Some Aspects of Food Supplies for the Northwestern Commanderies of the Han Empire (based on Hanjian bamboo slips)

Abstract

The investigation examines the local daily administrative documentation — bamboo slips (Hanjian), found in large quantities at the excavations along the Great Silk Road, namely belonging to the Western Han period (206 BC — 9 AD). The considered Hanjian bamboo slips, which represent some aspects of food supplies in the north-west of the Han Empire, come mainly from the excavations in the Dunhuang area. For comparative analysis, the investigation used the legislative acts of the national and commandery levels on the maintenance of storage facilities and rules for guest meals at postal stations, which allowed us to trace how different laws in this area were being put into practice. It was determined that the amount of rations could not correspond to the indicators established by law. Most likely, the laws allowed to have some variability, and the parameters stated in the laws determined only the maximum possible ration, but not the minimum. It means that offi cials could show some fl exibility in applying legal guidelines to food distribution.