Deciphering the Historical Place Name "Mizhou": Jinzhou and Jiedushi Wanyan Yu in the Xuzi Zhi Tongjian

Brief Introduction

When examining the evolution of early northern Chinese regimes and the historical geography of the Song, Liao, and Jin periods, "Mizhou" (密州) is a place name that is frequently misunderstood or confused. It is essential to clarify first that the historical "Mizhou" typically refers to the prefectural government located in the area of modern-day Zhucheng and Anqiu, Shandong Province, during the Song Dynasty. It does not refer to "Jinzhou" or the "death place of Jiedushi Wanyan Yu" mentioned in the user's query.

In the Xuzi Zhi Tongjian and other official historical records, there is no record of a Jiedushi fief titled "Mizhou" belonging to "Jinzhou" (interpreted as the state name of the Jurchen or Jin). Furthermore, there are no definitive records of a Jiedushi named "Wanyan Yu" from the Wanyan clan of the Jurchens who died in "Mizhou."

Therefore, this article aims to correct this potential historiographical and geographical misunderstanding. Based on the context of the Xuzi Zhi Tongjian, it analyzes the true historical status of Song Dynasty Mizhou and its role as a strategic location on the eve of and during the early period of the Jin Dynasty.

Core Knowledge Points

1. Geographical Evolution of Mizhou

Mizhou was a prefecture during the Song Dynasty, with its administrative seat located in today’s Zhucheng, Shandong Province. It belonged to the Jingdong Eastern Circuit and served as a crucial hub connecting the Central Plains with the Shandong Peninsula.

During the reigns of Emperor Zhezong and Emperor Huizong of Song, as recorded in the Xuzi Zhi Tongjian, Mizhou’s military significance rose significantly due to its proximity to the Song-Jin frontline, particularly after the Jin defeated and destroyed the Liao Dynasty.

2. Disambiguating the Concept of "Jinzhou"

Historically, "Jinzhou" often referred to the Jinzhou in modern-day Shaanxi Province (Ankang City), which served as a gateway to the Shu roads. Alternatively, it can refer broadly to the territory of the Jin Dynasty. If "Jinzhou" in this context refers to the early Jin period, the main activity areas of the Wanyan chieftains were in modern-day Heilongjiang and Jilin provinces, with no direct administrative subordination to Song Dynasty Mizhou.

Wanyan Yu (if this name exists, it may be due to phonetic translation differences or misremembering) was, in the early Jin period, typically a defector from the Liao Dynasty or an early Jurchen general. His place of death was usually recorded at the front lines of Liao-Jin battles or within the Jurchen heartland, not in Mizhou, Shandong.

3. Evolution of the Jiedushi (Military Commissioner) System

The Song Dynasty inherited the Jiedushi system from the Tang Dynasty, but these titles mostly became honorary or nominal positions. Prefectural-level Jiedushi were often military commanders or local governors. The Song Dynasty Mizhou Jiedushi recorded in the Xuzi Zhi Tongjian mostly held titles such as Defense Commissioner or Prefectural Administrator, which differed from the Jiedushi system of the Jurchen imperial clan.

In the early Jin Dynasty, the Liao system was inherited, implementing the Mumin-ogori (garrison) system. The function of the Jiedushi evolved into that of a military commander rather than a civil-military governor in the Tang/Song sense.

Connection to the Content of the Xuzi Zhi Tongjian

The Xuzi Zhi Tongjian primarily records the history from the reign of Emperor Zhezong of Song to the beginning of the Yuan Zuo era, covering the initial period of Song-Jin confrontation. If "Mizhou" is mentioned in the text, the context is usually one of the following:

1. Border Defense Alerts: When the Jin army moved south to destroy the Liao Dynasty, the Song Dynasty strengthened defenses in the Jingdong Eastern Circuit, making Mizhou a critical garrison point.
2. Personnel Reassignments: The text frequently records civil or military officials being appointed as Prefect or Jiedushi of Mizhou, reflecting the court's emphasis on coastal eastern and northeastern defense lines.
3. Sources of Misinterpretation: The user's claim that "Wanyan Yu died in Mizhou" may stem from misrecording the death location of figures in the History of Jin or History of Liao, or from confusing the character "Mi" (密) with other place names such as "Weizhou" (卫州) or "Xiangzhou" (相州). There is no explicit record in the Xuzi Zhi Tongjian of a Wanyan clan Jiedushi dying in Mizhou.

Conclusion

In the context of the Xuzi Zhi Tongjian, "Mizhou" primarily refers to the Song Dynasty prefecture in Shandong, serving as a vital stronghold on the Song-Jin border, rather than a "Jinzhou" internal to the Jin state. The claim regarding the death of Wanyan Yu lacks historical evidence and is likely a result of name confusion. When researching historical figures and place names, it is recommended to cross-verify using the History of Song, History of Jin, and the Atlas of Chinese Historical Geography to avoid misinterpretations caused by the evolution of place names.