Jiangxi History

The archaeological studies in Xianren Cave in Wannian County suggest that, more than 10,000 years ago, during the New Stone Age, our forefathers labored, lived, and multiplied across the land of Jiangxi province today. The study of relics in the Shang Dynasty at Wucheng, Zhangshu City verifies that Jiangxi entered the Bronze Age more than 3,000 years ago, the same time with Central China.
During the Spring and Autumn Period , Jiangxi encompassed the territories of the States of Wu, Yue and Chu. Then, in the Warring States Period , Jiangxi was under the jurisdiction of the State of Yue. After Emperor Qin Shihuang unified China in 221 BC, Jiangxi became part of the Jiujiang Prefecture. At the beginning of the Western Han Dynasty , Jiangxi was renamed "Yuzhang Prefecture", which was changed into Hongzhou Area Command during the Sui Dynasty . In the 21st year of the Kaiyuan reign of the Tang Dynasty , Emperor Xuanzong divided the country into 15 "dao". Hongzhou was then the capital of the Jiangnan Xidao, short as Jiangxi. Eight prefectures, Hongzhou, Raozhou, Qianzhou, Jizhou, Jiangzhou, Yuanzhou, Fuzhou, and Xinzhou were placed under its jurisdiction. They formed the picture as Wang Bo described "Opulent prefectures spread out like fog in its immensity." in his "Pavilion of Prince Teng". The Yuan Dynasty set up provinces, hence the name Jiangxi province. The Ming Dynasty changed "dao" into "buzhenshisi", equivalent to a province. The Qing Dynasty set up Jiangxi province again, which remained the name since then.
Since ancient times, Jiangxi has been culturally advanced. Many talented natives have been taken to the national stage. These include Tao Yuanming of the Jin Dynasty; three of the eight most famous writers of the Tang and Song Dynasty -Ouyang Xiu, Zeng Gong and Wang Anshi ; poet and calligrapher Huang Tingjian, poet Yang Wanli, ci poet Jiang Kui, philosophers and educators Zhu Xi and Lu Jiuyuan, and the national hero WenTianxiang of the Song Dynasty; dramatist Tang Xianzu and scientist Song Yingxing of the Ming Dynasty; painter Zhu Da and railway engineer Zhan Tianyou of the Qing Dynasty, proletariat Wu Youxun and numerous general of the People' Liberation Army during the modern era. They have contributed precious spiritual wealth to Jiangxi.