China's administrative divisions have changed over the generations. The setting of administrative divisions has always taken politics as the primary consideration, and as far as possible, natural and economic factors have been taken into account; When centralization is threatened, only political factors are often considered and nothing else, which is the political dominance principle of administrative divisions. Administrative divisions have four elements: level, size, boundary, and administrative center.
【先秦时代】
《尚书》中的《夏书·禹贡》记载，天下分为九州，分别为冀州、兖州、青州、徐州、扬州、荆州、梁州、雍州、豫州。其中，以豫州为中心。
商周时期实行分封制，无所谓地方行政区划。进入春秋中叶以后，随着诸侯国发展中央集权，地方行政区划——郡县制的萌芽开始出现。
秦统一六国后，郡县制正式确立。
县：县是最早的地方行政区划，出现在春秋时期，来源一是新开辟的边区，二是新吞并的小国。
春秋时期的县有几个特点：1、保留有分封制的残余，如可以分赐臣子，县尹可以世袭，食县邑可以互换等；2、县的大小悬殊，大者如国，小者如乡邑；3、多在边境地区设置，有军事重镇性质。一县之长称尹、公、大夫等，后称令。
郡：郡也出现在春秋时期，略晚于县，最初都设在边远荒僻之处，经济开发程度低于县，且郡县互不统隶。后因边郡地大，于是分置数县；内地事多，于是数县上置郡统之，以郡统县的制度才逐渐形成。秦统一六国后，郡县制正式确立。一郡之长称守。
【郡县时代】
秦彻底取消了分封制，两汉则既有受中央控制的郡，也有分封的王国。秦汉实行郡县两级行政制度。
组织架构：
秦代为中央辖郡和内史，郡辖县。郡置守、尉、监三员，分别主民政、军事、和监察。内史由中央直接管理。县置令。 汉时郡级政区有郡、王国，县级政区有县、侯国、邑、道。王国是分封的诸侯国，侯国是列侯的食邑，邑是皇太后、公主的食邑，境内有少数民族的称道。
Among the county-level magistrates, the Western Han County had two members, the Taishou and the Duwei, and the Eastern Han Inland County had only the Taishou; The border counties still retain the rank of governor and are divided into counties, with the same status as the county. Among the county-level magistrates, the prefect of the Hou State is called Xiang, and the rest are called Ling (above 10,000 households) or Chang (below 10,000 households).
其它：
Jing Zhaoyin, Zuo Feng Yi, Right Fufeng: The original Neishi place has a large population and complicated political affairs, so it is divided into three jurisdictions: Jing Zhaoyin, Zuo Feng Yi, and Right Fufeng, and governs Chang'an.
Western Regions Frontier Mansion: An administrative institution set up by the two Han Dynasties in the Western Regions to integrate military and political affairs, ruling Wulei City.
【州郡时代】
〈一〉初创时期
汉初各郡吏治由中央直接监察，但到了武帝时期郡大为增加，中央难以监管，遂借用古代传说的九州之名，划分了13个监察区，称为部，每部派一刺史，负责巡视监察吏治。
新朝的行政区划大致与西汉后期相同，但由郡县制上加州牧，并且与分封制结合。王莽推行复古改制，先据《尧典》将中国先改为十二州，裁撤朔方、司隶部，改凉州为雍州、交趾为交州；后又据《禹贡》改为九州，且将某些州改为部。
东汉以后，刺史有了固定驻地，权力逐渐加大，到东汉末年设置州牧一职，由中央九卿出任，余者仍称刺史，于是州牧、刺史掌握了州部军政大权，州逐渐成为郡以上一级行政区划，中国开始了州郡县三级行政区划的历史阶段。
西汉13刺史部：
There are 14 supervision districts in total, including the Commandery Department (which covers the 7 counties of Gyeonggi).
New Dynasty 12 states:
| Yuzhou | Jizhou | Youzhou | And state | Yongzhou | Xuzhou |
| Yanzhou | Qingzhou | Jingzhou | Yangzhou | Yizhou | Jiaozhou |
东汉13州： Compared with the Western Han Dynasty, the Eastern Han Dynasty merged Shuofang into a merged prefecture, changed Jiaojiao to Jiaozhou, and added the division to the Commandery Department, a total of 13 supervision districts, commonly known as 13 prefectures.
刺史权力的演变：
1、西汉刺史“位卑权重”，秩600石，但有权监察秩2000石的太守、都尉。刺史无固定治所，每年8月巡察所部，年终到京师向丞相奏事。
2、东汉初年，刺史职权逐渐加大：有了固定驻地，岁末本人不必亲自到京奏事，由属下替代；不仅限于监察，有了黜陟之权，成为郡国守相的上级，但尚不干预地方行政。
3、东汉末年黄巾起义后，为加强地方权力，便于镇压农民起义，州牧、刺史权力大增，不仅拥有省察、举劾、黜陟权，还拥有了兵权和民权，州逐渐成为郡以上一级行政区划，中国开始了州郡县三级行政区划的历史阶段。 〈二〉泛滥时期
东晋16国和南北朝时期，各国为“务广虚名”，在各自的统治区域内随意分置许多州郡，州制开始发生混乱。到南北朝后期，有的州只辖一两个郡，一郡只辖一两个县，有的州甚至无县可领，或仅存名目，实际上是州直接统县，郡形同虚设，至此，州郡县三级制完全丧失了意义。
双头州郡：南北朝时期州郡设置泛滥成灾，混乱不堪，导致有的两个州、郡合治一地，一人兼两刺史或太守，称“双头州郡”。
侨州郡县：东晋建立后，为吸引更多的北方人南迁江东，设立了很多和北方侨人原籍同名的州郡机构，并规定，只要在这些州郡注籍，就可获得一定程度的优待，是为侨州郡县。辽东、河西等地也有设置。
土断：土断即以土（居住地）为断。侨置推行后，州郡纷繁，户籍混乱；加之士族兼并土地，萌庇佃客，使财政收入日益减少。于是东晋政府采取了一系列措施加强对侨人的控制，查实户口，废除原有的优待政策，一律按规定征收税赋，是为土断。
【道路时代】
隋统一中国后，鉴于州郡县三级制混乱不堪、郡形同虚设的现状，废郡而改为州、县二级制度。唐代又产生了道路制度，从此中国进入道路时代。
〈一〉隋唐
隋代基本实行州县制，中央辖州，州辖县。唐代为中央辖府、州，府州辖县，府、州、县长官分别称尹、刺史、令。府主要是由陪都和皇帝驻跸过的州升级而来，级别同州，地位略高于州。府的设立是唐代的创举。 唐两代府州数量庞大，中央无法进行直接统治，但又不愿意在府州以上再增加以级行政机构，担心扩大地方权限与中央抗衡，于是设计了一套由中央直接控制的监司机构，每一机构专司一样事务，直属中央，各司其职，相互牵制，于是产生了道制。
道：
唐初根据山川自然形势，将疆土分为10个区域，称为10道： | Kannai (Chang'an) | Henan (Luozhou) | Hedong (Hezhong) | Hebei (Weizhou) | Shannan (Xiangzhou) |
| Longyou (鄯州) | Huainan (Yangzhou) | Gangnam (Viet Zhou) | Jiannan (Chengdu) | Lingnan (Guangzhou) |
开元年间改为15道： 其中京畿道由关内道长安地区分出；都畿道由洛阳附近分出；山南道、江南道一分为二；增设黔中道。每道设采访处置使，有固定治所，负责监察，如汉刺史制度，形成了15个监察区。安史之乱后，监察权为节度使所兼。 节度使辖区：
1、节度使制度起源于北朝，是在军事要地设置的都督，管辖几个州的军事。后给都督们带使持节，增加权力，故称节度使。天宝年间共有9个节度使（范阳、平卢、朔方、河东、河西、陇右、剑南、安西、北庭），1个经略使（岭南），兼任度支使、营田使、采访处置使，囊括了几乎边州所有军、政、财、监大权，形成尾大不掉之势，终于酿成安史之乱。
2、安史之乱以后，内地也遍设节度使，形成藩镇割据局面。节度使辖区称镇、方镇、藩镇或道，节度使兼任辖区内驻地所在州的刺史，该州称都府，其余州称支郡，从而形成了道（镇）、州（府）、县三级地方行政区划。 都护府： 为加强边疆少数民族地区的统治，唐代仿效汉代西域都护府的建制，由唐任命当地少数民族首领为羁縻州府的长官，可以世袭，分别由边州都督府和都护府统辖。开元、天宝年间共有安东、安西、安南、安北、北庭、单于六个都护府。 〈二〉两宋
宋初革除了藩镇实权，恢复了州、县二级制。基于唐代同样的原因，宋代提出了路制，并在州一级长官中设置了若干相互制约的职务，使路不构成地方的上一级行政机构。“四川”一名由北宋而来。
组织架构：
宋代县以上行政区划府、州、军、监四种。长官由京官带原衔出任，是为“权知某府（州、县）事”，故简称知府、知州、知军等。县的长官称知县。 军：军起源于唐代，原是军镇，属于军事系统，只管军事；五代后也管土地民政。多设在山西、河北、陕西的沿边地区。小的军由知县兼任，大的则由京官带原衔知军。 监：监是由国家经营的矿冶、铸钱、牧马、制盐等的专业管理机构。由于这些机构与国家财政收入关系很大，地方无法兼管，故划出一定区域由监官管辖。监有两种，领县的监与府州同级，不领县的与县同级。
路：
宋代把全国府州军监分为若干个称为路的区域，每路设4个长官：转运使（漕司）负责民政财赋，安抚使（帅司）负责军事，提点刑狱使（宪司）负责司法监察，提举常平使（仓司）负责粮食储备和平抑物价，总称监司，且以前三种监司为主。
北宋分路以漕司为准，18路、23路的时间较长；南宋分路以帅司为准，共16路。以下为北宋末年24路，其中末尾没有“州”字的都是府。 (III) Liao
辽在形式上沿袭了唐代的道制，但在具体统治方法上却采取了宋代的路制，级行政机构。辽也是州、县二级制。
组织架构：
辽代将全国分为5道，并冠以京号，每道政治中心称府，合称五京道，即上京临潢府、中京大定府、东京辽阳府、南京析津府、西京大同府。每道设总管府（帅司）、处置使司（宪司）、转运使司（漕司）。
道以下行政区划有府、州、军、城四种。另有隶属于州的府州军城，与县同级，为明清时代直隶州、散州的先身。
辽将北方游牧部落分为部族、属国两类。部族设节度使管理。 Touxia Military Prefecture: A local administrative division of the Liao state, set up by the Liao clansmen, ministers, and meritorious chiefs with their allocated or captured populations. The household registration of the military prefecture under the head was dependent on the lord on the one hand, and the Liao government on the other, and paid taxes to both sides. It is divided into several levels of prefecture, army, county, city, and fort.
斡鲁朵制：斡鲁朵是辽国皇帝、皇后的宫殿或行帐所在，斡鲁朵制即以皇帝（皇太后）私奴建立的州县，属于皇帝的斡鲁朵管辖，实际上就是皇帝的头下军州。
边防城：辽国西北边防线上的州、军、城，总名边防城。边防城不承担赋税，与一般意义上的州城不同。 〈四〉金
组织架构：
沿袭了辽的五京制，地方行政区划为路；路设总管府掌管军事民政，另设转运使司掌管财赋，提刑使司（后改按察使司）掌管司法，统军司掌管兵马。分路以总管府为准。路以下设府、州、军，后尽升为州。州下辖县。
中都及五京设府尹及总管；各路总管府则府尹兼总管；散府设府尹；州分节度、防御、刺史三级，县置令。
金代五京：上京会宁府、北京大定府、南京开封府、东京辽阳府、西京大同府。
猛安谋克：女真的社会基层组织，100到300户为一谋克，设百夫长一人；10谋克为一猛安，设千夫长一人。猛安、谋克户平时从事生产，战时应征出战，是一种兵民合一的制度。金国在外兴安岭以南，黑龙江流域的路，不辖州县，只辖猛安谋克。 (5) Western Xia
组织架构：
西夏实行州县二级制，另外在边防要地设郡，以及东京兴庆府、西京平西府两个政治中心。西夏是军事性很强的政权，全国分为12个军区，设12监军司，每一监军司设都统军、副统军和监军使各一人。 〈六〉南诏
组织架构：
南诏划分为10赕（州）、6节度、2都督。10赕是南诏的核心地区，节度和督是模仿唐制，是军政合一的地方行政机构。 〈七〉渤海国
组织架构：
渤海国基本模仿唐制，置5京分别为：上京龙泉府、中京显德府、东京龙原府、南京南海府、西京鸭绿府。府下领州、县。
【行省时代】
自元代开始，中国又实行三级地方行政制度，由于最高一级为行省，故称行省时代。
〈一〉元代
元代中央辖1都省（中书省）、10行省、另有宣政院辖地（西藏地区）
行省：行省起源于魏晋时的行台，原为中央派出机构，临时代中央执行任务，事毕即罢。金代称行尚书省，元代将尚书省并入中书省后，称为行中书省，并逐渐成为定制，职能也从只管军事演变为军事、民政兼管，长官也不再带中书省宰相职衔。 Administrative divisions: Yuan has four levels of roads, prefectures, prefectures and counties below the province, and the roads are set up as general administrative offices; prefecture or directly subordinate province, or directly subordinate road; Prefectures are also directly subordinate to provinces, roads, and prefectures; Counties are also directly subordinate to roads, prefectures and prefectures. In the city where the prefecture is located, there is a record department to manage urban residents, which is the beginning of the clear distinction between urban and rural by local administrative agencies in China.
路的长官为总管；府的长官为总管，设知府或府尹的府称为散府。州长官为知州，县长官为知县。 〈二〉明代
明代初期沿袭元代行省制度，但不久发现地方权力太大，不利于加强中央集权，遂进行改革，以一省置承宣布政使司、都指挥使司和提刑按察使司，即“三司”作为省一级行政、军事、监察区划。
布政使司：明代第一级行政区划是两京（北直隶、南直隶）13布政使司，合称15省；布政使司主管一省民政，听命于六部。布政使为一省之长，作为分省的标准。省辖府、州、县；州有两种：直隶州直接属省，属州由府管辖。
都指挥使司：都司主管一省卫所，听命于兵部和五军都督府。都司有三种：都司、行都司、留守司。前两者负责军事，留守司负责守卫中都（安徽凤阳）、兴都（湖北钟祥）。统辖东北的奴尔干都司和统辖西藏地区的乌斯藏都司、朵甘都司属于羁縻性质。省不仅包括布政使司所辖府州县，也包括都指挥使司所辖的卫所。
总督、巡抚：由于地方三权分立，容易产生运转不灵的弊病，明宣德年间以后有了总督、巡抚之设。总督主理军务，多设于边区；巡抚主理民政，各省皆有。明代督抚始终是中央派出的钦差大臣，与三司名义上仍是中央官与地方官的关系，地方事务仍由三司管理。清代以后，督抚成为地方官。 土司制度：元明清三代在西北、西南地区由少数民族首领充任并世袭土司，只对中央政府负担规定的贡赋、征伐义务，在辖区内保持原有的统治机构和权力。土司分为宣慰司、宣抚司、安抚司、招讨司、长官司等，或设土府、土州、土县进行统治，上属省管辖。 〈三〉清代
行政划分：清代沿袭了明代的制度，但也有所改变，主要有：1、废除卫所制度；2、增加厅一级，长官为同知、通判；3、直隶州领县，属府的称散州，不领县。
清代在边疆地区设5将军府（盛京、吉林、黑龙江、乌里雅苏台、伊犁）、2办事大臣（西藏、西宁），实行军政合一的统治。内蒙古地区由理藩院管理。
清代省级长官有督（制台）、抚（抚台）、布（藩台）、按（臬台）四员，总督偏重于军事，地位略高于巡抚；巡抚重于民政；布政使掌行政财赋，按察使负责司法监察，地位皆低于巡抚。 省的沿革：清初沿袭明15省制度，康熙年间废南直隶，分为江苏、安徽两省；从陕西分从甘肃省；拆湖广省为湖南、湖北，变为18省，此后长期固定。清末1884年建新建省；1885年从福建分台湾省；1907年设奉天、吉林、黑龙江三省，故清末为23省。
| Direct affiliation | Mukden | Jilin | Heilongjiang | Jiangsu | Anhui |
| Shanxi | Shandong | Henan | Shaanxi | Gansu | chekiang |
| Jiangxi | Hubei | Hunan | Sichuan | Fujian | Taiwan |
| Xinjiang | Guangdong | Guangxi | Yunnan | Guizhou |
总督沿革：总督统管辖区军政事务，省一级长官中职权最重。顺治年间一省一总督，共有15总督；后几经调整，至乾隆年间定为8总督，即直隶、两江、陕甘、四川、闽浙、湖广、两广、云贵（山东、山西、河南三省无总督，由巡抚兼总督职责），此后长期不变。清末1907年增加东三省总督，成为9总督。 巡抚沿革：巡抚是清代的一省之长，与总督齐称为“封疆大吏”。康熙前15省共有23巡抚，经过调整，至雍正时为18省18巡府，后裁四川巡抚、甘肃巡抚，直隶总督兼巡抚，于乾隆年间确立8总督15巡抚制（直隶、四川、甘肃无巡抚，由总督兼巡抚职责）。清末改福建巡抚为台湾巡抚（后由于台湾割让给日本而裁）；裁湖北、云南、广东巡抚；增设新疆、奉天、吉林、黑龙江巡抚，仍为15巡抚。
道：道是元明清三代一种介于省与路、府、州、县之间的行政机构。
元代分宣慰司道、肃政廉访司道两种，前者是中书省和行省的派出机构，协助分理一部分离省会较远的路府州县；后者是御史台和行御史台的派出机构，协助处理刑名监察。
明代的道也分两种，一是分守道，由布政使的副手（参政、参议）分管一部分府州县民政；一种是分巡道，由按察使的副手（副使、佥事）分管一部分府州县的司法监察。13布政使司共69道。
清代沿袭明制，罢参政、参议、副使、佥事等称谓，统称道员，但仍有分守、分巡之分。
民国取消道制，后设立行政督察专区制，由行政督察专员管理，辖区称专区，大致相当于明清的道。
【民国时代】 中华民国初期，承袭清朝旧制。不同之处在于废府，将所有不管县的州、厅全改为县，1914年时在省县之间设置93个道。1928年北伐后，国民政府废道，另外设立了专署作为省的派出机构，一个专署管理十几个县。国民政府北伐后总计28个省，另外加上西藏、蒙古2个地方，以及分自俄、英收回的东省特别区、威海卫行政区。国民政府并设立特别市，先后设置9个特别市。此外，东北政务委员会自设兴安屯垦区，西南政务委员会曾一度设立琼崖特别区，马仲英则一度自设河西省，惟除了琼崖特别区系获国民政府报准外，均为地方私设省级政区。1945年对日抗战胜利后，中华民国政府将原东北三省根据满洲国时期的行政区划改划分成东北九省中华民国政府并将海南岛设立海南特别行政区，作为建省之准备。
| category | number | A first-class administrative district of the Republic of China in 1914 |
| province | 22 | Directly under the province| Mukden Province | Jilin Province | Heilongjiang Province | Shandong Province | Henan Province | Shanxi Province | Jiangsu Province | Anhui Province | Jiangxi Province | Fujian Province |Zhejiang Province| Hubei Province | Hunan Province | Shaanxi Province | Gansu Province | Xinjiang Province | Sichuan Province | Guangdong Province | Guangxi Province | Yunnan Province | Guizhou Province |
| prefecture | 2 | Nanjing | Suncheonfu |
| District | 4 | Kawabe Special Administrative Region | Rehe Special Administrative Region | Chahar Special Administrative Region | Suiyuan Special Administrative Region |
| place | 4 | Tibet Region | Mongolia Regions | Qinghai Region | Jingzhao place |
| region | 3 | Altai region | Tarbahatai Region | Ili region |
| category | number | A first-class administrative region of the Republic of China in 1931 |
| province | 28 | Jiangsu Province| Zhejiang Province | Anhui Province | Jiangxi Province | Hubei Province | Hunan Province | Sichuan Province | Xikang Province| Fujian Province | Guangdong Province | Guangxi Province | Yunnan Province | Guizhou Province | Hebei Province | Shandong Province | Henan Province | Shanxi Province | Shaanxi Province | Gansu Province | Ningxia Province | Qinghai Province | Suiyuan Province | Chahar Province| Jehe Province | Liaoning Province | Jilin Province | Heilongjiang Province | Xinjiang Province |
| Municipalities under the jurisdiction of the hospital | 6 | Nanjing Yuan Municipality | Shanghai Municipality | Peipingyuan Municipality | Qingdao Municipality | Tianjin Yuan Municipality | The municipality of Hankou Courtyard |
| District | 2 | Weihaiwei Administrative Region | Eastern Province Special Administrative Region |
| place | 2 | Tibet Region | Mongolian Regions |
| category | number | A first-class administrative district of the Republic of China in 1949 |
| province | 35 | Jiangsu Province | Zhejiang Province | Anhui Province | Jiangxi Province | Hubei Province | Hunan Province | Sichuan Province | Xikang Province | Fujian Province | Taiwan Province | Guangdong Province | Guangxi Province | Yunnan Province | Guizhou Province | Hebei Province | Shandong Province | Henan Province | Shanxi Province | Shaanxi Province | Gansu Province |Ningxia Province| Qinghai Province | Suiyuan Province | Jehe Province | Liaoning Province | Andong Province | Liaobei Province | Jilin Province | Matsujiang Province | Hejiang Province |Nenjiang Province| Hung Yen Province | Xinjiang Province| Chahar Province| Heilongjiang Province |
| Municipalities under the jurisdiction of the hospital | 12 | Nanjing | Shanghai | Peiping | Qingdao | Tianjin | Chongqing | Dalian | Harbin | Hankou | Guangzhou | Xi'an | Shenyang |
| Sar | 1 | Hainan Special Administrative Region |
| place | 1 | Tibet Place |
Administrative divisions of the Republic of China 1912-1949
【共和国时代】 In 1949, the administrative division of the People's Republic of China divided the country into 5 major administrative regions (Northeast, North China, Northwest China, East China, Southwest China, Central and South) and one administrative unit directly under the central government, with a total of 30 provinces, 1 autonomous region, 12 municipalities directly under the Central Government, 5 administrative districts, 1 locality, and 1 region.
In 1950, the administrative district of Luda was abolished, the city of Luda was established, the North China Department of the Central People's Government was established, Sichuan Province was abolished, and four administrative districts were established: eastern Sichuan, southern Sichuan, western Sichuan and northern Sichuan.
In 1952, the North China Department of the Central People's Government was abolished and the North China Administrative Committee of the Government Council was established. and renamed the original large administrative districts as administrative councils. The establishment of administrative districts was abolished and restored to the original province. Pingyuan Province was abolished and its administrative regions were merged into Henan and Shandong Provinces. Chahar Province was abolished and its administrative regions were merged into Hebei and Shanxi Provinces. Nanjing Municipality directly under the jurisdiction was changed to Jiangsu Province.
In 1953, Changchun City in Jilin Province and Harbin City in Songjiang Province were elevated to municipalities directly under the Central Government. There are 6 administrative regions in total, with 30 provinces, 1 autonomous region, 14 municipalities directly under the central government, 1 locality and 1 region.
In 1954, the six major administrative councils were abolished, and the highest level of local administrative units became provinces. The two provinces of eastern Liaoning and western Liaoning were abolished and Liaoning Province was restored. Songjiang Province was abolished and its administrative region was merged into Heilongjiang Province. abolished Ningxia Province and incorporated its administrative regions into Gansu Province; In June 1954, Suiyuan Province was abolished and its administrative region was incorporated into the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. Guisui City was renamed Hehot City and designated as the capital of the autonomous region. A total of 26 provinces, 1 autonomous region, 3 municipalities, 1 locality, 1 region.
On July 30, 1955, Rehe Province was abolished and its administrative regions were merged into Hebei Province, Liaoning Province and Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region; In October 1955, Xikang Province was abolished and its administrative region was merged into Sichuan Province; On October 1, 1955, Xinjiang Province was abolished, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region was established, Urumqi City, the capital of the autonomous region (changed its name to Dihua in 1953), and the Preparatory Committee of the Tibet Autonomous Region was established, and the Qamdo area was placed under its jurisdiction.
On March 5, 1958, Guangxi Province was abolished and the Guangxi Autonomous Region was formally established.
On October 25, 1958, part of the area was carved out of Gansu Province and Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region was officially established; On February 11, 1958, Tianjin City directly under the central government was changed to a provincial municipality under the jurisdiction of Hebei Province; So far, the country is divided into 22 provinces, 4 autonomous regions, 2 municipalities directly under the Central Government, and 1 preparatory committee.
On September 9, 1965, the Tibet Autonomous Region was formally established; On October 12, 1965, Guangxi Autonomous Region was renamed Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.
On January 2, 1967, Tianjin City, Hebei Province was re-elevated to a municipality directly under the central government; By 1967, the country was divided into 22 provinces, 5 autonomous regions and 3 municipalities.
On April 13, 1988, Hainan Administrative Region was abolished and Hainan Province was established.
On March 14, 1997, Chongqing Municipality, Sichuan Province was re-elevated to a municipality directly under the central government. Chongqing Municipality was established to govern the administrative areas formerly under the jurisdiction of Chongqing City, Wanxian City, Fuling City and Qianjiang Prefecture of Sichuan Province. On 1 July 1997, it exercised sovereignty over Hong Kong and established the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
On 20 December 1999, it exercised sovereignty over Macao and established the Macao Special Administrative Region.
Since the transfer of sovereignty over Macao on 20 December 1999, the People's Republic of China has been divided into 23 provinces, 5 autonomous regions, 4 municipalities directly under the Central Government and 2 special administrative regions, a total of 34 provincial-level administrative regions, and the number has remained stable since then.
At present, the administrative divisions of the mainland are mainly divided by provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government), cities (autonomous prefectures, districts), counties (autonomous counties, subdistricts) and other organizational units.
By the end of 2010, there were 333 prefecture-level administrative divisions (including 283 prefecture-level cities, 17 regions, 30 autonomous prefectures, and 3 leagues), 2,856 county-level administrative divisions (including 853 municipal districts, 370 county-level cities, 1,461 counties, 117 autonomous counties, 49 banners, 3 autonomous banners, 2 special zones, and 1 forest district), and 40,906 township-level administrative divisions (including 2 district offices, 6,923 subdistricts, 19,410 towns, 13,379 townships, 1,095 ethnic townships, 96 sumu, 1 ethnic sumu).
The evolution of political regions in ancient China
1. The county system during the Warring States Qin and Han dynasties
The county system was formed in the Spring and Autumn Warring States. The county was generally set in the late Spring and Autumn period, and at first it was mostly located in remote and desolate places, so the area of the county was larger, but the status was lower than that of the county. Later, when counties were established, the status of counties was improved, evolving from a low county level to a high county level, and finally formed a local organization with a two-level system of counties and counties. After the unification of Qin, the history of the county as a military defense area ended accordingly, and it was transformed into a local government at the level between the central and county levels. The county warden is both the military chief and the chief executive, and there are also county officers and lieutenants to assist in the management of administrative and military affairs. The local administrative system in the counties and townships was finalized.
After Qin unified the whole country, it abolished the system of division and sealing, determined the county system, and implemented it throughout the country. At the beginning of the Qin Dynasty, the world was divided into thirty-six counties, which later increased to more than forty counties. The county is the highest administrative body in the local area, and its governors are the county warden, the county lieutenant, and the supervisor. The county guard is in charge of the county's government affairs, the county lieutenant is in charge of the county's military, and the superintendent is responsible for supervision. A county has jurisdiction over a number of counties, and there is a county magistrate or magistrate who is in charge of the administrative affairs of the county. There is also a county lieutenant in charge of the military, and a county lieutenant to assist the county magistrate and be in charge of justice. A county is divided into several townships, with three elders in charge of education, and a man in charge of justice and taxation, and a wandering to manage public order. The grassroots organizations below the township level are Li, Shilizheng and Guanmen. The governors of counties were also appointed and dismissed by the emperor and could not be hereditary. The implementation of the county system is of great significance to ending the situation of division of princes and safeguarding the unity of the country. This set of ruling institutions is like a huge network of power, from the central government to the county, county, township, li and even even the army, layer by layer, the entire power is concentrated to the center, and then through the center to the emperor, it has a significant effect on improving administrative efficiency and maintaining the unity of the country.
2. The establishment of the prefecture system in the Han Dynasty
In the early Western Han Dynasty, the number of county states increased significantly, and the central government felt that it was not easy to govern, so it tried to adopt a new structure. When Emperor Wudi of Han was born, according to the Shang Shu. Yugong" and "Zhou Li. The record of "Kyushu" in the "Gongfang" established the prefecture system, and thirteen prefectures were established throughout the country: Ji, Yan, Qing, Yang, You, He, Jing, Yu, Xu, Liang, Yi, Shuofang, and Jiaotoe. There is also a division under the Captain's Department to manage Kisuke and its vicinity. During the Eastern Han Dynasty, the province was merged with the Shuofang Spur History Department, and the Jiaozhou Spur History Department was changed to Jiaozhou, and fixed administrative offices were set up for each Assassination History Department. At that time, the thirteen states had a total of 105 counties. During the Western Jin Dynasty, the establishment of prefectures increased. In the first year of Emperor Taikang of Jin (280), the country had nineteen prefectures and 173 counties. Compared with the situation in the Western Han Dynasty, the number of cities and prefectures in the Western Jin Dynasty increased significantly. During the Two Han Dynasty, Jiangnan was only four states, and the ratio of north to south was three to one; During the Western Jin Dynasty, Jiangnan increased to Kyushu, and the north-south ratio almost reached the point of two to one. The evolution of the state shows the contradiction between central and local power. When the Western Han Dynasty first established the prefecture, it had the purpose of strengthening centralized power. The state has a history of assassination, and the history of assassination can supervise the county taisho, but its position is lower than that of the taishou. At the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, he changed Shi Shi to a prefecture pastor, and became a feudal official, so that he lost his original intention of establishing a prefecture, so that the prefecture eventually lost its original important role and became the same institution as the county.
Third, the function of the "Dao" in the Tang Dynasty
There were many prefectures in the early Tang Dynasty, and although there were merged provinces during the reign of Emperor Taizong, there were 358 prefecture capitals in the thirteenth year of Zhenguan (639), almost double the number of prefectures in the Sui period. If such a large number of counties are not zoned, it is difficult to manage them properly. In the first year of Zhenguan (627), after the prefecture and county of the province were merged, the country was divided into ten provinces: Guannei, Henan, Hedong, Hebei, Shannan, Longyou, Huainan, Nan, Jiangnan, Jiannan, and Lingnan because of the mountains and rivers. In the twenty-first year of the Kaiyuan Dynasty (733), on the basis of the ten provinces, Shannan Province was divided into two provinces, east and west, and Jiangnan Province was divided into East Province, West Province and Qianzhong Province. In addition, Gyeonggi Province was drawn around the Kyoshi Province in Kannai Province, and the Dugi Province was drawn around the eastern capital Luoyang.
The division of the Tang Dynasty province shows that the development of the north and south has reached a general balance. Because of the ten paths at the time of Zhenguan, the north and south of Qinling and Huaishui are exactly five paths. After the middle of the Tang Dynasty, Fang Town was separated, and its jurisdiction was also called Dao. There were 47 towns in the country during the Yuan and He, that is, 47 provinces. But the Dao at this time was completely different from the Dao divided in the early Tang Dynasty. In general, the Tao of the Tang Dynasty was a supervision area, not an administrative region.
4. The "road" of the Song Dynasty
In order to reverse the adverse effects of excessive local power, the Song Dynasty introduced the road system. The system of the Song Dynasty was established in the fifth year of Emperor Taizong's Chunhua reign (994), and there were considerable changes after that. Usually, according to the division of the last year of Yuanfeng (1078-1085), it is designated as 23 roads. Each province has jurisdiction over several prefectures, prefectures, and military supervisors. Fuzhou is the old system of the previous generation, and the army is a place related to the military. Supervision is located in areas such as pit metallurgy, money casting, horse herding, and salt production. Specifically, among these 23 roads, there are 4 Jingfu, 10 sub-prefectures, 242 prefectures, 37 juns, and 4 supervisors.
The division of various roads in the Song Dynasty shows that the geographical situation of this period was different from before. The Tang Dynasty had ten roads in the north and south. The 23rd road of the Song Dynasty is the 15th road in the Yangtze River and the Pearl River Basin. There are only eight roads in the Yellow River Valley. Although it is because the territory of the Song Dynasty is different from that of the Tang Dynasty, the development of the Yangtze River and the Pearl River basin is undoubtedly an important factor.
5. The establishment of the "province" system in the Yuan Dynasty
The provincial system was founded in the Yuan Dynasty. Judging from the relevant information, provinces are not supervising divisions, nor are they purely local administrative dispatch agencies. According to the Metahistory? According to the Geographical Record, after the Yuan Dynasty and Song Dynasty, Lizhongshu Province 1, Xingzhongshu Province 11, Sub-town Domain, Road 185, Fu 33, Prefecture 359, Army 4, and Appeasement Division 15. Its ten provinces are: Henan, Jiangbei, Shaanxi, Sichuan, Gansu, Yunnan, Jiangsu and Zhejiang, Huguang, Lingbei, Liaoyang and Beidong. Zhongshu Province and Xingzhongshu Province govern Lu and Zhifu Prefecture.
The Ming Dynasty did not have Zhongshu Province, and the vicinity of Jingshi was named directly under the name (north and south). In addition to the two direct subordinates, each province in the Yuan Dynasty sent another government envoy. Therefore, the province where it is located is called the official envoy. However, it is still customary to call it "province". In the final Ming dynasty, the two direct subordinates and thirteen political envoys, 140 prefectures, 193 prefectures, 19 prefectures, 19 prefectures, 11 Tuguan Xuanwei divisions, 10 Xuanfu divisions, 22 pacification divisions, 1 solicitation divisions, 119 chief lawsuits, and barbarian chief lawsuits 5.
In the Qing Dynasty, the old system of the Ming Dynasty was still followed, and although the official envoys were continued to be established, they were generally referred to as provinces or provinces. In the early Qing Dynasty, the name of Nanzhi was abolished. At the beginning of the Kangxi Dynasty, it was eighteen provinces. Later, Xinjiang Province was established in the ninth year of Guangxu, Taiwan Province in the thirteenth year, and Mukden, Jilin and Heilongjiang provinces in the thirty-third year. After the Sino-Japanese War, Taiwan fell, so in the end of the Qing dynasty, there were 22 provinces.
Schematic diagram of the evolution of administrative division hierarchies in ancient China
The administrative division system is a system of a centralized state, in which the country is divided into hierarchical administrative regions, and officials who are regularly removed are assigned to govern at all levels of division. Although counties and counties existed during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, national administrative divisions began after Qin Shi Huang unified the Six Kingdoms.
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(Source: We all love geography WeChat public account.) Thanks to the original author, just for knowledge sharing. ）