Mingzhou or Ming Prefecture (738–1194) was a zhou (prefecture) in
imperial China located in modern northeastern
Zhejiang,
China, around modern
Ningbo.[3] The prefecture was called Yuyao Commandery from 742 to 758.[4]
Located on the coast of the
East China Sea and the southern bank of
Hangzhou Bay (which connects it to
Hang Prefecture and the
Grand Canal), Ming Prefecture was one of the most important international ports during the
Tang (618–907),
Wuyue (907–978) and
Song (960–1279) dynasties. Cargo ships to and from Japan,
Silla (57 BC – 935 AD),
Goryeo (918–1392), and
Liao (907–1125) frequented this prefecture. Ming Prefecture also administered
Zhoushan, an island archipelago off the Zhejiang coast, including
Zhoushan Island.
Counties
For most of its history, Ming Prefecture administered the following 4–6 counties (縣):
Before 764, Xiangshan (which is separated from the prefectural seat by
Xiangshan Harbor) was under the administration of
Tai Prefecture.
History
Tang dynasty
Ming Prefecture was created on 3 August 738 by splitting Mao County (鄮縣) from
Yue Prefecture and dividing the area into 4 counties. Around 500 homeless people from
Run Prefecture were brought over to resettle in Ming Prefecture.
In 739, it was determined that 207,032 people from 42,027 families resided in Ming Prefecture.
In 744, Mao County's magistrate Lu Nanjin (陸南金) had laborers expand the Wanjin Lake (now known as
Dongqian Lake) to facilitate irrigation and agricultural water management.
In 744, while waiting for the typhoon to pass before embarking on his third journey to Japan, the Buddhist monk
Jianzhen stayed at the
Temple of King Ashoka.
In 752, three ships carrying Japanese diplomats from
Empress Kōken's court arrived in Ming Prefecture.
In 762, Yuan Chao (袁晁) rebelled from the
Zhoushan Archipelago, and quickly took several prefectures including Ming Prefecture. In 763, Yuan Chao was destroyed and captured by the Tang army led by
Li Guangbi.
In 798, military officer Li Huang (栗鍠) rebelled in Ming Prefecture. He was defeated in 799.
In 804, a Japanese ship carrying 127 people from
Emperor Kanmu's court arrived in Ming Prefecture, the Buddhist monk
Saichō among them.
Shi Weile, ed. (2005). Zhongguo Lishi Diming Da Cidian (中国历史地名大词典) [Large Dictionary of Chinese Historical Place Names] (in Chinese). China Social Sciences Press.
ISBN7-5004-4929-1.