Generally, there are several opinions as follows:
One theory means: the source of Xiang River and the merger of Li River are called Lixiang, the middle reaches are called Xiaoxiang after they merge with Xiao River, and the lower reaches are called Xiaoxiang. After steaming and hydration, it is called Zhengxiang, hence the name "Sanxiang".
One way of saying it is: Xiangxiang is Lower Hunan, Xiangtan is Middle Hunan, and Xiangyin is Upper Hunan, collectively called "Three Hunans".
One way of saying it is: used as a general term for the three regions of northern Hunan, western Hunan and southern Hunan, and generally refers to the entire province of Hunan.
However, the above three statements each have their own shortcomings, and it seems that they cannot basically summarize the entire province of Hunan. According to "Shui Jing Zhu": "The Xiang water comes out of Yanghai Mountain in Shi'an County, Lingling". The northern region of Guangxi was under the jurisdiction of Lingling County in the Han Dynasty, and Shi'an County is now Xing'an County in Guangxi. Yanghai Mountain is now called Yangshuo Mountain. There is a large stone tablet of "Xiang-Li Distribution" on Yangshuo Mountain. The Xiang River flows to the northeast and the Li River
flows to the northwest. This is the watershed of the two rivers of Hunan and Li. People generally call it "Lixiang". The Xiangshui River meanders into Lingling, Hunan, merges with the Xiaoshui River that originates from Jiuyi Mountain and then flows northward. This section is the upper reaches of the Xiangshui River and is called "Xiaoxiang". The Xiaoxiang River flows to Hengyang, where it merges with the Zhanshui River. It is the downstream of the Xiangshui River and is called Zhengxiang River. Therefore, "Lixiang", "Xiaoxiang" and "Zhengxiang" are collectively referred to as "Sanxiang". Regardless of the fact that the Li River does not flow into Hunan, the obvious flaw of this statement is that it does not cover a large area of ??northern Xiangxi. The second theory calls Xiangtan, Xiangxiang, and Xiangyin together as the Three Xiangs. However, Xiangtan, Xiangxiang, and Xiangyin are located in northern and central Hunan, and they cannot summarize the entire province of Hunan. The third theory uses "Sanxiang" as the general name for the three regions of northern Hunan, western Hunan and southern Hunan. Although this statement covers a wider geographical range than the first two statements, it also omits central Hunan and eastern Hunan, so it cannot generalize to the entire province of Hunan.
However, there is another saying that the author agrees with but it is rare, that is, using "Sanxiang" as the abbreviation of "Xiaoxiang", "Zheng
Xiang" and "Yuanxiang" . As we all know, the "Yuan River" is the longest river in Hunan, flowing through western Hunan and into eastern Hunan.
The Xiang River flows through Changsha and Xiangyin and then merges with the Yuan River. It can be said to be the downstream of the Xiang River. "Yuanxiang" is also beyond reproach.
Qu Yuan said in "Huaisha" written before he threw himself into the river: "The vastness of Yuanxiang is divided into streams. The road is built and obscured, and the road is far away." In "
"Li Sao" also said: "When Ji Yuan and Xiang are conquering south, they will focus on China and make speeches." Dai Shulun in the Tang Dynasty also said, "The flow of Yuan and Xiang is endless, how deep is Qu
Zi's resentment! At dusk, the autumn wind rises. , the poem "Xiao Xiaofeng Forest" is spread throughout the world. It can be seen that it was known as "Yuanxiang
" in ancient times. However, the Lishui River does not flow into Hunan, so it seems inappropriate to use "Xiaoxiang, Zhengxiang, and Lixiang" to refer to Hunan.
"Xiaoxiang", "Zhengxiang" and "Yuanxiang" are collectively referred to as "Sanxiang", which basically covers the entire Hunan and reflects the geographical characteristics of Hunan in a relatively comprehensive way.
In short, "Three Hunan and Four Rivers" are general references, but they are just digital tendencies when people speak.