History of Xiangxi

Ancient and Imperial History

The territory of Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture (湘西土家族苗族自治州) has a rich historical background:

During the Warring States Period, the region belonged to the Chu-Qian Central Commandery.
In the Western Han Dynasty, it was part of Wuling Commandery.
During the Three Kingdoms Period, it was initially under the jurisdiction of Shu and later of Wu.
In the Western Jin and Eastern Jin Dynasties, it belonged to Jingzhou Wuling Commandery.
During the Sui, Tang, and Five Dynasties periods, it fell under the administration of Qianzhong Dao.
In the Song Dynasty, it was part of the Chenzhou (辰州) and Liyang (澧州) regions of Jinghu North Road.
During the Yuan Dynasty, it was included in the Enzhou (恩州) Pacification Commission of the Huguang Province, Chenzhou Road, Liyang Road, and the Yongshun (永顺) Pacification Commission of Sichuan Province, along with the newly added Ge Man (葛蛮) Pacification Commission area.
In the Ming Dynasty, the Yongshun Pacification Commission and the Baijing Prefecture Pacification Commission were established, while the rest of the territory fell under the jurisdictions of Yue (岳) and Chen (辰) Prefectures.
During the Qing Dynasty, Yongshun Prefecture was established along with direct control over Fenghuang (凤凰), Qianzhou (乾州), and Yongshui (永绥) districts in the northeast, while the territory included Liyang.

Republic of China Period

From the third year of the Republic of China (1914) to the eleventh year (1922), the area was part of Chenyuan Dao.
From the twenty-seventh year (1938) to 1949, it fell under the administration of the eighth and ninth administrative inspection districts.

At the beginning of the People’s Republic of China, counties such as Fenghuang (凤凰), Qiancheng (乾城), Yongshui (永绥), and Luxi (泸溪), along with Yongshun (永顺), Longshan (龙山), Baijing (保靖), and Guzhang (古丈), were divided between Yuanling Prefecture and Yongshun Prefecture.

Establishment of the Autonomous Region

On August 1, 1952, with the approval of the Central People’s Government, the territory of Qiancheng, Fenghuang, Yongshui, Luxi, Guzhang, and Baijing was designated to form the Xiangxi Miao Autonomous Region (湘西苗族自治区) at the prefectural level. The regional government was established in Suoli Town (所里镇), Qiancheng County (乾城县), and was administered under Hunan Province, comprising six counties: Qiancheng, Fenghuang, Huayuan (花垣), Luxi, Guzhang, and Baijing.

In September of the same year, the Xiangxi Regional Government and its associated Yongshun, Yuanling, and Huitong (会同) prefectures were dissolved. The counties of Yongshun, Longshan, Sangzhi (桑植), and Dayong (大庸) were transferred to the management of the Xiangxi Miao Autonomous Region, with formal control established in December of the same year.

On April 28, 1955, according to Article 53 of the Constitution, the Xiangxi Miao Autonomous Region was upgraded to Xiangxi Miao Autonomous Prefecture (湘西苗族自治州), with no change to the administrative structure.

Formation of Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture

On September 6, 1957, during the fifty-seventh plenary session of the State Council, the proposal by the Hunan Provincial People’s Committee to establish the Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture was approved, and the Xiangxi Miao Autonomous Prefecture was officially dissolved on September 20, 1957.

In 1952, the Xiangxi Miao Autonomous Region was established, with the People’s Government based in Suoli, Qiancheng County. The original six counties of Yongshun, Longshan, Dayong, Baijing, Sangzhi, and Guzhang, along with the four counties of Qiancheng, Yongshui, Luxi, and Fenghuang, were incorporated into the Xiangxi Miao Autonomous Region.

In 1955, the Xiangxi Miao Autonomous Region was restructured into Xiangxi Miao Autonomous Prefecture, with its People’s Committee established in Jishou County (吉首县).

On September 20, 1957, the Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture was established, with its administrative center in Jishou County. The original counties under Xiangxi Miao Autonomous Prefecture, including Jishou, Luxi (based in Wuxi Town), Fenghuang (based in Tuojiang Town), Huayuan, Baijing (based in Qianling Town), and Guzhang, along with the four counties managed by the Xiangxi Miao Autonomous Prefecture—Yongshun, Longshan, Sangzhi, and Dayong—were transferred to the Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture.