Restoration Of Political Order And The Development Of Han Military Clans From The Rise To The Establishment Of Yuan Dynasty

Chen Ji in Yuan Dynasty believed that,the dynasty "got the throne from the horsebacks,but maintained rule based on literature and culture".The Han nationality military clans played crucial roles not only in the process of military conquest,but also in ruling the dynasty with literature and culture.Han nationality military clans resulted from the conquest.From the rise to the establishment of Yuan Dynasty,the extended of invasion and the strengthened of army,the north part of China witnessed the militarize trend of the society,amounts of military clans cone into being in the name of defending the family and territories.With Mongolia had overwhelming strength towards Song Dynasty and Jin Dynasty,these clans surrendered to Mongolia,helping them to conquest territories and establish the dynasty,and became influential clans in Yuan Dynasty.The military clans during the period experienced three stages:Genghis Khan’s two invasions to Jin Dynasty;Muqali and his descendants control the Han nationality’s territories;and the period during the reigns from Yuantaizong to Yuanxianzong.As the major body in controlling the Han nationality territories under Yuan Dynasty,the military clans’ activities can be abstracted in to aspects:attending the Mongolian army and controlling the territories as the deputy of Mongolia regime in limited area.The origins of the group can be divided in three sorts:Jin Dynasty’s regular army;volunteer army and new registered army by Mongolia regime.With the military invasions to northern part,Mongolia regime also restored this area’s political order with the help of military clans.The attempts reflected in two aspects:the first one was to reorganize Han nationality troops,and appoint military officer to manage the army;the other was to establish local administration system based on military clans.Before the end of Jin Dynasty,Mongolia ruler basically inherited Jin’s policies and systems on managing Han nationality armies.This kind of army can be generally ranked as Baihu,Qianhu and Wanhu three levels.The military officer ranked from Baihun to Dutikong named as:Baihu,Qianhu,vice-Wanhu,Wanhu,Vice-Dutong,Dutong and Dutikong.From the vice-Dutong to Dutikong were mainly military officers for one area or special armies.The level of a military office was generally equal to a county magistrate,while the Dutigong was equal to province level.Mongolia rulers adopted original local administration system,and changed it with their own tradition.During the period,the highest local administration organization was Duxingsheng established by Muqali,prior to Xuande Suilu Marshal office and Yanjing Xingsheng.Their function was similar in general,but Yanjing Xingsheng was mainly an administration organization,while Xuande Marshal was a military organization.In Xuande Marshal office,Mongolia inherited Jin’s Marshal offices system,appointing one marshal,usually followed by Zuo vice-marshal,You vice-marshal,Zuo military inspector,You military inspector,Zuo Dujian and You Dujian,but not necessary,sometimes one position maybe vacancy.Each Du-marshal office set Xing Du-marshal office in crucial county and province.Each Xing Du-marshal office set Xing-marshal offices,and the officers of the organization were always work by county and province officers at the same time.This was the basic discipline of Province-Lu-Fu-Zhou-county local administration system based on Du-marshal office.After the perdition of Jin Dynasty,Mongolia regime implemented "new Bureaucratic system" in Han nationality area.The system mainly inherited from Jin Dynasty.The local adopted Lu-Fu-Zhou-county system.However,Mongolia regime did not issue clear bureaucratic titles,so the titles differed everywhere.In the process of reorganizing troops,ranking Shihu,Baihu,Qianhu and Wanhu four levels,while military officers ranking Baihu,Qianhu and Wanhu three level.In the new bureaucratic system,Wanhu usually held by Lu-du officers,Qianhu shouldered by province officers and their descendants,while the Baihu occupied by county officers and their descendants.After this military reformation,the positions of military officers were similar to early stages of Jin Dynasty.Meanwhile,this military reformation became the basic principle of military officers in Yuan Dynasty.To be specific,Wanhu corresponded Lu officer,Qianhu to Zhou officers and Baihu to county officers.With the methods of reformation and the spread of "new bureaucratic system",Mongolia regime gradually restored the ruined political order,and the military clans played a crucial role in the process.After the establishment of Yuan Dynasty,military clans continued cast their influence over the regime in political and military fields.This viewpoint can be demonstrated by the political careers of the descendants of the clans.Military titles were the political guarantee of the continuity of the clans.Yuan made clear regulation towards the military titles and positions inheritance,which can be abstracted as the descendants of military clans on the condition of maintain the amount of military officer position.The regulation can be seen as main guarantee for the continuity of military clans’ political careers.In the period of Yeke Mongghol ulus,the clans began their political careers by the methods of inheritance or household feats.When Kublai Khan enthroned,implemented division of soldier and commons,as well as"immigration" methods,offering more opportunities for the descendants to clans to began their political careers.Apart from inheritance,many were became part of bureaucratic system by mengyin,kesig,recommendation,examination and so on.Feihu Zhao’s clan followed Mongolian conquest or managed local area after allegiance with Mongolia.They trusted by Mongol(or Yuan)rulers,and formed a"nokor"(伴当)relationship.This historical origins in the Yuan Dynasty is called the"huja’ur"(根脚).They also rely on this identity to continue their political careers,never broke with the ruling class throughout the Yuan Dynasty.Even showing a hereditary phenomenon in certain positions,which one of the important factors that limited social mobility in the Yuan Dynasty.Zhao’s clan Marriage somewhat different before and after the Kublai’s reform,which reflected changes of the political environment and the social status of the clan,while showing the closed nature of the ruling elite.The traditional change of the clan,reflecting its political strategies and social roles’ change,which is an important means to maintain the prestige and enhance the ability of officialdom of their clan in the Yuan Dynasty.The flourishing of the Zhao’s clan in Mongolian period present the universal characters of the fourtunes of Han nationality military clans to some extent,so Zhao’s clans contained both universal and unique characters.