Abstract:
Large quantities of emigrants from areas east of Hangu Pass settled in the Guanzhong region due to dozens of large-scale migrations in times of the Qin and the Han Dynasty. Of the emigrated population, the mainstay was descendents of the noble families of the six former kingdoms, whose mainstay was noble descendents of the former Qi and Lu kingdoms, whose mainstay was descendents of the Tian families. The descendents of the Tian and Jiang families made the majority of emigrants in Guanzhong together with emigrant populations from the kingdoms of Lu, Song, Zou and Wei. The immigration was imposed either forcefully by official decrees or by temptation of profitable economic interests, such as giving money, materials or lands and premises or exempting tax and fees. It had been subjectively intended to increase the population in Guanzhong, man the labouring force of fiefs and strengthen governmental control over the former gentry. Objectively, however, the immigration helped prosper economy in Guanzhong and promote the fusion between civilizations of western and eastern China. More importantly, it laid the foundation for the shaping of national ideology of “grand unification” based on Confucianism.
