Shanxi Region Under The Yuan Dynasty's Rule

Since 1211, Mongol Army attacked The Jin Dynasty continuously toward the south and conquered Shanxi Region. After occupying Shanxi Region, Mongol Army crossed over the Yellow River from the west and the south separately and exterminated the Jin Dynasty through converging attack and eliminating its main force. From then on, Mongol court built up its own governmental style and strengthened its rule to Shanxi Region so as to change Shanxi Region into statistic springbroad and important base, which helped to establish the rule status of Yuan Dynasty. The statistic position of Shanxi Region rose step and step and became an important domain near governmental core after Khubilai set his capital to Yanjing, even the last stronghold of Yuan Dynasty's rule in China. In addition, Shanxi Region, with rich resources in nature and human, developed economy, advanced culture and education, played an important role in military, administration, economy and culture and had major influence on its lasting rule in China during the Yuan Dynasty. Up to now, some scholars have written monographs and papers dealt with Shanxi Region under Yuan Dynasty's rule in different levels and angles of view. However, there is nobody to study Shanxi Region under the Yuan Dynasty's rule as a special subject. This dissertation will cover ten major aspects of Shanxi Region under the Yuan Dynasty's rule. A. Armed forces conquering and garrisoning in Shanxi Region during the Yuan Dynasty. Shanxi Region was an important domain conquered and governed by the Yuan Dynasty. At that time, Mongol Army, Tamaci Army, Han troops and local forces and Shiwei Standby Guards were assigned to conquer and garrison Shanxi Region. The dissertation will expound the conquest and garrison of the armed forces. B. Han Hereditary Lords in Shanxi Region under the Yuan Dynasty's rule. The Han Hereditary Lords in Shanxi Region during the Yuan Dynasty had some special features and played some important parts for the Yuan Dynasty's conquering and governing Shanxi Region and any other areas in China. The dissertation will go into their family background, surrendering, local govern and the relationship between them and Mongol imperial relatives. C. feuds and privileges of Mongol Imperial Princes and meritorious officials in Shanxi Region under the Yuan Dynasty's rule. Mongol Court had feudalized Mongol Imperial Princes and meritorious official and given them some privileges in Shanxi Region. The dissertation will mainly inspect their supervision, feud, and privileges. D. Highest Military and Administrative Institutions in Shanxi Region under the Yuan Dynasty's rule. Some highest military and administrative institutions were established in Shanxi Region under the Yuan Dynasty's rule. These institutions had important functions in administration, finance, judicature, military and communication. The dissertation will focus on exploring the officials and functions of Xuanwe 宣慰司and Suzhenglianfangsi 肃政廉访司. E. Agriculture, Livestock Breeding, Hunting and Fishing in Shanxi Region under the Yuan Dynasty's rule. Agriculture not only satisfied with the basic need of local society in Shanxi Region, but also provide for military supplies and civil use outwardly. Livestock breeding developed greatly, especially raising horses. Fishing was engaged in local people. Large-scale hunting activities appeared in Shanxi Region. The dissertation will discuss on the problems in agriculture, livestock breeding, hunting and fishing separately. F. Handicraft Industries in Shanxi Region under the Yuan Dynasty's rule. Handicraft industries in Shanxi Region under the Yuan Dynasty's rule weremade up of salt, military supplies, metallurgy, kiln-dry, spinning and weaving, and distilling wine, which mainly served for the Yuan court, military supplies and local government. The dissertation will try to draw the outline of various handicraft industries in Shanxi Region under the Yuan Dynasty's rule. G. Communication and Transportation in Shanxi Region under the Yuan Dynasty's rule. There were some ways leading in all four directions in Shanxi Region at that time. Among them, the way leading the northwest was a new-opened one at that time. The dissertation will study courier station, relay way, communication management and running plight in Shanxi Region under the Yuan Dynasty's rule. H. Buddhism and Taoism in Shanxi Region under the Yuan Dynasty's rule. Buddhism and Taoism in Shanxi Region under the Yuan Dynasty's rule had gone through new changes and deep effect on local society. The dissertation will investigate into the new development of Buddhism and Taoism. I. Flourishing Development of Literature in Shanxi Region under the Yuan Dynasty's rule. Poems, prose, drama and verse were included in Literature achievements in Shanxi Region under the Yuan Dynasty's rule, which stood for the main trend and developmental direction of literature. The dissertation will elaborate the topics of literature school, popular development, actual record and drama characteristics in Shanxi Region under the Yuan Dynasty's rule. J. Different Effect on Shanxi Region from North Races under the Yuan Dynasty's rule. There were various races such as Mongol, Kidan, Jurchen, Se-mu (Central Asian) and Han in Shanxi Region under the Yuan Dynasty's rule. These races exchanged each other and melted uninterruptedly so that some changes in local society of Shanxi Region took place in marriage, naming, general attire, food and drink. The dissertation will mainly discuss some distinctive features on the customs affected by north races in Shanxi Region under the Yuan Dynasty's rule.