History

The earliest written records date from the Shang Dynasty (16th-11th century B.C.) when Guizhou was referred to as Guifan. However, its exact area and borders are very uncertain. By the Western Zhou Dynasty (11th century-771 B.C.), Guizlhou was known as Zhang ke and was inhabited by various ethnic peoples living n tribal groupings. It was not part of the Chinese Empire at that time. This period is sometimes called the Bai yue (Hundred Minorities) period. The inhabitants belonged to the Dai linguistic group that includes the Shui, Dong, Bouyei and Zhuang. Later, people belonging to the Tibeto-Burman grop arrived from the west. These included the Yi, Naxi and Tujia. The Miao came from the north and east.

In the strong Han Dynasty (206 B.C.-220 A.D.) and in the Three Kingdoms Period (220-265 A.D.) forces were sent to conquer the region. Throughout the Tang Period (618-907), the Han Chinese exerted authority in the area, which they considered part of the Chinese Expire, sending in troops to control it when necessary. During the Song Dynasty (960-1279), some regions fell under Han administration while others remained autonomous. The Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368) marked a major change in policy when Chinese military foces collected taxes directly froml local tribal chiefs who exerted power over their own clans. By the time the Ming (1368-1644) came to power, central control was more heavily exercised over the Guizhou region. Guihzo had become a province of China with a governor in control. In this period, a number of Han people set up permanent homes and farms in Guizhou.

By the middle of the 17th century the borders of Guizhou were almost the same as today. The ethnic groups, often joined by local Han, nevr surrendered completely to Han Chinese rule. There were thousands of uprisings, which persistedinto and through the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), largely because taxes were heav and agricultural production low due to poor weather and difficult physical conditons.

Relative stability came with the setting up of the People's Republic of China in 1949. landlords were overthrown and the land was redistributed to the peasantry, who had already been educatd in the new Socialist values by the Red Army during its march through northern Guizhou towards Yannan. Since 1949, autonomous prefectures and counties have been set up to give the various ethnic groups some power over their own affairs.

Publishes at : 07-11-18 14:12

Url : http://www.asiavtour.com/China_Guizhou_History_a167_s18_c10106.html