China's Ming dynasty near Shuntianfu historical maps
Map Introduction
The Historical Evolution of Nanjing's Yingtian Prefecture during the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644)
I. Founding Background and Urban Construction
In 1356 (the 16th year of the Zhizheng era of the Yuan dynasty), Zhu Yuanzhang captured Jiqing Route and renamed it Yingtian Prefecture. Adopting Zhu Sheng's strategy to "build high walls, stockpile ample provisions," he spent 21 years constructing the city walls. The walls of Yingtian Prefecture had a circumference of 67 li (approximately 33.7 km) with 13 gates (such as Jubao Gate, now known as Zhonghua Gate), and employed a four-layer defensive system: the Palace City, Imperial City, Capital City, and Outer Wall. The Outer Wall itself extended 120 li, incorporating natural barriers like Zhong Mountain and Xuanwu Lake into the city's defenses. The wall foundations were laid with granite slabs, and the bricks were stamped with their place of origin to ensure quality. The surviving sections remain the longest ancient city walls in the world.
II. Military Defense and Population Structure
The early Ming implemented a "populate the capital" policy, relocating 200,000 military households and skilled artisans, creating a society where "the native inhabitants were predominantly descendants of migrants." Descendants of military households excelled in the imperial examinations, producing Zhuangyuan (top scorers) like Jiao Hong and Zhu Zhifan. The defense system comprised:
- Guard Station Layout: 17 guards were established, including the Nanjing Guard and Longjiang Guard, garrisoning approximately 120,000 troops.
- Land-Water Coordination: Utilizing the natural barrier of the Yangtze River, artillery positions were set up on Lion Mountain and Qingliang Mountain.
- Outer Wall Defense: The Outer Wall was constructed in 1390 (the 23rd year of Hongwu), featuring 18 "outer city gates."
III. Economic and Cultural Development
As the core of Southern Zhili, Yingtian Prefecture developed three main economic districts:
- Commercial District: The area from Sanshan Street to Pingshi Street formed the market center, depicted in the Scroll of Prosperous Nanjing as a bustling scene where "people from all directions mingled."
- Handicrafts: The Brocade Weaving Bureau produced over 10,000 bolts of Nanjing brocade annually. The components of the Porcelain Tower of the Great Bao'en Temple utilized "kiln transformation" glaze techniques.
- Granary Transport Hub: The Longjiang Pass handled an annual throughput of 3 million dan of grain, connecting the Grand Canal and the Yangtze River.
Culturally, the Yingtian Prefecture Academy and the Imperial Academy were known as the "Twin Jewels." After arriving in Macao in 1582, Matteo Ricci propagated Western learning here. The Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum, regarded as the "first among Ming and Qing imperial mausoleums," established the architectural norms for subsequent imperial tombs with its spirit way stone sculptures.
IV. Historical Impact and Legacy
The urban planning of Yingtian Prefecture directly influenced the construction of the Beijing Forbidden City, with the names of its three main halls borrowed from Nanjing. Existing heritage includes:
- City Walls: The Zhonghua Gate barbican represents the pinnacle of ancient defensive engineering.
- Architecture: The Ming Palace ruins preserve the "front court, rear寝" (administrative front, residential rear) layout.
- Culture: Traditions like the Qinhuai Lantern Festival and Nanjing brocade weaving continue to this day.
Summary
As the southern capital within the Ming "dual-capital system," Yingtian Prefecture's defensive system, migration policies, and cultural integration laid the foundation for Nanjing's urban structure. Its evolution from a military stronghold to a cultural center reflects the underlying logic of the Ming dynasty's frontier governance and the dissemination of Han culture.