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Yunnan history begin before modern human[Homo sapien] emerged Younmou Man [Homo erectus] have already appeared in southern China.
First local kingdom that described later in ancient Chinese book is The Kingdom of Dian (6 century BCE. – 1st century AD.) in Han dynasty’s attempt that tried to opened the first silk road to India. Han dynasty’s troop was welcomed by king of Dian and was in battled later with different tribal on their way to Tibet. This indicated that there were many different tribal groups in Yunnan area at that time. In 109 BC., Dian became a vassal state of Han empire and discover in king of Dian’s tomb discovered his own seal for the important paper and become the important city on the first silk road to India and Burma.
After Han dynasty falled, another tribal in Yunnan so called Nanzhao was became more powerful and invaded Chinese frontier in Tang dynasty. They sometimes allied with Tibetian tribe, Tubo, to invade China but sometimes allied with Tang dynasty to hold back the Tubo. Nanchao usually plundered Chengdu, commercial center and important center of the south. Nanzhao also attacked and took over Annam, a military protectorate of Tang in Nothern Vietnam, too.
Nanzhao power was rising and gets China in trouble until 1253 AD. Yuan dynasty that ruled by Mongol tribe from the north ruled China after Tang dynasty. Kublai Khan dispatched his army to Yunnan to defeated local tribes included powerful Dali and Nanzhao. Then Yunnan became vassal state that have to pay taxes from different native chiefs. After Yuan dynasty was collapsed, Yunnan was in chaos and turbulent for many years.
In Ming dynasty Yunnan have less attention from central administration. Ming dynasty sent their troops to this area in1381 AD. Ming dynasty had set up a hereditary feudatory system in this province that made a great impact in this time. But, military troops are not strong enough to secure this area from invader. In 15th century, Tuangoo dynasty invaded Yunnan and Ming governor are not be able to hold back until 16th century and built 8 passes in the border to Burma.
Yunnan still Ming dynasty’s province until Qing dynasty took over China from Ming. The governor of Yunnan made a resistance to Qing in 1659 AD. Then he was defeated by Qing and fled to Burma. Qing army has forced King of Burma to hand him back later to avoid hostility.
After the collapsed of Qing dynasty in 1911 AD. Yunnan become a part of China, but still has their own combination of different tribes and culture. Mountainous area and geological location that is a crossroads to Southeast Asia and remote transportation make it perfect for opium trade and trafficking.
Wikipedia: History of Yunnan
Yang, Bin. 2008. Between Winds and Clouds: The Making of Yunnan (Second Century BCE-Twentieth Century BCE). New York: Columbia University Press, 1 - 62.
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