Historical Studies (Chinese Edition)

No.2, 2017

 

Defending the Eight Districts of Min: A Study of Military Governments in the Fujian Region in the Yuan Dynasty

(Abstract)

 

Liu Xiao

 

After defeating the Southern Song Dynasty, the Yuan implemented a stringent town garrison system of military government in the former Southern Song territory south of the Huaihe River. In the Fujian region, a total of eight brigades (wanhufu) were stationed as military garrisons in Bozhou, Yingfu, Huzhou, Fuzhou New Army, Zhangzhou New Army, Shaowu Tingzhou New Army, Jianning Newly Attached Army and the Left Attached Brigade. The main idea behind the Yuan allocation of this force to Fujian was that these points should control the areas under them. The brigades’ power was projected on to the whole region, with Fuzhou, Jianning, and Quanzhou the three focal points. The chief town garrison force (mainly Han soldiers) was transferred from other provinces, with the local (or newly attached) army providing a supplementary force. The Bozhou and Yingfu Brigades became the two main forces of the Fujian town garrison.