Fubing system
Encyclopedia
The Fubing system also romanized as Fu-ping, was a local militia system existing in China
between 6th century and 8th century. It originated in the Western Wei
dynasty, and was subsequently used in the Sui
and Tang
dynasties.
's administration. These militia
units also served as reserves, and could be mobilized quickly in times of war.
The system involved a system of militia who were assigned tracts of land. Men between 21 and 60 years of age were eligible. Officers received permanent commissions, but regular troops reported for duty, at the province capital on a rotation system that varied upon living distance. Those who lived 500 li
from the capital served one month every five months, and those over 2000 li away served for two months every 18 months. When off-duty, they would farm their land, but when they were or a war occurred, they would be re-mobilized. This supplemented the equal-field system
, which assigned all households a share of land to farm. These units subsequently became hereditary military families, and ushered forth vast militarized settlements and communities.
Sui placed these units under local civil administration, and later Tang incorporated them under metropolitan control, more specifically the Ministry of the Army. Tang fielded 634 militia units, later called Zhechongfu. Each unit consisted of 800 to 1200 men, and in turn were subdivided into tuan of 300, dui of 50, and huo of 10. Many were concentrated in the northern region, especially in Guanzhong
, which alone fielded 261 militia units, the rests include 164 in Shanxi
, and 74 in Henan
and Shandong
, all constituting about 80 percent of Fubing conscripts. Fubing required little government expenditure, since militiamen could support themselves by farming.
The Fubing system only had provisions for brief military campaigns and peacetime. Prolonged warfare would prevent the cultivation of agriculture for the economy. Fubing was gradually abandoned in favor of full time army units, known as Jian Er (健儿).
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
between 6th century and 8th century. It originated in the Western Wei
Western Wei
The Western Wei Dynasty followed the disintegration of the Northern Wei, and ruled northern China from 535 to 556.After the Xianbei general Yuwen Tai killed the Northern Wei emperor Yuan Xiu, he installed Yuan Baoju as emperor of Western Wei while Yuwen Tai would remain as the virtual ruler...
dynasty, and was subsequently used in the Sui
Sui Dynasty
The Sui Dynasty was a powerful, but short-lived Imperial Chinese dynasty. Preceded by the Southern and Northern Dynasties, it ended nearly four centuries of division between rival regimes. It was followed by the Tang Dynasty....
and Tang
Tang Dynasty
The Tang Dynasty was an imperial dynasty of China preceded by the Sui Dynasty and followed by the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period. It was founded by the Li family, who seized power during the decline and collapse of the Sui Empire...
dynasties.
Characteristics
The basis of the Sui and early Tang militaries was the fubing militia system, first employed by Western Wei, under Yuwen TaiYuwen Tai
Yuwen Tai , nickname Heita , formally Duke Wen of Anding , later further posthumously honored by Northern Zhou initially as Prince Wen then as Emperor Wen with the temple name Taizu , was the paramount general of the Chinese/Xianbei state Western Wei, a branch successor state of Northern Wei...
's administration. These militia
Militia
The term militia is commonly used today to refer to a military force composed of ordinary citizens to provide defense, emergency law enforcement, or paramilitary service, in times of emergency without being paid a regular salary or committed to a fixed term of service. It is a polyseme with...
units also served as reserves, and could be mobilized quickly in times of war.
The system involved a system of militia who were assigned tracts of land. Men between 21 and 60 years of age were eligible. Officers received permanent commissions, but regular troops reported for duty, at the province capital on a rotation system that varied upon living distance. Those who lived 500 li
Li (unit)
The li is a traditional Chinese unit of distance, which has varied considerably over time but now has a standardized length of 500 meters or half a kilometer...
from the capital served one month every five months, and those over 2000 li away served for two months every 18 months. When off-duty, they would farm their land, but when they were or a war occurred, they would be re-mobilized. This supplemented the equal-field system
Equal-field system
The Equal-field system land system was a historical system of land ownership and distribution in China used from the Six Dynasties to Mid-Tang dynasty....
, which assigned all households a share of land to farm. These units subsequently became hereditary military families, and ushered forth vast militarized settlements and communities.
Sui placed these units under local civil administration, and later Tang incorporated them under metropolitan control, more specifically the Ministry of the Army. Tang fielded 634 militia units, later called Zhechongfu. Each unit consisted of 800 to 1200 men, and in turn were subdivided into tuan of 300, dui of 50, and huo of 10. Many were concentrated in the northern region, especially in Guanzhong
Guanzhong
Guanzhong , or Guanzhong Plain, is a historical region of China corresponding to the lower valley of the Wei River. It is called Guanzhong or 'within the passes' to distinguish it from 'Guandong' or 'east of the pass', that is, the North China Plain. The North China Plain is bordered on the west by...
, which alone fielded 261 militia units, the rests include 164 in Shanxi
Shanxi
' is a province in Northern China. Its one-character abbreviation is "晋" , after the state of Jin that existed here during the Spring and Autumn Period....
, and 74 in Henan
Henan
Henan , is a province of the People's Republic of China, located in the central part of the country. Its one-character abbreviation is "豫" , named after Yuzhou , a Han Dynasty state that included parts of Henan...
and Shandong
Shandong
' is a Province located on the eastern coast of the People's Republic of China. Shandong has played a major role in Chinese history from the beginning of Chinese civilization along the lower reaches of the Yellow River and served as a pivotal cultural and religious site for Taoism, Chinese...
, all constituting about 80 percent of Fubing conscripts. Fubing required little government expenditure, since militiamen could support themselves by farming.
The Fubing system only had provisions for brief military campaigns and peacetime. Prolonged warfare would prevent the cultivation of agriculture for the economy. Fubing was gradually abandoned in favor of full time army units, known as Jian Er (健儿).