A Research On The Logistics In Qin And Han Dynasties

With the Marxist martial doctrines as its theoretical guidance, this thesis tries to probe into the logistic security in the army in Qin and Han Dynasties on the basis of archaeological data and former researches. It includes three sections.The first section is introduction. It defines the denotation and connotation of the logistics in Qin and Han Dynasty. The author argues that although the concept of "logistics" emerges in modern times and its expression varies with the regions and ages, it retains three basic characteristics: economicality, security and practicability. It is the same with Qin and Han Dynasties. The "military storage", "soldier's pay and provisions" and "material conveyance" at that time all belongs to the catalogue of logistics. It includes weapons, steeds, clothes, provisions, the storage and conveyance of military materials, national defense, medical treatment and military expenditure. Thus the author has established his train of thoughts and the keystones of his research.In the second section, the thesis discusses the logistic security in Qin and Han Dynasties. This is the main body of the thesis. It can be divided into six chapters: 1) the manufacture and storage of weapons; 2) the herding, collection and management of steeds; 3) the replenishment and conveyance of the military materials; 4) the construction of the communicating establishments and the transference of martial information; 5) the treatment of the wounded and the sick persons, the supply of medicament and the compensations for those casualties; 6) the collection of military expenditure and the financial administration. Through those researches, the author thought that comparing with pre-Qin ages, the logistics in Qin and Han Dynasties has entered into a new phase of development.The third section deals with the characteristics, the functions and the stages of development of the logistics in Qin and Han Dynasties. The logistics in Qin and Han Dynasties can be divided into eight stages: 1) the period of the Qin Dynasty. It is the stage of full spreading; 2) the early period of Xi-Han. It is the stage of effective storing; 3) the reign of Emperor Wu. It is the stage ofpotent execution and innovation. 4) the period from Emperor Zhao to Emperor Ping. It is the stage of resuming and moderate exersion. 5)the reign of Wang Mang. It is the period when the strength of logistics is extensively used. 6) the early period of Dong Han. It is the stage of shrinkage. 7)the period from the reign of Emperor He to the late Dong Han. It is the stage of reform and adjustment. 8)the period from the reign of Emperor Ling to the end of Dong Han. It is the stage of poor exertion. Its main characteristics are: the security system of dividing the country into two levels and three blocks is gradually coming into being; the content and structure of logistics in that time becomes deepened and widened; the dominance of the logistic expenses in financial payout resulted in the seasonal unbalance of the social economy. And the thesis also points out that the logistic construction has not only guaranteed the victory of the war but also contributed much to the development of economy and technology.