Youzhou

Youzhou or You Prefecture (also known as You Province) is a place name for an ancient zhou or prefecture in northern China. Youzhou is cited in some ancient sources as one of the nine or twelve original provinces of China during early Chinese antiquity (22nd Century BC), but Youzhou was used in actual administration from 106 BC to the 10th Century AD. A prefecture as a political subdivision in Chinese history was at various times either the size of a province or sub-provincial unit known as commandery.