A Study On Zhangyu And His Quan-shan–bian-zheng-kao

Zhangyu, born in Wan'an, Jiangxi, was short sitedness in the 17th year of Jiangjing. In the 26th year of Jiajing (1547), he became the governor of the province of Gansu and Shaanxi. According to the records and booklets of the provisions and funds for troops, which was handed in by the towns of Shannxi, the book Quan-shan-bian–zheng-kao was written and edited. During the period of Jiajing, due to the prosperity of historical study and the tension in the north border, the writing of historical books of the border towns bloomed. Zhangyu's Quan-shan -bian–zheng-kao was written during this period.Most of the contents in Quan-shan-bian–zheng-kao was originated from the documents at that time, which were all local events in that period and described by local people. The materials were all first handed, having a high reliability and historical value. This book clearly recorded the historical changes, the geographical location and the invasion from minorities happened in the towns of northwest part in Ming dynasty. The book was based on the real situation of the border military service in Ming, and was surrounded by practical war needs and military service, which revealed a historical studying thought. Zhangyu's Quan-shan-bian–zheng-kao provided an important evidence for our research into Ming's border geography, history, and ethnicity changes and relationships today. It is a must-have historical material for the studying on the northwest border and its history in the middle and late Ming dynasty.