A Study Of The Nine Frontier Fortification System Of The Ming Dynasty

The History of the Ming Dynasty compiled by Zhang Tingyu presented the coexist aspectabout two theories of the Nine Frontier. Among which one theory about the Nine Frontierin Annals of Geography inhened Wang Hongxu's The Manuscript of Ming History ,the otherinhened Wan Sitong's The Annals of Geography of the History of the Ming Dynasty. WanSitong's The Annals of Geography of the History of the Ming Dynasty inhened developmentthread of thought in Xu Lun's The Nine Frontier Tulun.. The theory of the Nine Frontier inZhang Tingyu's The Annals of Military in the History of the Ming Dynasty was the uniquetheory in every edition of The History of the Ming Dynasty . It inhened the Nine Frontier'sdevelopment thread of thought in Wei Huan's The Examination of Huangming's the NineFrontier. The two theoties of the Nine Frontier about The Nine Frontier Tulun and TheExamination of Huangming's the Nine Frontier followed geography and military systemseparately, and came to be two most famous theories of the Nine Frontier. The commonlimit of the two theories was being short of the inquire of fortifications'. On the other hand,the eight other theories about the Nine Frontier still spreaded in Mingqing Theriod. Under the General-Guarding system, Generals defensed theirs areas, controlling guardsand citizens, and therefore hat the power to contain Dusi Weisuo. Thus, the defense systemwhich combined the military and administration had been conformed. And this came to be thesystem origin of the Nine Frontier Zongbing defense system. Under the foundation ofGeneral-Guarding system, Saiwang defense system developed geography pattern, andaccomplished the pattern of nine important bases in the north., and laid a geography patternfor the Nine Frontier Zongbing defense system.. Because of the appearance of Saiwangdefense system, General-Guarding system gradually changed into the Nine FrontierZongbing defense system, and began to let the middle-level general-guards to defense smallareas. Both composed the system origin and the geography foundation of the Nine FrontierZongbing defense system. Zongbing system appeared in Yuan Dynasty. General-Guarding system was the rudimentof Zongbing system. However, in late period of Hongwu, Zongbing system began to regardthe Zongbing affacials as genenals to defense bases. Thus the Nine Frontier Zongbingdefense system formed gradually. Defensing one base freely, Zongbing system hat the powerof Dusi Weisuo and had the power to control Buzheng and Ancha department. In addition,Zongbing affacials can charge money and food.,thus formed the pattern which combined themilitary and administration. From the east to the west, the fortifications in the NineFrontier was the following: Liaodong Town, Jizhou Town, Xuanfu Town, Datong Town,shanxi Town, Yansui Town, Shanxi Town, Ningxia Town and Guyuan Town. The establishingorder was the following: Gansu Town, Ningxia Town, Xuanfu Town, Datong Town, LiaodongTown, Jizhou Town, Yansui Town, Shanxi Town and shanxi Town.. In Jiajing, Jizhou Townseparated into Changping Town, Baoding Town and Shanxi Town. In Wanli, Jizhou Townseparated into Lintao Town, but these inflused the Nine Frontier pattern not greatly. theNine Frontier continued its old names. Zongbing system assumed a trend of locality andsystem,and avianized Dusi Weisuo system gradually. The two system combined into onesystem gradually, but throughout Ming Dynasty the two system existed side by side. In earlyMing, Ming Dynasty restricted Zongbing defense system by court-eunuch defense system,formed the pattern of the inside restricting the outside. In Hongxi, Ming Dynasty began to form Canzan system at fortifications. After Xuande,as Tuntian system ceased to be binding, Zongbing system and court-eunuch system began tobreak the law. Thus Ming Dynasty set up Xunfu in the Nine Frontier, charging food , money,officials and lawsuits. From late Xuande to early Jiajing, the Nine Frontier presented thepattern of three-grade afficials. The setting up of the Xuanfu, separated Zongbing's power ofmoney, food and laws...