Fu (), sometimes translated as prefecture or superior prefecture, was a type of administrative division in historical China from Tang dynasty to Qing dynasty. Fu was a level between provinces or equivalent divisions and counties. The term was initially applied to larger or more important prefectures, while the name zhou was applied to common prefectures. By Ming and Qing dynasties, however, most prefectures under provinces had become known as fu. After the establishment of the Republic of China in 1912, the fu-level administrative divisions were streamlined.
Tang dynasty
- (1st) Province-level division: "Circuit" (, dÃÂ o)
Total: 9 cities
Song dynasty
- (1st) Province-level division: "Circuit" (, lù)
Total: 45 cities
Northern Song
Southern Song
Liao dynasty
- (1st) Province-level division: "Circuit" (, dÃÂ o)
Total: 13 cities
Jin dynasty
- (1st) Province-level division: "Circuit" (, lù)
Total: 30 cities
Western Xia
- (1st) Province-level division: "Prefecture" (; zhÃ
Âu)
Total: 4 cities
Yuan dynasty
- (1st) Province-level division: "Province" (, ; xÃÂngzhÃ
ÂngshÃ
«shÃÂng)
Total: 30 cities
Ming dynasty
- (1st) Province-level division: "Province" (; shÃÂng)
Total: 183 cities
Qing dynasty
- (1st) Province-level division: "Province" (; shÃÂng)
Total: 218 prefectures
References