Establishment and role
The Yangzhou Cishi Department was established in 106 BCE under Emperor Wu of Han as one of the dynasty’s 13 inspectorates. These units initially served an oversight function; by the Eastern Han, provinces had developed into regular administrative divisions. [2]
Territory and changes
Named after the ancient Yangzhou region, its territory began around Huainan and later expanded south of the Yangtze. It covered areas corresponding broadly to southern Anhui, parts of Jiangsu south of the Yangtze, and present-day Shanghai, Jiangxi, Zhejiang and Fujian, as well as parts of Hubei and Henan. [2]
The Eastern Han seat was in Liyang (present-day He County, Anhui). In the late Eastern Han, conflict divided control of the Huainan and Jiangdong areas, and the administrative seat moved over time. After Wei and Wu were established, the former territory was divided between them. [2]