Slipping through time, imagine yourself in the bustling heart of ancient China. Right here, in what is now Beijing, stood Yuyang Commandery. This area, known as Yuyang, has a rich history intertwined with the ebb and flow of dynasties. Yuyang Commandery itself dates back to the Warring States period, when the state of Yan established it north of the Yi River, now known as the Bai River. The name, meaning “Fishing Sun,” speaks to its location. It was a strategic point, its influence stretching from the Great Wall in the north to the Bohai Sea in the south during the Qin Dynasty.
Yuyang Commandery wasn’t static. Its boundaries shifted, its importance waxed and waned with the rise and fall of empires. During the Western Han Dynasty, it controlled twelve counties, a testament to its significance. The Eastern Han Dynasty and Three Kingdoms period saw its influence recede. The northern fortifications fell into disrepair. The commandery’s reach contracted, shrinking southward towards what is now the northern part of Miyun District in Beijing.
Then, in the Western Jin Dynasty, Yuyang Commandery was merged with Guangyang Commandery to form Youzhou. Later, during the Sixteen Kingdoms period, Yuyang Commandery was re-established, only to be abolished again during the Sui Dynasty. Emperor Wen of Sui integrated the former commandery into Zhuojun. Then, during the Tang Dynasty, the region was renamed Youzhou and administered three counties: Yuyang, Sanhe, and Yutian. The name Yuyang echoes through time, a reminder of the commandery that once held sway. Today, we know this area as Pinggu Town within Pinggu District. But the name Yuyang persists in the name of a local residential development, Yuyang Residential Area. It represents an attempt to connect with the deep historical roots of this place, bridging the ancient world with the modern. Yuyang Commandery may be gone, but its legacy continues to resonate in the very ground we stand on.