History of the administrative divisions of China (1912–49)

The Republic of China was founded in 1912. It used most of the same administrative divisions as the Qing Dynasty but divided Inner Mongolia into four provinces and set up several municipalities under the authority of the Executive Yuan. After the end of World War II in 1945, Manchuria was reincorporated into the Republic of China as nine provinces. Taiwan and the Pescadores were also acquired by the Republic of China and organized into Taiwan Province after Retrocession Day. By this time the top-level divisions consisted of 35 provinces, 12 Yuan-controlled municipalities, one special administrative region and two regions (Mongolia and Tibet).

After the central government's withdrawal from mainland China during the Chinese Civil War and subsequent relocation to Taiwan in 1949, the jurisdiction of the ROC was restricted to only Taiwan, the Pescadores, Hainan, and a few offshore islands of Fukien and Chekiang. Hainan fell to the Communist regime in May 1950 and Chekiang was also lost in 1955. The remaining area is called the "Free Area of the Republic of China" in the Constitution. In most ordinary legislation, the term "Taiwan Area" is used in place of the "Free Area", while Mainland China is referred to as the "Mainland Area."

Provinces and areas of the Republic of China in 1912.

Map of the Republic of China in 1926

The Beiyang Government streamlined the system used in Qing Dynasty down to three levels:

• Provinces (省, shěng)
• Circuits (道, dào)
• Counties (縣, xiàn)

The Beiyang Government set up four more provinces out of Inner Mongolia and the surrounding areas (Chahar, Jehol, Ningsia, Suiyuan) and two others out of parts of historical Tibet (Chuanbian (or Chwanpien, later Xikang/Sikang) out of Kham and Tsinghai out of Amdo; Ü-Tsang was the Dalai Lama's realm at this time and not part of any province), bringing the total number of provinces up to 28.

Map of the Republic of China in 1936

Map of the Republic of China in 1946

Map of the Republic of China in 1949

The Nationalist Government also began setting up municipalities, cities directly administered by the central government. More levels began to be added below the county, townships for instance. Circuits were then abolished in 1928 as being superfluous. However, this reform was soon found to be unfeasible since the average province now had 50+ counties and some more than a hundred. As a result, some provinces were later subdivided into several prefectures.

• Provinces (省, shěng)
  • Administrative superintendent district (行政督察區, xíngzhèng dūcháqū)
• Counties (縣, xiàn)

The creation of the puppet state Manchukuo by the Empire of Japan in the 1930s deprived China of 4 provinces in the northeast (Fengtien, Heilungkiang, Jehol, Kirin). After the defeat of Japan in 1945, Manchuria was reincorporated into China as 9 provinces and 3 municipalities. The Republic of China also annexed Taiwan and the Pescadores and organized into Taiwan Province. By this time there was a total of thirty-five provinces, twelve municipalities (院轄市, yuànxiáshì), one special administrative region (特別行政區, tèbié xíngzhèngqǖ), and two regions (地方, difāng) as first-level divisions under the Republic of China.

A map showing the official divisions and territories historically claimed by the Republic of China, along with their status as of 2005.

Map comparing political divisions as drawn by the Republic of China and the People's Republic of China.

After the loss of the mainland to the Communist Party in the Chinese Civil War and its retreat to Taiwan in 1949, the Nationalist Party continued to regard the Republic of China as the internationally recognized sole legitimate government of China. The jurisdiction of the Republic was restricted to Taiwan, the Pescadores, and a few islands off Fujian, but the Republic of China has never retracted its claim to mainland China or Mongolia. Accordingly, the official first-order divisions of Republic of China remain the historical divisions of China immediately prior to the loss of mainland China and maps of China and the world published in Taiwan sometimes show provincial and national boundaries as they were in 1949, ignoring changes made by the Communist government and including Mongolia, northern Burma (northern Kachin state), and Tannu Uriankhai as part of the Republic. Maps and list of administrative divisions covering above places are currently published.

In 2005, the nominal political divisions of the Republic were 35 provinces, 1 special administrative region, 2 regions, 14 special municipalities (adding Taipei and Kaohsiung to the original list), 14 leagues, and 4 special banners. For second-order divisions, under provinces and special administrative regions, there are counties, province-controlled cities (56), bureaus (34) and management bureaus (7). Under provincial-level municipalities there are districts, and under leagues there are banners (127).

• Provinces (省, shěng) and Special municipalities (直轄市, zhíxiáshì)
• Counties (縣, xiàn) and Cities (市, shì)

Although the administration of pro-independence President Chen Shui-bian (2000–2008) did not actively claim sovereignty over all of China, the national boundaries of the ROC have not been redrawn. Thus, the claimed area of the ROC continues to include mainland China, several off-shore islands, and Taiwan. Beginning in 2006, the ROC Yearbook, under Chen's administration, ceased displaying official administrative divisions in mainland China.[1] It recognized two provinces (Taiwan and Fukien) and two special municipalities (Taipei and Kaohsiung). President Ma Ying-jeou reasserted the ROC's claim to be the sole legitimate government of China and the claim that mainland China is part of ROC's territory.[2] He does not, however, actively seek reunification, and prefers to maintain an ambiguous status quo in order to improve relations with the PRC.[3] On May 21, 2012, the Mainland Affairs Council released a press announcement that said that Outer Mongolia is not a part of Republic of China.[4] As of 2014, the ROC maps showing the pre-1949 borders are published.

• Republic of China (1912–1949)
• Physiographic macroregions of China
• Administrative divisions of the Republic of China

• Summary of terms
• Historical map scans - maps of various sheng, dao, fu, ting, and xian of the late Qing era.
• The province in history by John Fitzgerald