Qing dynasty
Which country did Shuntian Prefecture belong to in Jun 1912?
Shuntian Prefecture Shuntian Prefecture was an administrative region of China during the Ming and Qing dynasties , equivalent to Beijing Municipality in todays Peoples Republic of China . However , the area of the prefecture jurisdiction was different . The term Shuntian fu also referred to the yamen ( office ) of the prefectures local government . Evolution . During the Yuan dynasty , the imperial capital circuit known as Dadu circuit ( 大都路 ; Dadulu ) was under control of the Central Secretariat ( Zhongshu Sheng ) . During the eighth month of the first year of reign of the Hongwu Emperor of the new Ming dynasty , this was renamed to Beiping prefecture , and in the tenth month it was attached to Shandong province . In the first lunar month in the first year of the reign of the Yongle Emperor , the capital was renamed Beijing and the prefecture as Shuntian . Shuntian prefecture went through many changes during the Qing dynasty , and it was only in 1743 during the reign of the Qianlong Emperor that its borders and administrative divisions were settled . Then , Shuntian prefecture was divided into four sub-divisions ( 路廳 , luting ) and twenty four sub-prefectures ( 州 , zhou ) counties ( 縣 , xian ) . It was also placed under an imperial magistrate ( 府尹 , fuyin ) . In 1910 with the demise of the Qing dynasty , Shuntian prefecture was slowly abolished on 4 October 1914 which became Capital Area ( 京兆地方 ; Jīngzhào Dìfāng ) later became Beiping Special City on 20 June 1928 . The remains of the Shuntian yamen can be found in todays Dongcheng District in Beijing at Donggong street ( 東公街 ) . Jurisdiction . During the Ming era , Shuntian had 5 sub-prefectures ( 州 ) and 22 counties ( 縣 ) . In 1490 , Shuntian had 100,518 households and a population of 669,033 . In 1578 , Shuntian had 101,134 households and a population of 706,861 . After 1743 , Shuntian prefecture was divided into four sub-divisions . - The west subdivision ( 西路廳 , Xi Luting ) had its seat near the Lugou bridge ( 盧溝橋 ) , and it ruled Zhuozhou sub-prefectures ( 涿州 ) , Daxing ( 大興 ) , Wanping ( 宛平 ) , Liangxiang ( 良鄉 ) , and Fangshan ( 房山 ) counties . - The east subdivision ( 東路廳 , Dong Luting ) had its seat at Zhangjiawan ( 張家灣 ) , and it ruled over Tongzhou ( 通州 ) and Jizhou ( 薊州 ) sub-prefectures , and Sanhe ( 三河 ) , Wuqing ( 武清 ) , Baodi ( 寶坻 ) , Ninghe ( 寧河 ) 、and Xianghe ( 香河 ) counties . - The south subdivision ( 南路廳 , Nan Luting ) had its seat at Huangcun ( 黃村 ) , and it ruled over Bazhou sub-prefecture ( 霸州 ) , Baoding ( 保定 ) , Wenan ( 文安 ) , Dacheng ( 大城 ) , Gu-an ( 固安 ) , Yongqing ( 永清 ) , and Dong-an ( 東安 ) . - The north subdivision ( 北路廳 , Bei Luting ) had its seat at Gonghua city ( 鞏華城 ) in Shahe suburb ( 沙河鎮 ) , and it ruled over Changpingzhou sub-prefecture ( 昌平州 ) , and Shunyi ( 順義 ) , Huairou ( 懷柔 ) , Miyun ( 密雲 ) , and Pinggu ( 平谷 ) counties . Administrative Level . As Shuntian was the administrative district containing the capital Beijing , the Shuntian prefecture magistrate ( 府尹 , fuyin ) was particularly renowned . This magistrate was an Qing official of the third rank ( 正三品 , zhengsanpin ) , which was two to three ranks higher than magistrates of other prefectures . In fact , some of the Shuntian magistrates were shilang ( 侍郎 ) rank imperial ministers . While the yamen of third-rank Qing officials used copper seals , the yamen of Shuntian prefecture used silver seals . Even though the sub-prefectures and counties of Shuntian formally belonged to the Zhili viceroyalty , the Shuntian magistrate did not have a subordinate relationship with the Viceroy of Zhili . The areas of the Shuntian prefecture outside the Beijing city wall were under the dual administration of the Zhili viceroy and Shuntian magistrate yamens . In contrast , the Zhili viceroy had no authority within the Beijing city wall . Administration of Beijing . During the early Qing dynasty , an interesting facet of Beijing city administration was that Han and Manchu had separate residence and administration . The Manchu Bannermen all lived in the Three-Battalions Barracks ( 三大營 , sandaying ) or so-called inner city located in Xijiao ( 西郊 ) . The Han Chinese and other ethnic groups lived in the outer city . As the outer city consisted of five towns and ten lanes ( 五城十坊 , wuchengshifang ) , it gave rise to an old Chinese saying inside eight banners , outside five towns ( 內八旗外五城 , neibaqiwaiwucheng ) . While Shuntian magistrate had jurisdiction over the Han and other ethnic population in the outer city , the jurisdiction of the Bannermen fell under the military office of the Nine Gates Infantry Commander ( 九門提督 , jiumen tidu ) .