Historical Studies (Chinese Edition)

No.3, 2014

 

Qing Manuscript Copy of 'Jingzhao Weng Family Tree' and Historical Research on the Hexi Region in the Late Tang Dynasty

(Abstract)

 

Li Jun

 

Since Weng Gao held an official position in the Hexi region for many years in the late Tang, Jingzhao Weng Family Tree (Jingzhao Weng Shi Zupu京兆翁氏族谱) preserves many important documents relating to this period of history. Weng's experience as an official reveals both the basic mode of operation and the evolutionary path of the military and administrative organs in Hexi in the late Tang dynasty. In the special historical period when for several times the emperors were forced to flee from the capital , the late Tang government still took pains over appointments to the top military and government positions and the reorganization of military and administrative organs in Liangzhou; this shows its eagerness to control Hexi. The measures the government took to manage Hexi constituted an important constraint on the Guiyi Army (Guiyi Jun归义军). However, as the dynasty’s power weakened, military and administrative operations in the Hexi region were affected by the Guiyi Army. Different documents interpret "Hexi" (West of the River) in different ways. To some extent, this reflects the historical fact that the central government and the Guiyi Army jointly played a role in Hexi.