Tuntian
Encyclopedia
The Tuntian or Duntian system was a system of government-encouraged agriculture originated in the Western Han Dynasty
period of Chinese history
. It was practiced by the warlord Cao Cao
during the prelude to the Three Kingdoms
period.
The ending years of the Eastern Han Dynasty witnessed great economic disruption and widespread devastation, particularly through the Yellow Turban Revolt of 184
AD; agricultural production in particular was severely disrupted, and population movements from warzones led to massive flows of refugees. It was under these circumstances that Cao Cao's usage of the tuntian system made its impact on the economic revival of China after the damage suffered previously.
Tuntian had its origins in the military, and for much of the Han Dynasty the land in question was farmed by soldiers on orders of the military authorities; in this case all of the crop harvested was to be kept by the military for supply uses, following the example set by Emperor Wu. Cao Cao's innovation was the introduction of the 'civilian tuntian' on a large scale both for common people and for soldiers during peacetime, whereby he successfully solved two great economic problems facing his administration: the large number of unemployed refugees, and the great tracts of land abandoned by big proprietors in the preceding chaos.
In the short-term, meanwhile, the tuntian system was also instrumental to the success of Cao Cao's campaigns, many of which were long-range offensives across the plains of northern China; with a massive and efficient agriculture to support his army, he was able to sustain these offensives and gain victory. Overall it can be said that the tuntian system, along with the repair of irrigation
works, were amongst the foremost contributions of Cao Cao to the period's economy, and contributed to the enduring strength of the Kingdom of Wei which his son would found.
Han Dynasty
The Han Dynasty was the second imperial dynasty of China, preceded by the Qin Dynasty and succeeded by the Three Kingdoms . It was founded by the rebel leader Liu Bang, known posthumously as Emperor Gaozu of Han. It was briefly interrupted by the Xin Dynasty of the former regent Wang Mang...
period of Chinese history
History of China
Chinese civilization originated in various regional centers along both the Yellow River and the Yangtze River valleys in the Neolithic era, but the Yellow River is said to be the Cradle of Chinese Civilization. With thousands of years of continuous history, China is one of the world's oldest...
. It was practiced by the warlord Cao Cao
Cao Cao
Cao Cao was a warlord and the penultimate chancellor of the Eastern Han Dynasty who rose to great power during the dynasty's final years. As one of the central figures of the Three Kingdoms period, he laid the foundations for what was to become the state of Cao Wei and was posthumously titled...
during the prelude to the Three Kingdoms
Three Kingdoms
The Three Kingdoms period was a period in Chinese history, part of an era of disunity called the "Six Dynasties" following immediately the loss of de facto power of the Han Dynasty rulers. In a strict academic sense it refers to the period between the foundation of the state of Wei in 220 and the...
period.
Background
While the tuntian system was made famous by Cao Cao's administration, his own writings show that the system had been instituted as early as the Western Han Dynasty, under the rule of Emperor Wu, where soldiers on distant expeditions were set to work converting and farming the conquered land, both to provide food for the army and to convert the region into one based around agriculture - in effect, an economic conquest. After the death of Emperor Wu, however, the system was only used sporadically and therefore less effectively.The ending years of the Eastern Han Dynasty witnessed great economic disruption and widespread devastation, particularly through the Yellow Turban Revolt of 184
184
Year 184 was a leap year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Eggius and Aelianus...
AD; agricultural production in particular was severely disrupted, and population movements from warzones led to massive flows of refugees. It was under these circumstances that Cao Cao's usage of the tuntian system made its impact on the economic revival of China after the damage suffered previously.
Method
The mechanism of the 'civilian tuntian' system as implemented by Cao Cao had its basis in government organisation, encouragement and to some extent even coercion. Peasants without land, or refugees, or soldiers, were assigned to plots of land which they were to farm, while the implements required (like ploughs and even oxen) were provided by the government at a low price. In exchange for this, the peasant was to give over half of his harvest to the government.Tuntian had its origins in the military, and for much of the Han Dynasty the land in question was farmed by soldiers on orders of the military authorities; in this case all of the crop harvested was to be kept by the military for supply uses, following the example set by Emperor Wu. Cao Cao's innovation was the introduction of the 'civilian tuntian' on a large scale both for common people and for soldiers during peacetime, whereby he successfully solved two great economic problems facing his administration: the large number of unemployed refugees, and the great tracts of land abandoned by big proprietors in the preceding chaos.
Impact
The tuntian system was to have far-reaching effects, both for Cao Cao himself and for the overall economy of China. Once the scheme had proven successful initially, Cao wasted no time in extending the scheme to all areas under his control; as a result the positive effects of this organised farming was soon felt all over northern China, which he reunified.In the short-term, meanwhile, the tuntian system was also instrumental to the success of Cao Cao's campaigns, many of which were long-range offensives across the plains of northern China; with a massive and efficient agriculture to support his army, he was able to sustain these offensives and gain victory. Overall it can be said that the tuntian system, along with the repair of irrigation
Irrigation
Irrigation may be defined as the science of artificial application of water to the land or soil. It is used to assist in the growing of agricultural crops, maintenance of landscapes, and revegetation of disturbed soils in dry areas and during periods of inadequate rainfall...
works, were amongst the foremost contributions of Cao Cao to the period's economy, and contributed to the enduring strength of the Kingdom of Wei which his son would found.
See also
- Agriculture in ChinaAgriculture in ChinaAgriculture is an important economic sector of China, employing over 300 million farmers. China ranks first in worldwide farm output, primarily producing rice, wheat, potatoes, sorghum, peanuts, tea, millet, barley, cotton, oilseed, pork, and fish.-History:...
- Economic history of ChinaEconomic history of ChinaChina's economic system before the late-1990s, with state ownership of certain industries and central control over planning and the financial system, has enabled the government to mobilize whatever surplus was available and greatly increase the proportion of the national economic output devoted to...
- Xinjiang Production and Construction CorpsXinjiang Production and Construction CorpsThe Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps , known as XPCC, the PCC or Bingtuan for short, is a unique economic and semi-military governmental organization in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China. The XPCC has administrative authority over several medium-sized...