Tang And Song Dynasties Horse Policy Change

Horse administration is that administration management on horse breeding, raising, use and circulation conducted by the government and its development. It refers to related laws ,decrees, acts and some persons and affairs. Horse represented significant status in ancient society, standed for individual standing, power and wealth, symbolized state power and fortune. Rulers attached importance to development of horse administration throughout the history. From Xia-Shang-Zhou to Qing Dynasty, ancient horse administration developed and changed unceasingly.The dissertation mainly sums up study achievements of predecessors, systematically ascertains horse administration organs, grazing watchdog , grazers, horse trade system of Tang-Song Dynasty and concludes that horse administration changed a lot during Tang-Song Dynasty.Firstly, state horse administration organs transformed constantly. In Tang Dynasty, management power of horse administration transited from TaiPuSi to Qun-mu-si, XianJiuSI, FeiLongSi. In Song Dynasty, management power of horse administration was passed from Zuoyouqijiyuan on to QunMuSi, Taipu(controlled by the Bureau of Military Affairs), Jiabu.In the condition of Shizu system recession, changing horse administration organ was an vital measure on strengthening imperial power.Secondly, duo to imbalance of grazing watchdog development and changed management mode, the status of grazers varied. In contrast to Tang , the scale of grazing watchdog in Song is small. The difference formed related to loss of northwest pastures, however, it mainly caused by land ownership shift from state to individual, prevailing Tenancy System, profit-scramble between grazing watchdog and the mass. In the pre and middle period of Tang Dynasty, identity of grazers belonged to Scheduled Caste, slaves, Guanhu and Baiding remitted from slaves ,Guanhu and restricted to pastures over a long period included. Money paying substituted labor rent and Hegu occurred in the middle of Tang Dynasty.In Song Dynasty, grazers taken by military. Disintegration of Liangjian system in Dynasties of Wei, Jin, North & South resulted it.Finally, state tended to depend on horse trade system. In the early period of Tang, the number of horses traded was small and horse trade was rare, because there was no fixed system. From middle-Tang, there were specified officials managing horse affairs. They traded horses to minorities in fixed time and spot. During Song, the area of horse trade often changed, but horse trade by state happened one or more times in one year, the number of trade horses often reached to thousands. Obviously, state gradually relied on horse trade. Boom of horse trade system reflected the development of social productivity, profits of land surpassed horse raising. It also manifested developed commodity economy and influenced state policy. Horse trade system was similar to grazing watchdog, Suima, horse robbing before Tang Dynasty, it reflected that political strength predominant to economy strength predominant happened.