A Study On The Tribal Army In Liao Dynasty

Tribal army is the most important troop of Liao Dynasty.From Taizu and Taizong period to Shengzong,the system of tribal army is basically stereotype.The theme of the thesis is tribal army in Liao Dynasty.The thesis focus on its military system,administration,garrison troops,marches questions,and so on.Excpet the introduction and conclusion,the full thesis is divided into five chapters.The introduction mainly introduces the significance of the research topic in this thesis and reviews the research of this topic in academia,concludes the deficiencies in current research,summarizes the research approaches and the research methods for this thesis,and points out innovations and difficulties in this thesis.Chapter 1 describes the development and evolution of the system of tribal military.Before building the regime,Khitan is a tribal alliance.Under the Yao-lien family period,Khitan's military system has four hierarchies,the line of command go from head khans to “prime ministers” and then down to big tribal chieftains and finally to small tribal chieftains.Eve of the founding of regime,yuyue comes of Khitan's military system.After the founding of the Liao Dynasty,“prime ministers”become physical presence,and yuyue has a change that from actual official post to a nominal position.In the period of shengzong,the system of tribal military has formed two kinds management models.One management is North Privy Council—local administrations.Another management is North Privy Council—special administrations.At the same time,except Khitan tribes,the tribal soldiers join other nomadic people.Chapter 2 explicates the collection and distribution of tribal army.Jiujun appears many times in Liao Dynasty literature,which actually is standing army.And tribal jiujun is tribal standing army.Tribal army also has guard function.Because of the Nabo,around the erperor,its troops gradually increase.Tribal guard army is growingrapidly.However,when it turn into tribal standing army,the army will own all features of tribal standing army.Chapter 3 introduces the management organization and officials of tribal army.The management system of tribal army has two kinds: North Privy Council—local administrations;North Privy Council—special administrations.Special administrations include four prince's residence,jiedushi of weiwugu tribe,jiedushi of daotaling.Their status from high to low is: four prince's residence,local administrations,jiedushi.On the one hand,the emperor delegate authorities.On the other hand,the ruler try to control the leadership by setting up censors,letting military officers return to imperial court.Chapter 4 describes tribal army who are in charge of the garrison.There are three tribal garrison region,which around the Khitan headquarters and reflect the characteristic of “play one barbarian state against another”.According to the pasture factor,the troops of each garrison region stay in about 70,000.Although the troops still increase,the rate of increase is slow.Chapter 5 discusses the tribal march system.Tribal army's conscription,organization,command system are gradually normalized in many battle,and these are shaped into a system.According to the needs of the war,the army is divided into one part,two parts or more.But each part all belong to supreme commander.March's commander usually set up lieutenant-general,deputy lieutenant-general and military inspector.Tribal army is based on the tribes as a unit.And every tribe is a detachment,the commander is their jiedushi.In addition,there are dui units under the tribe,which commander are duitou.In a war,tribal army usually become cavalrymen,and some become infantry.The conclusion concludes the general situation and system of tribal army.Furthermore,this part discusses the relationship between tribal army system and reform,and points out the frontier policy and concept of emperors.Meanwhile talk over the relationship of tribal army system and state system.