Fujian History

Mindong She Nationality Ancestral Land: An Ethnic Epic in the Great Geographical Connections Fuan (Fujian), Luoyuan (Fuzhou), Xiapu (Ningde), Funing Prefecture, Changle County, Lianjiang County, Huokou She Township (Luoyuan), Muyang Town (Fuan), Banzhong She Township, Xitan Town. Origins: The Hongwu Migration from Phoenix Mountain to Mindong The origin and migration of the She people in Mindong is a grand epic spanning over a millennium. According to local gazetteers, the She people refer to themselves as “Shan-ha,” meaning “Guests in the Mountains.” The critical turning point for their large-scale entry into the Mindong region occurred in the first year of the Ming Hongwu era (1368). While scattered distributions existed as early as the Sui and Tang dynasties, the official immigration policies and refuges during the early Ming Dynasty established Mindong as the “Ancestral Land of the She Nationality in Fujian.” Records from Luoyuan County indicate that She migrants who moved from Phoenix Mountain in Chaozhou, Guangdong, during the early Hongwu era became pioneers in developing the remote mountainous areas of Huokou and Daba. ...

In December 1930, the Shaowu-Guangze highway opened. Zheng Da Ti stood by the roadside, watching the first Ford truck pass. He knew the transportation landscape of Northern Fujian was about to change forever. Before this, commodity flow in Northern Fujian relied entirely on the Futun Creek river system—the treacherous “Eighteen Rapids” that barely functioned during dry seasons. Ox carts and human porters offered efficiency so low it was despairing. The “Da Ti Motor Vehicle Passenger and Freight Transport Station” Zheng founded was one of the few private transport institutions in Northern Fujian to operate its own fleet. Starting with two Ford trucks, expanding to five by 1932, then converting to charcoal-burning vehicles during the war—over twenty years, he sustained the “lifeline” connecting the mountainous interior to the outside world. ...

Background: Folk Deities under the Sacrificial System During the Ming Dynasty, the administration of folk beliefs followed the ancient maxim: ‘The major affairs of state lie in sacrifice and military’ (国之大事, 在祀与戎). According to the Bamin Tongzhi, ‘Altars and Temples’ (坛庙) were categorized as essential components of administrative geography, reflecting a governance logic of ‘respecting the gods to care for the people’. By granting official titles and plaques (赐额), the early Ming government transformed local, often ‘mystical’ grassroots beliefs—such as Mazu or Master Xu—into extensions of state authority, playing a role in maintaining social order and maritime safety. ...

Background: The Rise of the Greatest Port in the East In the history of global navigation, medieval Quanzhou, known to the world as ‘Zayton,’ held a status of unparalleled importance. According to the Bamin Tongzhi, Quanzhou was a ‘strategic and secluded treasury of Min-Yue,’ serving as a major hub since the Tang Dynasty. Its geography, described as ‘rivers pressing against the vast sea and mountains connecting to distant peaks,’ provided ideal deep-water conditions. During the Five Dynasties period, Governor Liu Congxiao expanded the city walls and planted Erythrina trees (Citong) around the perimeter, giving birth to the iconic name ‘Citong City.’ By the Song and Yuan Dynasties, Quanzhou had reached its zenith, rivaling Alexandria in Egypt. ...

Background: The Pioneering Provincial Gazetteer of Fujian In the history of Fujianese local records, the Bamin Tongzhi (General Gazetteer of the Eight Min Prefectures), completed in 1489 (the 2nd year of the Hongzhi Emperor) by the Putian scholar Huang Zhongzhao, holds monumental significance. Prior to this, while Fujian had early records like the Minzhong Ji (Jin Dynasty) and Jianan Diji (Liang Dynasty), most were lost over time. Even the famous Sanshan Zhi of the Southern Song Dynasty was limited in scope to Fuzhou and its surroundings. ...

Background: The Ancestor of Fujianese Literature Among the vast collection of Fujianese cultural classics, the Bamin Tongzhi (General Gazetteer of the Eight Min Prefectures), completed in 1489 (the 2nd year of the Hongzhi Emperor) by the scholar Huang Zhongzhao from Putian, holds a pioneering status. While local records of Fujian existed as early as the Eastern Jin Dynasty, such as Tao Kui’s Minzhong Ji, most were lost over time; even the famous Sanshan Zhi of the Southern Song was limited to the Fuzhou area. ...

Background: From ‘Remote Frontier’ to ‘Cradle of Bureaucrats’ The Ming Dynasty marked a golden era for Fujianese civil officials in the imperial court. According to the Bamin Tongzhi, although Fujian was once considered a ‘remote southeast frontier,’ it had become a ‘Maritime Zou-Lu’ since the Song Dynasty, a place where ‘great scholars emerged one after another.’ With the establishment of the ‘Eight Prefectures’ (Fuzhou, Jianning, Quanzhou, Zhangzhou, Tingzhou, Yanping, Shaowu, and Xinghua), Fujian funneled a massive number of political elites into the central government. In Putian County alone, the Ming Dynasty produced 181 civil and military Jinshi graduates. This dense output formed an influential ‘Min Clique’ across the Six Ministries and the Hanlin Academy. ...

Background: The Ancestor of Fujianese Literature The Bamin Tongzhi (General Gazetteer of the Eight Min Prefectures) was completed in 1489 (the 2nd year of the Hongzhi Emperor) by the renowned Ming scholar Huang Zhongzhao [1, 2]. Prior to this, although Fujian had local documents such as Minzhong Ji and Sanshan Zhi, most had been lost or were limited to specific regions [2]. During the Ming Dynasty, Fujian governed eight prefectures (Fu): Fuzhou, Jianning, Quanzhou, Zhangzhou, Tingzhou, Yanping, Shaowu, and Xinghua, hence the name “Bamin” [3]. ...