On Sun Wu's Corvee System

The regime, Sun Wu, from 222 A.D. when Sun Quan proclaimed himself king to 280 A.D. when it was subverted by Jin Dynasty, had ruled for 59 years. It was the longest ruler comparing with the other two in San Guo Era. Although in accordance with relying on the natural barrier of the Changjiang River, a corner content to retain sovereignty over a part of the country, it can live forever and have close relation with its the implementation of every policy. This text regards the system of the compulsory labor service among them as argument to probe into the vicissitudes of regime Sun Wu.Although the literature on Sun Wu's history is relatively less than other regimes', wooden tablets and bamboo slips unearthed at Zoumalou , Changsha, in 1996 have provided us a large number of relevant literature on Sun Wu.So this text combine the literature handed down from ancient times and unearthed wooden tablet or bamboo slip for , start with the basic content of the system of compulsory labor service, have probed into the social effect of the compulsory labour's system and impact on corresponding system of the Eastern Jin Dynasty and the Southern Dynasties, and draw the conclusion: The active service person of Sun Wu's compulsory labour contain all person written into household register including woman; The compulsory labour requisitions according to the household register; The adult labourer' s age on active service is 18 to 60 years old; The kind of compulsory labour service is differences with adult service, transporting service, low official service, craftsman's service, etc.; The situation of exempting from service is divided into the identity exemption and no identity exemption.The previous compulsory labour policy reflected Sun Quan's wisdom and mercy. However, a important reason for the decline of the regime Sun Wu is the compulsory labour policy of Sun Hao which caused the regime subverted by Jin Dynasty finally. The compulsory labour service system of the Eastern Jin Dynasty and Southern Dynasties were made and implemented in accordance with Sun Wu's system basically, meanwhile, Sun Wu's back-end strenuous compulsory labour become the lessons drawn from its mistakes by new regime. The rulers of Eastern Jin Dynasty and the Southern Dynasties made the compulsory labour system further improve at the foundation of Sun Wu. But some respect suspected of exceeding the proper limits in righting a wrong rather too, which make its policy go further at the foundation of the back-end Sun Wu.