Manchuria

Manchuria is a historical region in Northeast Asia that today includes all of Northeast China and parts of the modern Russian Far East. It is made up of three Chinese provinces: Heilongjiang, Jilin, and Liaoning, along with some areas in Inner Mongolia. In the past, more land was included, such as parts near the Amur River that now belong to Russia.

The name "Manchuria" comes from the word "Manchu," used by the Japanese. This name was strongly pushed by Japan when they created a state called Manchukuo. Today, many people in China avoid using the name "Manchuria" because it reminds them of times when Japan controlled the area. Instead, they often call the place the "Northeast."

Many different groups of people have lived in Manchuria, including the Manchus, Mongols, Koreans, and several smaller groups. Long ago, early Koreanic kingdoms and the ancestors of the Manchus, known as the Jurchens, were here too.

Boundaries

Manchuria is today linked to three Chinese provinces: Heilongjiang, Jilin, and Liaoning. In the past, areas such as Chengde, Hulunbuir, Hinggan, Tongliao, and Chifeng were also part of Manchuria. These places are now in Hebei and Inner Mongolia.

Historically, the area called Manchuria included parts of what are now in Russia, like Primorskiy Kray, the Jewish Autonomous Oblast, southern Amur Oblast, Khabarovskiy Kray, and a bit of Zabaykalʼskiy Kray. These areas were part of the Qing dynasty until they were given to the Russian Empire through treaties in 1858 and 1860.

Names

Further information: Manchu people § Name

Manchuria

Origins

The name "Manchuria" started being used in the 18th or 19th century by the Japanese. It comes from the Japanese word Manshū, meaning "Region of the Manchus." This name was later used in European languages.

In China, the name "Manchuria" was not commonly used by the local people or the Manchus themselves. Instead, the area was known by other names. Over time, especially by the late 19th century, some Chinese people began to use the name Manzhou to refer to the region. However, it was not widely used until later periods.

China

In China, the use of "Manchuria" as a name for the region is seen as linked to history and identity. Some believe the Manchus thought of their homeland as a special place, which helped create the idea of Manchuria as a distinct area. Maps and essays from the late 1800s started using Manzhou, and it appeared more often on Chinese maps in the early 1900s. However, the name was not commonly used by most Chinese people.

Japan

The term "Manchuria" is seen as complex and tied to history. Some scholars say it was created by Japanese imperialism to make the region seem separate from China. Japan used this name when they set up a state called Manchukuo in the 1930s. Others argue that "Manchuria" is just a way to describe the place without political meanings.

Nurgan

During the Ming dynasty, the area where the Jurchens lived was called Nurgan.

Three Provinces

During the Qing dynasty, the region was called the "three eastern provinces," referring to Jilin, Heilongjiang, and Fengtian. These areas became fully functioning provinces in 1907.

Guandong

Manchuria was also called Guandong, meaning "east of the pass," referring to a place near the Great Wall of China. This name was used when many Chinese people moved to the area in the 19th and 20th centuries.

Northeast Region

Today, in China, the term "Northeast Region" is used instead of "Manchuria." This change happened because of the region's history with Japan. People from this area are called "Northeasterners." The Northeast is mainly home to Han Chinese, with many other groups also living there, such as Mongols and Hui.

Geography and climate

Manchuria is a large area in Northeast Asia, mostly made up of very old rocks that were once part of an ancient continent. It has mountains, like the Greater Khingan, and wide flat lands covered in rich soil.

The weather in Manchuria changes a lot between seasons. Summers are warm and wet with heavy rains, while winters are extremely cold but dry, with little snow. This big change happens because Manchuria lies between a huge landmass and the Pacific Ocean, causing the winds to shift direction throughout the year.

History

Main article: History of Manchuria

Early history

Manchuria was home to many groups of people, including the Manchu, Mongols, Koreans, Nanai, Nivkhs, Ulchs, and Hui. Many kingdoms rose to power here, such as the Sushen, Donghu, Xianbei, Wuhuan, Mohe, Khitan, and Jurchens. Korean kingdoms like Gojoseon and Goguryeo also ruled parts of the area. Chinese dynasties like the Qin, Han, Cao Wei, Western Jin, and Tang controlled parts of Manchuria too. Early on, people in Manchuria lived by hunting, fishing, raising animals, and farming.

The Khitan people created the Liao dynasty, which was the first to control all of Manchuria. Later, the Jurchen people formed the Jin dynasty (1115–1234), which took over parts of northern China and Mongolia. After the Mongol Yuan dynasty, the Ming dynasty took control. In the 1580s, a leader named Nurhaci began uniting the Jurchen tribes. He founded the Later Jin dynasty, which later became the Qing dynasty. The Qing dynasty eventually took over all of China in 1644.

Population change

At first, the Manchu rulers tried to stop Han Chinese people from moving into Manchuria. They built barriers like the Willow Palisade to mark the boundary. But many Han Chinese still moved in, farming land and renting from Manchu landlords. By the 1800s, Han Chinese made up most of the population in towns and garrisons.

Russian invasions

In 1858 and 1860, Russia forced the Qing dynasty to give up land north of the Amur River and east of the Ussuri River. This land became known as Outer Manchuria or Russian Manchuria. The rest stayed with China.

History after 1860

Russia built railways in Manchuria, and many Han farmers moved there. Japan took control of southern Manchuria after the Russo-Japanese War in 1904–1905. Japan wanted Manchuria for its resources like coal and minerals. In 1931, Japan invaded Manchuria and set up a puppet state called Manchukuo, ruled by the former Qing emperor Puyi. After World War II, the Soviet Union took over Manchuria briefly before leaving it to China. The Chinese Communist Party then used Manchuria as a base during the Chinese Civil War.

People's Republic of China

Today, Manchuria includes the provinces of Liaoning, Jilin, and Heilongjiang. After China’s founding in 1949, Manchuria became important for heavy industry and oil production, especially with the discovery of the Daqing oil field in the 1960s.