Wǔdìng

Wuding was the land of the Luowu Yi in Yunnan. In 1337 its hereditary chiefs governed under the Yuan, which had established the Wuding Route in 1276.

The Ming made Wuding a military and civilian prefecture in 1382. Succession disputes among its native prefects preceded the move of the seat to Shizishan in 1569 and the appointment of a regular official in 1607. In 1645 the tusi Wu Bikui seized several cities before Ming troops captured him. The Qing reduced Wuding to an independent department in 1770.