A Research On The Fenglu System In The Yuan Dynasty

Fenglu (an official's salary), is a form of personal consumer goods paid by rulers according to the importance of responsibility of an official or a clerk. It determines the material cost and the efficiency often in the form of money salary and in kinds supplemented by land and labor. It is the main source of living of an official or a clerk. Corresponding to official ranking system, fenglu is given and changes according to the ranking and order of officials.Fenglu in the Yuan Dynasty was gradually formed in the process of establishing and improving the official system and tax system, by learning from the experiences of previous dynasties. In the regime of Yuanshizu, Fenglu was paid according to official ranks, and a relative complete system was established in 22nd year of the Zhiyuan regime. Fenglu was composed of money salary, land salary and grain salary. Fenglu was paid mainly in the form of money salary in the Yuan Dynasty, with land and gain salaries being supplementary. Court officials received money and grain salaries, while provincial officials received money and land salaries. Clerks in government offices in the court and provinces were treated the same as officials. Exceptions were only found in Xingsheng, Xuanweusi and Xingtai, where officials received only money salary. Money salary indicates that fenglu system in the Yuan Dynasty became more classified and mature, being a landmark in the development of the fenglu system in the Chinese history. Land salary system in the Yuan Dynasty had developed into a mature and complete policy. To be strict, the forms of fenglu payment were then money salary for court officials and clerks, and money and land salaries for provincial officials; Local officials commonly received land salary to subsidize their income where money values were not stable. The time when military officers received their fenglu varied with the nature of troops and where they stationed. Quexue in the palace guards as a special system did not receive fenglu according to ranks. Their expenses were fully covered by local authorities. Xuanhuiyuan at monthly basis.Fenglu was paid to three groups of officials and clerks by different standards: court officials and clerks, provincial officials with land salaries, military officers. Money salary for court official and military officers was covered by state revenue on monthly basis, while money salary for local officials was withheld from taxes to central government, and paid on monthly basis according to ranks.Throughout the Yuan Dynasty, the evolution of fenglu system reflected the economic development at different periods, and the rise and fall of the dynasty. In each period, policy, structure, level and payment forms had its own characteristics.