Patrol Routes Along the Frontier
In ancient time, the central government regularly dispatched officials to patrol the frontier regions to maintain peace and assert sovereignty, giving birth to the “patrol maps.” During the Ming and Qing dynasties (from the late 14th century to the early 20th century), frontier troubles primarily came from the north, resulting in patrol maps predominantly focusing on these areas. Examples of said maps include the “Heilongjiang Regional Patrol Route Map” housed in the Heilongjiang Archive Building and “Map of the Nine Rivers of Jilin” housed in the National Palace Museum. The frontier map exhibited here shows not northern defenses but rather Qing dynasty’s southwestern borders stretching from Guishun State in Guangxi Province to the border of Vietnam, passing through Ronglao, Hurunzhai, and Xialeituzhou. The map features China and Vietnam separated by walls, moats, and fences as well as border passes, military posts, floodgate forts, and villages. The defensive sites are connected by winding roads marked with red dotted lines running through the mountains. Although it is unknown whether this map relates to any specific event, the word “patrols” found in note at the bottom of the “Longbang Floodgate,” which reads “Longbang is under the jurisdiction of Zuoying’s Floodgate. The checkpoints start from Ronglao and end at Butouka, totaling eight checkpoints and nine passes. Patrols are conducted according to the schedules” suggesting regular inspection tours and frontier patrols.
