BabelStone Blog
Sunday, 28 April 2013
Jurchen Geography
Having taken a look at a fragment of Tangut geography a couple of weeks ago, I thought it would be interesting to do something similar with Jin dynasty (1115–1234) place names written in the Jurchen script. However, although Jurchen is relatively well deciphered due to the survival of several manuscript copies of the Ming dynasty Sino-Jurchen Vocabulary, there are only a very few extant examples of Jin dynasty Jurchen inscriptions and only a handful of Jurchen manuscripts, so there aren't really any unstudied fragments of Jurchen text that I can analyse the geographical place names of. Therefore, I have decided to simply make some tables of all the Jurchen names for Jin dynasty place names that I can find in the extant sources. The vast majority of place names listed below come from two monumental inscriptions, one recording the names of successful candidates in the palace examination of 1224 (D) and one recording the names of benefactors of a Buddhist temple constructed in 1138 or 1153 (E).
Rubbing of a monument listing the names and places of residence of successful candidates in the palace examination of 1224 (Nüzhen jinshi timing bei 女真進士題名碑)
Photograph at the National Museum of China by 秋天 (国家博物馆展出的女真族文物)
Index of Jin Dynasty Jurchen Place Names
Countries
| Jurchen Name | Chinese Name | Country | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
     amba-an antʃu-un guru-un |
大金國 | Great Jin | E |
  duli-la guru-un |
中國 | China | A |
  so-gor guru-un |
高麗國 | Korea | G |
Capitals
| Jurchen Name | Chinese Name | Location | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
  ʃaŋ-giŋ |
Superior Capital 上京 |
Modern Acheng 阿城, Harbin, Heilongjiang | B |
   wə-gi giŋ |
C | ||
   dʒu-uŋ du |
Central Metropolis 中都 |
Modern Beijing | D |
  dʒul-ə giŋ |
Eastern Capital 東京 |
Modern Liaoyang 遼陽, Liaoning | D |
 dʒu-uŋ gin |
Middle Capital 中京 [Renamed the Northern Capital 北京 in 1153] |
Modern Ningcheng County 寧城縣, Inner Mongolia | E |
Circuits
| Jurchen Name | Chinese Name | Location | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
      dai-mi-iŋ fu wo-on |
Daming Superior Prefecture Circuit 大名府路 |
D | |
  duŋ-fi-iŋ fu wo-on |
Dongping Superior Prefecture Circuit 東平府路 |
D | |
  xo-bei dʒul-ə wo-on |
Hebei East Circuit 河北東路 |
D | |
 xo-bei furi-ə wo-on |
Hebei West Circuit 河北西路 |
D | |
  xala-an wo-on |
Helan Circuit 曷懶路 |
Seat at modern Kilju County, North Hamgyong, North Korea | D, E |
 lu-uŋ-an fu wo-on |
Long'an Superior Prefecture Circuit 隆安府路 |
D | |
 uli-ə gin wo-on |
Northern Capital Circuit 北京路 |
D | |
uli-ə dʒul-ə wo-on |
Northeast Circuit 東北路 |
D | |
uli-ə furi-ə wo-on |
Northwest Circuit 西北路 |
D | |
  fo-su-wo-on |
Posu Circuit 婆速路 |
Seat at modern Jiuliancheng 九連城, Dandong 丹東, Liaoning | D |
  fan-ti furi-ə wo-on |
Southwest Circuit 西南路 |
D | |
  su-fin wo-on |
Supin Circuit 速頻路 |
Seat at modern Ussuriysk, Primorsky Krai, Russia | E |
   çi-yŋ dʒou wo-on |
Xiong Prefecture Circuit 雄州路 |
D | |
  il-min dʒou wo-on |
Yilimin Prefecture Circuit 移里閔州路 |
D |
Circuits listed in the History of the Jin Dynasty chs. 24–26:
- Superior Capital Circuit 上京路
- Xianping Circuit 咸平路
- Eastern Capital Circuit 東京路
- Northern Capital Circuit 北京路
- Western Capital Circuit 西京路
- Middle Capital Circuit 中都路
- Southern Capital Circuit 南京路
- Hebei East Circuit 河北東路
- Hebei West Circuit 河北西路
- Shandong East Circuit 山東東路
- Shandong West Circuit 山東西路
- Daming Superior Prefecture Circuit 大名府路
- Hedong North Circuit 河東北路
- Hedong South Circuit 河東南路
- Metropolitan Superior Prefecture Circuit 京兆府路
- Fengxiang Circuit 鳳翔路
- Fuyan Circuit 鄜延路
- Qingyuan Circuit 慶原路
- Lintao Circuit 臨洮路
Superior Prefectures
| Jurchen Name | Chinese Name | Location | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
dai-mi-iŋ fu |
Daming Superior Prefecture 大名府 |
Under Daming Superior Prefecture Circuit (modern Daming County 大名縣, Hebei) | (D) |
duŋ-fi-iŋ fu |
Dongping Superior Prefecture 東平府 |
Under Dongping Superior Prefecture Circuit (modern Dongping County 東平縣, Shandong) | (D) |
lu-uŋ-an fu |
Long'an Superior Prefecture 隆安府 |
Under Long'an Superior Prefecture Circuit (modern Nong'an County 農安縣, Jilin) | (D) |
    tai-ŋ-y-iɛn fu |
Taiyuan Superior Prefecture 太原府 |
Under Hedong North Circuit (modern Taiyuan 太原, Shanxi) | C |
  dʒa-aŋ-dei fu |
Zhangde Superior Prefecture 彰德府 |
Under Hebei West Circuit (modern Anyang 安陽, Henan) | F |
Prefectures
| Jurchen Name | Chinese Name | Location | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
    xutu-ŋgai-ga-ma dʒou |
Deshengtuo Prefecture 得勝陀州 |
Under Superior Capital Circuit | C |
 fun dʒou |
Feng Prefecture 豐州 |
Under Western Capital Circuit (modern Hohhot, Inner Mongolia) | I |
 mi-iŋ dʒou |
Ming Prefecture 洺州 |
Under Hebei West Circuit (modern Wei County 威縣, Hebei) | D |
çi-yŋ dʒou |
Xiong Prefecture 雄州 |
Under Xiong Prefecture Circuit (modern Xiong County 雄縣, Hebei) | D |
il-min dʒou |
Yilimin Prefecture 移里閔州 |
Under Yilimin Prefecture Circuit | D |
Counties
| Jurchen Name | Chinese Name | Location | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
    lia-ao jaŋ çiɛn |
Liaoyang County 遼陽縣 |
Under Eastern Capital (modern Liaoyang County 遼陽縣, Liaoning) | D |
 çy dʒou çiɛn |
Quzhou County 曲周縣 |
Under Ming Prefecture (modern Quzhou County 曲周縣, Hebei) | D |
y-iɛn fi-iŋ çiɛn |
Yuanping County 宛平縣 |
Under Central Metropolis (modern Fengtai District 豐台區, Beijing) | D |
Meng'an (1,000 Households)
| Jurchen Name | Chinese Name | Location | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
    ei-je-ku miŋgan |
Aiyeku Meng'an 愛也窟猛安 |
Under Supin Circuit | E |
  tʃən-tʃun miŋgan |
Chanchun Meng'an 僝蠢猛安 |
Under Dongping Superior Prefecture Circuit | D |
  tʃu-ton miŋgan |
Chutuan Meng'an 出團猛安 |
Under Northern Capital Circuit | D |
  du-tə-gia miŋgan |
Dutejia Meng'an 都忒甲猛安 |
Under Hebei West Circuit | D |
 ədu-ə miŋgan |
Edu'e Meng'an 訛都厄猛安 |
Under Hebei East Circuit | D |
  go-fa miŋgan |
Guofa Meng'an 果法猛安 |
G | |
xala-an miŋgan |
Helan Meng'an 曷懶猛安 |
Under Helan Circuit | D |
  xoldo-on miŋgan |
Hetuan Meng'an 和團猛安 |
Under Helan Circuit | E |
    xodʒo-gi-uei-ru miŋgan |
Hezhuojiwei'er Meng'an 和卓吉委兒猛安 |
Under Daming Superior Prefecture Circuit | D |
  xu-[?] miŋgan |
Hu[...] Meng'an 忽囗猛安 |
Under Hebei West Circuit | D |
  mei-giɛn miŋgan |
Meijian Meng'an 梅堅猛安 |
Under Xiong Prefecture Circuit | D |
   nu-uei-gi bira miŋgan |
Neiji River Meng'an 内吉河猛安 |
Under Hebei East Circuit | D |
     fu-di-i ali-in miŋgan |
Pudi Mountain Meng'an 蒲底山猛安 |
Dongping Superior Prefecture Circuit | D |
 ʃan-tʃun miŋgan |
Shanchun Meng'an 山春猛安 |
Under Hebei West Circuit | D |
  ʃə-ə miŋgan |
She'e Meng'an 舍厄猛安 |
Under Hebei East Circuit | D |
  ʃïra-gu ali-in miŋgan |
Shilagu Mountain Meng'an 失剌古山猛安 |
Under Long'an Superior Prefecture Circuit | D |
  ʃï-tə miŋgan |
Shite Meng'an 石忒猛安 |
Under Dongping Superior Prefecture Circuit | D |
    sun-gar-i-da-xa miŋgan |
Songgalidahe Meng'an 宋噶里荅合猛安 |
Under Northwest Circuit | D |
su-uŋ-gulu ali-in miŋgan |
Songgelu Mountain Meng'an 宋割魯山猛安 |
Under Posu Circuit | D |
su-fin miŋgan |
Supin Meng'an 速頻猛安 |
Under Supin Circuit | E |
 tai-ʃïn miŋgan |
Taishen Meng'an 泰申猛安 |
Under Helan Circuit | D |
   tum-un bi-xan miŋgan |
Tumen Bihan Meng'an 徒門必罕猛安 |
Under Xiong Prefecture Circuit | D, E |
 wo-xa miŋgan |
Wohe Meng'an 斡合猛安 |
Under Supin Circuit | E |
  u-da-un miŋgan |
Wudawen Meng'an 兀答溫猛安 |
E | |
| Yahuohuoluoheda Meng'an 牙獲火羅合打猛安 |
S | ||
 jara-an bira miŋgan |
Yalan River Meng'an 押懶河猛安 |
Under Southwest Circuit | D |
 dʒa-xa-gi-tuan miŋgan |
Zhahejitun Meng'an 扎合吉屯猛安 |
Under Northeast Circuit | D |
  dzo-ʃïn bi-xan miŋgan |
Zuoshen Bihan Meng'an 左申必罕猛安 |
Under Helan Circuit | E |
  [?]-xoŋ miŋgan |
[?]huan Meng'an 囗歡猛安 |
Under Daming Superior Prefecture Circuit | D |
... [...]-dan miŋgan |
[...]dan Meng'an 囗丹猛安 |
Under Daming Superior Prefecture Circuit | D |
 [...] bira miŋgan |
[...] River Meng'an 囗河猛安 |
Under Yilimin Prefecture Circuit | D |
Mouke (100 Households)
| Jurchen Name | Chinese Name | Location | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
    da-lo-gi mou-mu-xuwə |
Daluoji Mouke 荅羅吉謀克 |
Under Helan Circuit | E |
 fa-an-r bi-xan mou-mu-xuwə |
Fan'an Bihan Mouke 番安必罕謀克 |
H | |
 xala-an mou-mu-xuwə |
Helan Mouke 曷懶謀克 |
Under Helan Meng'an, Helan Circuit | E |
 ga-fu mou-mu-xuwə |
Hepu Mouke 合蒲謀克 |
Under Aiyeku Meng'an, Supin Circuit | E |
    xa-tou xalu-un bira mou-mu-xə |
Hetouhulun River Mouke 河頭胡論河謀克 |
Under Nalinhezhu'asu Meng'an (納璘河术阿速猛安) | S |
 xodʒo-xai-lo-on mou-mu-xə |
Hezhuohailuan Mouke 和拙海欒謀克 |
Under Yahuohuoluoheda Meng'an | S |
    giaxu-un ali-in mou-mu-gə |
Jiahun Mountain Mouke 夾渾山謀克 |
S | |
 kə-ʃïn-ən ali-in mou-mu-xə |
Kechen Mountain Mouke 可陳山謀克 |
Under Aiyeku Meng'an, Supin Circuit | S |
| Milidie River Mouke 迷里迭河謀克 |
S | ||
ʃə-ə mou-mu-xuwə |
She'e Mouke 舍厄謀克 |
Under Zuoshen Bihan Meng'an, Helan Circuit | E |
 ʃïri-ə mou-mu-xuwə |
Shili'e Mouke 失里厄謀克 |
Under Aiyeku Meng'an, Supin Circuit | E |
 ʃou-gi mou-mu-xuwə |
Shouji Mouke 受吉謀克 |
Under Helan Circuit | E |
| Supakun Mountain Mouke 速怕昆山謀克 |
S | ||
  on-go-on-su mou-mu-xuwə |
Wanguansu Mouke 萬官速謀克 |
E | |
  in-gai-da bira mou-mu-gə |
Yigaida River Mouke 移改達葛河謀克 |
S |
Villages
| Jurchen Name | Chinese Name | Location | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
  bu-gu ga-ʃa |
Bugu Village (Deer Village) 卜古村 |
Under She'e Mouke | E |
   xə-tʃə-xei ga-ʃa |
Hechehei Village 赫車黑村 |
Under Hepu Mouke | E |
  dʒan-gu-tʃï ga-ʃa |
Zhanguchi Village 站古赤村 |
E | |
  [?]-aŋ ga-ʃa |
[?]ang Village 囗村 |
E |
Sources
- A : Sino-Jurchen Vocabulary of the Bureau of Interpreters (Nǚzhēn Yìyǔ 女真譯語)
- B : Jurchen Character Book (Nǚzhēnwén Zìshū 女真文字書)
- C : Monument commemorating the victory of Emperor Taizu of Jin over the Khitans in 1114 (Dà-Jīn déshèngtuó sòng bēi 大金得勝陀頌碑) [1185]
- D : Monument recording the names of successful candidates for the degree of jinshi in 1224 (Nǚzhēn jìnshì tímíng bēi 女真進士題名碑) [1224]
- E : Monument commemorating the construction of a Buddhist temple (Qìngyuánjùn Nǚzhēn guóshū bēi 慶源郡女真國書碑) [1138–1153]
- F : Monument commemorating a picnic held by Aotun Liangbi (Àotún liángbì jiànyǐn bēi 奧屯良弼餞飲碑) [1210]
- G : Rock inscription commemorating the presentation of a Buddhist statue (Běiqīng Nǚzhēn guóshū móyá 北青女真國書摩崖) [1218]
- H : Two rock inscriptions at Hailong (Hǎilóng Nǚzhēn guóshū móyá 海龍女真國書摩崖) [1167]
- I : Inscriptions on the Pagoda of Ten Thousand Copies of the Flower Garland Sutra (萬部華嚴經塔), Hohhot, Inner Mongolia
- S : Inscription on the side of an official seal
Google Map of Jurchen Places
To accompany this post I have created a map of Jin dynasty Jurchen geography on Google Maps, which shows the place names in Jurchen script if you click on the tags. I have not included any Meng'an (1,000 household) or Mouke (100 household) units as their precise locations are largely unknown.
Google Maps map showing Jin Dynasty locations with place names in Jurchen
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