Jiànníng

Jianning was a county of Shaowu prefecture in inland Fujian. Its seat stood beside streams on three sides, with a hill along the western edge. The county gazetteer records that flooding destroyed most of its earlier walls in 1344. Magistrate Ma Sheng rebuilt and enlarged the circuit between the winter of 1493 and spring of 1495, providing six gates and four water gates. Subsequent officials repeatedly repaired towers, raised the walls and altered the southern entrance.

Military occupation brought another burden. Qing troops entered in 1646 and established their headquarters in a substantial private residence. Soldiers were quartered throughout the town, often treating borrowed houses as military property. In 1651 provincial authorities ordered the issue of printed certificates to protect householders' rights and regulate restitution. Repeated floods continued to undermine the defences, including major damage in 1671 and 1683. Jianning's walls thus required recurring negotiation over official funds, local contributions and the demands of a garrison.