Songzhou Explained

Songzhou or Song Prefecture (Chinese: 宋州) was a zhou (prefecture) in imperial China centering on modern Shangqiu, Henan, China. It existed (intermittently) from 596 to 1006.

The Song dynasty was named after this prefecture because its founder Emperor Taizu of Song had stationed in Songzhou for many years.

Geography

The administrative region of Songzhou in the Tang dynasty is in the border area of modern eastern Henan, northern Anhui and southwestern Shandong. It probably includes parts of modern:

• Under the administration of Shangqiu, Henan:
  • Shangqiu: Liangyuan District and Suiyang District
  • Minquan County
  • Sui County
  • Ningling County
  • Zhecheng County
  • Yucheng County
  • Xiayi County
• Under the administration of Heze, Shandong:
  • Shan County
  • Cao County
• Under the administration of Suzhou, Anhui:
  • Dangshan County

References

• Book: Shi Weile. 2005. Zhongguo Lishi Diming Da Cidian (中国历史地名大词典). Large Dictionary of Chinese Historical Place Names. China Social Sciences Press. 7-5004-4929-1. 1352. zh.