Map of Henan Province

Author: Wang Ruiping, Editor-in-Chief
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-08-01
Features: Henan is one of the major cradles of the Chinese nation. It is a land of abundant resources and outstanding talent, where geniuses have emerged one after another. As early as the Neolithic Age over 4,000 years ago, the people of Central Plains created the famous Peiligang Culture, Yangshao Culture, and Longshan Culture. This region has nurtured over 1,000 historical figures in ancient China, including the philosopher Laozi, Zhuangzi; the statesman Shang Yang, Li Si; the scientist Zhang Heng; the Sage of Medicine Zhang Zhongjing; the litterateur Han Yu; the philosophers Cheng Hao, Cheng Yi; the national hero Yue Fei; and historical figures such as Ji Hongchang, Yang Jingyu, Peng Xuefeng, and Deng Yingchao. Throughout the long course of history, Henan has always held an important position in China's politics, military, economy, and culture. A total of 20 dynasties established their capitals or moved them to Henan, and among China's seven ancient capitals, three are in Henan (Luoyang, Kaifeng, and Anyang). On this land, countless historical dramas have unfolded, such as Wu Wang's conquest of Zhou, the Duke of Zhou's founding of Luoyang, the struggle for dominance among feudal lords during the Spring and Autumn Period, the fierce competition among states during the Warring States Period, the confrontation between Liu Bang and Xiang Yu, the rise of Emperor Guangwu Liu Xiu in restoring the Han Dynasty, the dominance of the Cao Wei regime in Central Plains, the Wugang Rebellion during the late Sui Dynasty, the Panchiao Mutiny of Zhao Kuangyin, Yue Fei's resistance against the Jin, the bloody battle of Li Zicheng in Central Plains, the "Second Seven" storm in Beijing-Henan, and the advance of Liu Deng's army into Central Plains. The changing tides of history have left deep marks on the Central Plains. With a long history and brilliant culture, Henan is one of the cradles of ancient Chinese civilization.
Fossilized human molars discovered in Yunyang Town, Nanxiao County, along with various Paleolithic tools unearthed in places like Mianchi, Xuchang, and Anyang, prove that humans have inhabited this region as early as 40 to 50 million years ago. The Peiligang Culture (in Xinzheng County) from 7,800 years ago, the Yangshao Culture (in Mianchi County) from 5,500 years ago, and the Longshan Culture from 4,000 years ago—these Neolithic cultural sites have been discovered in over a thousand locations to date. This indicates that by the late stage of the primitive society, the cultural level of Henan had reached a certain height. Since ancient times, the Xia Dynasty established its capitals in places like Yangcheng (Dengfeng), Yangdi (Yucheng), and Diqiu (Puyang) in Henan. The Shang Dynasty moved its capital seven times, with four of those migrations occurring within Henan. The Yinxu in Anyang is a famous late Shang Dynasty capital site. During the Western Zhou Dynasty, Luoyang was designated as the eastern capital, with the construction of the Wangcheng (King's City) and Chengzhou (Capital City). Several feudal states were enfeoffed in Henan. During the Spring and Autumn Period, the region was divided among states like Qin, Jin, Chu, Song, Wei, Zheng, Chen, and Cai. In the Warring States Period, it fell under the territories of Han, Wei, Zhao, and Chu. After the Qin Dynasty unified China, it established commanderies and counties. Henan was divided into seven commanderies: Sanchuan, Yingchuan, Nanyang, Hedong, Chenzhou, Dongjun, and Dangjun.
During the Western Han Dynasty, which followed the Qin system, commanderies and counties were still used, and the enfeoffment of feudal kingdoms was practiced alongside centrally administered commanderies. To strengthen control over the commanderies and kingdoms, the country was divided into the Sili Xuelingbu (Commandery of the Five Regions) and 13 zhou cixiubu (Provincial Inspectors' Offices), which were essentially supervisory districts. Henan was under the jurisdiction of the Sili Xuelingbu and the four zhou of Yu, Yan, Jing, and Ji, with commanderies like Hongnong, Hedong, Henan, Yingchuan, Runan, Chenliu, Nanyang, and Wei, as well as two feudal kingdoms, Chen and Liang.
During the Eastern Han Dynasty, Luoyang was the capital, and the system of zhou administering commanderies and commanderies administering counties was implemented. Henan was under the jurisdiction of the Sili Xuelingbu and the five zhou of Yu, Yan, Jing, Ji, and Yang, with commanderies like Hongnong, Hedong, Yingchuan, Nanyang, Runan, Chenliu, Dongjun, Wei, and two feudal kingdoms, Chen and Liang.
During the Three Kingdoms Period, Henan was part of Wei, with its capital initially in Xuchang before moving to Luoyang. The system of zhou, commanderies (or kingdoms), and counties remained in place, with 12 commanderies and one feudal kingdom, Liang.
The Western Jin Dynasty had its capital in Luoyang, and there were 18 commanderies and kingdoms in Henan. During the Northern and Southern Dynasties, Henan was divided between the Northern Wei and the Southern Qi. The Northern Wei established eight zhou and 26 commanderies in Henan, while the Southern Qi established three zhou and 12 commanderies.
After the Sui Dynasty reunified the north and south, it established 20 commanderies (or zhou) in Henan. The Tang Dynasty first had its capital in Chang'an before moving to Luoyang. Henan was divided into the capital region, Henan, Hebei, Huainan, and Shandong South circuits, governing 21 commanderies and prefectures, as well as one prefecture, Henan.
During the Five Dynasties, the four dynasties of Liang, Jin, Han, and Zhou all had their capitals in Bian (now Kaifeng), while the Later Tang had its capital in Luoyang. Most regions in Henan were called commanderies, with a few referred to as military posts or prefectures.
The Northern Song Dynasty established its capital in Bianliang (now Kaifeng). Henan was divided into circuits like Dongjing, Jingxi, and Hebei, with circuits governing prefectures and commanderies. Some military posts and supervisory offices were also subordinate to the circuits. Prefectures, commanderies, and military posts all administered counties.
After the Southern Song Dynasty moved south, the Huai River became the border with the Jin Dynasty, and most of Henan fell under Jin rule.
During the Yuan Dynasty, the central administration was directly under the Zhongshu Sheng (Chancellery of State Affairs), while other regions were divided into Xingzhongshu Sheng (Provincial Chancellery of State Affairs), which were abbreviated as "Xingsheng" (Provincial Administration). The system of Xingsheng was established at this time. Below the Xingsheng were lu (provincial circuits) and fu (prefectures), with fu governing zhou and xian (counties). Some fu and zhou were not subordinate to lu but directly under the Xingsheng. The northern part of Henan, north of the Yellow River, was under the Zhongshu Sheng, while the southern part was under the Henan-Nanyang Xingzhongshu Sheng. The Zhongshu Sheng in Henan administered circuits like Daming, Zhangde, Weihui, Huaiqing, and Puyang, as well as Puyang Prefecture. The Henan Xingzhongshu Sheng under the Xingsheng included Henan Prefecture Circuit, Bianliang Prefecture Circuit, Nanyang Prefecture, Runing Prefecture, and Guide Prefecture.
During the Ming Dynasty, the Xingzhongshu Sheng was replaced with the Chengbu Buzhengsisi (Provincial Administration and Judicial Commission), with provinces and commanderies under the jurisdiction of the commission (province), and counties under the commanderies. By the late Ming Dynasty, Henan had 31 prefecture-level zhou and 96 counties, including prefectures like Kaifeng, Guide, Henan, Nanyang, Runing, Zhangde, Weihui, Huaiqing, and the directly administered zhou of Runzhou, as well as a small part of Dongchang Prefecture in Shandong under the jurisdiction of the capital.
During the Qing Dynasty, the system of provinces was restored, with provinces governing prefectures, and prefectures governing zhou and counties. Throughout the Qing Dynasty, Henan had nine prefectures, five directly administered zhou, and one directly administered office, Xichuan Office, with five prefecture-level zhou and 96 counties under the prefectures.
In the early years of the Republic of China, the system of dao was replaced. Henan had four dao—Kaifeng, Hebei, Heluo, and Ruyang—as well as five directly administered zhou and over 100 counties. In 1927, the system of daoyan (dao prefecture magistrate) was abolished, and a system of provinces and counties was implemented. Provinces were divided into administrative regions (supervisory districts), which governed counties. In 1946, Henan was divided into 12 regions, with a total of 108 counties.
After the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, the administrative divisions of Henan Province were adjusted, with the northern boundary along the Yellow River. Henan had 10 prefectures—Zhengzhou, Luoyang, Shanzhou, Chenliu, Shangqiu, Xuchang, Huaiyang, Nanyang, Xinyang, and Huangchuan—as well as two provincial-level cities—Kaifeng and Zhengzhou—and eight prefecture-level cities, governing 86 counties, with the provincial capital in Kaifeng City.
In 1952, the Central People's Government Executive Committee decided to abolish the former Pingyuan Province, merging its two provincial-level cities—Xinxiang and Anyang—as well as the Xinxiang Circuit and its 14 counties (districts), the Puyang Circuit and its seven counties, the Anyang Circuit and its six counties, and Dongming County from the Heze Circuit into Henan Province. That same year, the Central People's Government Executive Committee also decided to return Yongcheng County, which had been transferred from Henan to Anhui in the early days of the founding of the PRC, to Henan.
In 1954, the provincial capital of Henan was moved from Kaifeng City to Zhengzhou City. In 1963, the State Council of the People's Republic of China decided to transfer Dongming County to Shandong Province. In 1964, the State Council of the People's Republic of China decided to transfer the southern part of Fan County and Shouzhang County in Shandong Province, as well as the area near the capital of Fan County, to Henan Province, establishing it as Fan County.
In 1978, the State Council of the People's Republic of China decided to split nine people's communes in the eastern part of Fan County to establish Taiqian County.