Yunnan Commandery (雲南郡) was an administrative commandery established by the state of

Shu Han Han (; 221–263), known in historiography as Shu Han ( ) or Ji Han ( "Junior Han"), or often shortened to Shu ( zh, t=蜀, p=Shǔ; Sichuanese Pinyin: ''Su'' < Middle Chinese: *''źjowk'' < Eastern Han Chinese: *''dźok''), was a Dynasties in ...

in 225 CE following the pacification of the Nanzhong region by

Zhuge Liang Zhuge Liang () (181September or October 234), also commonly known by his courtesy name Kongming, was a Chinese statesman, strategist, and inventor who lived through the End of the Han dynasty, end of the Eastern Han dynasty ( 184–220) and t ...

. Located in what is now western

Yunnan Province Yunnan; is an inland Provinces of China, province in Southwestern China. The province spans approximately and has a population of 47.2 million (as of 2020). The capital of the province is Kunming. The province borders the Chinese provinces ...

, it remained a commandery through the

Western Jin Western may refer to: Places *Western, Nebraska, a village in the US * Western, New York, a town in the US * Western Creek, Tasmania, a locality in Australia * Western Junction, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western world, countries that ...

and Southern dynasties until it was abolished by the

Sui dynasty The Sui dynasty ( ) was a short-lived Dynasties of China, Chinese imperial dynasty that ruled from 581 to 618. The re-unification of China proper under the Sui brought the Northern and Southern dynasties era to a close, ending a prolonged peri ...

in 589 CE.

Establishment

Yunnan Commandery was created in the aftermath of Zhuge Liang’s 225 CE southern expedition, which aimed to suppress rebellions by local tribal leaders such as Yong Kai and reassert Shu control over the southwest. As part of the post-campaign reorganization, the western and southern counties of Jianning Commandery were separated to form Yunnan Commandery.Chen Shou. ''Records of the Three Kingdoms'', vol. 35, Biography of Zhuge Liang. Counties reassigned included: * Yunnan (雲南) – the name-giving county, possibly located in the modern Yun County–Fengqing area * Yeyu (葉榆) – near modern Dali * Xielong (邪龍) – near modern Weishan Yi and Hui Autonomous County * Yongshou (永壽) – newly created in southern Yunnan, possibly near modern Pu'er The goal was to improve administrative reach over remote tribal areas and strengthen Shu’s hold on trade routes toward

Burma Myanmar, officially the Republic of the Union of Myanmar; and also referred to as Burma (the official English name until 1989), is a country in northwest Southeast Asia. It is the largest country by area in Mainland Southeast Asia and ha ...

and

Southeast Asia Southeast Asia is the geographical United Nations geoscheme for Asia#South-eastern Asia, southeastern region of Asia, consisting of the regions that are situated south of China, east of the Indian subcontinent, and northwest of the Mainland Au ...

Jin and Southern dynasties

Under the

, Yunnan was incorporated into Ningzhou Province along with Jianning and Yongchang. The commandery administered at least four counties, with an estimated population of fewer than 20,000 households.Fang Xuanling et al. ''Book of Jin'', Geography Treatise. The Jin court delegated authority to local chieftains, granting titles such as “Righteous Pacifier of the Yi” (平夷義侯) and “Tribal Inspector of Yunnan.” During the Eastern Jin and Southern dynasties, Yunnan Commandery remained nominally under Chinese administration but was effectively controlled by indigenous clans, especially the Cuan clan, who governed Yunnan with limited interference from the central court.

Sui reform

In 589 CE, the Sui dynasty abolished Yunnan Commandery as part of a nationwide reform that replaced commanderies with prefectures. Yunnan’s territory was divided into several new administrative units, including Yongchang Prefecture and Xunzhou, laying the groundwork for Tang-era governance.

Economy and culture

Yunnan’s economy depended on copper mining, cattle rearing, and trade in salt and tropical products. The commandery sat astride overland routes linking Sichuan to the Irrawaddy basin and the eastern Himalayan foothills. Bronze drums and cowrie shells remained in use alongside Chinese coinage and goods, reflecting the hybrid culture of the region.

Archaeology

* Han–Shu era bricks stamped 雲南太守 have been unearthed near Yun County * Bronze mirrors and cowrie ornaments from Yeyu suggest a blend of Dian and Han traditions * A stone stele near Weishan records the repair of a mountain road during the Jin period

References