Tang Jiedushi System

Timeline

1. 618–640Guanzhong and the northern circuits · ChinaEarly Tang followed Sui institutions in setting up governorships to manage frontier prefectures' military and civil affairs, and used temporary command mechanisms such as field marshals and commanders-in-chief to direct expeditions, forming the prototype of centrally appointed generals garrisoning a region.
2. 640–680Hexi and Shuofang · NorthwestFrom the Zhenguan era onward, famous generals such as Li Jing and Hou Junji long administered the northwest; frontier generals concurrently held military and civil affairs of several prefectures, and local military command tended to concentrate, accumulating practical experience for later jiedushi territorial divisions.
3. 680–700Northern and southwestern frontiers · ChinaIn the late 7th century, frontier generals increasingly held long-term commands while also handling civil administration and finance; central control over distant military districts increasingly relied on stationed commanders, and elements of the jiedushi system had begun to take shape by the end of the 7th century.
4. 711Chang'an · GuanzhongDuring Emperor Xuanzong's Kaiyuan era, jiedushi were formally established, with Xue Ne among the first holders, commanding the troops of the ten frontier garrisons; the system rose from 7th-century military command practice into an institutionalized local regime integrating military and civil authority.