Han Vassal System Research

The vassal state system was a kind of local national management system that government practice to national minorities who submit to the authority of the government in Han dynasty and Wei,Jin dynasties. The residents of the vassal state can reserve their custom, intrinsic production, life style and organizational institution, etc. On the basis of previous research, this paper will do comprehensive and systematic study to the vassal state system by using some material of ancient literature, Bamboo and wooden slips, inscriptions, stone tablets and epitaph. The purpose of the study is to restore the whole development picture of the vassal state system from different angles and levels, and to further explore the evolution of national management system during the formation of unified multi-ethnic country in Qin, Han and Wei,Jin dynasties.There are seven parts in this paper:The foreword includes five parts. The first is the significance of the topic of the paper. The second is to analyze and define the concept of "the vassal state", and also pointed out that "the vassal state" in this paper is focus on the some vassal states that set up in Bianjun in Han dynasty. The third is to review the results and analyze the problem. The fourth is the ideas and methods. The fifth is the focus and the framework of the paper. Chapter One is to discuss some related problems about the vassal state system. That is Shubang, Dianshuguo, management system, soldiers and established time of the vassal state, the increased number in Western Han dynasty once again. The author think that Dianshuguo incorporated into Dahonglu was Dianshuguo gradually been overhead and became the empty title with the expansion of the powers of the vassal state's Duwei. The vassal state system had been established in the early Western Han dynasty, the emperor Wu of Han increased the number once again was further established and improved to the vassal state system in Western Han.Chapter Two is to discuss the vassal states in Western Han dynasty. It includes Anding, Shangjun, Wuyuan, Tianshui, Jincheng and Zhangye vassal state, and to mainly research their established background, time, legacy and the candidates of Duwei, etc. By analyzing the nature of the managed object, the jurisdiction and responsibilities between the Jincheng vassal state and Huqiangxiaowei, the author further demonstrated that Huqiangxiaowei was not Duwei of Jincheng vassal state.Chaper Three is to discuss the vassal state in Eaetern Han dynasty. It includes Anding, Shangjun, Zhangye, Zhangyejuyan, Jiuquan, Liaodong, Guanghan, Shujun, Jianwei, Yuexixibu and Badong vassal state, and to mainly research their established background, time, legacy and the candidates of Duwei, etc. By analyzing the changes of Qiang and frontier situation in eastern Han, the power of Bianjun's prefects and responsibilities of Huqiangxiaowei, the author further demonstrated that there was not Jincheng vassal state in Eastern Han dynasty."Zhuojun vassal state" was not exist, some records about "Zhuojun vassal state" was the punctuated errors of the history book, it should been understood as "Zhuojun" and "Liaodong vassal state".Chapter Four is to mainly discuss Liaodong vassal state of Caowei, Guanghan and Fuling vassal state of Shuhan, Jiuzhen and Hepu vassal state of Sunwu, Rinan and Hepu vassal state of Western Jin dynasty, and to analyzes their established purpose, time, nature and development trends. The author thinks that there was not Danyangxibu vassal state in Western Jin dynasty.Chapter Five is to discuss the development of the vassal system in Han dynasty and Wei,Jin dynasties. The vassal state system of Western Han dynasty had some characteristics. The vassal state mainly distributed in the region of the Northwestern Bianjun, they mainly supervise Huns and Qiang. The right of the vassal state's Duwei has been restricted by Bianjun's prefect and Dianshuguo, and the mechanism of the vassal state was not very sound. The vassal state system has been further developed in Eastern Han dynasty. The vassal states not only set in Northwest, but also distributed in other places as the Southwest and Northwest, and its number and population had increased. Their nation was more complex, as Huns, Qiang, Xianbei, Wuhuan, Yuezhi, Yiqu, Lushuihu, Qinhu, Yi, Di, Yelang, etc. The administrative of vassal state and county was almost the same and the vassal state's Duwei no longer subjected to the restraint of the prefects. Some Duwei and Buduwei of county were changed to the Bijun vassal state. The nature of the Bijun vassal state has not changed. It was only a transitional stage to development of county. The number of the vassal state had reduced in Wei,Jin dynasties, and their location extended to the Lingnan region. The nation of the vassal state has not entirely allegiance to ethnic tribes. Because many of the vassal states were temporary build, so some vassal states lived a very short time and ultimately replaced by county system. This phenomenon was caused by many factors, such as social unrest, migration, integration and changes of the rulers'policy. In short, the vassal state system experienced a complete course of historical development that from established, development, improved to county.Chapter Six is to discuss the nature and historical role of the vassal state system. The vassal state and county had a lot of difference. The vassal state's distinctive characteristic was "reserve their custom", and its nature was the national management system that has an autonomous nature. In process of implement, because of management measures misconduct and other factors, the vassal state system had some negative impact. Overall, it was a more progressive nation management system, and it adapted to the ethnic situation of Bianjun, promoted national unity and the stability of the frontier, conformed to the trend of historical development, and also had a profound impact on development and perfection of the posterior national management system.