Nanzhong

27°34′00″N 105°18′54″E / 27.566721°N 105.314941°E / 27.566721; 105.314941

Nanzhong (Chinese: 南中; pinyin: Nánzhōng) is the ancient name for a region in southwest China that covers parts of present-day Yunnan, Guizhou and southern Sichuan provinces.^[1]

During the Three Kingdoms period (220–280) of China, the Nanzhong region was part of the territory of the state of Shu Han (or simply Shu). In 225, some local governors rebelled against Shu rule while the Nanman tribes made intrusions into Nanzhong. In response, the Shu regent Zhuge Liang led imperial forces on a campaign in Nanzhong and succeeded in quelling the rebellions and pacifying the Nanman tribes. In legend, Zhuge Liang captured and released the Nanman leader Meng Huo seven times until the latter finally swore allegiance to Shu.^[2]

References

1. Herman, John (2009). "The Kingdoms of Nanzhong: China's Southwest Border Region Prior to the Eighth Century". T'oung Pao. 95 (4): 241–286. doi:10.1163/008254309X507052. ISSN 0082-5433.
2. Peng, Wenbin (2011). "Ethnic Memory and Space: Legends of Zhuge Liang in Southwest China". Inner Asia. 13 (1): 141–159. doi:10.1163/000000011797372797. ISSN 1464-8172.