"Yuanfeng Jiuyu Zhi"

Author: Wang Cun
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-01-01
Features: Yuanfeng Jiuyu Zhi is a comprehensive geographical general treatise of the Northern Song Dynasty during Emperor Shenzong's Yuanfeng era, primarily focusing on territorial divisions and administrative regions. The book is divided into ten volumes, starting with the four capitals, followed by twenty-three circuits, and concluding with abolished prefectures, military commands, frontier states, and dependent states. It records the subordinate prefectures, counties, military commands, and inspection stations under each circuit, including their distances from the capital, cardinal directions, population of principal and common households, local tribute, number of counties under jurisdiction, and their names. Under each county, it details the distances from the prefecture or county in terms of cardinal directions and distance, the number of towns under its jurisdiction, and the names of towns, fortresses, and stockades, as well as famous mountains and rivers. The hierarchy of prefectures, counties, and towns is clearly marked. The text is straightforward and comprehensive, with well-organized structure. The book records the historical changes of prefectures and counties, with a focus on events before the Yuanfeng era, briefly mentioning the Tang and Five Dynasties periods. Although the text is concise, the content is rich and unique. In addition to recording the territorial divisions of the time, it also provides detailed information on the population of various regions, the amount of tribute collected in Yuanfeng 3 (1080), and the distribution of cities, towns, fortresses, stockades, mountains, and rivers. Statistics show that there are over 1,880 towns, and over 1,000 mountains and rivers. This is a valuable source for studying historical economic geography and historical natural geography. The recorded tribute amounts are far more detailed than those in any previous historical texts or geographical treatises, and the list of town names is unique to other Song Dynasty geographical treatises. Yuanfeng Jiuyu Zhi was jointly compiled by Wang Cun, Zeng Zhao, and Li Degu.