What was Anhui’s place in the history of the Qing Dynasty?

Anhui has a long history. Human beings lived on this land as early as 20,000 to 300,000 years ago. In the late primitive society, the residents living in today's central Anhui, western Anhui and northern Anhui belonged to the Yi ethnic group. Most areas in southern Anhui were the habitat of the Yue ethnic group. The south of the Dabie Mountains, near Hubei and along the Yangtze River in Jiangxi, belonged to the San Miao ethnic group.

Xia Shang can be found in the historical records of Tushan, Nanchao, Liu, Ying, Hufang, Linfang and Renfang. The Western Zhou Dynasty enfeoffed some small states in present-day northwest Anhui, such as Jiao, Yi, Shen, Hu, etc., while to the east there were still scattered clan and tribal Fang states. During the Spring and Autumn Period, when the great powers fought for hegemony, these feudal states and Fang states were successively owned by Wu, Yue, and Chu. In the late Warring States period, the entire territory of Anhui was annexed to the powerful Chu state. Chu feared Qin's pressure and moved its capital from Hubei to Shouxian County. The Qin Dynasty destroyed the Six Kingdoms and implemented the system of prefectures and counties. Those involved in present-day Anhui include Jiujiang County, Sishui County, Dang County, Yingchuan County, and Kuaiji (Wu) County. There are 25 counties that can be examined. At the beginning of the Western Han Dynasty, the county system and the feudal system were parallel. Anhui counties and counties were divided into Huainan, Jing, Huaiyang, Liang and other countries. In order to strengthen the centralization of power, Emperor Jing established many princes and made his country smaller. The princes' settlements were as little as counties and counties. Emperor Wu established thirteen governors, and Anhui belonged to the three prefectures of Yang, Yu, and Xu. Yangzhou governs Danyang, Jiujiang, Lujiang counties and Liu'an State, Xuzhou governs Linhuai County and Chu State, Yuzhou governs Pei and Runan counties and Liang State, and has 74 counties. The Eastern Han Dynasty followed the old system of the Western Han Dynasty with slight adjustments. Yangzhou administered the three counties of Danyang, Jiujiang, and Lujiang, Yuzhou administered the Runan County, Chen State, Peiguo, and Liang State, and Xuzhou administered Pengcheng State, Xiapi State, and 69 counties.

During the Three Kingdoms period, Anhui was divided between Wei and Wu. Wei is under the jurisdiction of Yuzhou under the jurisdiction of Anfeng, Runan, and Qiao counties as well as Liang and Pei states. Xuzhou has jurisdiction over Pi County and Pengcheng Kingdom. Yangzhou has jurisdiction over two counties, Lujiang and Huainan, and 39 counties. Wu belongs to Yangzhou and has jurisdiction over 3 counties: Danyang, Xindu and Lujiang, and 19 counties. Anhui in the Western Jin Dynasty still belonged to the three prefectures of Yang, Xu and Henan. Yangzhou governs the five counties of Huainan, Lujiang, Danyang, Xuancheng and Xin'an; Xuzhou governs Linhuai County, Pengcheng Kingdom and Xiapi Kingdom; Yuzhou governs Ruyin and Anfeng counties as well as Peiguo, Qiaoguo and Liangguo. There are 74 counties in the country. During the Eastern Jin Dynasty and the Southern and Northern Dynasties, political power changed frequently, institutions were replaced or abolished, and local ownership was uncertain. In addition, overseas Chinese established counties and counties, so the division of Anhui was relatively chaotic.

In the Sui Dynasty, the counties were divided into prefectures and counties were unified by prefectures. They were successively established as Ying, Bo, Song, Chen, Xu, Ren, Shou, Lu, Xi, He, Hao, Chu, Yang, Jiang, Xuan, She and other 17 prefectures govern 55 counties. At the beginning of the great cause, the Han system was restored, and Anhui was divided into three states: Yang, Henan and Xu. Xuzhou controls 2 counties of Pengcheng and Xiapi, Yuzhou controls 4 counties of Liang, Qiao, Ruyin, and Huaiyang, and Yangzhou controls 9 counties of Huainan, Lujiang, Tong'an, Liyang, Jiangdu, Zhongli, Danyang, Xuancheng, and Xin'an. ***56 counties. In the first year of Zhenguan of the Tang Dynasty, three levels of administration were implemented: Dao, prefecture (county), and county. Anhui was divided into three provinces: Henan, Huainan, and Jiangnan. Among them, Henan Province governs 5 prefectures: Ying, Bo, Song, Xu, and Si; Huainan Province governs 7 prefectures: Hao, Yang, Chu, He, Lu, Shou, and Shu; and Jiangnan Province governs 2 prefectures, Xuan and She. There are 44 counties in the country. During the Mid-Tang Dynasty, Dao became a formal administrative division, and Anhui was divided into four Dao's: Henan, Huainan, Jiangnan East, and Jiangnan West. Henan Road leads 5 prefectures: Ying, Bo, Song, Xu, and Si; Huainan Road leads 7 prefectures: Yang, Chu, Hao, Shou, Lu, He, and Shu; Jiangnan East Road leads 2 prefectures: She and Risheng; and Jiangnan West Road leads 2 states. Xuan and Chi 2 states. ***55 counties, 1 army. There were many vassal towns in the late Tang Dynasty, and there were 4 festival towns in Anhui. The Xuanwu Army governs Song Prefecture and controls the three prefectures of Bo, Ying and Song; the Wuning Army governs the four prefectures of Xu, Su, Hao and Si; the Huainan Jiedu envoy controls Yang, Chu, Shou, Lu, He, Shu, Guang and Huang. 8 states; Ning Guojun has 3 states: Xuan, She and Chi.

During the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period, the Huaibei area was successively occupied by the Later Liang, Later Tang, Later Jin, Later Han, and Later Zhou Dynasties. The Jianghuai and Jiangnan areas were successively occupied by the Wu State and the Southern Tang Dynasty. The administrative division system still followed the late Tang Dynasty. The system of vassal towns, states and counties. When the Northern Song Dynasty was established, a three-level system of roads, prefectures (states), and counties (military and prison) was implemented. Anhui was divided into five roads. Jingxi East Road governs Dan and Xu prefectures, Jingxi Northwest Road governs Yingzhou, Huainan East Road governs Bo, Su, Si, Yang, and Chuzhou, Huainan West Road governs Lu, He, Shu, Hao prefectures and Lu'an, Wuwei 2nd Army and Shouchun 1st Army, Jiangnan East Road governs the four states of Xuan, She (Hui), Chi, Taiping and Guangde 1st Army. *** Total 62 counties, 2 prisons. The Southern Song Dynasty established three roads south of the Huaihe River: Huainan East, Huainan West, and Jiangnan West, commanding 3 prefectures, 8 states, and 7 armies, and governing 51 counties and 2 prisons. The Kingdom of Jin established Nanjing Road and Shandong West Road in Anhui north of the Huaihe River, and controlled 7 states and 16 counties.

The Yuan Dynasty implemented a four-level system of provinces, roads (prefectures, direct prefectures), scattered states (military), and counties. The administrative divisions were complicated and the affiliations were chaotic and changeable. Anhui is divided into 3 provinces: Zhongshu Province governs Jining Road and governs 1 county; Henan Province governs Guide Prefecture (administering Xu, Su, and Bo prefectures), Runing Prefecture (administering Yingzhou), and Luzhou Road (Jurisdiction over Wuwei, Lu'an, and Hezhou prefectures), Anfeng Road (administration over Haozhou), Anqing Road (direct jurisdiction over 6 counties), Yangzhou Road (administration over Chuzhou), Huai'an Road (administration over Sizhou); Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces Ningguo Road (direct management for 6 counties), Huizhou Road (direct management for 5 counties and Wuyuan Prefecture), Taiping Road (direct management for 3 counties), Chizhou Road (direct management for 6 counties), Guangde Road (direct management for 2 counties). *** Total 60 counties.

The Ming Dynasty implemented three-level divisions. The northern and southern Zhili and the Chief Envoys were first-level divisions, the prefectures and Zhili prefectures (departments) were second-level divisions, and scattered prefectures and counties (departments) were third-level divisions. . Anhui belongs to the western region of Southern Zhili, with seven prefectures: Fengyang, Luzhou, Anqing, Taiping, Chizhou, Ningguo, and Huizhou, and four Zhili prefectures of Xuzhou, Chuzhou, Hezhou, and Guangde. The government established 49 counties and 7 scattered states. In the early Qing Dynasty, Nanzhili was renamed Jiangnan Province, and the second and third-level divisions still followed the Ming system.

In the 18th year of Shunzhi in the Qing Dynasty (1661), Jiangnan Province was divided into two vassals, left and right. In the fourth year of Kangxi's reign (1665), the jurisdictions of the left and right vassals were adjusted and the territories of Anhui and Jiangsu provinces were established. In the sixth year of Kangxi (1667), the province was officially established, and the first characters of Anqing Prefecture and Huizhou Prefecture were combined into the name of the province. In the twenty-fifth year of Qianlong's reign (1760), Anqing was designated as the provincial capital and the three provincial-level government offices were established.

In the fourth year of Tongzhi (1865), it was divided into three roads: Fengying Liusi Road, 2 prefectures, 2 Zhili prefectures, and 19 counties (prefectures). Fengyang Prefecture governs Fengyang County, Huaiyuan County, Dingyuan County, Fengtai County, Shouzhou, and Suzhou (leading Lingbi County), and Yingzhou Prefecture governs Fuyang County, Yingshang County, Huoqiu County, Woyang County, and Bozhou , Taihe County, Mengcheng County, Lu'an Zhili Prefecture governs Huoshan County and Yingshan County (now part of Hubei Province), and Sizhou Zhili Prefecture governs Tianchang County, Wuhe County, and Xuyi County (now part of Jiangsu Province). There are 2 prefectures, 2 Zhili prefectures and 14 counties (prefectures) in Anlu, Chu and Dao. Anqing Prefecture governs Huaining County, Tongcheng County, Qianshan County, Taihu County, Susong County, and Wangjiang County; Luzhou Prefecture governs Hefei County, Shucheng County, Lujiang County, Chao County, Wuwei Prefecture, and Chuzhou (Zhili Prefecture) , governs Quanjiao County and Lai'an County, and Hezhou Zhili Prefecture governs Hanshan County. Huining Chitai Road leads 4 prefectures, 1 Zhili Prefecture, and 22 counties. Huizhou Prefecture governs She County, Xiuning County, Qimen County, Yi County, Jixi County, and Wuyuan County (now part of Jiangxi Province); Ningguo Prefecture governs Xuancheng County, Ningguo County, Jing County, Taiping County, Jingde County, and Nanling County , Chizhou Prefecture governs Guichi County, Qingyang County, Tongling County, Shidai County, Jiande County, and Dongliu County, Taiping Prefecture governs Dangtu County, Wuhu County, and Fanchang County, and Guangde Zhili Prefecture governs Jianping County. Compared with the jurisdiction of Anhui today, Shaodangshan County and Xiao County belong to Huaixu Road in Jiangsu Province, and Wuyuan County, Xuyi County and Yingshan County are basically the same as the territory of today's Anhui.

During the period of the Beijing Government of the Republic of China, a three-level system of province, prefecture and county was implemented. Anqing Road governs 16 counties including Huaining, Tongcheng, Taihu, Qianshan, Susong, Wangjiang, Hefei, Lujiang, Shucheng, Chaoxian, Wuwei, Hexian, Hanshan, Lu'an, Huoshan and Yingshan, and Wuhu Road governs Wuhu, Fanchang, Dangtu, Xuancheng, Nanling, Jingxian, Taiping, Jingde, Ningguo, Shexian, Xiuning, Qimen, Jixi, Guichi, Tongling, Shidai, Dongliu, Zhide, Qingyang, Guangde, Yi County, Wuyuan and other 22 counties, Huaisi Road governs Fengyang, Dingyuan, Fengtai, Huaiyuan, Lingbi, Shouxian, Suxian, Fuyang, Yingshang, Taihe, Huoqiu, Mengcheng, and Wo There are 21 counties including Yang, Boxian, Sixian, Wuhe, Xuyi, Tianchang, Chuxian, Quanjiao and Laian. ***59 counties. Today's Dangshan County and Xiao County belong to Xuhaidao, Jiangsu Province.

After the Kuomintang ruled Anhui, it was transformed into a two-level system of provinces and counties in 1928, with 60 counties. In 1932, the administrative inspectorate system was implemented and became a provincial agency. The areas under its jurisdiction were called special districts. Anhui Province is divided into 10 special regions. In 1945, the first special region governed seven counties, including Huaining, Tongcheng, Qianshan, Susong, Wangjiang, Taihu, and Yuexi, and the second special region governed five counties, including Lu'an, Lihuang, Shucheng, Huoshan, and Huoqiu. The third region governs 6 counties including Fuyang, Boxian, Linquan, Yingshang, Taihe and Woyang. The fourth region governs 5 counties including Suxian, Mengcheng, Lingbi, Wuhe and Si County. The fifth region governs Jiashan, Fengyang, Chuxian, Lai'an, Tianchang, Xuyi (now part of Jiangsu Province) and other 6 counties, the sixth region governs Wuhu, Xuancheng, Jingxian, Guangde, Dangtu, Nanling, Langxi, Fanchang and other 8 counties County, the seventh district governs 8 counties including Xiuning, Shexian, Qimen, Yixian, Jixi, Ningguo, Jingde, Wuyuan (now part of Jiangxi Province), and the eighth district governs Guichi, Zhide, Taiping, Dongliu , Shidai, Qingyang, Tongling and other 7 counties. The ninth region governs six counties including Chaoxian, Quanjiao, Hexian, Hanshan, Wuwei and Lujiang. The tenth region governs Shouxian, Hefei, Dingyuan, Huaiyuan and Fengtai. Waiting for 5 counties. On New Year's Day 1947, Bengbu City was officially established. At this point, Anhui Province has jurisdiction over 1 city and 63 counties, and Dangshan County and Xiao County still belong to Jiangsu Province.

In May 1949, the Communist Party of China established the People's Administrative Office of Northern Anhui and the People's Administrative Office of Southern Anhui. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, in August 1952, the administrative offices in northern Anhui and southern Anhui were abolished and the Anhui Provincial People's Government was established, with the provincial capital located in Hefei.