NAN-YANG

Pinyin Nanyang city in southwestern Honan sheng (province), China. Nan-yang is situated on the Pai River, which is a tributary of the Han. It was from early times an important centre, commanding a major route between Sian (Hsi-an [Ch'ang-an]) in Shensi province and Hsiang-fan in Hupeh province and the Yangtze River valley, as well as two routes across the Fu-niu Mountains into the central plain of Honan, leading to Lo-yang and K'ai-feng. Another route extends southeastward into Anhwei province. In the early part of the 1st millennium BC, Nan-yang was the seat of the state of Shen. For most of the period from 600 to 220 BC, it was on the borders of the southern state of Ch'u and was known as Wan-i. With the Ch'in conquest in 221 BC, it became Wan county, seat of the commandery of Nan-yang. It became important under the Han dynasty (206 BCAD 220), both as a centre of commerce and as the seat of state iron foundries and of other state manufacturies. It was also the point at which converged the major routes leading from the western capital at Ch'ang-an (modern Sian) and the eastern capital at Lo-yang leading to the Yangtze River at Chiang-ling and the far south. In Later Han times (AD 23220) its local magnates played a large part in the restoration of Han power. In the 1st and 2nd centuries its name was a byword for refinement and luxury. For a time it was designated the southern capital. Later, however, its importance declined, and it remained a county town, subordinated to Teng-chou, until the last years of the 13th century, when the Mongols established it as the superior prefecture of Nan-yang. It kept this status until 1912, when it became a county town. In the 20th century Nan-yang's importance has somewhat declined, since the route of the PekingHan-k'ou railway lies east of it. Nan-yang is still a local commercial centre of considerable importance, however, providing a market for the grain, beans, sesame, tobacco, and other crops produced in the surrounding basin and transported by boat on the Pai River to the Han or by a rail line to Lo-ho (opened in 1969) and Hsian-fan. From early times the city has had a reputation for handicrafts, including the cutting and polishing of gemstones and jade. The surrounding region has a highly developed sericulture industry, producing raw silk, silk yarn, silk textiles, and embroidery. The city has developed a considerable industrial capacity, mostly based on small units. In the late 1950s an iron and steel industry was founded there. Pop. (1988 est.) 208,000.