The Historical Map of Yunnan Province in Central during the Yuan Dynasty

Map Introduction

I. Establishment Background and Administrative Structure

After Kublai Khan's forces conquered the Dali Kingdom in 1253, the Yuan Dynasty formally established the Yunnan Branch Secretariat in 1274, ending over 500 years of local rule by the Nanzhao and Dali kingdoms. The provincial capital was set at Zhongqing Route (modern Kunming), with the Muslim statesman Sayyid Ajjal Shams al-Din Omar appointed as the first Pingzhang Zhengshi (Administrative Executive). It governed 37 Routes, 5 Superior Prefectures, and numerous subprefectures and counties. This establishment marked Yunnan's first incorporation into a centrally-administered provincial-level district, its territory covering all of modern Yunnan, parts of southern Sichuan and western Guizhou, and even extending into areas of modern northern Burma and Thailand. The Yuan implemented a "dual administrative system" in Yunnan: it retained the hereditary Duan family as Commissioners of Dali to handle local ethnic affairs, while simultaneously stationing Mongol imperial relatives as garrison commanders and establishing central institutions like Pacification Commissions, creating a unique model of joint administration.

II. Political Governance and Economic Development

During Sayyid Ajjal's tenure (1274–1279), he implemented a series of reforms:

• Administrative Reform: Transformed the militarized "Myriarchy" offices from the military occupation period into a system of Routes, Superior Prefectures, Subprefectures, and Counties, establishing Zhongqing Route as the provincial core.
• Water Conservancy: Dredged the Shilongba spillway at the outlet of Lake Dian, alleviating flooding and reclaiming over ten thousand qing of fertile farmland, making Kunming an area with ample rice and wheat.
• Economic Promotion: Implemented military and civilian agro-colonization policies, reclaiming nearly 300,000 mu of land; developed animal husbandry and mining. The itinerant Agriculture Promotion Commissioner Zhang Lidao taught farming techniques to ethnic minorities, reportedly increasing yields tenfold.

III. Cultural Integration and Ethnic Relations

The Yuan pursued a policy of cultural appeasement in central Yunnan:

• Spread of Confucianism: Sayyid Ajjal performed the Confucian "vegetable-offering ceremony" annually, and his son Husayn established schools in various commanderies and towns, reversing the previous situation where "the youth knew nothing of reading."
• Ethnic Policy: Appointed the Duan clan to administer western Yunnan while achieving integration through the Pacification Commission system. The large-scale migration of Mongols and Semu people into Yunnan became a major origin for the province's modern Hui and Mongol communities.
• Transport Infrastructure: Constructed roads, bridges, and courier stations, creating a transportation network linking Yunnan with the Chinese interior.

IV. Key Events and Historical Impact

• The Hugoci Incident (1271): The poisoning of the Prince of Yunnan prompted the Yuan court to adjust its governance approach, accelerating the establishment of the Branch Secretariat.
• Sayyid Ajjal's Administration: His six-year governance made Yunnan prosperous, leading the people to erect a temple in his memory. His administrative framework remained in use through the Ming and Qing dynasties.
• Zhang Lidao's Achievements: Suppressing rebellions and promoting agriculture and waterworks, he was revered by all ethnic groups.

Yuan rule brought about three major transformations in central Yunnan:

• Politically: Transitioned from a separatist regime to direct central control, laying the foundation for the later provincial system.
• Economically: Saw significant development in agriculture and commerce, with Kunming emerging as a regional center.
• Culturally: Confucian education coexisted with multiculturalism, fostering a shared cultural identity.

The governance during this period laid a crucial foundation for Yunnan's stable development in the subsequent Ming and Qing dynasties.