Xuzhou as a historical toponym refers to varied area in different eras. Ordinarily, it was a reference to the

Nine Provinces The term Nine Provinces or Nine Regions (), is used in ancient Chinese histories to refer to territorial divisions or islands during the Xia dynasty, Xia and Shang dynasty, Shang dynasties and has now come to symbolically represent China. "Pro ...

which modern Xuzhou inherited.

History

Pre-Qin era

Xuzhou or Xu Province was one of the Nine Provinces of ancient China mentioned in Chinese historical texts such as the '' Tribute of Yu'', '' Erya'' and '' Rites of Zhou''. The '' Yu Gong'' 'Tribute of Yu''records: "The Sea, Mount Dai (ancient name of

Mount Tai Mount Tai () is a mountain of historical and cultural significance located north of the city of Tai'an. It is the highest point in Shandong province, China. The tallest peak is the ''Jade Emperor Peak'' (), which is commonly reported as being t ...

), and the

Huai River The Huai River, formerly romanized as the Hwai, is a major river in East China, about long with a drainage area of . It is located about midway between the Yellow River and Yangtze River, the two longest rivers and largest drainage basins ...

served as the boundaries of Xuzhou." While the definition of Xuzhou is more brief in '' Erya'': "Where is located in the east of Ji River". Based on these descriptions, the ancient Xuzhou covered an area that roughly corresponds to the regions in modern southeastern Shandong (south of Mount Tai) and northern Jiangsu (north of the Huai River).

Han dynasty

In 106 BCE, during the reign of Emperor Wu (r. 141–87 BCE) in the

Western Han dynasty The Han dynasty was an imperial dynasty of China (202 BC9 AD, 25–220 AD) established by Liu Bang and ruled by the House of Liu. The dynasty was preceded by the short-lived Qin dynasty (221–206 BC) and a warring in ...

(206 BCE – 9 CE), China was divided into 13 administrative divisions or provinces (excluding the capital

Chang'an Chang'an (; zh, t=長安, s=长安, p=Cháng'ān, first=t) is the traditional name of the city now named Xi'an and was the capital of several Chinese dynasties, ranging from 202 BCE to 907 CE. The site has been inhabited since Neolithic time ...

and seven commanderies in its vicinity), each governed by a ''cishi'' (; Inspector). 11 of them were named after the

mentioned in the historical texts '' Classic of History'' and '' Rites of Zhou''. Xuzhou was one of the 11, and it covered parts of modern

Jiangsu Jiangsu is a coastal Provinces of the People's Republic of China, province in East China. It is one of the leading provinces in finance, education, technology, and tourism, with its capital in Nanjing. Jiangsu is the List of Chinese administra ...

(north of the Yangtze River) and southeastern

Shandong Shandong is a coastal Provinces of China, province in East China. Shandong has played a major role in Chinese history since the beginning of Chinese civilization along the lower reaches of the Yellow River. It has served as a pivotal cultural ...

. In the Eastern Han dynasty (25–220 CE), Xuzhou's capital was set up at Tan (; present-day Tancheng County,

Linyi Linyi ( zh, s=临沂 , t=臨沂 , p=Línyí) is a prefecture-level city in the south of Shandong province, China. As of 2011, Linyi is the largest prefecture-level city in Shandong, both by area and population, Linyi borders Rizhao to the eas ...

, Shandong).

Three Kingdoms period and Jin dynasty

During the

Three Kingdoms The Three Kingdoms of Cao Wei, Shu Han, and Eastern Wu dominated China from AD 220 to 280 following the end of the Han dynasty. This period was preceded by the Eastern Han dynasty and followed by the Jin dynasty (266–420), Western Jin dyna ...

period (220–280), Xuzhou was a territory of the state of

Cao Wei Wei () was one of the major Dynasties in Chinese history, dynastic states in China during the Three Kingdoms period. The state was established in 220 by Cao Pi based upon the foundations laid by his father Cao Cao during the end of the Han dy ...

(220–265), and its capital was moved to Pengcheng (; present-day

Xuzhou Xuzhou ( zh, s=徐州), also known as Pengcheng () in ancient times, is a major city in northwestern Jiangsu province, China. The city, with a recorded population of 9,083,790 at the 2020 Chinese census, 2020 census (3,135,660 of which lived in ...

). The area of Xuzhou shrank slightly as its southern border with Sun Wu. After the fall of the Western Jin (265–316) due to the Wu Hu uprising, the Jin remnants fled to southern China from the north and established the Eastern Jin (317–420). To govern the people from northern who relocated in the south of the Huai River, while its area shrank again. Its capital was variable, it moved to Xiapi (; present-day Suining County, Jiangsu), Shanyang (; present-day

Huai'an District Huai'an District () is one of four District of China, districts of the prefecture-level city of Huai'an, Jiangsu, Jiangsu Province, China. The southeast district was formerly named Shanyang County (), Huai'an County () and Chuzhou District (). The ...

, Jiangsu), Guangling (; present-day Yangzhou, Jiangsu) and Jingkou (; present-day Zhenjiang, Jiangsu) at different stages. Since its capital moved to the south of the Yangtze River, where had never been a part of its area, Xuzhou became a migrated province.

Sixteen Kingdoms and Southern and Northern Dynasties period

In the

Sixteen Kingdoms The Sixteen Kingdoms (), less commonly the Sixteen States, was a chaotic period in Chinese history from AD 304 to 439 when northern China fragmented into a series of short-lived dynastic states. The majority of these states were founded b ...

period, Xuzhou was divided between, or came under the administration of, various kingdoms: * The

Later Yan Yan, known in historiography as the Later Yan (; 384 – 407 or 409), was a dynastic state of China ruled by the Xianbei people during the era of Sixteen Kingdoms. The prefix "Later" to distinguish them from the Former Yan before them and othe ...

kingdom (384–409) set up Xuzhou's capital at Huangjin'gu (; present-day Zhangqiu,

), and moved it to Liyang (; east of present-day Xun County,

Henan Henan; alternatively Honan is a province in Central China. Henan is home to many heritage sites, including Yinxu, the ruins of the final capital of the Shang dynasty () and the Shaolin Temple. Four of the historical capitals of China, Lu ...

), and later to Juancheng (; north of present-day Juancheng County, Shandong). * The Southern Yan kingdom (398–410) set up Xuzhou's capital at Jucheng (; present-day Ju County, Shandong), which administered parts of southeastern Shandong. * The Later Qin kingdom (384–417) set up Xuzhou's capital at Xiang (; south of present-day Shenqiu County, Henan), which administered the regions east of present-day

Shangqiu Shangqiu ( zh, ), Postal romanization, alternately romanized as Shangkiu, is a city in eastern Henan province, Central China. It borders Kaifeng to the northwest, Zhoukou to the southwest, and the provinces of Shandong and Anhui to the northeast ...

, Taikang County, Shangshui County in Henan province, as well as Bozhou, Woyang County and Mengcheng County in

Anhui Anhui is an inland Provinces of China, province located in East China. Its provincial capital and largest city is Hefei. The province is located across the basins of the Yangtze and Huai rivers, bordering Jiangsu and Zhejiang to the east, Jiang ...

province. In 408, during reign of the Emperor An (r. 397–419) of the Eastern Jin, Liu Yu recaptured the former territory in the north of the Huai River, the Xuzhou was renamed as North Xuzhou, whose south border next to the Huai River while capital was Pengcheng, in 411. Meanwhile, the migrated Xuzhou remained. In 421, during the reign of Emperor Wu (r. 420–422) of the Liu Song dynasty (420–479), North Xuzhou was restored as Xuzhou, while South Xuzhou instead of the former migrated Xuzhou comparatively. In 433, during the reign of Emperor Taiwu (r. 424–452) of the

Northern Wei Wei (), known in historiography as the Northern Wei ( zh, c=北魏, p=Běi Wèi), Tuoba Wei ( zh, c=拓跋魏, p=Tuòbá Wèi), Yuan Wei ( zh, c=元魏, p=Yuán Wèi) and Later Wei ( zh, t=後魏, p=Hòu Wèi), was an Dynasties of China, impe ...

(386–535), Xuzhou's capital was established at Jiyang County (; northeast of present-day Lankao, Henan). It was disbanded in 467 during the reign of Emperor Xianwen (r. 465–471). In 473, as the original area was captured by Northern Wei, Liu Song set up the new Xuzhou whose capital was located in Yan County (; present-day Feng Yang, Anhui).

Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties

During the reign of Emperor Huizong (r. 1333–1370) in the

Yuan dynasty The Yuan dynasty ( ; zh, c=元朝, p=Yuáncháo), officially the Great Yuan (; Mongolian language, Mongolian: , , literally 'Great Yuan State'), was a Mongol-led imperial dynasty of China and a successor state to the Mongol Empire after Div ...

(1279–1368), Xuzhou became an administrative division known as "Xuzhou Circuit" () after 1348, with its capital in Pengcheng. During the reign of the

Hongwu Emperor The Hongwu Emperor (21 October 1328– 24 June 1398), also known by his temple name as the Emperor Taizu of Ming, personal name Zhu Yuanzhang, courtesy name Guorui, was the List of emperors of the Ming dynasty, founding emperor of the Ming dyna ...

(r. 1368–1398) in the

Ming dynasty The Ming dynasty, officially the Great Ming, was an Dynasties of China, imperial dynasty of China that ruled from 1368 to 1644, following the collapse of the Mongol Empire, Mongol-led Yuan dynasty. The Ming was the last imperial dynasty of ...

(1368–1644), the name "Xuzhou" was restored, and the administrative division governed Pei County and Feng County in Jiangsu, and Dangshan County and Xiao County in

. Xuzhou became "Xuzhou Prefecture" () in the

Qing dynasty The Qing dynasty ( ), officially the Great Qing, was a Manchu-led Dynasties of China, imperial dynasty of China and an early modern empire in East Asia. The last imperial dynasty in Chinese history, the Qing dynasty was preceded by the ...

(1644–1912) during the reign of the

Yongzheng Emperor The Yongzheng Emperor (13 December 1678 – 8 October 1735), also known by his temple name Emperor Shizong of Qing, personal name Yinzhen, was the fourth List of emperors of the Qing dynasty, emperor of the Qing dynasty, and the third Qing em ...

(r. 1722–1735) and it administered the modern city of

and Suqian in Jiangsu, and

Suzhou Suzhou is a major prefecture-level city in southern Jiangsu province, China. As part of the Yangtze Delta megalopolis, it is a major economic center and focal point of trade and commerce. Founded in 514 BC, Suzhou rapidly grew in size by the ...

, Xiao County and Dangshan County in Anhui.

As other alternative toponym

Pre-Qin era

* An area in the east of Lu state: Zhu (; in the southeast of present-day Shandong). "Xu" () was "Zhu", the Chinese character's variant sometimes in ancient China. * An area of Qi state: Xue (; south of present-day Tengzhou, Shandong). In 340 BCE, Xiapi () was moved to Xue, then the latter renamed Xuzhou. * An area of Qi state originally, captured by Yan and Zhao later: Shuzhou (; present-day Dacheng, Hebei).

Jurchen Jin dynasty

During the reign of Emperor Taizong (r. 1123–1135) of the Jurchen-led

Jin dynasty (1115–1234) The Jin dynasty (, ), officially known as the Great Jin (), was a Jurchen people, Jurchen-led Dynasties of China, imperial dynasty of China and empire ruled by the Wanyan clan that existed between 1115 and 1234. It is also often called the ...

, "Ansu Military Division" () whose capital at Ansu County (; present-day Xushui County,

Hebei Hebei is a Provinces of China, province in North China. It is China's List of Chinese administrative divisions by population, sixth-most populous province, with a population of over 75 million people. Shijiazhuang is the capital city. It bor ...

) was renamed Xuzhou. It administered the area in present-day eastern Xushui County. It was renamed "Ansu

Prefecture A prefecture (from the Latin word, "''praefectura"'') is an administrative jurisdiction traditionally governed by an appointed prefect. This can be a regional or local government subdivision in various countries, or a subdivision in certain inter ...

" () in 1151 during the reign of Wanyan Liang (r. 1150–1161).

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Xuzhou Provinces of ancient China Provinces of the Han dynasty