Baxi Commandery

Baxi Commandery (巴西郡) was a commandery of imperial China located in what is now northeastern Sichuan and parts of southern Shaanxi. It was established in 111 BCE under the Western Han dynasty following the administrative division of the larger Ba Commandery. Centered on the Jialing River, Baxi played an important role in the Han administration of the southwestern frontier and remained active through the Three Kingdoms, Western Jin, and Southern dynasties until it was abolished by the Sui dynasty in 589 CE.

Baxi Commandery 巴西郡
Former subdivision of Western Han → Eastern Han → Shu Han → Western Jin → Southern dynasties
111 BCE–589 CE
Capital	Langzhong 閬中 (modern Langzhong City, Sichuan)
Historical era	Imperial China
• Carved from Ba Commandery by the Western Han	111 BCE
• Abolished under the Sui dynasty	589 CE
Today part of	Northeastern Sichuan and southern Shaanxi (centered on modern Langzhong)

Geography and counties

According to the Book of Han, Baxi governed twelve counties. A 2 CE census recorded 54,087 households and 269,613 individuals.^[1]

County	Chinese	Approximate modern location	Notes
Langzhong (seat)	閬中	Langzhong City, Sichuan	commandery capital and major garrison
Hanchang	漢昌	Nanjiang or Pingchang	river junction
Pingyang	平陽	Tongjiang area	upland county
Fangling	方陵	Zhenba, Shaanxi	Di tribal zone
Quren	渠人	Quxian, Dazhou	historic Ba center
Duyang	渡陽	Xuanhan area	eastern border
Guandao	關道	Wangcang	mountain pass control
Yonglu	永祿	Bazhou	administrative dependency
Xiabian	下辨	Nanchong region	possibly tribal zone
Pingdu	平都	Bazhong area	merged later
Wuyang	武陽	Western Bazhou	river transport node
Anhan	安漢	near modern Bazhong	secondary town

Han dynasty

Baxi was formed to solidify Han control over the upper Jialing River and the rugged Ba heartland. The commandery’s capital, Langzhong, developed into a walled garrison city and river port linking the Sichuan Basin with the northern and eastern highlands. Han governors implemented the tuntian (屯田) system, built canals, and registered local Di and Ba populations for tax and military service.

The commandery provided troops, copper, and cattle, and served as a launch point for expeditions into the Di territories of northern Sichuan.

Eastern Han

Baxi remained an important frontier commandery in the Eastern Han period, with frequent military activity along its border. It was used to pacify Di uprisings and to maintain control over internal mountain routes. During the 180s and 190s, the commandery was a recruiting ground for warlords in the southwest, including Liu Zhang and later Liu Bei.

Three Kingdoms period

Baxi came under Shu Han control in 214 CE after Liu Bei seized Yi Province. Langzhong served as a logistical depot and staging ground for Shu’s military campaigns. Zhuge Liang used Baxi as a recruitment and provisioning zone during his northern expeditions via the Hanzhong region.^[2]

Baxi supplied crossbowmen and transport oxen to the Shu army. Shu maintained strong garrisons at Langzhong, Guandao, and Fangling to secure the frontier. The Di and Ba tribes were partially incorporated into Shu’s defense system.

Jin and Southern dynasties

Under the Western Jin, Baxi became part of Yizhou Province and administered fewer counties due to depopulation and tribal movements. Jin officials relied increasingly on local tribal chieftains who held hereditary military or administrative titles.

During the 4th–6th centuries, the commandery saw both Di uprisings and Han gentry flight. The central court’s influence waned during the Southern dynasties period, and the region was effectively governed by local powers. Baxi remained a named commandery until its abolition by the Sui dynasty in 589.

Economy

Baxi’s economy relied on upland agriculture, copper mining, and forest products. The Jialing River enabled movement of tribute and military supplies toward Chengdu and downriver toward the Han River. Tribal markets operated seasonally at Langzhong and Quren.

Archaeology

• Han–Shu tombs near Langzhong include stamped bricks reading 巴西太守
• A stone stele commemorating a Shu general’s repairs to the Guandao Pass was found near Wangcang
• Bronze drums and Di-style artifacts discovered in Fangling indicate continued tribal presence

See also

• Ba Commandery
• Guanghan Commandery
• Zhuge Liang’s northern campaigns
• Di (people)