History of Three Gorges

Three Gores in Ancient Time

According to the study of the paleoanthropologist, there were already relics of the human ancestors in the Three Gorges area as early as more than 200 million years ago. The fossils of Three Gorges humans found in the Wu Mountain demonstrate amply that the Three Gorges is one of the birthplaces of Asian ancient human beings.

Three Gorges in Paleolithic age and Neolithic Age

During the Paleolithic age and the Neolithic Age, the early human beings in the Three Gorges area had been quite active. The relics and remains of human beings' activities of that day are found in areas like Zigui, Badong, Wushan, Fengjie, Yunyang, Zhongxian County, Fengdu and so on.

Three Gorges in the Period of Xia-Shang-Zhou and Warring States

During the period from the late 22nd century B.C and the early 21st century B.C to the 22nd year B.C, that is the period of Xia-Shang-Zhou and Warring States, the Three Gorges area was called Shenzhou and Jingzhou. It was the place for the livings of Ba and Chu people. About 1,600 years ago, the leader of Ba people built the capital in Jiangzhou (today's Chongqing) which became the military and cultural center of Ba State. To the late period of the West Zhou Dynasty, the Chu State became an important tribe in the Three Gorges area.

Three Gorges in Qin and Han Dynasties

In the year of 221 B.C of the period of Qin and Han dynasties, prefecture system was implemented. And the 5th year of Wu Emperor in Han Dynasty (106), the whole country was divided into 13 states and the Three Gorges area were the Ba County and Badong County controlled by the Yi State, and the Nan County and Yidu County controlled by the Jing State. At that time, Three Gorges area was prosperous with people living happily. The exsisting tombs and graves today are mostly from this period.

Three Gorges in Wei-Jin and Northern and Southern Dynasties

In the period of Wei and Jin dynasties, the Three Gorges area was governed by the Shu Han. In the early West Jin Dynasty, the two counties-Ba and Badong were changed into Liangzhou State. In the year of 304, the leader of Ba tribe made himself the Chengdu King. In the next year, he declared himself the emperor. In the year of 338, his nephew declared himself the emperor and governed the eastern area of Sichuan. In 347, the government of East Jin set up altogether 5 counties in the Three Gorges area. Today's Xiangbi Mountain inscriptions on precipices group is the relics of the period of Northern and Southern dynasties.

Three Gorges in Sui and Tang Dynasties

From 581 to 583 of Sui Dynasty, Wen Emperor set up several states such as Xin, Lin, Yu, Jing, Nan, Shan and Kai in the Three Gorges area. Later, the Yang Emperor of Sui Dynasty set up Badong, Linjiang, Yiling, Fuling and other counties in the Three Gorges area. In the Zhen-Guan years of Tang Dynasty, the administrative system of Dao (equal to provinces), Zhou (similar to cities) and Xian (counties) was implemented. And the Three Gorges area belonged to the Dong Dao. The Baiheliang underwater stone inscriptions were the relics of that time.

Three Gorges in the Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasties

Both the North Song and South Song dynasties changed the Dao of Tang Dynasty into Lu (also like today's provinces). The industrial relics and ground inscriptions are the signs of that time. In Yuan Dynasty, the government set up provinces in the Three Gorges area and in Ming Dynasty, the central government set up Chongqing Fu, Kuizhou Fu and Yichang Fu in this area. Qing Dynasty carried the system of Ming Dynasty on and built many architectures-temples or dwellings in the Three Gorges area.

Three Gorges in Republican China and Anti-Fascist War Period

In the first year of Republican China (1991), the government implemented new administrative system and set up Sichuan and Hubei governments in the Three Gorges area. During the Anti-Fascist War, as the second capital, a lot of historic materials were kept in Chongqing of the Three Gorges area.

Today's Three Gorges

After the establishment of the People's Republic of China, the former governments were repealed and set up the Sichuan Province , Chongqing Municipality and Hubei Province, as well as 22 cities and counties in the Three Gorges area.