Meishan

Meishan (Chinese: 眉山; Sichuanese Pinyin: Mi2san1; local pronunciation: [mi˨˩sã˥]; pinyin: Méishān; Wade–Giles: Mei-shan), formerly known as Meizhou (眉州) or Qingzhou (青州), is a prefecture-level city of Sichuan with 2,955,219 inhabitants as of the 2020 census of whom 1,232,648 lived in the built-up (or metro) area made of the 2 urban districts of Dongpo and Pengshan. Meishan is located in the southwest of Sichuan Basin. History The history of Meishan – though it was not always known as such – can be traced back to the 4th century BC. During 316 BC, King Shenjing of Zhou established the county of Wuyang (武阳县) on what is now the Pengshan district of Meishan. In the year 496, during the Southern Qi dynasty, Wuyang County, then under the commandery of Qianwei (犍为郡), was abolished. The region it occupied was used to establish Qitong Zuo Commandery (齐通左郡) and Qitong County (齐通县). The Qitong Zuo Commandery was renamed Qitong Commandery (齐通郡) in the year 548 during the Liang dynasty. In the same year, the prefecture of Qingzhou (青州) was established, which governed Qitong Commandery. Following this, the prefecture of Qingzhou underwent a series of renames. It was firstly renamed Meizhou (眉州) in 553 during the Western Wei dynasty, then Qingzhou (again) and subsequently Jiazhou (嘉州) in 572 and 579 respectively during the Northern Zhou dynasty. Finally, during the Sui dynasty in 606, the prefecture was renamed Meizhou, with Tongyi County (通义县) as its capital. Later, Meizhou prefecture was abolished and replaced by Meishan Commandery (眉山郡), its capital Longyou (龙游), now located in the Shizhong District of Leshan City. In the year 618 of the Tang dynasty, the Meishan Commandery was renamed Jiazhou. The next year, several counties split from Jiazhou, merging together to re-establish Meizhou Prefecture. Meizhou Prefecture now administered five counties: Danleng (丹棱县), Hongya (洪雅县), Qingshen (青神县), Nan'an (南安县) (now Jiajiang County) and its capital, Tongyi (通义县). Some decades later in 742, Meizhou Prefecture was abolished while Tongyi Commandery (通义郡) was established. This was reverted 16 years later in 758 – Tongyi Commandery was abolished, while Meizhou Prefecture was restored. During the Song dynasty, in 976, Tongyi County, capital of Meizhou Prefecture, was renamed Meishan County (眉山县). During the Ming dynasty, in 1376, Meizhou Prefecture was downgraded to Meixian County (眉县). The next year, the counties of Pengshan and Danleng were merged into Meixian, while Qingshen County merged with neighbouring Jiazhou Prefecture. Three years later, Meixian was re-elected as Meizhou prefecture, directly under the jurisdiction of the Sichuan Provincial Administration Commissioner's Office. Meishan County remained under the jurisdiction of Meizhou Prefecture, with jurisdiction over three counties: Danleng, Pengshan, and Qingshen. In 1912 under the Republic of China, Meishan County was restored while Meizhou Prefecture was abolished. In January 1950, the Meishan Special Zone was established, containing Meishan County along with 9 other counties. In March 1953, the Meishan Special Zone was removed, putting Meishan County under the jurisdiction of the Leshan Special Zone. On May 30, 1997, the Meishan Prefecture was established upon approval of the state council, containing 6 counties including Meishan County. On 10 June 2000, Meishan Prefecture was renamed Meishan City (眉山市) and Meishan County was renamed Dongpo District. Administrative subdivisions It has 2 county-level district and 4 counties. Notable people Su Shi, Song dynasty writer and poet (1037–1101), was a native of Meishan, and a historic temple commemorating him and his father and brother, also notable writers (the "three Su") is located in the city. Yuan Chiung-chiung, Taiwanese author whose family originated in the area Chen Wenqing, former Minister of State Security Climate References External links Media related to Meishan at Wikimedia Commons