Jianshui History Notes

Author: Yang Feng
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-08-01
Features: The ancient city of Jianshui, located in the southern part of Yunnan, is 220 kilometers away from Kunming and 72 kilometers from Gejiu, the "Tin Capital." It is a treasure trove of cultural relics and boasts beautiful scenery. In January 1994, it was simultaneously listed by the State Council as a National Historical and Cultural City and a Key Scenic Area. Jianshui, historically known as "Budou" and also called "Badian" (as recorded in the "Geography" of the Yuan Dynasty history), was part of the Wude County under the Yi Province during the Han Dynasty; it belonged to the Xinggu Prefecture under the Ning Prefecture during the Western Jin Dynasty; and in the early Tang Dynasty, it was part of the Dongcuan region under the Nanning Prefecture. As early as the Han and Tang dynasties, there was a "Tonghai City Road" from the Dianchi area of Yunnan to Annam, passing through Qujiang and Nan (now Nanzhuang in Jianshui), making Jianshui a key transportation hub in southern Yunnan. This road was also mentioned in the "Imperial Envoy's Four Directions Record" by Jia Jian of the Tang Dynasty as the southeastern section of the "Annam to India Road," another route of the Southern Silk Road on land, connecting with the famous Bonan Ancient Road in western Yunnan. Thus, both routes coexisted. With the development of this ancient road, Jianshui became an important passage from the Dianchi area to various regions in Indochina. As a subordinate county of the Lin'an Prefecture, Jianshui became the central city and a frontier stronghold in southern Yunnan. Due to its abundant resources and the presence of copper and tin mines, it became a commodity distribution center. As early as the Ming Dynasty, it was known for its prosperity and wealth, earning the reputation of "the most prosperous and wealthy in central Yunnan" and "Golden Lin'an." Moreover, with its flourishing education and the rise of talented individuals, it was called "the Zoulu of southern Yunnan" and "a famous land of literature and learning." Its past glory is countless, and we will elaborate on it in detail.