T'uan-chieh-ping under the Fu-ping System of T'ang Dynasty

Abstract

The T'ang Dynasty's military superiority to the northern barbarians was gradually undermined from around 680 A. D. Northern races, such as T'u Chüeh, Ch'i-tan and T'u Fan, invaded the T'ang territory year after year. For self-defense, the inhabitants in the border regions organized a militia called Ta-chia-tzu-ti (_??__??__??__??_)(young men from the great families). Following this, provincial governors organized another militia for defense. This militia, called Ch'eng-pang-tzu-ti (_??__??__??__??_) (young men beside the wall), absorbed some Ta-chia-tzu-ti in the neighborhood. To cope with the Ch'i-tan rebellion in 696 A. D., the central government expanded the militia in border regions into T'uan-chieh-ping (_??__??__??_) (united soldiers). Ch'eng-pang-tzu-ti was also absorbed into this new organization. These "united soldiers" were enlisted as members of the regular army. They continued their argricultural work but received military training during the leisure season. In an emergency, they fought as part of the regular army and defended their native provinces. When they were in service, they were paid by the government. This system was adopted also in the border districts of Hopei, Shansi, Shensi and Szechwan provinces. As the military conscription system, known as "Fu-ping (_??__??_) system, " gradually, disintegrated, the mercenary soldiers and the "united soldiers " formed the mainstays of the army. Around 740 A. D., about half of the 700, 000 or 800, 000 men in the army were "united soldiers." For a long period since then, in China, militia played its role as the troops auxiliary to hired troops, the latter being the regular army. The origin of the military system as such will be found in the "united soldiers, " which made up the T'ang army together with Fu-ping.