Ruins of Liaohai Wei

Ruins of Liaohai Wei

The ruins of Liaohai Wei are a cultural tourism attraction.

Where was Liaohai Wei located? Historical records from the early Ming Dynasty contain differing accounts — some place it at Niujiagang in Changtu, while others cite Niujiagang in Haicheng, each with its own evidence. The following is an investigation into the ruins of Liaohai Wei:

Research confirms that in the early Ming Dynasty, a military-administrative system called the Wei-Suo system was implemented. The initial site of Liaohai Wei was indeed established at Niujiagang in Changtu (present-day Niuzhuangwopu Village, Shiba Jiazi Township, Changtu), to the north of Sanwan Wei (Kaiyuan). It was located ten Chinese miles from the Dongliao River Tongjiangkou (present-day Tongjiangkou) dock within the territory of Changtu, which was formerly a waterway hub in the area. The evidence includes:

The "Fengtian Tongzhi (Volume 2)" entry on Liaohai Wei states: “The Draft History of Qing – Geography Volume: 240 li northeast of Changtu Prefecture (this is incorrect), where Liaohai Wei was established in the early Ming Dynasty, the place name being Niujiagang.” In reality, it was Niujiagang, 90 li southwest of Changtu Prefecture.

It also states: “Liaodong Zhi: Liaohai Wei was established in the 11th year of Hongwu, initially at Niujiagang, and moved to Kaiyuan City in the 26th year, overseeing nine Qianhusuo (regimental posts).” “Ming Veritable Records: In February of the 23rd year of Hongwu, the Liaohai Wei Commandant Office was established at Sanwan Wei, that is, at the northern city of Kaiyuan…” Both Liaodong Zhi and the Ming Veritable Records indicate that Liaohai Wei was established at Niujiagang in Changtu, adjacent to the north of Kaiyuan.

So where does the discrepancy over Niujiagang come from?

The "Fengtian Tongzhi (Volume 2)" contains a note under the Liaohai Wei entry: First, “Today, 40 li west of Haicheng there is a Niujiagang fortress, and apart from this there is no other Niujiagang…” In fact, Changtu has its own Niujiagang, and Haicheng has its own Niu’ezhen Post, and in those times when transportation and information were undeveloped, it’s possible to know one but not the other. See attached (p. 606) the Map of the Liaodong Regional Command during the Ming Dynasty. Second, “It is also said to be 90 li west of the Wei, and seems not to be today’s Niu’ezhen Fortress. Why? The Jingyao states that in the early Ming Dynasty, Liaohai Wei was established at Niujiagang, and with the evidence from the Veritable Records in February of the 23rd year of Hongwu, which says that Liaohai Wei was established to the north of Sanwan Wei, it appears that Niujiagang was indeed in today’s Changtu, and this is credible with slight uncertainty.” As previously explained, Sanwan Wei refers to Kaiyuan, and to the north of Kaiyuan is undoubtedly Niujiagang in Changtu. According to the "Jin Liao Zhi": “Liaohai Wei was stationed behind Sanwan Wei, with a total of a certain number of cavalry troops, 238 infantry, 370 garrison troops, and 41 supervisory officers…” This also indicates that Liaohai Wei was stationed behind Sanwan Wei (at the Kaiyuan site), that is, in Changtu to the north of Kaiyuan, and absolutely could not have been in Haicheng’s Niujiagang, hundreds of li away beyond Tieling Wei, Shenyang Wei, and Dongning Wei. The "Fengtian Zhi (Volume 2)" also records under the Niujiagang entry: “Goryeo History – Xin Kou Biography: The Commander-in-Chief, the Pacifying Sea Marquis, the Yudu Supervisor, and the Minister Li — the three dignitaries disembarked at Niujiagang and directed the transport of grain to Liaoyang, Haichuan, Shenyang, and Kaiyuan.” This further shows that grain was transported from Niujiagang in Changtu to Haichuan (Haicheng), and certainly not “with slight credibility.”

Material Evidence: In the past, a stone carving was excavated from the area of Changtu Prefecture, inscribed with the words “Liaohai Wei,” along with “military outpost (‘斥堠’ refers to a military watch post or soldiers)” and “made by Commander Tao Yu in the 7th year of the Yongle era.”