Chiefdom of Shuidong (simplified Chinese: 水东土司; traditional Chinese: 水東土司; pinyin: Shǔidōng Tǔsī), ruled by the Song clan, was an autonomous Tusi chiefdom established by Song Jingyang (宋景陽) during the Song dynasty. After he conquered the Manzhou Prefecture (蠻州, centred on modern Kaiyang County) from the Yi people, Song Jingyang was recognized as the hereditary ruler of the region by the Song court in 975.[1]

Chiefdom of Shuidong
水東土司
975–1630
StatusNative Chiefdom of China
CapitalShuidong (present day Kaiyang)
Common languagesChinese, Bouyei, Hmong
GovernmentMonarchy
Chieftain 
• 975–?
Song Jingyang (first)
• 1623–1630
Song Siyin (last)
History 
• Established
975
1630
Succeeded by
Ming dynasty
Today part ofChina

Shuidong was one of the most powerful clans in Southwestern China; Bozhou, Sizhou, Shuixi and Shuidong were called "Four Great Native Chiefdom in Guizhou" (贵州四大土司) by Chinese.[2] Shuidong joint the She-An Rebellion in 1623. After the rebellion was put down, Shuidong was annexed and ruled directly by Ming China.

Origin

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The Song clan claimed to be the descendants of a Han Chinese named Song Ding (宋鼎) in their genealogy book; however the authenticity needed to be verified. Modern scholars stated that Song Jingyang was a Han Chinese, Bouyei or Miao.[3]

History

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In 1303, Song Achong of Shuidong surrendered to the Yuan dynasty, Shuidong came under the Chinese tusi system. In 1371, Song Mongoldai of Shuidong surrendered to the Ming dynasty.[1]

During the Ming conquest of Yunnan, Liu Shuzhen (劉淑貞) was the female regent of Shuidong, while Shuixi (Mu'ege) was ruled by the regent mother She Xiang (奢香). In 1382, She Xiang decided to rebelled against Ming China because she was tortured by the Chinese general Ma Ye (馬曄). Liu Shuzhen persuaded her not to do. Liu came to Nanjing to reported Ma's behavior. An investigation was carried out, Ma was rebuked and recalled in 1384.[4]

In 1413, the province of Guizhou was created. The capital of Shuidong, Guizhou City (present day Guiyang), was chosen the site of the province's capital. Thirty thousand Chinese soldiers were settled in eastern Guizhou Province.

Since 1373, each Shuidong rulers held the title Guizhou Xuanwei tongzhi (貴州宣慰同知); while each Shuixi rulers were granted the title Guizhou Xuanweishi (貴州宣慰使), both were highest aboriginal governors of Guizhou Province.[1] However, the rank of Shuidong rulers were lower than Shuixi rulers'. Initially, the official residences of Shuixi and Shuidong rulers were in Guizhou City, Shuixi rulers were not allowed to go back to his chiefdom freely. This rule was abolished by Ming court in 1479, since then, Shuixi rulers spent most of their life in Shuixi. The power of Shuidong rulers soon expanded rapidly, Shuixi prolonged conflict with Shuidong.[4]

A Miao rebellion against Shuidong ruler broke out in 1513. Song Ran (宋然) of Shuidong was defeated and fled. Though Ming court ordered Shuixi to suppress, An Guirong (安貴榮) of Shuixi was unwilling to do so, because the rebellion was tacit backed by Shuixi. Finally, An Guirong put down the rebellion, since then, Chiefdom of Shuidong went into a slow decline.[4]

The Shuidong ruler Song Cheng'en (宋承恩) was a son-in-law of Bozhou chief Yang Yinglong (楊應龍).[5] When Yang rebelled against Ming China, Song Cheng'en refused to joint the rebellion. He was captured and imprisoned in Hailongtun until the rebellion was put down.[6]

The Shuidong ruler Song Wanhua (宋萬化) joint the She-An Rebellion, he was captured and executed in 1623. His son Song Siyin (宋嗣殷) rebelled against Ming China, but was put down in 1630. In the same year, Shuidong was fully annexed into the central bureaucratic system of the Ming dynasty.

List of Shuidong chieftains

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Below are Shuidong chieftains[7]

Name Chinese Reign Notes
Song Jingyang 宋景陽 975–987
Song Cunxiao 宋存孝 987–?
Song Yu 宋裕 ?–?
Song Qixiang 宋其相 ?–?
Song Xiangxuan 宋祥宣 ?–?
Song Xiding 宋錫定 1151–?
Song Wanming 宋萬明 1166–?
Song Jixing 宋基興 ?–?
Song Yonggao 宋永高 ?–?
Song Sheng 宋勝 ?–?
Song Ju 宋聚 ?–?
Song Chaomei 宋朝美 ?–?
Song Longji 宋隆濟 ?–1304
Song Achong 宋阿重 1304–?
Song Juhun 宋居混 ?–?
Song Qin 宋欽 ?–1381 Mongolian name: Song Mongoldai (宋蒙古歹)
Liu Shuzhen 劉淑貞 1381–? female regent
Song Cheng 宋誠 1381–1388
Song Bin 宋斌 1388–1443
Song Ang 宋昂 1443–1484
Song Ran 宋然 1484–1513
Song Ren 宋仁 1513–1559
Song Chu 宋儲 ?–?
Song Gao 宋鎬 ?–?
Song Delong 宋德隆 ?–?
Song Kui 宋夔 ?–?
Song Yiqing 宋一清 1559–1574 regent
Song Demao 宋德懋 1574–?
Song Dexian 宋德賢 ?–?
Song Cheng'en 宋承恩 1582–1609
Song Zhenxiang 宋真相 1609–? regent
Song Shixiang 宋師相 ?–? regent
Song Wanhua 宋萬化 1621–1623
Song Siyin 宋嗣殷 1623–1630

References

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  1. ^ a b c "水东宋氏土司与贵州的渊源" (in Chinese). gz-travel.net. 3 September 2010.
  2. ^ 颜丙震 (June 2018). 明后期黔蜀毗邻地区土司纷争研究 (in Chinese). ISBN 9787511555625.
  3. ^ "蛮州都总管宋景阳" (in Chinese). gog.com.cn. 24 April 2006.[permanent dead link]
  4. ^ a b c History of Ming (in Chinese). Vol. 316.
  5. ^ 葛镇亚. "播州土司和石砫土司的关系考证". 重庆三峡学院学报 (in Chinese). 30 (150). doi:10.3969/j.issn.1009-8135.2014.02.003.
  6. ^ "Shenzong Shilu". Ming Shilu (in Chinese). Vol. 419.
  7. ^ "水东宋氏世系考略" (in Chinese).