Quanzhou (Fujian) During the Tang-Song Interregnum, 879-978 By

QUANZHOU (FUJIAN) DURING THE TANG-SONG INTERREGNUM, 879-978 BY HUGH R. CLARK Haverford College It is generally recognized that in the Song dynasty Quanzhou emerged as one of the most important prefectures in the Empire 1). This importance was based on the economic strength generated by the flow of foreign trade-that is, South Seas trade-through the port. Long the second most important port of China, by the mid-Southern Song Quanzhou was to become the largest-Marco Polo suggested that it was the greatest port in all the world. A less widely known manifestation of prefectural importance was the large number of men who entered the bureaucracy through the civil service examinations and other routes. Through the Northern Song, Quanzhou produced more jinshi graduates than all but a half dozen or so other prefectures in the Empire. What would also be generally recognized if given as much thought is that in the Tang era this same prefecture was a political and economic backwater. There was little native wealth and even less education. The port, although beginning to develop, was only one of several along the South and Southeast coasts, and not an es- pecially prominent one at that. The native elite, which was only just beginning to emerge in the ninth century, was unimportant in national politics. Yet despite this striking dichotomy between the two eras, there has been little if any effort to explain the transformation. Because I believe that the explanation lies in an overlooked di- inension to the history of the Min kingdom rag which ostensibly ruled Fujian during the Tang-Song interregnum 2), and because 133 I believe that history is not well-known, it is appropriate to open with an historical review, including a summary of the extant interpretation. The kingdom was founded by a Wang family from Guangzhou (Huainan) a prefecture in the southeast corner of modern Honan, where they were landowners and members of the local gentry elite 3). Guangzhou had been ravaged by bandits and rebels through the 87o's, and had ultimately, in 881, fallen under the sway of a warlord from neighboring Shouzhou q one Wang Xu :E Three brothers of the Guangzhou Wang family - Wang Chao j§# , Wang Shengui #Jfl and Wang Shenzhi 1i 9aJ- joined Wang Xu's band. Wang ruled his domain with the acquiescence of Qin Zongquan 4M the independent governor-general of Huaixi a 2g and Wang's overlord, until 884. In that year, Qin demanded royalties from Wang Xu which the latter was unable-or unwilling-to pay. When Qin prepared a punitive expedition, Wang abandoned his base and, with an army of about five thousand troops including the Guangzhou Wang brothers, set off for the south. After a journey of about 800 miles, the band entered Fujian from the west and occupied the remote and underdeveloped prefecture of Tingzhou IT M early in 885 5). Shortly thereafter, they also occupied the coastal prefecture of Zhangzhou # Later in 885, a confrontation developed between Wang Xu and Wang Chao, the oldest of the Guangzhou Wang brothers. In the resolution, Wang Chao launched a coup, seized control of the band, and ultimately allowed Wang Xu to commit suicide 6). In the fall of 885, the band, now under Wang Chao's leadership, laid siege to Quanzhou. The city held out for a full year, not yielding until the fall of 886. But when he finally gained control, Wang Chao proclaimed himself prefect, a position which the Tang court officially confirmed later the same year. He offered nominal fealty to the faltering dynasty, and maintained correct, submissive rela- tions with his theoretical superior, Chen Yan No, the Imperial .

Load more