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Wudu Commandery
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Wudu Commandery (武都郡) was an imperial Chinese commandery that controlled the upper reaches of the Jialing–Bailong system on the south-eastern fringe of the Qinling Mountains. Established in 111 BCE during the reign of Emperor Wu of Han, it remained a frontier district—shared by Han settlers, Qiang ranchers and Di highlanders—until it was absorbed into Hezhou (河州) by the Northern Zhou in 558 CE.[1]
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Geography and counties
The Book of Han records twelve counties at foundation; a 2 CE census registers 27 714 households (122 320 persons).[2]
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Han rule
Western-Han administrators encouraged Han immigration, opened iron foundries at Baili, and built stockades along the Bailong River to contain the Di and Qiang. During the Red Eyebrows Rebellion (23–27 CE) local Di raiders sacked Wudu city; the seat was rebuilt with earthen ramparts under Emperor Guangwu of Han.[3]
Three Kingdoms period
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Background
Wudu lay on the over-land road between Hanzhong and the Wei stronghold of Tianshui. Its peoples—Han farmers in the valleys and semi-nomadic Di on the uplands—often shifted allegiance between rival warlords.
Cao Cao versus Ma Chao (211 CE)
In 211 the Liang war coalition under Ma Chao and Han Sui drew levies and grain from Wudu for the campaign that culminated in the Battle of Tong Pass. After their defeat, Cao Cao appointed Su Bo as Inspector of Liang to stabilise Wudu and adjoining commanderies.
Shu–Wei contest (228 CE)
During Zhuge Liang’s first northern expedition (spring 228) the Di chieftain Tian Long and the valley gentry of Wudu rebelled against Wei, opened Jiange Pass to Shu forces, and surrendered both Wudu and neighbouring Yinping Commandery to Shu Han.[4] Wei general Guo Huai counter-attacked, retook the commandery seat, and escorted thousands of Han refugees east to the Wei heartland. Although Shu claimed Wudu for several months, Wei regained effective control by winter 228. Yinping remained a contested buffer commandery until 263.
Di uprisings (249–263)
Repeated Di raids broke out after 249; Administrator Zhang Ji resettled loyal Di clans along the Bailong to block the rebellious eastern tribes. When Deng Ai marched through Wudu in 263 against Shu, he recruited Di guides familiar with the mountain tracks.
Jin and Southern dynasties
Under the Western Jin (280) Wudu listed seven counties and 18 400 households.[5] Large numbers of Di and Qiang were enrolled as *diqiang qianhu* (“thousand-household” tribal units) but often rebelled, notably in the uprisings of 296–299 led by the Di chief Qi Wannian. The Eastern Jin lost effective control of northern Gansu; Wudu was retained only south of the Bailong River.
During the Liu Song and Southern Qi dynasties Wudu shrank to four counties governed from a fortified market at Wudu city. In 558 the Northern Zhou conquered the region, abolished the commandery and merged the remaining counties into Hezhou.
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Economy
Valley terraces produced millet, hemp and tea; mountain slopes supported horse and goat herds managed by Di clans. Copper from Baili and iron sand from Dangchang fed small smelters that supplied weapons to Liang Province garrisons.
Archaeology
Han graves at Cheng County yield bricks stamped 武都太守, while cliff-face inscriptions at Jiange Pass record repairs by Guo Huai’s army in 229 CE. Qiang-style painted pottery and Han coins found together near Dangchang illustrate frontier cultural blending.
See also
- Liang Province Rebellion
- Yinping Commandery
- Zhuge Liang’s northern campaigns
- Di (people)
References
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