang possessed 14 counties with a total population of 337,766 people divided between 73, 798 households (户). In the following Eastern Han Dynasty the number of counties decreased to 13 whilst the population dropped to 127, 430 people split amongst 26,222 households.

During the Three Kingdoms
Three Kingdoms
The Three Kingdoms period was a period in Chinese history, part of an era of disunity called the "Six Dynasties" following immediately the loss of de facto power of the Han Dynasty rulers. In a strict academic sense it refers to the period between the foundation of the state of Wei in 220 and the...

 Period (220–280 CE) the Shangdang seat of government moved to the north of modern day Changzhi City. By the time of the Western Jin (265–316) the area had been reduced to ten counties with a steep drop in the number of households to only 12,000. The government again moved eastwards to Lu County (潞县) to the north of modern day Lucheng, Changzhi.

At the time of the Sixteen Kingdoms (304–439 CE) Shangdang was home in succession to the territories of the Former Zhao
Han Zhao
The Han Zhao , or Former Zhao, or Northern Han , was a Southern Xiongnu state during Sixteen Kingdoms period coeval with the Chinese Jin Dynasty...

, the Former Qin
Former Qin
The Former Qin was a state of the Sixteen Kingdoms in China. Founded by the Fu family of the Di ethnicity, it completed the unification of North China in 376. Its capital had been Xi'an up to the death of the ruler Fu Jiān. Despite its name, the Former Qin was much later and less powerful than...

, the Western Yan
Western Yan
The Western Yan was a state of Xianbei ethnicity during the era of Sixteen Kingdoms in China. It was founded by Murong Hong in 384 in the aftermaths of Former Qin's defeat by Jin Dynasty at the Battle of Fei River, with the stated intent of permitting the Xianbei, whom Former Qin's emperor Fu...

, the Northern Wei
Northern Wei
The Northern Wei Dynasty , also known as the Tuoba Wei , Later Wei , or Yuan Wei , was a dynasty which ruled northern China from 386 to 534 . It has been described as "part of an era of political turbulence and intense social and cultural change"...

 and the Northern Zhou
Northern Zhou
The Northern Zhou Dynasty followed the Western Wei, and ruled northern China from 557 to 581. It was overthrown by the Sui Dynasty.Northern Zhou's basis of power was established by Yuwen Tai, who was paramount general of Western Wei, following the split of Northern Wei into Western Wei and...

 all of whom moved the seat of government until it finally returned to Huguan Town (壶关城) in modern day Huguan County
Huguan County
Huguan County is a county of Shanxi, China. It is under the administration of Changzhi city.-References:*...

. In 578 CE, the first year of Emperor Xuan of Northern Zhou
Emperor Xuan of Northern Zhou
Emperor Xuan of Northern Zhou , personal name Yuwen Yun , courtesy name Qianbo , was an emperor of the Chinese/Xianbei dynasty Northern Zhou. He was known in history as an erratic and wasteful ruler, whose actions greatly weakened the Northern Zhou regime...

 the Shangdang region became part of Lu Prefecture (潞州), an area to the south of modern day Xiangyuan County
Xiangyuan County
Xiangyuan County is a county of Shanxi, China. It is under the administration of Changzhi city.-References:*...

.

After the establishment of the Sui Dynasty
Sui Dynasty
The Sui Dynasty was a powerful, but short-lived Imperial Chinese dynasty. Preceded by the Southern and Northern Dynasties, it ended nearly four centuries of division between rival regimes. It was followed by the Tang Dynasty....

 (581–618 CE) Huguan County was abolished and replaced by Shangdang County (上党县). The Shangdang regional (上党郡) seat of government moved to the county, taking responsibility for 10 counties and 125,057 households.

In the Tang Dynasty (618–907 CE) Shangdang Prefecture again became Lu Prefecture ending the use of the name although successive generations still governed Shangdang County. Only in 1529 CE during the reign of the Ming
Ming Dynasty
The Ming Dynasty, also Empire of the Great Ming, was the ruling dynasty of China from 1368 to 1644, following the collapse of the Mongol-led Yuan Dynasty. The Ming, "one of the greatest eras of orderly government and social stability in human history", was the last dynasty in China ruled by ethnic...

 Jiajing Emperor
Jiajing Emperor
The Jiajing Emperor was the 11th Ming Dynasty Emperor of China who ruled from 1521 to 1567. Born Zhu Houcong, he was the former Zhengde Emperor's cousin...

 did Shangdang County become Changzhi County and the former name cease to officially exist. Shangdang continued to be used as a name for the location since during the Yuan Dynasty
Yuan Dynasty
The Yuan Dynasty , or Great Yuan Empire was a ruling dynasty founded by the Mongol leader Kublai Khan, who ruled most of present-day China, all of modern Mongolia and its surrounding areas, lasting officially from 1271 to 1368. It is considered both as a division of the Mongol Empire and as an...

 records show that Liu Futong (刘福通) led an uprising which crossed the Taihang Mountains and burned Shangdang.
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