The Gan Su Zhen in the Ming dynasty and its relations with neighboring countries

• Main Authors: Chu, Wei-chien, 朱偉健
• Other Authors: Ch’iu, Chung-lin
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2008
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/27746975929781668738

碩士 === 國立暨南國際大學 === 歷史學系 === 96 === In the Ming Dynasty, the complete defense of the Gan Su Zhen was composed of bother inner defenses and an outer defense system. The inner defenses included a total of twelve Wei’s (5,600 soldiers per Wei), five of which were from Ganzhou (now known as Zhangye), and seven of which were from Suzhou, Shandan, Yongchang, Liangzhou, Zhenfan, Zhuanglang, and Xining, respectively; and four Qianhusuo’s (a military unit second to Wei; battalion) from Zhenyi, Gaotai, Gulang, and Nianbo. The Stationing Regional Commander and the Vice-General commissioned officers of different levels to guard different areas, and at the same time help one another in all respects for the sake of a complete defense system. Managed by the Gansu Provincial Governor and supervised by the Stationing Eunuch, the aforesaid Wei’s and Qianhusuo’s were responsible for defending against powerful aggression by the Hetao Mongolian from the Helan Shan (also known as Tao Barbarians), the Xihai Mongolian stationed at Qinghai (also known as Hai Barbarians), and the Oirats and Tulufan from the Northwest, as well as for solving racial problems between the ethnic minority living in the Hexi Corridor. On the other hand, the outer defense system was composed of various Wei’s outside the Great Wall, including Kumul, Shazhou, Handong, Chijin Mongolia, Anding, Quxian, and Aduan. The Gan Su Zhen, on one hand, received contributions from various Wei’s, and on the other hand roped in Wei’s by granting them governmental positions. Such a relationship prevented Wei’s from contacting with the Tatars, the Oirats, and Tulufan nearby, which were the long-standing enemies of the Ming Dynasty, leading to benefits to its frontier defense. The defense system in military cooperation with various Wei’s was more capable of ensure the border of the Gan Su Zhen being secure. In order to further stabilize the outer defense system, the Ming Dynasty conferred the title of Anding Prince and Zhongshun Prince upon the rulers of Anding and Kumul, respectively, and awarded them golden seals. The two rulers were asked to take charge of the north and south of the Western Regions, and to manage and restrain the tribes under their jurisdiction. After the middle period of the Ming Dynasty, due to the growing Tulufan and the unpopularity of the Zhongshun Prince, the Ming Dynasty became so weak in leading the Western Regions and defending the Gansu area that Tulufan managed to invade the Jiayu Pass for several times, harassing Suzhou, Ganzhou, and other cities. Finally, the Ming Dynasty was forced to cut the relationship with Kumul, and turn to Tulufan for establishing a good relationship. By so doing, the Gan Su Zhen was much relieved of the pressure of frontier defense.