History of Qujing City

Qujing (古称味县、建宁、南宁、石城), located in eastern Yunnan (云南) at the junction of Yunnan, Guizhou (贵州), and Guangxi (广西) provinces, has long been known as the “Key to Yunnan–Guizhou” and “Throat of Yunnan”. It is the first city at the source of the Pearl River (珠江源头第一城), one of Yunnan’s earliest administrative centers, and the core region of Cuan culture (爨文化). Its historical development follows a clear path: prehistoric settlements → Qin–Han counties → Southern Shu (Shu Han) center → Cuan clan rule → Nanzhao & Dali indirect governance → Yuan, Ming, Qing prefectures → Republic era administration → People’s Republic of China Qujing prefecture-level city, exemplifying a blend of central plains and frontier influences, Han–Yi integration, and a hub of the Southern Silk Road.

Prehistoric to Qin–Han Dynasties: Ancient Civilizations and Early Administration (远古 — 220 AD)

1. Prehistoric to Pre-Qin: Settlements and Early States

• Paleolithic Era: Human activity in the Nanpan River (南盘江) basin is evidenced by Fuyuan Dahe Site (富源大河遗址) and Xuanwei Ge Yi Jianjiao Cave Site (宣威格宜尖角洞遗址), making Qujing one of Yunnan’s early human origins.

• Neolithic Era: Di-Qiang (氐羌), Bai-Pu (百濮), and Bai-Yue (百越) peoples settled, engaging in rice cultivation, hunting, and pottery-making, forming tribal alliances.

• Spring–Autumn & Warring States: Belonged to Mi-mo tribes (靡莫之属), bordering Dian Kingdom (滇国) and Yelang Kingdom (夜郎国); bronze culture flourished, early copper and tin mining developed in Huize (会泽) and Xuanwei (宣威).

2. Qin–Han: County Establishment and Imperial Integration

• 109 BC (Western Han, Yuanfeng 2): Emperor Wu of Han established Yizhou Prefecture (益州郡), creating counties such as Wei County (味县, now Qilin District 麒麟区), Tonglao County (同劳县, now Luliang 陆良), Tonglai County (铜濑县, now Malong 马龙), Cunyan County (存鄢县, now Xuanwei 宣威), and Tanglang County (堂琅县, now Huize 会泽), officially bringing Qujing into the central plains administrative system.

• Eastern Han: Continued Han administrative structure under Yizhou, Jianwei, and Zangke Prefectures (益州郡、犍为郡、牂牁郡). The Five-Foot Road (五尺道) facilitated trade, making Qujing a hub on the Eastern Yunnan section of the Southern Silk Road.

Three Kingdoms to Early Tang: Southern Shu Center and Cuan Clan Rule (220—748 AD)

1. Shu Han Era: Jianning Commandery and Bingjiang Administration

• 225 AD (Shu Han, Jianxing 3): Zhuge Liang’s southern campaign pacified the region; Yizhou Prefecture became Jianning Commandery (建宁郡), with Bingjiang Governor’s Office (庲降都督府) in Wei County (味县, now Qujing).

• Qujing became the political, military, economic, and cultural center of Southern Shu (南中), fostering deep integration of Han, Yi (彝族), and Bai (白族) communities.

2. Jin Dynasties and Southern & Northern Dynasties: Ningzhou and Cuan Ascendancy

• 270 AD (Western Jin, Taishi 6): Ningzhou (宁州) established as one of 19 directly administered provinces; Qujing’s status rose significantly.

• Cuan clan (爨氏) rose to prominence from the Eastern Jin to early Tang, ruling Southern Shu for over 400 years. Qujing was their core territory, known historically as “Cuan land / Cuan township (爨地/爨乡)”.

• Cultural achievements include:

  • Cuan Baozi Stele (爨宝子碑, 405 AD)

  • Cuan Longyan Stele (爨龙颜碑, 458 AD)
    These steles document the transition from clerical to regular script in Chinese calligraphy and are national cultural relics since 1961.

3. Sui–Tang Dynasties: Nanningzhou and Jimi Administration

• Early Sui: Nanningzhou Governorate (南宁州总管府) established in Wei County.

• Tang: Renamed Langzhou (郎州), later restored as Nanningzhou Governorate (南宁州都督府) in 717, maintaining Qujing as Eastern Yunnan’s Jimi (羁縻) administrative center.

• 748 AD: Nanzhao destroyed the Cuan clan, relocating 200,000 households to western Yunnan; Qujing came under Tuodong Jiedu (拓东节度).

Nanzhao–Dali Period: Shicheng Commandery and Thirty-Seven Tribes Alliance (748—1253 AD)

1. Nanzhao: Shicheng Commandery (石城郡)

• Qujing (Wei County) became Shicheng Commandery, controlling eastern Yunnan and western Guizhou routes; multi-ethnic settlement of Yi, Bai, and Miao (苗族) populations was established.

2. Dali Kingdom: Thirty-Seven Tribes Alliance

• Dali continued Shicheng Commandery governance, overseeing Mo Mi, Pumo, Luoxiong, and 37 Yi tribal groups (彝族先民部落).

• 971 AD (Dali Mingzheng 3): King Duansushun (段素顺) held the Shicheng Alliance Ceremony Stele (石城会盟碑) in Qujing, consolidating Dali’s control and promoting ethnic integration.

Yuan–Ming–Qing Dynasties: Qujing Prefecture and Military-Political Center (1253—1911 AD)

1. Yuan Dynasty: Qujing Road and Tusi System

• 1253 (Yuan, Xianzong 3): Kublai Khan annexed Dali; Qujing incorporated into Yuan territory.

• 1276 (Yuan, Zhiyuan 13): Qujing Road Prefecture (曲靖路总管府) established; the name “Qujing” first appears administratively.

• Tusi system appointed Yi and Miao (苗族) leaders as hereditary rulers; “mixed governance (土流并治)” strengthened imperial control.

• Qujing thrived commercially at the intersection of Five-Foot Road (五尺道) and Yongzhou Ancient Road (邕州古道), key nodes of the Southern Silk Road and Tea–Horse Road (茶马古道).

2. Ming Dynasty: Military-Civil Prefecture and Settlements

• 1382 (Ming, Hongwu 15): Ming army created Qujing Military-Civil Prefecture (曲靖军民府) under Yunnan Provincial Administration (云南布政司).

• Built Qujing Shicheng (曲靖石城) and military garrisons; Han migration promoted, spreading Han culture.

• Huize Copper Mines (会泽铜矿) flourished; “South copper, north transport (南铜北运)” began, making Qujing a copper trade hub.

3. Qing Dynasty: Prefecture Continuity and Land Reform

• Maintained Ming structure; Kangxi 1662: Yunnan–Guizhou governor stationed in Qujing.

• 1730 (Yongzheng 8): Yidong Circuit (迤东道) administered from Qujing.

• 1765 (Qianlong 30): Reformed Qujing Prefecture (曲靖府); abolished hereditary Tusi, central officials appointed, deepening ethnic integration.

• Late Qing: Huize became “First City of the Ten-Thousand Li Copper Transport (万里京运第一城)”, Qujing a commercial hub with the rise of Qujing Merchants (曲靖商帮).

Republic of China Era: Prefecture Establishment and War Rear Base (1912—1949 AD)

1. Administrative Changes

• 1913 (Republic Year 2): Qujing Prefecture abolished, renamed Qujing County (曲靖县); under Yunnan Second Administrative Inspectorate.

• Modern roads like Yunnan–Guizhou Road (滇黔公路) and Yunnan–Sichuan Road (滇川公路) opened, facilitating transport and trade; modern education and healthcare developed.

2. Anti-Japanese War and Liberation

• Qujing served as a rear base; Yunnan–Guizhou Road was a lifeline; Southwest United University professors and students propagated democratic ideas.

• December 1949: Qujing peacefully liberated; March 1950: Qujing Special Administrative Inspectorate established, starting a new historical era.

People’s Republic of China: Prefecture, Region, and Prefecture-Level City (1950—2026)

1. Administrative Adjustments

• 1950–1970: Qujing Special Region (专区) covered Qujing, Zhanyi (沾益), Xuanwei (宣威), Fuyuan (富源), Luoping (罗平), Shizong (师宗), Luliang (陆良), Malong (马龙), Huize (会泽), Xundian (寻甸).

• 1970: Renamed Qujing Region (地区).

• 1983: Qujing County merged with Zhanyi County into county-level Qujing City.

• 1997: Established prefecture-level Qujing City: Qilin District (麒麟区), Zhanyi, Malong, Xuanwei, Fuyuan, Luoping, Shizong, Luliang, Huize.

• 2016–2018: Zhanyi and Malong upgraded to districts; current structure: 3 districts, 1 city, 5 counties.

2. Contemporary Development

• Qujing today: First city at Pearl River source, homeland of Cuan culture, eastern Yunnan center, national transport hub, with industries in coal, electricity, metallurgy, chemicals, highland agriculture, and cultural tourism.

• Key tourist attractions: Cuan Baozi Stele (爨宝子碑), Cuan Longyan Stele (爨龙颜碑), Shicheng Alliance Stele (石城会盟碑), Pearl River Source (珠江源), Huize Ancient Town (会泽古城), Luliang Colorful Sand Forest (陆良彩色沙林), Luoping Rapeseed Fields (罗平油菜花).

Historical & Cultural Highlights

Cuan Culture

• Over 400 years of Cuan clan rule (Eastern Jin to early Tang), producing unique Cuan steles, script, music, and customs, a treasure of Yunnan ethnic culture.

Administrative Legacy

• One of Yunnan’s earliest administrative centers; from Shu Han Southern Shu center to Ningzhou (Western Jin) to Yuan–Ming–Qing Eastern Yunnan military hub.

Transportation Hub

• Convergence of Five-Foot Road, Southern Silk Road, Tea–Horse Road, Yunnan–Guizhou Road, and Shanghai–Kunming High-Speed Railway (沪昆高铁); historically “Key to Yunnan–Guizhou”.

Ethnic Culture

• Multi-ethnic coexistence: Han, Yi, Hui (回族), Miao, Zhuang.

• Festivals: Yi Torch Festival (火把节), Hui Eid Festival (开斋节), Miao Huashan Festival (花山节).

Resource Culture

• Huize: “First City of the Ten-Thousand Li Copper Transport”, rich in copper, lead, zinc, and coal. Historical records: “South copper north transport (南铜北运)” and “Dian copper Beijing transport (滇铜京运)”.

Qujing’s history is a living epic of central plains and frontier integration, multi-ethnic coexistence, trade and culture prosperity, and development through struggle, reflecting Yunnan’s evolution from frontier indirect rule to central governance and modern urban development.