Hunan is an inland province in Central China . Located in the middle reaches of the Yangtze watershed, it borders the province-level divisions of Hubei to the north, Jiangxi to the east, Guangdong and Guangxi to the south, and Guizhou and Chongqing to the northwest. Its capital and largest city is Changsha , which abuts the Xiang River. Hengyang , Zhuzhou , and Yueyang are among its most populous urban cities.
90-577: With a population of just over 66 million as of 2020 residing in an area of approximately 210,000 km (81,000 sq mi), it is China's 7th-most populous province, the fourth most populous among landlocked provinces, the second-most populous in South Central China after Guangdong, and the most populous province in Central China. It is the largest province in South Central China and
180-519: A distinctive dry-and-spicy ( 干辣 ; gānlà ) taste, with dishes such as smoked cured ham and stir-fried spicy beef being prime examples of the flavor. Huaguxi is a local form of Chinese opera that is very popular in Hunan province. Located in the south central part of the Chinese mainland, Hunan has long been known for its natural environment. It is surrounded by mountains on the east, west, and south, and by
270-515: A lake in the northeast of the province. Vehicle license plates from Hunan are marked Xiāng ( Chinese : 湘 ), after the Xiang River , which runs from south to north through Hunan and forms part of the largest drainage system for the province. The area of Hunan was under Chinese rule as far back as 350 BC. Hunan was the birthplace of communist revolutionary Mao Zedong , who became the Chairman of
360-474: A more recent leader from Hunan is former Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji . Hunan is located on the south bank of the Yangtze River , about halfway along its length, situated between 108° 47'–114° 16' east longitude and 24° 37'–30° 08' north latitude . Hunan covers an area of 211,800 square kilometres (81,800 square miles), making it the 10th largest provincial-level division. The east, south and west sides of
450-640: A number of hairstyles can be seen in contemporary paintings and sculptures of women. The earliest known paintings on fabric in China were unearthed from the Mawangdui tombs. Among them, a two-meter-long fēiyī ( 非衣 , possibly meaning "flying garment") in the tomb of Lady Dai is one of the finest examples of art in early China. In the painting, Lady Dai was depicted in the center, accompanied by servants and surrounded by deities, mythological beasts, and symbols. Several types of musical instruments were discovered in
540-559: A particularly rich source of knowledge on the kingdom. They have remnants of domesticated animals including pigs, cattle, sheep, dogs and chickens, as well as game animals and fowl. Bamboo tablets recorded an assortment of dishes, with descriptions of multiple preparation techniques. Various types of alcoholic beverages , made from wheat, millet, and rice, were also discovered, indicating the development of local alcohol industry . Artifacts from Changsha noble tombs reveal advanced levels of artisanship. A plain-colored gauze gown discovered in
630-461: A reason of its loyalty.) However, the population increased rapidly, partly due to the favorable agricultural policies and partly because of immigration both from within the Han empire and from Nanyue. In AD 2, when the Han dynasty conducted an empire-wide population census, the population of Changsha was recorded as 235,825 living in 43,470 households. The commanderies that constituted the larger Changsha of
720-554: A unique office, the "pillar of state" ( 柱 國 , zhùguó ). It was designation for an eminent official originating from the Chu state, but was not seen elsewhere in the Han dynasty; the post may have merged into or been replaced by that of the chancellor. Under the Wu family, the Changsha Kingdom was administered at two levels, the commandery and the county . As described above , the state
810-840: Is 1,200 to 1,700 millimetres (47 to 67 in). The Furongian Epoch in the Cambrian Period of geological time is named for Hunan; Furong ( 芙蓉 ) means " lotus " in Mandarin and refers to Hunan which is known as the "lotus state". Hunan is divided into fourteen prefecture-level divisions : thirteen prefecture-level cities and an autonomous prefecture : The fourteen prefecture -level divisions of Hunan are subdivided into 122 county -level divisions (35 districts , 17 county-level cities , 63 counties, 7 autonomous counties ). Those are in turn divided into 2587 township -level divisions (1098 towns , 1,158 townships , 98 ethnic townships , 225 subdistricts , and eight district public offices ). At
900-453: Is 35 km (14 sq mi). It is very close to National Highway G320. The major industries in the zone include biotechnology, food processing and heavy industry. In 2007, the park signed a cooperation contract with Beijing Automobile Industry, one of the largest auto makers in China, which will set up a manufacturing base in Zhuzhou HTP. As of the 2000 census , the population of Hunan
990-658: Is 64,400,700 consisting of forty-one ethnic groups . Its population grew 6.17% (3,742,700) from its 1990 levels. According to the census, 89.79% (57,540,000) identified themselves as Han Chinese and 10.21% (6,575,300) as minority groups . The minority groups are Tujia , Miao , Dong , Yao , Bai , Hui , Zhuang , Uyghurs and so on. In Hunan, ethnic minority languages are spoken in the following prefectures. Religion in Hunan Around 5,000 Uyghurs live around Taoyuan County and other parts of Changde . Hui and Uyghurs have intermarried in this area. In addition to eating pork,
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#17328452970281080-443: Is 99.43%, and the comprehensive population coverage rate of television is 99.77%. There are 137 national intangible cultural heritage protection lists and 410 provincial intangible cultural heritage protection lists. 12,078 books, 235 periodicals, and 44 newspapers have been published, with a total print run of 590 million books, 80 million periodicals, and 500 million newspapers. Hunan is a region with complex dialects. The dialects in
1170-523: Is also the seat of 12 adult higher education institutions. Two major cities in Hunan (Changsha and Xiangtan ) were ranked in the top 200 cities in the world by scientific research output , as tracked by the Nature Index in 2024. There are three national key universities under Project 985 ( Hunan University , Central South University and the National University of Defense Technology ) in Hunan,
1260-499: Is believed to have consisted of the three commanderies of Changsha, Wuling, and Guiyang and to have claimed further commanderies under Nanyue's control. The three actual commanderies were divided into over 40 counties. Under the cadet branch of the Liu family, the Changsha Kingdom eliminated the needless commandery level as its territory had been much reduced. In AD 2, the kingdom only administered thirteen counties. In regions inhabited by
1350-412: Is noted for its stibnite mines, and is one of the major centers of antimony extraction in China. Hunan is also well known for a few global makers of construction equipment such as concrete pumps , cranes , etc. These companies include Sany Group , Zoomlion and Sunward . Sany is one of the world's major players. The city of Liuyang is the world's top center for manufacturing fireworks . Hunan
1440-399: Is one of the four major academies over the last 1000 years in ancient China. As of 2023, Hunan hosts 137 institutions of higher education , ranking fifth among all Chinese provinces. As of 2024, two major cities in Hunan (Changsha 23rd and Xiangtan 199th) ranked in the world's top 200 cities by scientific research outputs. Hunan's primeval forests were first occupied by the ancestors of
1530-634: Is the 9th-largest provincial economy of China, the third largest in the Central China region after Henan and Hubei , the fourth largest in the South Central China region after Guangdong , Henan and Hubei and the fourth largest among inland provinces after Henan, Sichuan and Hubei. As of 2021, Hunan's nominal GDP was US$ 724 billion (CNY 4.6 trillion), appearing in the world's top 20 largest sub-national economies with its GDP (Purchasing Power Parity) being over US$ 1.1 trillion, and its GDP (nominal) per capita exceeded US$ 10,900 (69,300 CNY ), making it
1620-496: Is today housed in nearby Singapore. Hunan's climate is subtropical ; further, under the Köppen climate classification , the climate is classified as being humid subtropical (Köppen Cfa ), with short, cool, damp winters, very hot and humid summers, and plenty of rainfall. January temperatures average 3 to 8 °C (37 to 46 °F), while July temperatures average around 27 to 30 °C (81 to 86 °F). Average annual precipitation
1710-577: Is unlikely that Changsha actually reached so far. Similarly, it reports that, when Emperor Gaozu created the Kingdom of Changsha, he granted Wu Rui authority over the five commanderies of Changsha, Yuzhang ( 豫章 , Yùzhāng ), Xiang ( 象 , Xiàng ), Guilin ( 桂林 , Guìlín ) and Nanhai ( 南海 , Nánhǎi ). However, Yuzhang Commandery had already been conferred to Ying Bu, the King of Huainan, while Xiang, Guilin, and Nanhai Commanderies were all held by Zhao Tuo,
1800-511: The 2nd richest in the Central China region after Hubei and the 3rd richest in South Central China region after Guangdong and Hubei. As of 2020, Hunan's GDP (nominal) was US$ 605 billion, making it larger than the economies of Poland (the 22nd biggest in the world), Thailand (the 2nd largest in ASEAN), and Nigeria (the largest in Africa). The Changsha National Economic and Technology Development Zone
1890-516: The Azure and Yellow Dragons , with explanatory texts on military fortunes associated with these deities. A wide range of natural phenomena were connected with spirit powers, and instructions and devices on dealing with them have been found. These were among the religious elements that would later give rise to the Taoist religion . Some of the earliest texts on traditional Chinese medicine were discovered in
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#17328452970281980-661: The Long March to bases in Shaanxi Province. After the departure of the Communists, the KMT army fought against the Japanese in the second Sino-Japanese war . They defended Changsha until it fell in 1944. Japan launched Operation Ichigo , a plan to control the railroad from Wuchang to Guangzhou ( Yuehan Railway ). Hunan was relatively unscathed by the civil war that followed the defeat of
2070-636: The People's Republic of China (1949–present). For the Republic of China after 1949, see List of administrative divisions of Taiwan . Data are for mid-year 2022 and are from the National Bureau of Statistics of China unless otherwise specified. Changsha Kingdom The Changsha Kingdom was a kingdom within the Han Empire of China, located in present-day Hunan and some surrounding areas. The kingdom
2160-646: The Prognostications on the Five Planets ( 五星 占 , Wǔ Xīng Zhàn ) and the Diverse Prognostications on Heavenly Patterns and Formations of Materia Vitalis ( 天文 氣象 雜 占 , Tiānwén Qìxiàng Zá Zhàn ), were found in the Mawangdui tombs. The former provided accurate observation data on the positions of planets over a 70-year period from 246 BC to 177 BC, and also elaborated on some astrological beliefs such as an astral-terrestrial correspondence,
2250-807: The Qing dynasty . Hunan province was created in 1664 from Huguang, renamed to its current name in 1723. Hunan became an important communications center due to its position on the Yangzi River . It was an important centre of scholarly activity and Confucian thought, particularly in the Yuelu Academy in Changsha . It was also on the Imperial Highway constructed between northern and southern China. The land produced grain so abundantly that it fed many parts of China with its surpluses. The population continued to climb until, by
2340-612: The Rebellion of the Seven States and the subsequent reforms under Emperor Jing , and Changsha under the imperial family saw its autonomy greatly diminished. The kingdom was dissolved during Wang Mang 's usurpation (AD 9 – 23), briefly restored after the founding of the Eastern Han , and finally abolished in AD 33 and converted to a commandery under the imperial government. Changsha was one of
2430-739: The Zi , the Yuan and the Lishui Rivers converge on the Yangtze River at Lake Dongting in the north of Hunan. The center and northern parts are somewhat low and a U-shaped basin, open in the north and with Lake Dongting as its center. Most of Hunan lies in the basins of four major tributaries of the Yangtze River. Lake Dongting is the largest lake in the province and the second largest freshwater lake of China. The Xiaoxiang area and Lake Dongting figure prominently in Chinese poetry and paintings, particularly during
2520-403: The late Qing Era , Hunan became the center of revolution and reformation, and it was the birthplace of many famous Chinese scholars, politicians, and generals, including the most influential and controversial figure of China in the 20th century, Mao Zedong . As of 2022, Hunan's culture and related industries achieved an added value of CN¥250.65 billion (US$ 37.27 billion), accounting for 5.27% of
2610-527: The staple food in Changsha, was cultivated with a diverse range of varieties, while wheat , barley , common and foxtail millet , beans and hemp were also grown, as evidenced by seeds unearthed from tombs. Fish farming and animal husbandry provided non-staple food for the population; livestock such as horses, cattle and sheep were also exported to Nanyue. Mawangdui tombs, the early 2nd century BC burial complex of chancellor Li Cang and his family, are
2700-413: The third-richest province in South Central China, after Guangdong and Hubei. As of 2020, Hunan's nominal GDP reached $ 605 billion (CN¥4.18 trillion), exceeding that of Poland, with a GDP of US$ 596 billion and Thailand, with a GDP of US$ 501 billion, the 22nd- and 25th-largest in the world respectively. The name Hunan literally means "south of the lake". The lake that is referred to is Dongting Lake ,
2790-673: The "Hunan CCP Party Chief ". As of the mid-19th century, Hunan exported rhubarb , musk, honey, tobacco, hemp , and birds. The Lake Dongting area is an important center of ramie production, and Hunan is also an important center of tea cultivation. Hunan was a major recipient of China's investment in industrial capacity during the Third Front campaign. In recent years, Hunan has grown to become an important center for steel, machinery and electronics production, especially as China's manufacturing sector moves away from coastal provinces such as Guangdong and Zhejiang . The Lengshuijiang area
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2880-496: The Baiyue, larger but less populated circuits were used in place of counties. Two circuits—He ( 齕 , Hé ) and Ling ( 泠 , Líng )—are noted on the map unearthed at Mawangdui. Counties were each headed by a magistrate and were subdivided into townships and villages ( 里 , lǐ ) in the same manner as in centrally administered territories of the Han dynasty. The reestablishment of the Changsha Kingdom under Liu Fa coincided with
2970-520: The Changsha elite practiced complicated incantations and ritual acts for their interaction with the spirit world. The calendrical system was incorporated into the religion, and Taiyi , the polar deity, was the central celestial deity. An animistic pantheon was worshipped. In an iconographic image of Taiyi from Mawangdui, it was depicted with the Thunder Lord , the Rain Master ( 雨師 , Yǔshī ), and
3060-469: The Changsha tombs. They include the earliest known example of a guqin , a form of stringed instrument . Archaeologists also found the first surviving examples of two previously lost ancient Chinese musical instruments, a woodwind known as a yú ( 竽 ) and a five-string instrument known as a zhù ( 筑 ). Musical and dancing troupes consisting of dozens of performers were recorded in unearthed manuscripts. As seen in excavated manuscripts and artifacts,
3150-576: The Chinese Communist Party and the founding father of the People's Republic of China . Hunan today is home to some ethnic minorities, including the Tujia and Miao , along with the Han Chinese , who make up a majority of the population. Varieties of Chinese spoken include Xiang , Gan and Southwestern Mandarin . Wulingyuan was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1992. Changsha ,
3240-484: The Eleven Yin and Yang Channels ( 陰 陽 十一 脈 灸 經 , Yīnyáng Shíyī Mài Jiǔjīng ), provide important evidence about the concept of meridian channels in its infancy. In addition, there are also texts on the philosophy and techniques of "nurturing life" ( 養生 , yǎngshēng ), covering practices from therapeutic gymnastics and dietetics to sexual cultivation . Two new texts on astronomy and astrology ,
3330-463: The Emperor rescinded the decision and demoted Xing to the rank of a marquis, citing the distance of kinship between Xing and himself. Changsha was administered as an imperial commandery thereafter. The exact extent of the first Changsha Kingdom is still unclear. The official Book of Han reports Changsha's border “reaching the north bank of Han River and stretching to Jiuyi Mountains ”, although it
3420-450: The Han dynasty consolidate control over the Chu heartland and served as a buffer state against the independent realm of Nanyue founded by the Qin general Zhao Tuo in present-day Guangdong . Rui died shortly after moving to his new territory, and the title passed to his son, Wu Chen ( 吳 臣 , Wú Chén ). Wu Chen reigned for eight years. The kings of Changsha were staunch supporters of
3510-495: The Han dynasty was interrupted by usurper Wang Mang . Along with other kings of the Liu family in the empire, Liu Shun ( 劉 舜 , Liú Shùn ), the last King of Changsha, was first demoted to the rank of duke and then stripped of his titles altogether. After the restoration of Han dynasty, the Guangwu Emperor , himself a descendant of Liu Fa, gave Changsha to Liu Shun's son Liu Xing ( 劉 興 , Liú Xīng ) in AD 26. In 33
3600-537: The Han, and their loyalty and competence was praised by successive emperors. In the first years after the founding of the Han Empire, the Emperor Gaozu embarked on a campaign to eliminate kings that were not members of the imperial family. The kings first grew to prominence as heads of independent factions in the chaos following Qin's fall, and the emperor viewed them as great threats to his authority. Changsha, located on
3690-580: The Japanese in 1945. In 1949, the Communists returned once more as the Nationalists retreated southward. In the 1950s, General Wang Zhen coerced thousands of Hunanese women into sexual servitude at PLA units in Xinjiang. As Mao Zedong's home province, Hunan supported the Cultural Revolution of 1966–1976. However, it was slower than most provinces in adopting the reforms implemented by Deng Xiaoping in
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3780-588: The Mawangdui and Zhangjiashan tombs, most of which were previously unknown. The largest of these finds is the Recipes for Fifty-two Illnesses ( 五十 二 病 方 , Wǔshí'èr Bìngfāng ), which includes detailed treatments for specific illnesses. Two "cauterisation canons", the Cauterisation Canon of the Eleven Foot and Arm Channels ( 足 臂 十一 脈 灸 經 , Zúbì Shíyī Mài Jiǔjīng ) and the Cauterisation Canon of
3870-454: The Mawangdui tomb, for example, measures 128 centimetres (50 in) long by 190 centimetres (75 in) wide but weights only 49 grams (1.7 oz) in total. The intact embroidered silk from Mawangdui shows intricate patterns of swirling clouds, with more than 20 dyes used in the making of the diverse colors. Glossily decorated lacquerware was manufactured a wide range of purposes, including dishes, furniture, and storage boxes. Iron
3960-723: The National University of Defense and Technology and Changsha University of Science and Technology located in Changsha, were ranked in the world's top 701 of the Academic Ranking of World Universities . Hunan Agricultural University in Changsha, the University of South China in Hengyang , Hunan University of Technology in Zhuzhou and Xiangtan University in Xiangtan were ranked in
4050-444: The Qin military garrison and their offspring, assimilated Nanman , and the native Baiyue tribes. Zhao Tuo, King of Nanyue, claimed that "half of Changsha are Man and Yi ". Jia Yi , grand tutor of the king from 176 to 172 BC, wrote that there were only 25,000 households in the kingdom, although it is likely that the figure was an underestimate. (Jia, an advocate for further limits on the kingdoms' autonomy, saw Changsha's weakness as
4140-647: The Song dynasty when they were associated with officials who had been unjustly dismissed. Changsha (which means "long sands") was an active ceramics district during the Tang dynasty , its tea bowls, ewers and other products mass-produced and shipped to China's coastal cities for export abroad. An Arab dhow dated to the 830s and today known as the Belitung Shipwreck was discovered off the small island of Belitung, Indonesia with more than 60,000 pieces in its cargo. The salvaged cargo
4230-617: The Uygurs of Changde practice other Han Chinese customs, like ancestor worship at graves. Some Uyghurs from Xinjiang visit the Hunan Uyghurs out of curiosity or interest. The Uyghurs of Hunan do not speak the Uyghur language , instead, Mandarin Chinese is spoken as their native language. The predominant religions in Hunan are Chinese Buddhism , Taoist traditions and Chinese folk religions . According to surveys conducted in 2007 and 2009, 20.19% of
4320-551: The Yangtze River on the north. For thousands of years, the region has been a major center of agriculture, growing rice, tea, and oranges. China's first all glass suspension bridge was also opened in Hunan, in Shiniuzhai National Geological Park . As of 2023, Hunan hosts 137 institutions of higher education, ranking fifth together with Sichuan (137) among all Chinese provinces after Jiangsu (168), Henan (168), Guangdong (162), and Shandong (156). Hunan
4410-450: The abortive Rebellion of the Seven States and the subsequent drastic measures to limit the autonomy of kingdoms by Emperor Jing. In 145 BC, the vassal kingdoms were stripped of the right to appoint officials with salaries higher than 400 dan , which covered everyone from ministers in the royal court to county magistrates. Furthermore, changes were made to the government hierarchy of kingdoms. A number of offices were abolished, including
4500-437: The best in the Central China region and 26th nationwide among Chinese Medical Universities. List of Chinese administrative divisions by population This is a list of Chinese administrative divisions in order of their total resident populations. It includes all provinces , autonomous regions , direct-controlled municipalities and special administrative regions controlled by the Republic of China (1912–1949) or
4590-422: The capital, is located in the eastern part of the province; it is now an important commercial, manufacturing and transportation centre. The busiest airports serve domestic and international flights for Hunan, including Changsha Huanghua International Airport , Zhangjiajie Hehua International Airport and Changde Taohuayuan Airport . Hunan is the seat of the Yuelu Academy (later become Hunan University ), which
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#17328452970284680-471: The central government, where the crown princes' tutors had little real authority, the grand tutor played a much more extensive role in a kingdom, as he supervised the king on behalf of the imperial government. Meanwhile, the duties of the court clerk are reminiscent of the Warring States , where the post was second only to the chancellor in status, rather than the Han central government—the same post in
4770-437: The chancellor and tutor were shortened to simply xiàng ( 相 ) and fù ( 傅 ) to distinguish them from their imperial equivalents. Later, in 8 BC, the court clerk was abolished and the chancellor took over his duties. By then, the kingdom's government structure had become almost indistinguishable from that of a commandery in all but name. Agriculture in Changsha included a wide range of crops and animal species. Rice ,
4860-475: The death of Empress Lü. In 178 BC, the kingdom passed to Wu You's son Wu Zhu ( 吳 著 , Wú Zhù ), for whom the names Wu Chai ( 吳 差 , Wú Chāi ) and Wu Chan ( 吳 產 , Wú Chǎn ) are alternatively used in some records. Wu Zhu reigned for twenty-one years, dying in 157 BC without male issue. After the extinction of this house, Emperor Jing granted Changsha to his son Liu Fa ( 劉 發 , Liú Fā ) in 155 BC. Fa's mother, Tang ( 唐 , Táng ),
4950-445: The early Han dynasty together had a population of 717,433 living in 126,858 households, a five-fold increase from Jia Yi's estimation during the early Han period. In the early Han dynasty, the government structure of the kingdoms closely followed that of the Han central government , but differences remained. Except for the chancellor and grand tutor ( 太傅 , tàifù ), who were selected by
5040-576: The effectively independent King of Nanyue. This state of the Changsha–Nanyue border was confirmed in a map unearthed from the Mawangdui tombs. On the other hand, other preserved and unearthed texts have shown that there were two other commanderies actually controlled by the Changsha Kingdom: Wuling ( 武陵 , Wǔlíng ) and Guiyang ( 桂陽 , Guìyáng ). The first may have been granted by
5130-490: The empire's southern fringe, was one of the weakest among the kingdoms; however, it was the only one to survive beyond 190s BC. In 195 BC, Ying Bu , King of Huainan and son-in-law of Wu Rui, rebelled against the Han and was defeated. As Ying retreated south of the Yangtze River , the King of Changsha pretended to assist him in his escape to Nanyue but instead killed him in Cixiang ( 茲鄉 , Cíxiāng ) near Poyang. Wu Chen
5220-475: The enterprises inside could enjoy the preferential policies of tax-exemption, tax-guarantee and tax-refunding. By the end of the " Eleventh Five-Year Plan ", the CEPZ achieved a total export and import volume of over US$ 1 billion and provided more than 50,000 jobs. It aimed to be one of the first-class export processing zones in China. Zhuzhou Hi-Tech Industrial Development Zone was founded in 1992. Its total planned area
5310-416: The export of iron ware to Nanyue, which angered Zhao Tuo, who then proclaimed himself Emperor of Nanyue and then twice invaded Changsha, occupying a few counties . Later, during Empress Lü's reign, the imperial court decided to launch a military campaign against Nanyue. However, in the hot and humid summer, a plague broke out in the Han army, hindering its advance. The campaign was eventually abandoned with
5400-489: The fourth-largest among landlocked provinces. Hunan's nominal GDP was US$ 724 billion (CN¥4.6 trillion) as of 2021, appearing in the world's top 20 largest sub-national economies , with its GDP (PPP) being over US$ 1.1 trillion. Hunan is the 9th-largest provincial economy of China, the fourth-largest in South Central China, the third-largest in Central China, and the fourth-largest among landlocked provinces. Its nominal GDP per capita exceeded US$ 10,900 (CN¥69,300), making it
5490-536: The imperial Han government; the historical geographer Zhou Zhenhe argues that the "Yuzhang" recorded in the Book of Han was simply a mistake for "Wuling", which would have been part of the original grant of the kingdom. Guiyang was likely created by the kings of Changsha at some point for defense against invasions from Nanyue. The reconstruction offered by Zhou and Tan Qixiang is that Changsha's northern border ran along modern Tongcheng , Songzi , and Gong'an counties;
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#17328452970285580-411: The imperial court, all officials were appointed by the king. As in the imperial government, the chancellor ( 相國 , xiàngguó , before 194 BC and 丞相 , chéngxiàng , thereafter) was the highest civil office and the leader of the government. However, the chancellor was not directly involved in the kingdom's everyday affairs, which were overseen by the court clerk ( 內史 , nèishǐ ). Compared to
5670-413: The imperial government was merely in charge of finance and affairs in the capital region. The responsibilities of the royal secretary ( 御史 大夫 , yùshǐ dàfū ) were similar to the imperial equivalent, i.e. supervision over the bureaucrats, although his status was likely lower than the court clerk. The imperial Nine Ministers also had their equivalents in the kingdom. In addition, early Changsha had
5760-461: The kingdom's southwestern border was in the vicinity of modern Chaling, Wugang and Quanzhou counties. From Emperor Wu's reign onward, 20 marquisates were created from Changsha. These marquisates were administered as parts of neighboring commanderies, further reducing the kingdom's territory. Changsha was sparsely populated compared to other parts of the Han Empire. The population primarily consisted of descendants of Chu colonizers, members of
5850-490: The largest and longest-lasting kingdoms in Han China. Despite being established on the empire's frontier, technology and art flourished in Changsha. Numerous archaeological sites of the kingdom have been discovered and excavated, most notably Mawangdui , the tomb of Changsha's chancellor Li Cang and his family, providing valuable insights into life in the kingdom and Han dynasty in general. The first king of Changsha, Wu Rui ,
5940-528: The modern Miao , Tujia , Dong and Yao peoples . The province entered written Chinese history around 350 BC, when the province became part of the Zhou dynasty . After Qin conquered the Chu in 278 BC, the region came under the control of Qin, and then the Changsha Kingdom during the Han dynasty . At this time, and for hundreds of years thereafter, the province was a magnet for settlement of Han Chinese from
6030-572: The nineteenth century, Hunan became overcrowded and prone to peasant uprisings. Some of the uprisings, such as the ten-year Miao Rebellion of 1795–1806 , were caused by ethnic tensions. The Taiping Rebellion began in the south in Guangxi Province in 1850. The rebellion spread into Hunan and then further eastward along the Yangzi River valley. Ultimately, it was a Hunanese army ( Xiang Army ) under Zeng Guofan who marched into Nanjing to put down
6120-422: The north was especially prevalent during the Eastern Jin dynasty , Sixteen Kingdoms and the Northern and Southern dynasties periods, when the north was mostly ruled by non-Han ethnic groups ( Five Barbarians ) and in perpetual disorder. During the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period , Hunan was home to its own independent regime, Ma Chu . Hunan and Hubei became a part of the province of Huguang until
6210-407: The north, who displaced and assimilated the original indigenous inhabitants, cleared forests and began farming rice in the valleys and plains. The agricultural colonization of the lowlands was carried out in part by the Han people, which managed river dikes to protect farmland from floods. To this day, many of the small villages in Hunan are named after the Han families who settled there. Migration from
6300-424: The population believes and is involved in ancestor veneration , while 0.77% of the population identifies as Christian. The reports didn't give figures for other types of religion; 79.04% of the population may be either irreligious or involved in worship of nature deities , Buddhism, Confucianism , Taoism, folk religious sects . In 2010, there are 118.799 Muslims in Hunan. Being the educational and political in
6390-407: The province are surrounded by mountains and hills, such as the Wuling Mountains to the northwest, the Xuefeng Mountains to the west, the Nanling Mountains to the south, and the Luoxiao Mountains to the east. Mountains and hills occupy more than 80% of the province, and plains less than 20%. At 2,115.2 meters above sea level, the highest point in Hunan province is Lingfeng ( 酃峰 ). The Xiang ,
6480-439: The province include Xiang , Southwestern Mandarin , Gan , Hakka , and some local dialects whose identities have not yet been determined, such as Xiangnan Tuhua and Waxiang dialect . In areas where ethnic minorities live, many people can speak their own ethnic language and communicate in Chinese. Hunanese cuisine is noted for its near-ubiquitous use of chili peppers , garlic , and shallots . These ingredients give rise to
6570-618: The province's GDP. Among them, the added value of cultural services was CN¥150.20 billion (US$ 22.33 billion), the added value of cultural manufacturing was CN¥78.28 billion (US$ 11.64 billion), the added value of cultural wholesale and retail was CN¥22.17 billion (US$ 3.30 billion). In 2023, there are 655 art groups, 149 mass art galleries and cultural centers, 148 public libraries, 180 museums and memorial halls, 108 radio and television stations, 5.853 million cable TV users, and 27.441 million fiber optic Internet broadband users all connected to cable TV. The comprehensive population coverage rate of radio
6660-447: The rebellion, in an attempt to redivide the empire , recognized Rui as the "King of Hengshan" ( 衡山 王 , Héngshān Wáng ). The Han eventually emerged victorious from post-Qin conflicts and established itself as the preeminent power in China. In 203/ 202 BC , Emperor Gaozu moved Wu Rui's fief and established the Kingdom of Changsha. The capital was Linxiang and located within the present-day city of Changsha . The new kingdom helped
6750-528: The rebels. His forces soon grew to become a major faction in the civil war that ensued. In 207 BC , Rui's army joined forces with the Han leader Liu Bang (the future Emperor Gaozu, at the time one of the rebel generals) and marched to the Guanzhong Plain , where they received the surrender of Ziying , the last ruler of Qin. One year later, the Chu King Xiang Yu , then the most prominent leader in
6840-425: The royal secretary, minister of justice ( 廷尉 , tíngwèi ), minister of the royal clan ( 宗正 , zōngzhèng ), steward ( 少府 , shǎofǔ ), and court scholar ( 博士 , bóshì ). Of particular importance was the abolition of the steward, as this move deprived the kings of their fiscal control over the fief. Many remaining offices were demoted in rank, and lesser officials were reduced in number. The titles of
6930-581: The third highest after Beijing and Shanghai . Hunan Normal University in Changsha is the key construction university of the national 211 Project , and Xiangtan University in Xiangtan is a key university jointly built by Hunan Province and the Ministry of Education and a member of national Project 111. These five national key universities are included in the Double First-Class Construction of Hunan Province. As of 2024, they are ranked among
7020-410: The top 500 globally by the Nature Index . Among them, Hunan University and Central South University are in the top 50. Hunan University and Central South University are the only two Project 985 universities in Changsha, Hunan to appear in the world's top 200 of the Academic Ranking of World Universities and the U.S. News & World Report Best Global University Ranking . Hunan Normal University,
7110-484: The top 801–900 globally by the Academic Ranking of World Universities . Hunan University of Science and Technology in Xiangtan and Central South University of Forestry and Technology in Changsha were ranked number 988 and number 1429 respectively in the 2022 Best Global Universities by the U.S. News & World Report Best Global University Ranking . As of 2023, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine in Changsha ranked
7200-632: The uprising in 1864. In 1920, a famine raged throughout Hunan and killed an estimated 2 million Hunanese civilians. This sparked the Autumn Harvest Uprising of 1927. It was led by Hunanese native Mao Zedong , and established a short-lived Hunan Soviet in 1927. The Communists maintained a guerrilla army in the mountains along the Hunan- Jiangxi border until 1934. Under pressure from the Nationalist Kuomintang (KMT) forces, they began
7290-405: The western border along modern Longshan , Zhenyuan , and Jingzhou counties; and the eastern border along modern Gao'an , Yichuan , Lianhua , and Chaling counties. Changsha's southern frontier with Nanyue was approximately the modern southern border of Hunan. When Emperor Jing granted Changsha to his son Liu Fa, the kingdom's territory was reduced to Changsha Commandery alone. Consequently,
7380-681: The year end of 2017, the total population is 68.6 million. [1] The politics of Hunan is structured in a dual party-government system like all other governing institutions in mainland China . The Governor of Hunan is the highest-ranking official in the People's Government of Hunan. However, in the province's dual party-government governing system, the Governor has less power than the Hunan Chinese Communist Party Provincial Committee Secretary, colloquially termed
7470-648: The years that followed Mao's death in 1976. In addition to CCP Chairman Mao Zedong , a number of other first-generation communist leaders were also from Hunan: Chinese President Liu Shaoqi ; CCP Secretaries-General Ren Bishi and Hu Yaobang ; Marshals Peng Dehuai , He Long , and Luo Ronghuan ; Wang Zhen , one of the Eight Elders ; Xiang Jingyu , the first female member of the CCP's central committee; Senior General Huang Kecheng ; and veteran diplomat Lin Boqu . An example of
7560-571: The zone include high-tech industry, biology project technology and new material industry. Approved by the State Council, Chenzhou Export processing Zone (CEPZ) was established in 2005 and is the only export processing zone in Hunan province. The scheduled production area of CEPZ covers 3km2. The industrial positioning of CEPZ is to concentrate on developing export-oriented hi-tech industries, including electronic information, precision machinery, and new-type materials. The zone has good infrastructure, and
7650-504: Was a Baiyue leader who had been the magistrate of Poyang County under the Qin dynasty (221 – 207 BC). He enjoyed high prestige among the local people and was known as "Lord of the Po" ( 番 君 , Pójūn ). In 209 BC , a peasant uprising triggered a wave of rebellions that resulted in the collapse of the Qin. After hearing news of the uprising, Wu Rui organized a mostly Baiyue army in support of
7740-460: Was a servant of the Emperor's concubine Cheng ( 程 , Chéng ) and had given birth to Fa after the intoxicated emperor had mistaken her for his favorite concubine. Consequently, Fa had the lowest status among the Emperor's 14 sons and was enfeoffed in Changsha, far away from the capital Chang'an and the Central Plain . Changsha Kingdom was held by the Liu family until early 1st century AD, when
7830-419: Was founded in 1992. It is located east of Changsha. The total planned area is 38.6 km (14.9 sq mi) and the current area is 14 km (5.4 sq mi). Near the zone is National Highways G319 and G107 as well as Jingzhu Highway. Besides that, it is very close to the downtown and the railway station. The distance between the zone and the airport is 8 km (5.0 mi). The major industries in
7920-409: Was founded when Emperor Gaozu granted the territory to his follower Wu Rui in 203 or 202 BC, around the same time as the establishment of the Han dynasty. Wu Rui and his descendants held the kingdom for five generations until Wu Zhu died without an heir in 157 BC. In 155 BC, the kingdom was reestablished for a member of the imperial family . However, the creation of this second kingdom coincided with
8010-511: Was succeeded by his son Wu Hui ( 吳 回 , Wú Huí ). Hui reigned for seven years, and was succeeded by his son Wu You ( 吳 右 , Wú Yòu ), whose name is also recorded as Wu Ruo ( 吳 若 , Wú Ruò ). At the time, the Han dynasty was under Emperor Hui and Empress Lü , who favored lenient laws and political views of the Huang–Lao school of philosophy. Changsha was able to develop under relative peace. In 183 BC, however, Empress Lü banned
8100-526: Was widely applied for agricultural and military use, and ironwares found in Changsha tombs include spades, pickaxes, daggers, spears , swords , axes, and coins . There were also records of tin mining in Changsha. Changsha nobility dressed similarly to contemporary nobles in the Han Empire. The forms of ancient Chinese clothing usually found in the tombs of Changsha aristocrats were silk gauze undergarments ( 襌衣 , dānyī ) and long robes with elaborately woven patterns. Men typically wore hats, while
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