History of Zigui County

 

Zigui County – Origin of Its Name

Zigui was the seat of Gui in Shang Dynasty and was the seat of Kuizi in Western Zhou Dynasty. It was called Gui County in late Warring States Period. Zigui was established as a county in Western Han Dynasty. Zigui is the hometown of Qu Yuan (a famous poet in China). Its name was related to Qu Yuan. According to Commentary on the Waterways Classic, Qu Yuan had a virtuous sister; she came back here after she heard Qu Yuan was exiled. So this place was called Zigui. In the second year of Western Han Dynasty (205 B.C.), Zigui was established as a county.

Zigui County – Changes of its Name and Administrative Roles in History

Zigui was established as a county in the sixth year of Northern Zhou Dynasty. Zigui County was changed to Changning County since Zigui County and Zigui county sounded the same. Then Changning County was changed to Zigui County in the third year of Sui Dynasty. Gui province was established in the second year of Emperor Wude in Tang Dynasty (619); Zigui County and Badong County were under its jurisdiction. The next year, Gui province administrated Zigui County and Badong County and Xingshan County. In the first year of Tianbao Period (742), Zigui County was administrated by Badong County. In 758, Zigui was established as Guizhou County. It was also named Guizhou in Song Dynasty.

Guizhou County was established as a county attached to Huguang province in Yuan Dynasty. Guizhou County was abrogated and Zigui County was established again in the ninth year of Hongwu Period in Ming Dynasty (1376). The next year, Zigui County was changed to Changning County again. Three years later, Changning County was abrogated and Guizhou State was established to administrate Xingshan County and Badong County.

In the seventh year of Emperor Yongzheng Period in Qing Dynasty (1729), Guizhou County was established as a municipality under the jurisdiction of Hubei provincial government. It administrated Changyang County, Xingshan County, Badong County and Ensi County. In 1753, it was demoted to the rank of county-level state which attached to Yichang City. In 1912, it was changed to Zigui County.

Zigui County – its Administrative Roles after Liberation

In 1949, it was attached to Yichang Prefecture; in 1959, it was attached to Yichang Industrial Zone; in 1961, it was attached to Yichang Prefecture again; in 1970, it was attached to Yichang District; in 1992, it attached to Yichang City.

On June 15, Ministry of Civil Affairs approved the People’s Government of Zigui County move to Scissors Valley (Maoping Town) from Guizhou Town.

The county city of Zigui County formally moved to Maoping Town in 1998.

In 2000, seven villages and seven towns were under the jurisdiction of Zigui County. According to the Fifth Census Data, Zigui County has a total population of 398043. The following are the population of the towns and villages: Maoping Town, 77966; Xiangxi Town, 35643; Quyuan Town, 21472; Shaxi Town, 37831; Lianghekou Town, 31848; Guojiaba Town, 36208; Yanglinqiao Town, 28155; Shuitianba Village, 36899; Xietan Village, 15439; Meijiahe Village, 19465; Moping Village, 13130; Wenhua Village, 18314; Zhouping Village, 13479; Zhilan Village, 12194.

Seven towns, five villages, six residents committees and 186 village committees were under the jurisdiction of Zigui County.

Zigui County - Historical Events

1. B.C.339, Qu Yuan- the great patriotic poet was born in Lepingli of Gui County in Chu.

2. B.C.52, Wang Zhaojun- one of the Four Beauties in China was born in Baoping village of Zigui County (today’s Zhaojun village of Xingshan County of Yichang City in Hubei province)

3. In June 1928, the first Communist Party organization of Zigui County- Chenjiapo Branch Committee of Communist Party of China was founded.

4. On April 6, 1931 the Third Red Army leaded by He Long captured the county city of Zigui County. He executed the local bully and confiscated their property.

5. On August 7, 1949 Chinese People’s Liberation Amy captured the county city of Zigui County at a stroke; the whole of Zigui County was liberated till November 5.

6. In April 1950, riots happened in Hekou and Moping of Zigui County. Zigui Group of Chinese People’s Liberation Amy appeased the riots during April 27- April 29 with the help of the local people. The team leader Yang Shenping was sacrificed.

7. On early morning of June 12, 1985 the 13 million square meters landslide between Jiangjiapo and Guangjiayan glided downward at a high speed. 2 million square meters of landslides rushed to the river, the navigation here was interrupted till the afternoon of June 14. The landslides destroyed Xintan Ancient Town, caused a direct economic loss of 8.32 million RMB. No casualties since there was an accurate forecast and timely rescue.

8. On October 23, 1988 the State Council officially sanctioned and declared that Zigui County was in the line of the counties which open to the foreigners.

9. On June 15, 1991 Ministry of Civil Affairs approved Document No.18 - Reply on the Removal of the People’s Government Station of Zigui County in Hubei Province: Approve by the State Council, the People’s Government of Zigui County could move to Scissors Valley (Maoping Town) from Guizhou Town. On December 26, 1992 the foundation stone laying and construction initiation ceremony of the new county city was held. The new city covers an area of 4 square kilometers and is 1.5 kilometers far away from Three Gorges Dam.

10. On October 16, 1994 the CPC Central Committee General Secretary Jiang Zemin, the CPC Central Committee Politburo Alternate Member, Secretariat Secretary and the Deputy Chief of Chinese People’s Liberation Army Xu Huizi, the Commanding Officer of Guangzhou Military Subdistrict Li Xilin, Minister of the Ministry of Communication Huang Zhendong, Minister of Ministry of Agriculture Liu Jiang, the Deputy Director of the Planning Committee of the State Guo Shuyan, the Deputy Director of Central General Office Hu Guangxuan, and the Deputy Director of the Policy Research Office of the Central Committee Teng Wensheng came to Zigui for inspection.

11. In April 1995, Zigui County was named County of Navel Oranges in China in the “first batch of 100 counties of Chinese specialties” name activity organized by the Development Research Center of the State Council and Ministry of Agriculture.