Wudu Commandery
| Wudu Commandery 武都郡 | |
|---|---|
| Former subdivision of Qin → Western Han → Eastern Han → Cao Wei → Western Jin → Southern dynasties | |
| 111 BCE–558 | |
| Capital | Wudu 武都 (seat near present-day Cheng County) |
| Historical era | Imperial China |
• Organized after the pacification of the upper Han River valley | 111 BCE |
• Merged into Hezhou by the Northern Zhou | 558 |
| Today part of | South-eastern Gansu and north-western Shaanxi (centered on modern Longnan) |
Wudu Commandery (武都郡) was an imperial Chinese commandery that controlled the upper reaches of the Jialing–Bailong system on the south-eastern fringe of the Qinling Mountains. Established in 111 BCE during the reign of Emperor Wu of Han, it remained a frontier district—shared by Han settlers, Qiang ranchers and Di highlanders—until it was absorbed into Hezhou (河州) by the Northern Zhou in 558 CE.[1]
Geography and counties
[edit]The Book of Han records twelve counties at foundation; a 2 CE census registers 27 714 households (122 320 persons).[2]
| County | Chinese | Approximate modern seat | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wudu (seat) | 武都 | Cheng County, Gansu | administrative centre |
| Baili | 白里 | Wen County, Gansu | copper mines |
| Wuxiang | 武鄉 | Xihe County | frontier garrison |
| Dangchang | 宕昌 | Dangchang County | Di pastureland |
| Chiyang | 池陽 | ferrous ore | |
| Anren | 安仁 | Longnan (Wen County south) | later merged |
| Jiange | 建隔 | Liangdang County | controls Jiange Pass |
| Baxiang | 巴鄉 | Ningqiang, Shaanxi | on Han River headwaters |
| Pingrong | 平戎 | Longnan basin | name means “Pacify Rong” |
| Zhongting | 中亭 | Zhouqu County | Di tribal market |
| Lueyang | 略陽 | Lueyang, Shaanxi | strategic route to Hanzhong |
| Yinping | 陰平 | Wen County west | detached as independent commandery 3 rd c. |
Han rule
[edit]Western-Han administrators encouraged Han immigration, opened iron foundries at Baili, and built stockades along the Bailong River to contain the Di and Qiang. During the Red Eyebrows Rebellion (23–27 CE) local Di raiders sacked Wudu city; the seat was rebuilt with earthen ramparts under Emperor Guangwu of Han.[3]
Three Kingdoms period
[edit]Background
[edit]Wudu lay on the over-land road between Hanzhong and the Wei stronghold of Tianshui. Its peoples—Han farmers in the valleys and semi-nomadic Di on the uplands—often shifted allegiance between rival warlords.
Cao Cao versus Ma Chao (211 CE)
[edit]In 211 the Liang war coalition under Ma Chao and Han Sui drew levies and grain from Wudu for the campaign that culminated in the Battle of Tong Pass. After their defeat, Cao Cao appointed Su Bo as Inspector of Liang to stabilise Wudu and adjoining commanderies.
Shu–Wei contest (228 CE)
[edit]During Zhuge Liang’s first northern expedition (spring 228) the Di chieftain Tian Long and the valley gentry of Wudu rebelled against Wei, opened Jiange Pass to Shu forces, and surrendered both Wudu and neighbouring Yinping Commandery to Shu Han.[4] Wei general Guo Huai counter-attacked, retook the commandery seat, and escorted thousands of Han refugees east to the Wei heartland. Although Shu claimed Wudu for several months, Wei regained effective control by winter 228. Yinping remained a contested buffer commandery until 263.
Di uprisings (249–263)
[edit]Repeated Di raids broke out after 249; Administrator Zhang Ji resettled loyal Di clans along the Bailong to block the rebellious eastern tribes. When Deng Ai marched through Wudu in 263 against Shu, he recruited Di guides familiar with the mountain tracks.
Jin and Southern dynasties
[edit]Under the Western Jin (280) Wudu listed seven counties and 18 400 households.[5] Large numbers of Di and Qiang were enrolled as *diqiang qianhu* (“thousand-household” tribal units) but often rebelled, notably in the uprisings of 296–299 led by the Di chief Qi Wannian. The Eastern Jin lost effective control of northern Gansu; Wudu was retained only south of the Bailong River.
During the Liu Song and Southern Qi dynasties Wudu shrank to four counties governed from a fortified market at Wudu city. In 558 the Northern Zhou conquered the region, abolished the commandery and merged the remaining counties into Hezhou.
Economy
[edit]Valley terraces produced millet, hemp and tea; mountain slopes supported horse and goat herds managed by Di clans. Copper from Baili and iron sand from Dangchang fed small smelters that supplied weapons to Liang Province garrisons.
Archaeology
[edit]Han graves at Cheng County yield bricks stamped 武都太守, while cliff-face inscriptions at Jiange Pass record repairs by Guo Huai’s army in 229 CE. Qiang-style painted pottery and Han coins found together near Dangchang illustrate frontier cultural blending.
See also
[edit]- Liang Province Rebellion
- Yinping Commandery
- Zhuge Liang’s northern campaigns
- Di (people)
References
[edit]- ^ Tan Qixiang (ed.). Zhongguo Lishi Ditu Ji (中国历史地图集), vol. 2. Beijing: China Cartographic Publishing House, 1982.
- ^ Ban Gu. Book of Han, Geography Treatise.
- ^ Fan Ye. Book of Later Han, Geography Treatise.
- ^ Chen Shou. Records of the Three Kingdoms, vol. 35, Biography of Zhuge Liang.
- ^ Fang Xuanling (et al.). Book of Jin, Geography Treatise.