Xihe Commandery (Chinese:西河郡) was a historicalcommandery of China, located in modern northernShanxi and part ofInner Mongolia. The name "Xihe" referred to a southward section in the middle reaches of theYellow River.
The commandery was separated fromShang Commandery in 125 BC. In 2 AD, there were 36 counties in the commandery, including Fuchang (富昌), Zouyu (騶虞), Huze (鵠澤), Pingding (平定), Meiji (美稷), Zhongyang (中陽), Lejie (樂街), Tujing (徒經), Gaolang (臯狼), Dacheng (大成), Guangtian (廣田), Huanyin (圜陰), Yilan (益闌), Pingzhou (平周), Hongmen (鴻門), Lin (藺), Xuanwu (宣武), Qianzhang (千章), Zengshan (增山), Huanyang (圜陽), Guangyan (廣衍), Wuche (武車), Humeng (虎猛), Lishi (離石), Guluo (穀羅), Rao (饒), Fangli (方利), Xicheng (隰成), Linshui (臨水), Tujun (土軍), Xidu (西都), Pinglu (平陸), Yinshan (陰山), Nishi (觬氏), Boling (博陵) and Yanguan (鹽官). The population in 2 AD was 698,836, in 136,396 households.[1] By 140 AD, only 13 counties (Lishi, Pingding, Meiji, Lejie, Zhongyang, Gaolang, Pingzhou, Pinglu, Yilan, Huanyin, Lin, Huanyang, Guangyan) remained, and the population had decreased to 20,838, in 5,698 households.[2] The region saw repeated nomadic raids toward the end of Han dynasty, and after the establishment ofCao Wei, the northern part of the commandery was abandoned.[3]
Xihe became a principality inWestern Jin dynasty. In 280 AD, Xihe had 4 counties, Lishi, Xicheng (隰城), Zhongyang andJiexiu (介休), with a population of 6,300 households.[3] The region was lost in theDisaster of Yongjia. UnderNorthern Wei, the commandery was reestablished in 484 AD, and included 3 counties (Xicheng, Jiexiu, Yong'an 永安) and a population of 5,388 households.[4] It was eventually abolished in earlySui dynasty.
During theSui andTang dynasties, Xihe Commandery became an alternative name for Fen Prefecture (汾州). In 741 AD, it administered 5 counties, namely Xihe (formerly Xicheng),Xiaoyi (formerly Yong'an), Jiexiu,Pingyao andLingshi. The total population was 320,230, or 59,450 households.[5][6]
| Sili |  Han provinces and commanderies in 219 CE | |
|---|---|---|
| Yu Province | ||
| Ji Province | ||
| Yan Province | ||
| Xu Province | ||
| Qing Province | ||
| Jing Province | ||
| Yang Province | ||
| Yi Province | ||
| Liang Province | ||
| Bing Province | ||
| Shuofang Province | ||
| You Province | ||
| Jiaozhi Province | ||
Full list(202 BC – 220 AD) | ||