Guanting
Encyclopedia
Guanting is a town in eastern Qinghai
province, People's Republic of China. It is located in the southeast of Minhe County and, together with Guanting, Zhongchuan, Xiakou, Gangou and Xin'er townships, is referred to as the Guanting Area (官亭地区).
It is the home to the most densely populated Xianbei
settlement in China, who refer to the area as "Sanchuan" (三川). Whereas they have been referred to as "Monguor" in the West, they were classified as "Tu Zu" in China.
(关羽), who stopped by in the area on his way to look for his sworn brother, Liu Bei
, the founder of the Shu Han
Kingdom (221-263) in the southwest, after having left Cao Cao
of the Cao Wei
Kingdom (220-265) in China proper
. The Chinese name "Guan" in Guanting came from the last name of Guan Yu, whereas "Ting" came from the Chinese character for "stop" (停) or "pavilion" (亭).
The informal reference by the local residents of the Xianbei
is "Sanchuan" (三川), which literally means “Three Plains” and applies to the Upper, Middle, and Lower plains according to the geographic features marked by two seasonable rivers that flow from the north to the south into the Yellow River
and divides the area. The Upper Plain, or Shangchuan, refers to the Zhaomuchuan Village of Guanting Township. The Middle Plain, or Zhongchuan, encloses Zhongchuan Township, which is separated from the Upper Plain by the Zhaomuchuan River. The Lower Plain refers to the Xiakou Township on the exit of the Yellow River
that flows out of Qinghai
into Gansu
.
settlement, who are known as “Monguor” in the West and as “Tu Zu” in China. About three hundred Xianbei
villages are densely distributed on the north bank of the Yellow River
, which have been administered into about one hundred executive political villages by the Chinese Government
.
Up until recently, the area has very much existed as an independent kingdom, where everyone spoke their native Xianbei
language and which enabled the preservation of most intact Xianbei
culture, characterized by Nadun
., elaborate wedding and funeral ceremonies Stuart, Kevin and Jun Hu (1992). "Death and funerals among the Minhe Tu (Monguor)." Asian Folklore Studies 51: 67-88., and rich religious lives.
Archaeological discoveries and historical research indicated that the area is the homeland of the legendary Emperor Yü the Great, who established the Xia Dynasty
(2070 B.C.-1600 B.C.), the first ever recorded dynasty in the ancient Chinese history.
Qinghai
Qinghai ; Oirat Mongolian: ; ; Salar:) is a province of the People's Republic of China, named after Qinghai Lake...
province, People's Republic of China. It is located in the southeast of Minhe County and, together with Guanting, Zhongchuan, Xiakou, Gangou and Xin'er townships, is referred to as the Guanting Area (官亭地区).
It is the home to the most densely populated Xianbei
Xianbei
The Xianbei were a significant Mongolic nomadic people residing in Manchuria, Inner Mongolia and eastern Mongolia. The title “Khan” was first used among the Xianbei.-Origins:...
settlement in China, who refer to the area as "Sanchuan" (三川). Whereas they have been referred to as "Monguor" in the West, they were classified as "Tu Zu" in China.
Origins
The official Chinese name for the area is Guanting (官亭). Local legends accounted that the name came from the famous general, Guan YuGuan Yu
Guan Yu was a general serving under the warlord Liu Bei during the late Eastern Han Dynasty of China. He played a significant role in the civil war that led to the collapse of the Han Dynasty and the establishment of the state of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms period, of which Liu Bei was the...
(关羽), who stopped by in the area on his way to look for his sworn brother, Liu Bei
Liu Bei
Liu Bei , also known as Liu Xuande, was a warlord, military general and later the founding emperor of the state of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history...
, the founder of the Shu Han
Shu Han
Shu Han was one of the three states competing for control of China during the Three Kingdoms period, after the fall of the Han Dynasty. The state was based on areas around Sichuan, which was then known as Shu...
Kingdom (221-263) in the southwest, after having left Cao Cao
Cao Cao
Cao Cao was a warlord and the penultimate chancellor of the Eastern Han Dynasty who rose to great power during the dynasty's final years. As one of the central figures of the Three Kingdoms period, he laid the foundations for what was to become the state of Cao Wei and was posthumously titled...
of the Cao Wei
Cao Wei
Cao Wei was one of the states that competed for control of China during the Three Kingdoms period. With the capital at Luoyang, the state was established by Cao Pi in 220, based upon the foundations that his father Cao Cao laid...
Kingdom (220-265) in China proper
China proper
China proper or Eighteen Provinces was a term used by Western writers on the Qing Dynasty to express a distinction between the core and frontier regions of China. There is no fixed extent for China proper, as many administrative, cultural, and linguistic shifts have occurred in Chinese history...
. The Chinese name "Guan" in Guanting came from the last name of Guan Yu, whereas "Ting" came from the Chinese character for "stop" (停) or "pavilion" (亭).
The informal reference by the local residents of the Xianbei
Xianbei
The Xianbei were a significant Mongolic nomadic people residing in Manchuria, Inner Mongolia and eastern Mongolia. The title “Khan” was first used among the Xianbei.-Origins:...
is "Sanchuan" (三川), which literally means “Three Plains” and applies to the Upper, Middle, and Lower plains according to the geographic features marked by two seasonable rivers that flow from the north to the south into the Yellow River
Yellow River
The Yellow River or Huang He, formerly known as the Hwang Ho, is the second-longest river in China and the sixth-longest in the world at the estimated length of . Originating in the Bayan Har Mountains in Qinghai Province in western China, it flows through nine provinces of China and empties into...
and divides the area. The Upper Plain, or Shangchuan, refers to the Zhaomuchuan Village of Guanting Township. The Middle Plain, or Zhongchuan, encloses Zhongchuan Township, which is separated from the Upper Plain by the Zhaomuchuan River. The Lower Plain refers to the Xiakou Township on the exit of the Yellow River
Yellow River
The Yellow River or Huang He, formerly known as the Hwang Ho, is the second-longest river in China and the sixth-longest in the world at the estimated length of . Originating in the Bayan Har Mountains in Qinghai Province in western China, it flows through nine provinces of China and empties into...
that flows out of Qinghai
Qinghai
Qinghai ; Oirat Mongolian: ; ; Salar:) is a province of the People's Republic of China, named after Qinghai Lake...
into Gansu
Gansu
' is a province located in the northwest of the People's Republic of China.It lies between the Tibetan and Huangtu plateaus, and borders Mongolia, Inner Mongolia, and Ningxia to the north, Xinjiang and Qinghai to the west, Sichuan to the south, and Shaanxi to the east...
.
Significance
The area is the homeland of the most densely populated XianbeiXianbei
The Xianbei were a significant Mongolic nomadic people residing in Manchuria, Inner Mongolia and eastern Mongolia. The title “Khan” was first used among the Xianbei.-Origins:...
settlement, who are known as “Monguor” in the West and as “Tu Zu” in China. About three hundred Xianbei
Xianbei
The Xianbei were a significant Mongolic nomadic people residing in Manchuria, Inner Mongolia and eastern Mongolia. The title “Khan” was first used among the Xianbei.-Origins:...
villages are densely distributed on the north bank of the Yellow River
Yellow River
The Yellow River or Huang He, formerly known as the Hwang Ho, is the second-longest river in China and the sixth-longest in the world at the estimated length of . Originating in the Bayan Har Mountains in Qinghai Province in western China, it flows through nine provinces of China and empties into...
, which have been administered into about one hundred executive political villages by the Chinese Government
Government of the People's Republic of China
All power within the government of the People's Republic of China is divided among three bodies: the People's Republic of China, State Council, and the People's Liberation Army . This article is concerned with the formal structure of the state, its departments and their responsibilities...
.
Up until recently, the area has very much existed as an independent kingdom, where everyone spoke their native Xianbei
Xianbei
The Xianbei were a significant Mongolic nomadic people residing in Manchuria, Inner Mongolia and eastern Mongolia. The title “Khan” was first used among the Xianbei.-Origins:...
language and which enabled the preservation of most intact Xianbei
Xianbei
The Xianbei were a significant Mongolic nomadic people residing in Manchuria, Inner Mongolia and eastern Mongolia. The title “Khan” was first used among the Xianbei.-Origins:...
culture, characterized by Nadun
Nadun
Nadun is a traditional festival held by the people known as “Monguor” in the West and as "Tu Zu" in China. Its name resembles the Nadam festival of the Mongols, but different in format and content.-Origins:...
., elaborate wedding and funeral ceremonies Stuart, Kevin and Jun Hu (1992). "Death and funerals among the Minhe Tu (Monguor)." Asian Folklore Studies 51: 67-88., and rich religious lives.
Archaeological discoveries and historical research indicated that the area is the homeland of the legendary Emperor Yü the Great, who established the Xia Dynasty
Xia Dynasty
The Xia Dynasty is the first dynasty in China to be described in ancient historical chronicles such as Bamboo Annals, Classic of History and Records of the Grand Historian. The Xia Dynasty was established by the legendary Yu the Great after Shun, the last of the Five Emperors gave his throne to him...
(2070 B.C.-1600 B.C.), the first ever recorded dynasty in the ancient Chinese history.