明代州县区划及其沿革

明代州县增设改置的原因主要有三种：一是有历史的遗留，二是有自然地理环境的限制，三是有当时政治的制约。自然地理环境固然有其优势，但它不能把人完全隔绝；历史遗留和当时的政治，都是人为的因素。州县的增改、疆域的划分，无疑是人的因素起主导作用。分析明代740多个州县增改的原因，不但可以看出统治者为加强自身统治而花费的苦心，而且也可以看出州县的政治职能。

Administrative Division of Prefectures and Counties in Ming Dynasty

The change in the administrative division in Ming Dynasty can be traced in the following reasons:1)historical legacy;2)the restriction of geographical environment;3)the restriction of politics of the time.The geographical environment could provide superior natural advantage,but it could not keep human beings at a distance;historical legacy and the politics of the time were both of human factor in nature.The administrative division of prefectures and counties as well as boundaries was no doubt the result of human effort.An analysis of the administrative division of over 740 prefectures and counties in Ming Dynasty can not only present the painstaking effort the rulers made in strengthening their rule,but also show the role of those prefectures and counties in undertaking their duties.