The transformations of the Tang military system and social changes in medieval China

Abstract

The military system in the late Tang and Five Dynasties is principally characterized by the transformation of the practice of conscription to the recruitment of mercenary soldiers, along with the changes of military establishments and soldiers’ remuneration. In the early Tang Dynasty, the status and wealth of conscripts were highly valued. While in the late Tang, the martial art of recruits was more valued. This transformation in medieval China illustrates the decline of the imperial power’s direct control over its subjects and reflects the historical trends of the social evolutions taking place during the Tang-Song Era.