Yǒuyáng

Youyang lies in the Wuling Mountains, among steep valleys at the meeting of the Sichuan, Guizhou and Hunan regions. For centuries hereditary chiefs governed the district under the authority of the imperial court. The Ran family held the Youyang chieftaincy, leaving tombs in the hills that reflect the standing of its rulers. One chief, Ran Xingbang, requested that a Confucian school be established in Youyang, opening a path for local students to enter the examination system. In 1735 the Qing replaced hereditary rule with officials appointed by the state, bringing a long period of chieftain administration to an end.