Administrative History of Nanchang County

In ancient times, the territory of present-day Nanchang belonged to Yangzhou Province. Historians generally hold that Nanchang County was first established in the fifth year of Emperor Gaozu’s reign in the Western Han Dynasty (202 BC). It was under the Kingdom of Changsha and directly administered by Yuzhang Commandery. When the county was first founded, its jurisdiction covered today’s Nanchang, Xinjian, Fengcheng and Jinxian counties as well as surrounding areas, with a total area of about 7,500 square kilometres.

During the reign of Wang Mang, Nanchang County was renamed Yishan County, falling directly under Jiujiang Commandery. From the Eastern Han Dynasty through the Three Kingdoms period to the Jin Dynasty, Nanchang remained under Yuzhang Commandery. In the second year of the Huangchu reign of Emperor Wen of Wei, Sun Quan was enfeoffed as a king, and Nanchang became part of the State of Wu. Sun Quan split off the southern part of Nanchang to create Fucheng County (today’s Fengcheng), and from then on Nanchang and Fengcheng were administered separately.

From the Sui Dynasty to the early Tang Dynasty (589–742 AD), Nanchang County was renamed Yuzhang County under Hongzhou Prefecture. In the first year of the Baoying reign of the Tang Dynasty (762 AD), to avoid the personal name taboo of Emperor Daizong Li Yu, Yuzhang County was renamed Zhongling County, still under Hongzhou. It resumed the name Nanchang County in the first year of the Zhenyuan reign (785 AD), and the name has remained unchanged ever since under Hongzhou Prefecture.

In the sixth year of the Taipingxingguo reign of the Northern Song Dynasty (981 AD), the western territory was separated to form Xinjian County, so Nanchang and Xinjian became two separate administrative regions. In the second year of the Chongning reign (1103 AD), Jinxian Town was upgraded to Jinxian County, dividing Nanchang and Jinxian into separate counties.

In the Southern Song Dynasty, the prefecture was promoted to a prefectural government, and Nanchang County came under Longxing Prefecture. In the Yuan Dynasty, it belonged to Longxing Circuit. In the 21st year of the Zhiyuan reign (1284 AD), Longxing Circuit was renamed Longxing Circuit to observe the name taboo of Emperor Yuzong.

In the eighth year of the Hongwu reign of the Ming Dynasty (1375 AD), Nanchang County was under Hongdu Prefecture. From the ninth year of Hongwu throughout the Qing Dynasty (1664–1911), it was administered by Nanchang Prefecture.

From 1912 to 1914 (the first to the third year of the Republic of China), Nanchang County belonged to Yuzhang Circuit of Jiangxi Province. In 1926 (the 15th year of the Republic of China), Nanchang City was established, separating municipal and county administration. Nanchang County was then directly governed by Jiangxi Province. Starting from 1932, it was placed under the First Administrative Region of Jiangxi Province. In 1939, it was transferred to the Eleventh Administrative Region, and returned to the First Administrative Region in 1942.

After the founding of the People’s Republic of China in 1949, Nanchang County came under Nanchang Prefecture. In September 1958, it was put under the jurisdiction of Nanchang City. In July 1961, it was transferred to Yichun Prefecture. In November 1967, it was returned to Nanchang City, where it remains today.

Thanks to its superior geographical location and strong comprehensive strength, Nanchang County enjoys the laudatory title of "the premier county of the Ganpo region