Research On Wu Slips "Sheng Kou" In Zoumalou

As an important material for the study of politics,economy and culture in The Three Kingdoms period and even the Wei and Jin dynasties,the litters about"shengkou"(“生口”)provide new materials for the study of the slave class in The Three Kingdoms period.With the publication of the new Wu slips of Zoumalou(走马楼吴简),it is possible to further study the"shengkou"slips and related issues.This paper rediscusses the"shengkou"trade and related issues in Wu slips of The Three Kingdoms of Zoumalou in Changsha by using traditional historical materials and unearthed documents,combining with previous studies,using statistics and historical research methods.The word "sheng kou" first appeared in the han dynasty.The newly unearthed "shengkou" slips are sorted out and analyzed by using the methods of archaeology and combining with the information about the remains of the slips.This paper attempts to restore two volumes of "shengkou" by using the method of restoring and linking the volumes summarized by scholars.These two volumes are records of the government of Linxiang selling "shengkou" to officials and people.The main focus of the brief should be the payment by the "shengkou" buyer and the recovery of the payment in arrears.An analysis of the"sheng kou"sales slips in Wu slipsⅥfound that"Shengkou"buyers are mainly ordinary civilian males,officials have also bought,female buyers only 1 case.The majority of the"shengkou"are"da nan"(大男)and"da nv"(大女)aged from 15 to 59,among which"da nv"are the most.The minimum price of"sheng kou"is 4,000 yuan,and the maximum price is 100,000 yuan.The average price of"sheng kou"is relatively high,so there are relatively few officials and citizens who can afford it.Finally,explaining the relationship among the"shengkou","hu xia nu bi"(“户下奴婢”)and"ke"(客)."Shengkou"after be bought will be included in the household register of buyer,became"hu xia nu bi".Naturalization handmaiden can replace the master to serve,to the government at the same time also pay taxes.After the slaves with personal dependency are naturalized,they are not considered as assets to affect the family’s payment of money.The status of the private door is similar to that of the"hu xia nu bi",the situation of mixing“nu”(“奴”)and“ke”(“客”).