Fu (Chinese: 府; pinyin: fǔⓘ), sometimes translated as prefecture or superior prefecture,[1] was a type of administrative division in historical China from Tang dynasty to Qing dynasty. Fu was a level between provinces or equivalent divisions and counties. The term was initially applied to larger or more important prefectures, while the name zhou was applied to common prefectures.[2] By Ming and Qing dynasties, however, most prefectures under provinces had become known as fu. After the establishment of the Republic of China in 1912, the fu-level administrative divisions were streamlined.
Tang dynasty
- (1st) Province-level division: "Circuit" (道, dào)
- Total: 9 cities
Song dynasty
- (1st) Province-level division: "Circuit" (路, lù)
- Total: 45 cities
Northern Song
Southern Song
Liao dynasty
- (1st) Province-level division: "Circuit" (道, dào)
- Total: 13 cities
Jin dynasty
- (1st) Province-level division: "Circuit" (路, lù)
- Total: 30 cities
Western Xia
- (1st) Province-level division: "Prefecture" (州; zhōu)
- Total: 4 cities
Yuan dynasty
- (1st) Province-level division: "Province" (行中書省, 行中书省; xíngzhōngshūshěng)
- Total: 30 cities
Ming dynasty
- (1st) Province-level division: "Province" (省; shěng)
- Total: 183 cities
Qing dynasty
- (1st) Province-level division: "Province" (省; shěng)
- Total: 218 cities
References
- ^ Dillon, Michael (2016). Encyclopedia of Chinese History. Taylor & Francis. p. 535. ISBN 9781317817161. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
- ^ Gernet, Jacques (1996). A History of Chinese Civilization. Cambridge University Press. p. 244. ISBN 9780521497817.
