Historical Studies (Chinese Edition)

No.4, 2015

 

On the Zhengzu and Caiguan-Qishi during the Qin and Han Dynasties

(Abstract)

 

Wang Yanhui

 

Zheng zu (正卒) in the Qin and Han dynasties referred to ding nan (丁男 adult man), also known as zheng ding (正丁) in later generations. Cai guan (材官 infantryman) and qi shi (骑士 cavalryman) were prefecture and county soldiers who were selected from ding nan. A qi shi was required to be strong, quick, and wealthy to some extent, while a cai guan was selected according to his ability to draw a bow, regardless of how much money he had. Cai guan and qi shi were “on the active list” during their two consecutive years in service, of which one year was spent serving as a “general soldier (常兵)” or “prefecture and county soldier (郡国兵)”, and the other year was spent as a “bodyguard” in the capital city. During reserve duty they could pursue their own occupations, but they would be recruited immediately war broke out. Generally, a zheng zu did not take local military duties but one-year “border” duties, and public security was maintained by ting zu (亭卒) who were selected from cai guan and qi shi. Frontier soldiers and prefectural and county garrison in Guandong area took regular turns in the frontier areas. Rarely could a frontier soldier finish his border service by selfarrangement or by time accumulation.