History of the administrative divisions of China (1912–49)

Map of the Republic of China in 1926

The history of the administrative divisions of China between 1912 and 1949 refers to the administrative divisions under the Republic of China government control.

Beiyang Government (1912–28)

Main article: Beiyang Government

The Beiyang Government streamlined the system used in Qing Dynasty down to three levels:

The Beiyang Government set up four more provinces out of Inner Mongolia and the surrounding areas (Chahar, Jehol, Ningsia, Suiyuan) and two others out of parts of historical Tibet (Sikang out of Kham and Tsinghai out of Amdo; Ü-Tsang was the Dalai Lama's realm at this time and not part of any province), bringing the total number of provinces up to 28.

Administrative divisions of the Republic of China (1912–1928)
Division nameAbbreviationCapital nameNote
PostalChinesePinyin ChinesePinyin PostalChinesePinyin
Provinces ( Shěng)
Anhwei 安徽 Ānhuī Wǎn Anking 安慶 Ānqìng
Chekiang 浙江 Zhèjiāng Zhè Hangchow 杭州 Hángzhōu
Chihli 直隸 Zhílì Zhí Tientsin 天津 Tiānjīn 1914 area around Peking (Beijing) split into Shuntien Prefecture
Fengtien奉天Fèngtiān Fèng Mukden瀋陽Shěnyáng
Fukien福建Fújiàn Mǐn Foochow福州Fúzhōu
Heilungkiang黑龍江Hēilóngjiāng Hēi Tsitsihar齊齊哈爾Qíqíhāěr 1914 Hulunbuir Region split, 1920 merged back.
Honan河南Hénán Kaifeng開封Kāifēng
Hunan湖南Húnán Xiāng Changsha長沙Chángshā
Hupeh湖北Húběi È Wuchang武昌Wǔchāng
Kansu甘肅Gānsù Lǒng Lanchow蘭州Lánzhōu
Kiangsi江西Jiāngxī Gàn Nanchang南昌Nánchāng
Kiangsu江蘇Jiāngsū Nanking南京Nánjīng 1912 area around Nanking (Nanjing) shortly split to a prefecture
Kirin吉林Jílín Kirin吉林Jílín
Kwangsi廣西Guǎngxī Guì Nanning南寧Nánníng
Kwangtung廣東Guǎngdōng Yuè Canton廣州Guǎngzhōu
Kweichow貴州Guìzhōu Qián Kweiyang貴陽Guìyáng
Shansi山西Shānxī Jìn Taiyuan太原Tàiyuán
Shantung山東Shāndōng Tsinan濟南Jǐnán
Shensi陝西Shǎnxī Shǎn Sian西安Xī'ān
Sinkiang新疆Xīnjiāng Xīn Tihwa迪化DíhuàTihwa was renamed Ürümqi (烏魯木齊) after 1949
Szechwan四川Sìchuān Shǔ Chengtu成都Chéngdū
Yunnan雲南Yúnnán Diān Kunming昆明Kūnmíng
Areas (地方 Dìfāng)
Capital京兆Jīngzhào Jīng About the place of modern Municipality of Beijing
Inner Mongolia內蒙古Nèiménggǔ 內蒙Nèiméng Inner Mongolia was divided into several Mongolian leagues and banners. There was no obvious capital.
Split into Chahar, Jehol, Suiyuan in 1913-14.
Outer Mongolia外蒙古Wàiménggǔ 外蒙Wàiméng Kulun庫倫KùlúnKulun was renamed Ulaan Bator after the independence of Mongolia
Tibet西藏Xīzàng Zàng Lhasa拉薩Lāsà
Tsinghai青海Qīnghǎi Qīng Sining西寧Xïníng
Regions (區域 Qūyù)
Altay阿爾泰Ā'ěrtài 阿爾泰Āěrtài Altay承化寺Chénghuàsì 1920 abolished → Sinkiang
The Chinese name of the capital 承化寺 was changed to Ālètài (阿勒泰) after 1949.
Hulunbuir呼倫貝爾Hūlúnbèi'ěr 呼倫貝爾Hūlúnbèi'ěr Hailar海拉爾Hǎilā'ěr 1915 created, 1920 abolished → Heilungkiang
Tarbaghatay塔爾巴哈臺Tǎ'ěrbāhātái 塔城Tǎchéng Tacheng塔城Tǎchéng 1912 created, 1916 abolished → Sinkiang
Prefectures ( )
Nanking南京Nánjīng Níng January 1912 created, February 1912 abolished → Kiangsu
Shuntien順天Shùntiān Jīng May 1914 created from Chihli, renamed Capital Area in October
Special Administrative Regions (特別區 Tèbiéqū)
Chahar察哈爾Cháhāěr Chá Changyuan張垣Zhāngyuán 1914 created from Inner Mongolia
Changyuan was renamed Zhangjiakou (張家口) after 1949.
Chwanpien川邊Chuānbiān 川邊Chuānbiān Kangting康定Kāngdìng 1925 renamed to Sikang
Jehol熱河Rèhé Chengteh承德Chéngdé 1914 created from Inner Mongolia
Sikang承德Xīkāng Kāng Kangting康定Kāngdìng 1925 renamed from Chwanpien
Suiyuan綏遠Suīyuǎn Suī Kweisui歸綏Gūisūi 1913 created from Inner Mongolia
Kweisui was renamed Hohhot (呼和浩特) after 1949
Tungsheng東省Dōngshěng 東省Dōngshěng Harbin哈爾濱Hā'ěrbīn Land along the Chinese Eastern Railway, spanned from Manzhouli through Harbin to Suifenhe.
Commercial Region (商埠 Shāngbù)
Kiao-ao膠澳Jiāo'ào Jiāo Tsingtao青島Qīngdǎo Formerly Japanese and German concession.
1925 abolished → Shantung
Sunghu淞滬Sōnghù Shanghai上海Sànghǎi Status in dispute. Division established by the Zhili clique leader Sun Chuanfang, was not recognized by the central government.

Nationalist Government (1928–49)

Map of the Republic of China in 1936
Map of administrative divisions and claims by the Republic of China between 1949 and 2005.
Map of the Republic of China in 1945

The Nationalist Government also began setting up municipalities, cities directly administered by the central government. More levels began to be added below the county, townships for instance. Circuits were then abolished in 1928 as being superfluous. However, this reform was soon found to be unfeasible since the average province now had 50+ counties and some more than a hundred. As a result, some provinces were later subdivided into several prefectures.

The creation of the puppet state Manchukuo by the Empire of Japan in the 1930s deprived China of 4 provinces in the northeast (Fengtien, Heilungkiang, Jehol, Kirin). After the defeat of Japan in 1945, Manchuria was reincorporated into China as 9 provinces and 3 municipalities. The Republic of China also annexed Taiwan and the Pescadores and organized into Taiwan Province. By this time there was a total of thirty-five provinces, twelve municipalities (院轄市, yuànxiáshì), one special administrative region (特別行政區, tèbié xíngzhèngqǖ), and two regions (地方, difāng) as first-level divisions under the Republic of China.

Administrative divisions of the Republic of China (1928–1949)
Division nameAbbreviationCapital nameNote
PostalChinesePinyin ChinesePinyin PostalChinesePinyin
Provinces ( Shěng)
Antung 安東 Āndōng Ān Tunghwa 通化 Tōnghuà 1947 created from Manchukuo (originally part of Liaoning)
Anhwei 安徽 Ānhuī Wǎn Hofei 合肥 Héféi
Chahar察哈爾Cháhāěr Chá Changyuan張垣Zhāngyuán 1928 reformed from a special administrative region
Changyuan was renamed Zhangjiakou (張家口) after 1949.
Chekiang 浙江 Zhèjiāng Zhè Hangchow 杭州 Hángzhōu
Fukien福建Fújiàn Mǐn Foochow福州Fúzhōu
Heilungkiang黑龍江Hēilóngjiāng Hēi Peian北安Běi'ān 1945 recreated from Manchukuo
Hokiang合江Héjiāng Chiamussu佳木斯Jiāmùsī 1947 created from Manchukuo (originally part of Kirin)
Honan河南Hénán Kaifeng開封Kāifēng
Hopeh 河北 Héběi Tsingyuan 清苑 Qīngyuàn 1928 renamed from Chihli
Tsingyuan was renamed to Baoding (保定) after 1949
Hunan湖南Húnán Xiāng Changsha長沙Chángshā
Hupeh湖北Húběi È Wuchang武昌Wǔchāng
Hsingan興安Xīng'ān Xīng Hailar海拉爾Jiāmùsī 1947 created from Manchukuo (originally part of Heilungkiang)
Hailar was renamed to Hulunbuir (呼倫貝爾) after 1949
Jehol熱河Rèhé Chengteh承德Chéngdé 1928 reformed from a special administrative region, 1945 recreated from Manchukuo
Kansu甘肅Gānsù Lǒng Lanchow蘭州Lánzhōu
Kiangsi江西Jiāngxī Gàn Nanchang南昌Nánchāng
Kiangsu江蘇Jiāngsū Chingkiang鎮江Zhènjiāng
Kirin吉林Jílín Kirin吉林Jílín 1945 recreated from Manchukuo
Kwangsi廣西Guǎngxī Guì Nanning南寧Nánníng
Kwangtung廣東Guǎngdōng Yuè Canton廣州Guǎngzhōu
Kweichow貴州Guìzhōu Qián Kweiyang貴陽Guìyáng
Liaoning遼寧Liáoníng Liáo Mukden瀋陽Shěnyáng 1929 renamed from Fengtien, 1945 recreated from Manchukuo
Liaopeh遼北Liáoběi Táo Liaoyuan遼源Liáoyuán 1947 created from Manchukuo (originally part of Liaoning)
Ningsia寧夏Níngxià Níng Yinchwan銀川Yínchuān 1928 created from Kansu
Nunkiang嫩江Nènjiāng Nèn Tsitsihar齊齊哈爾Qíqíhāěr 1947 created from Manchukuo (originally part of Heilungkiang)
Shansi山西Shānxī Jìn Taiyuan太原Tàiyuán
Shantung山東Shāndōng Tsinan濟南Jǐnán
Shensi陝西Shǎnxī Shǎn Sian西安Xī'ān
Sikang承德Xīkāng Kāng Kangting康定Kāngdìng 1928 reformed from a special administrative region
Sinkiang新疆Xīnjiāng Xīn Tihwa迪化DíhuàTihwa was renamed Ürümqi (烏魯木齊) after 1949
Suiyuan綏遠Suīyuǎn Suī Kweisui歸綏Gūisūi 1928 reformed from a special administrative region
Kweisui was renamed Hohhot (呼和浩特) after 1949
Sungkiang松江Sōngjiāng Sōng Mutankiang牡丹江Mǔdānjiāng 1947 created from Manchukuo (originally part of Kirin)
Szechwan四川Sìchuān Shǔ Chengtu成都Chéngdū
Taiwan臺灣Táiwān Tái Taipei臺北Táiběi 1945 annexed from Japan
Tsinghai青海Qīnghǎi Qīng Sining西寧Xīníng 1928 reformed from an area
Yunnan雲南Yúnnán Diān Kunming昆明Kūnmíng
Special Administrative Regions (特別行政區 Tèbiéxíngzhèngqū)
Hainan海南Hǎinán Qióng Haikow海口Hǎikǒu 1931 Kiung-ai (瓊崖) was planned to create, 1949 created from Kwangtung
Tungsheng東省Dōngshěng 東省Dōngshěng Harbin哈爾濱Hā'ěrbīn 1932 abolished by Manchukuo
Weihai威海Wēihāi 威海Wēihāi Weihai威海Wēihāi 1930 acquired from the United Kingdom, 1945 abolished → Shantung
Areas (地方 Dìfāng)
Mongolia蒙古Ménggǔ Méng Kulun庫倫Kùlún Kulun was renamed Ulaan Bator after the independence of Mongolia in 1946
Tibet西藏Xīzàng Zàng Lhasa拉薩Lāsà
Special municipalities (直轄市 Zhíxiáshì)
Canton廣州Guǎngzhōu Suì Jan 1930 created from Kwangtung, Jun merged back. 1947 recreated
Chungking重慶Chóngqìng 1927 created from Szechwan
Dairen大連Dàlián Lián 1947 created from Manchukuo (originally part of Liaoning)
Hankow漢口Hànkǒu Hàn 1927 created Wuhan from Hupeh, 1929 renamed to Hankow, 1931 merged back, 1947 recreated
Harbin哈爾濱Hā'ěrbīn 1947 created from Manchukuo (originally part of Heilungkiang)
Mukden瀋陽Shěnyáng Shěn 1947 created from Manchukuo (originally part of Liaoning)
Nanking南京Nánjīng Jīng 1927 created from Kiangsu
Peiping北平Běipíng Píng 1928 created from Hopeh, Jun 1930 merged back, Dec 1930 recreated. 1949 renamed back to Peking (北京)
Shanghai上海Shànghǎi 1927 reform Sunghu commercial region to a municipality, created from Kiangsu
Sian西安Xī'ān Ān 1933 planned to create Siking (西京), 1947 created from Shensi
Tientsin天津Tiānjīn Jīn 1928 created from Hopeh, 1930 merged back. 1935 recreated
Tsingtao青島Qīngdǎo Qīng 1929 created from Shantung.

Administrative divisions published after 1949 to 2005

Map comparing political divisions as drawn by the Republic of China and the People's Republic of China.

After the loss of the mainland to the Communist Party of China in the Chinese Civil War and its retreat to Taiwan in 1949, the Nationalist Party continued to regard the Republic of China as the sole legitimate government of China. The jurisdiction of the Republic was restricted to Taiwan, the Pescadores, and a few islands off Fujian, but the Republic of China has never retracted its claim to mainland China or Mongolia. Accordingly, the official first-order divisions of Republic of China remain the historical divisions of China immediately prior to the loss of mainland China and maps of China and the world published in Taiwan sometimes show provincial and national boundaries as they were in 1949, ignoring changes made by the Communist government and including Mongolia, northern Burma (northern Kachin state), and Tannu Uriankhai as part of the Republic. Maps and list of administrative divisions covering above places were published until 2005.

In 2005, the nominal political divisions of the Republic were 35 provinces, 1 special administrative region, 2 regions, 14 special municipalities (adding Taipei and Kaohsiung to the original list), 14 leagues, and 4 special banners. For second-order divisions, under provinces and special administrative regions, there are counties, province-controlled cities (56), bureaus (34) and management bureaus (7). Under provincial-level municipalities there are districts, and under leagues there are banners (127).

Changes made to Province-level divisions of the Republic of China between 1949 and 2005
NameTraditional
Chinese
PinyinAbbreviationCapitalCapital in Chinese Notes
Provinces
Fujian福建Fújiàn閩 mǐnJincheng Township金城鎮 The capital of Fukien Province was moved to Xindian in 1956, and moved to Jincheng Township, Kinmen since 1996.
Taiwan臺灣Táiwān臺 táiZhongxing New Village中興新村 The capital of Taiwan Province was moved to Zhongxing Village in Nantou County from Taipei in the 1960s.
Kiangsu江蘇Jiāngsū蘇 sūShengsi County嵊泗縣 The government of Kiangsu Province was moved to Shengsi County in 1949. In 1950 the county was conquered by the PLA and the Kiangsu Provincial Government was abolished soon after.
Chekiang浙江Zhèjiāng浙 zhèTaiwan Province臺灣省 The government of Chekiang Province in Ganlan Township of Dinghai County was abolished in 1950. In 1951, the provincial government was re-established on the Tachen Islands of Wenling County, later to be moved to Taiwan Province in 1953. After the loss of the Yijiangshan Islands during the Battle of Yijiangshan Islands in 1955, the provincial government was abolished.
Szechwan四川Sìchuān蜀 shǔXichang County西昌縣 After the loss of its capital of Chengdu in the December of 1949, the Provincial Government was moved to Xichang County of Xikang Province and remained there until its abolishment in 1950.
Sikang西康Xīkāng康 kāngXichang County西昌縣 The government of Xikang Province was re-established in Xichang County in Dec. 1949. In 1950, Xichang was taken over by the PLA.
Kwangtung廣東Guǎngdōng粵 yuèHaikou City海口市 The government of Kwangtung Province was moved to Haikou City of Hainan in 1949 after the loss of its capital Guangdong. After the loss of Hainan in 1950, the government was subsequently abolished.
Yunnan雲南Yúnnán滇 diānBangkok曼谷 The government of Yunnan was moved to Bangkok in 1950 and abolished in 1951.
Sinkiang新疆Xīnjiāng新 xīnDihua City迪化市 Provincial Government of Sinkiang was abolished in 1992.
Special Administrative Regions
Hainan海南Hǎinán瓊 qióngHaikow City海口市 Government abolished in 1950.
Special Municipalities The Chinese name 院轄市 Yuànxiáshì was changed to 直轄市 Zhíxiáshì in 1994.
Kaohsiung高雄Gāoxióng高 gāoLingya District苓雅區Kaohsiung was elevated in 1979.
Taipei臺北Táiběi北 běiXinyi District信義區Taipei was elevated in 1967.

See also

References

    External links

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