Historical Development

Jiujiang, a name literally means “nine rivers” (“jiu” for nine and “jiang” for “river”), was firstly recorded in the Book of History, in passages such as “the water of nine rivers are vast and mighty” and “passing through Jiujiang to Dongling”. There are two explanations for the origin of the name: one interprets “nine” symbolically, representing the largest number in ancient Chinese, meaning “a place where numerous waters converge”; the other interprets “nine” literally, referring to the nine tributaries of the Ganjiang River System, which were believed to flow through Jiujiang and converge into Pengli Lake. These nine tributaries are the Ganjiang, Poshui, Yushui, Xiushui, Ganshui, Xushui, Shushui, Nanshui, and Pengshui Rivers. The Yangtze River also runs through Jiujiang and converges with Poyang Lake and rivers bordering Jiangxi, Hubei, and Anhui provinces, creating a vast expanse of water where all streams merge into the sea and presenting a magnificent and expansive river scene.

Pre-Qin Period  

During the Xia and Shang Dynasties, the Jiujiang area was divided between the Jingzhou and Yangzhou regions. In the Spring and Autumn period, it was split between the states of Wu and Chu, earning the name “the beginning of Wu and the end of Chu”. During the Warring States period, the jurisdiction over the Jiujiang area changed several times: in the 3rd year of King Yuan of Zhou (473 BCE), the state of Yue conquered Wu, bringing Jiujiang under Yue; in the 35th year of King Xian of Zhou (334 BCE), Chu conquered Yue, and the area came under Chu’s control.  

During the Shang Dynasty, the Ai State (a Marquisate under ancient Chinese feudal system) was established, with its capital located in the upper reaches of the Xiu River, governing an area roughly corresponding to today’s Xiushui, Tonggu, Wuning, and Yongxiu counties. After King Wu of Zhou conquered the Shang, the Ai State was abolished while the Ai Jian was established (jian means inspectorate) . From the late Spring and Autumn period to the Warring States period, in addition to feudal states, xian (county) and yi (town) emerged. Within modern Jiangxi Province, there were Po Yi and Ai Yi, with the jurisdiction of Ai Yi roughly corresponding to that of the former Ai State and Ai Jian.

Qin and Han Dynasties  

In the 24th year of King Zheng of Qin (223 BCE), Qin conquered Chu and established three juns (jun is an administrative division similar to a modern prefecture) on the former Chu territory. One of these was Jiujiang Jun, which encompassed most of present-day Jiangxi Province, with its capital at Shouchun (modern Shou County, Anhui Province).  

In the 6th year of Emperor Gaozu of Han (201 BCE), Yuzhang Jun was established with its capital at Nanchang County. According to the History of the Han Dynasty, Yuzhang Jun comprised 18 counties, six of which were located in today’s Jiujiang area. These were listed as the 3rd, 5th, 7th, 8th, 14th, and 16th counties in the book:  

3. Pengze County (covering modern southwestern Pengze County, including Hukou, Pengze, and Duchang counties, as well as part of modern Dongliu County, Anhui Province).  

5. Liling County (covering modern De’an County).  

7. Chaisang County (covering modern southwestern Jiujiang, including Jiujiang city proper, Jiujiang County, Xingzi County, Ruichang County, etc.).  

8. Ai County (located near modern Zhajin Town in Xiushui County, covering Xiushui and Tonggu counties).  

14. Haihun County (covering modern Yongxiu and part of its eastern region, including Yongxiu, Wuning, Jing’an, Anyi, and Fengxin counties).  

16. Qiaoyang County (covering modern southern Duchang, including parts of Duchang and Poyang counties).

During the same period, Xunyang County was established, with its capital in modern southwestern Huangmei County, Hubei Province; part of its jurisdiction south of the Yangtze River falling within modern Jiujiang. In the 16th year of the Yongyuan era (104 CE), Jianchang County was established from part of Haihun. During the Zhongping era (184–189 CE), Xiping County was formed from part of Ai County; in the second year of the Zhongping era (185), Yongxiu and Xinwu (modern Fengxin) counties were established from parts of Haihun and Jianchang. In the 4th year of the Jian’an era (199), Xi’an County was established from parts of Ai and Haihun.

Three Kingdoms, Jin Dynasties, and Northern and Southern Dynasties  

During the Three Kingdoms period, the Jiujiang area belonged to Eastern Wu. Chaisang County was under Wuchang Jun, while Xunyang was under Lujiang Jun. The counties were distributed among four juns as follows: Wuchang Jun (Chaisang county), Yuzhang Jun (Ai, Haihun, Jianchang, Yongxiu, Xinwu, Xi’an, and Pengze counties), Poyang Jun (Qiaoyang and Liling counties), and Lujiang Jun (Xunyang county).  

In the first year of the Taikang era of the Western Jin dynasty (280), Xi’an County was renamed Yuzhang County. In the first year of the Yuan Kang era (291), seven juns from Yangzhou (Yuzhang, Poyang, Luling, Linchuan, Nankang, Jian’an, Jin’an) and three juns of Jingzhou (Wuchang, Guiyang, Ancheng) were grouped to form Jiangzhou, with its capital at Yuzhang (modern Nanchang city). In the first year of the Yongxing era (304), Xunyang County from Lujiang Jun and Chaisang County from Wuchang Jun were merged to establish Xunyang Jun, with its capital at Xunyang County (located north of the Yangtze River at that time) under Jiangzhou.  

During the Xianhe era of the Eastern Jin Dynasty (326–334), the capitals of Xunyang Jun and Xunyang County were relocated from north of the Yangtze to Chaisang. In the 6th year of the Xiankang era (340), the capital of Jiangzhou was moved from Yuzhang to Xunyang, placing the capitals of the zhou, jun, and county all in Xunyang. In the eighth year of the Yixi era (412), Xunyang Jun was renamed Jiangzhou Jun, while Xunyang County was abolished and merged into Chaisang.

In the second year of the Yongchu era under the Liu Song of the Southern Dynasties (421), Qiaoyang was abolished and merged into Pengze County. In the first year of the Yuanjia era (424), Liling was abolished and merged into Chaisang County; the following year (425), Haihun was abolished and merged into Jianchang County. In the second year of the Taiqing era of the Liang Dynasty (548), Taiyuan Qiaojun (qiaojun means a displaced jun created under the Southern Dynasties to preserve the names of former Northern ones, which is the same for qiaoxian) was established from part of Pengze, overseeing three qiaoxians (Jinyang, Hecheng, Tianshui) as well as Pengze county; Ru’nan County was established from part of Chaisang, and the capital of Xunyang Jun was moved to Pencheng (modern Jiujiang city proper). In the second year of the Taiping era (557), Jiangzhou was split into two, establishing West Jiangzhou, which governed Xunyang and four qiaojuns (Taiyuan, Gaotang, Qichang, and Xincai). In the 3rd year of the Yongding era of the Chen Dynasty (559), Yuning Jun was established with its capital at Yuning County, governing five counties: Ai, Jianchang, Yongxiu, Xinwu, and Yuning. In the 6th year of the Tianjia era (565), West Jiangzhou was abolished, and Xunyang Jun was returned to Jiangzhou.

Sui, Tang, and Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period  

In the 3rd year of the Kaihuang era of the Sui dynasty (583), Pengze was renamed Longcheng County. In the 9th year (589), the qiaojuns and qiaoxians established during the Liang and Chen Dynasties were abolished: Taiyuan Jun was abolished, and Jinyang, Hecheng, Tianshui, and Pengze counties were merged into Longcheng County; Yuning Jun was abolished, and Yongxiu, Yuning, Xinwu, and Ai counties were merged into Jianchang; Xunyang Jun was abolished, and Chaisang and Ru’nan counties were merged to form Xunyang County; in the 18th year (598), Xunyang County was renamed Pengli County and Longcheng was renamed Pengze County. In the second year of the Daye era (606), the zhou system was abolished in favor of a two-tier jun-county system: Jiangzhou was abolished and reorganized as a Jun; Pengli county was renamed Pengcheng County, and later again to Pencheng County. In the following year (607), Jiangzhou Jun was renamed Jiujiang Jun, and Yuning County was re-established.

Sui,Tang,Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms

In the early Tang Dynasty, the Jiangxi region belonged to the Jiangnan circuit. In the 4th year of Wude (621 ), the Tang government established Xunyang County by dividing Pencheng County. Meanwhile, it abolished the Jun system and restored the circuit system, with Jiangzhou governing three counties: Pencheng, Xunyang and Pengze.

In the 5th year of Wude Era (622 ), Chucheng County was set up by dividing Pencheng County; Duchang County was established in the southern area of Yanzi Bridge in Poyang County; Xiping County was restored and coexisted with Yuning County; Haozhou was established, governing four counties: Pengze, Duchang, Lecheng and Guangjin; Yongxiu County was restored; Long’an County (now within the territory of Anyi County) was established by splitting Jianchang County.

In the 8th year of Wude Reign (625), Haozhou was abolished, and Lecheng County was merged into Pengze County; Pencheng County was abolished and incorporated into Xunyang County.

In the 8th year of Zhenguan Reign (634), Chucheng County was abolished and merged into Xunyang County.

In the 1st year of Yongchun Reign (682), Xinwu County was re-established by splitting Jianchang County.

In the 4th year of Chang’an Reign (704), Wuning County was established by splitting Jianchang County.

In the 1st year of Jingyun Reign (710), Wuning County was renamed Yuning County.

In the 21st year of Kaiyuan Reign (733), Jiangnan circuit was divided into Jiangnan West circuit, which governed 8 Zhou (Hong, Rao, Qian, Ji, Jiang, Yuan, Xin, Fu) and 37 counties. Among them, Jiangzhou governed three counties: Xunyang, Pengze and Duchang.

In the 1st year of Tianbao Reign (742), Jiangzhou was renamed Xunyang Commandery.

In the 1st year of Qianyuan Reign (758), a two-level administrative system of circuit and county was established, and Xunyang Commandery was renamed Jiangzhou.

In the 1st year of Baoying Reign (762), Yuning County was renamed Wuning County.

In the 16th year of Zhenyuan Reign (800), Fenning County was established by splitting Wuning County.

In the 7th year of Shunyi Reign of the Southern Tang Dynasty in the Five Dynasties period (927), Putang Field was upgraded to De’an County

In the 1styear of Shengyuan Reign (937), Jing’an County was established by splitting Jianchang, Wuning and Fengxin counties; In the 2nd year of Shengyuan Reign (938), Hukou Garrison was upgraded to Hukou County. In the 3rd  year of Shengyuan Reign (93), Fenghua Army was established in Jiangzhou; Chiwu Field was upgraded to Ruichang County; Xunyang County was renamed Dehua County.

Song Dynasty and Yuan Dynasty

In the 3rd year of Taiping Xingguo Reign of the Northern Song Dynasty (978), Xingzi Town was upgraded to Xingzi County.

In the 7th year of Taiping Xingguo Reign (982), Nankang Army (a military administrative unit) was established, with its capital in Xingzi and governing three counties: Xingzi, Duchang and Jianchang.

In the 4th year of Tianxi Reign (1020), Jiangnan Road was divided into Jiangnan East Road and Jiangnan West Road. Jiangzhou belonged to Jiangnan East Road and governed five counties: Dehua, De’an, Ruichang, Hukou and Pengze; Fenning County was renamed Ning County.

In the 8th year of Kaibao Reign (975), Jiangzhou was demoted to a military circuit; Ning County was renamed Fenning County.

In the 3rd year of Daguan Reign (1109), Jiangzhou was promoted to a “Wang Jun”(a prominent commandery).

In the 2nd year of Shaoxing Reign of the Southern Song Dynasty (1132), Jiangzhou was placed under the jurisdiction of Jiangnan West Road. The subordination of counties within the present-day Jiujiang area were the followings: Dehua, De’an, Ruichang, Hukou and Pengze belonged to Jiangzhou; Xingzi, Duchang and Jianchang belonged to Nankang Army; Fenning and Wuning belonged to Hongzhou.

In the 2nd year of Jianyan Reign (1128), four Zhou (Jiang, Chi, Rao, Xin) were merged into Jiangzhou Road. In the 4th year of Jianyan Reign (1130), Fenning County was upgraded to Yining Army.

In the 1st year of Longxing Reign (1163), Yining Army was abolished and restored to Fenning County.

In the Yuan Dynasty, under the provincial administrative divisions, there were administrative levels of Lu (circuit), Zhou and County.

In the 12th year of Zhiyuan Reign (1275), Jiangdong-Xijiang delivery and Pacification Department were established in Jiangzhou.

In the 13th year of Zhiyuan Reign (1276), it was renamed Jiangxi Grand Military Governor’s Mansion and subordinate to Yangzhou Province.

In the 14th year of Zhiyuan Reign (1277), Jiangxi Grand Military Governor’s Mansion was abolished and Jiangzhou was upgraded to Jiangzhou Road; Nankang Jun was renamed Nankang Road with the governed counties remaining unchanged.

In the 16th year of Zhiyuan Reign (1279), Jiangzhou Road was transferred to the Xuanwei Division (pacification commissioner’s office) of Huangqi and other roads.

In the 22nd year of Zhiyuan Reign (1285), it was re-subordinated to Jiangxi Province.

In the 23rd year of Zhiyuan Reign (1286), Ningzhou was established in Wuning County, governing two counties: Fenning and Wuning.

In the 1st year of Yuanzhen Reign (1295), Jianchang County was upgraded to Jianchang Zhou, which belonged to Nankang Road.

In the 8th year of Dade Reign (1304), Fenning County was upgraded to Ningzhou.

In the 21st year of Zhizheng Reign (1361), Zhu Yuanzhang captured Jiangzhou, renamed Jiangzhou Road to Jiujiang circuit; Nankang Road was renamed Xining circuit, and then renamed Nankang circuit the following year.

Ming Dynasty and Qing Dynasty

In the 3rd year of Hongwu Reign of the Ming Dynasty (1370), Jianchang Zhou and Ningzhou were demoted to counties.

In the 9th year of Hongwu Reign (1376), Jiangxi Province was renamed the Administration Commission of Jiangxi and other areas. The whole province was divided into 5 circuits  and 13 circuits. Among them, Jiujiang Dao governed three circuits: Jiujiang, Nankang and Raozhou; Jiujiang Circuit governed five counties: Dehua, De’an, Ruichang, Hukou and Pengze; Nankang Circuit governed three counties: Xingzi, Duchang and Jianchang; Ning County and Wuning County belonged to Nanchang Circuit.

In the 16th year of Hongzhi Reign (1503), Ning County was again upgraded to Ningzhou.

In the 13th year of Zhengde Reign (1518), Anyi County was established by splitting Jianchang County and subordinate to Nankang Circuit.

In the Qing Dynasty, the subordination of counties within Jiujiang remained the same as that in the Ming Dynasty.

In the 6th year of Jiaqing Reign (1801), Ningzhou was renamed Yining Zhou.

In the 4th year of Xianfeng Reign (1854), the Taiping Army renamed Hukou to Jiujiang Commandery and designated Jiujiang Circuit as Jiangxi Province; After the defeat of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, the Qing government restored the original administrative system.

Republic of China

After the 1911 Revolution, the Circuit system was abolished.

After the 1911 Revolution, the Circuit system was abolished.

In 1912, Yining Zhou was renamed Yining County.

In 1914, the province was divided into 4 circuits, governing 81 counties, among which Xunyang Circuit governed 20 counties. In the same year, to avoid the same names between Circuit and counties, Dehua County was renamed Jiujiang County, Yining County was renamed Xiushui County, and Jianchang County was renamed Yongxiu County.

In 1926, the Circuit system was abolished, and all counties were directly subordinate to the provincial government.

In 1927, Jiujiang Municipal Office was established, which was renamed Jiujiang Municipal Government the next year. It was abolished in 1930 and merged into Jiujiang County.

After 1932, Jiangxi Province set up administrative supervision districts, whose divisions changed frequently with the number increasing or decreasing. Taking 1935 as an example, the province had 8 administrative supervision districts. The subordination of counties within the present-day Jiujiang area was as follows: Wuning, Xiushui and Yongxiu belonged to the 1st Administrative Supervision District; Duchang, Pengze, Hukou, Jiujiang, Xingzi, De’an and Ruichang belonged to the 5th Administrative Supervision District.

People’s Republic of China

On May 7th , 1949, Jiujiang was liberated; on July 19, Jiujiang Commissioner’s Office was established, and Jiujiang City was set up by splitting the urban area of Jiujiang County.

In April 1968, the Revolutionary Committee of Jiujiang Special District was established

In February 1971, it was renamed the Revolutionary Committee of Jiujiang Circuit; in 1979, it was renamed the Administrative Office of Jiujiang Circuit.

In 1980, Jiujiang City was separated from Jiujiang Circuit and upgraded to a provincially administered city, governing three districts: Xunyang, Lushan and Suburb.

On July 27, 1983, the merger of the circuit and the city was implemented, and the system of city governing counties was introduced at the same time. Currently, it administers 7 counties (Xiushui County, Wuning County, Yongxiu County, De’an County, Duchang County, Hukou County, Pengze County) and 3 districts (Xunyang District, Lianxi District, Chaisang District); it exercises jurisdiction over 3 county-level cities under provincial administration (Ruichang City, Gongqingcheng City, Lushan City) on behalf of the province, and directly administers 4 management committees at the county-level director rank (Jiujiang Economic and Technological Development Zone Management Committee, Lushan West Sea Scenic Area Management Committee, Jiujiang Bali Lake New Area Management Committee, Poyang Lake Ecological Science and Technology City Management Committee).