The Historical Map of Yunnan Province during the Yuan Dynasty

Map Introduction

Yunnan during the Yuan Dynasty

In 1253, Kublai Khan of the Borjigin clan led his army across the Jinsha River using rafts and entered Yunnan, conquering the Dali Kingdom. In 1260, the Office of the Commissioner of Dali was established. In 1276, Kublai Khan appointed Sayyid Ajjal Shams al-Din Omar as the "Pingzhang Zhengshi (Administrative Executive) of the Yunnan Branch Secretariat." The provincial capital was set in Zhongqing Route (Kunming), and from this point onward, Kunming replaced Dali as the political center of Yunnan. Yunnan was fully incorporated into the unified administration of the Yuan Dynasty, and the name "Yunnan" officially appeared as a provincial-level administrative entity.

Subsequently, the Yuan Dynasty enfeoffed Esen Temür as the Prince of Yunnan (Yunnan Wang). In 1290, Kublai's grandson Kamala was enfeoffed as the Prince of Liang (Liang Wang). The Prince of Yunnan governed the Dali area, while the Prince of Liang held jurisdiction over the entire province. This created a dual administrative structure in Yunnan, comprising both the Branch Secretariat and the princely establishments.

I. Establishment of the Branch Secretariat and Administrative Integration (1274–1286)

The Yuan Dynasty formally established the Yunnan Branch Secretariat in 1274, with its capital at Zhongqing Route (modern Kunming), ending nearly 500 years of local separatist rule by the Nanzhao and Dali kingdoms. The first Pingzhang Zhengshi, Sayyid Ajjal Shams al-Din Omar, implemented administrative reforms:

• Institutional Reorganization: Converted the militarized "Myriarchy" offices into a three-tier administrative system of Routes, Prefectures, and Counties, establishing 37 Routes and 5 Superior Prefectures, and setting up 78 courier stations.
• Native Chieftain System: Retained the Duan family's position as Commissioner of Dali but restricted their authority to the Dali region, creating a tripartite balance of power between the Branch Secretariat, the Imperial Princes, and the native chieftains.
• Official Selection: Stipulated three-year terms for Yunnan officials; those below the sixth rank could be appointed directly by the Branch Secretariat, while appointments to the fifth rank and above required central government approval.

II. Economic Development and Ethnic Integration (1286–1320)

Sayyid Ajjal and his successors promoted economic transformation in Yunnan:

• Agricultural Revolution: Dredged the Haikou River of Lake Dian, reclaiming over ten thousand qing of fertile farmland; promoted sericulture, increasing profits tenfold.
• Mining Development: The Qujing Route yielded an annual gold tax of 3,550 liang; 11 copper smelting sites were established in Chengjiang, making it a major national copper-producing area.
• Transport Infrastructure: Opened post roads connecting Sichuan and Guizhou, forming a transportation network centered on Kunming.

III. Cultural Transformation and Frontier Governance (1320–1368)

The Yuan Dynasty accelerated the Sinicization of Yunnan through cultural and educational policies:

• Educational Expansion: Established schools in various prefectures and counties, appointing Han scholars as teachers, changing the situation where "the youth knew not reading."
• Religious Fusion: Buddhism, Islam, and indigenous beliefs coexisted, creating a multicultural environment.
• Ethnic Policy: Implemented a dual system, appointing Yi and Bai leaders to manage local affairs while stationing Mongol and Semu officials for supervision.

IV. Historical Impact and Evaluation

The establishment of the Yunnan Branch Secretariat was a milestone event:

• Administrative Innovation: Pioneered the dual administration model, providing a template for the Ming and Qing native chieftain systems.
• Economic Foundation: Transformed Yunnan from a land lacking staple crops and industries into a prosperous region with significant commerce and handicrafts.
• Cultural Integration: Through Confucian education and the courier network, facilitated Yunnan's deep integration into the Chinese civilization system.

Map Source

The historical map of the Yunnan Branch Secretariat during the Yuan Dynasty is sourced from the The Historical Atlas of China, Volume 7: Yuan and Ming Dynasties. This atlas was published by China Map Press on October 1, 1982, and its chief editor was Tan Qixiang.