Xuantu Commandery
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Xuantu Commandery (Chinese:玄菟郡) was a commandery (administrative district) established beyond the far eastern pale (遼東) of Han China. It was one of Four Commanderies of Han, established in 107 BCE, after the Han Dynasty invaded Wiman Joseon of Korea. Goguryeo (高句麗) rose in this area in competition with the Chinese over the region. Although Goguryeo gained full control over the general region in 302, Later Han had already lost the earlier territory of Xuantu, which retreated to Liaodong Peninsula in the 1st century CE. The populations of the respective prefectures were greatly reduced after they were transferred to Liaodong, but their prefectural identities were preserved albeit nominally.
In 82 BCE, the Han Dynasty reduced its commandery units; Lintun Commandery merged with Xuantu as a result. In 75 BCE, the Xuantu Commandery was forced to moved its seat from Fort Okjeo (沃沮城) to Gaogouli Prefecture due to raids by the barbarian Mo tribes (夷貊), a likely reference to Gaogouli. As a result, some of its previous prefectures had now to be abandoned or reassigned, seven of which were subject to Lelang Commandery, the so-called "seven prefectures beyond the eastern pass" (嶺東七縣). As a result of the change, only three prefectures remained under Xuantu Commandery: Gaogouli (高句驪), Shangyintai (上殷台) and Xigaima (西蓋馬).[1]
The Book of Han records 45,006 households and 221,845 individuals in Xuantu Commandery for year 2 CE.[2]
When General Sima Yi of Jin conquered Gongsun Yuan in his military campaign against Liaodong in 238, there remained only four prefectures in the new Xuantu Commandery that had retreated west: Gaogouli (高句麗), Gaoxian (高顯), Liaoyang (遼陽), and Wangping (望平).
See also
References
- ^ 《漢書·地理志》：“玄菟郡......, 縣三：高句驪、上殷台、西蓋馬”
- ^ 玄菟郡......, 戶四萬五千六。口二十二萬一千八百四十五。Wikisource: the Book of Han, volume 28-2