"Ding" And "Registered Population" In Jiangnan

Based on Da Qing Yi Tong Zhi (National Gazetteer of Qing dynasty) of three editions and compared with local gazetteers,Fu-I Quan Shu (The Complete Books of Taxes and Corvee Labor),and palace archive, this study reveals the various sources of Yuan-E Ren Ding (Original Ding), Zi Sheng Ren Ding (Ding increased), and Zi Sheng Nan Fu Da Xiao (registered population increased).This study indicates that Yuan-E Ren Ding and Zi Sheng Ren Ding are all based on records of Ding assessment in the ninth year of Yong-zheng period of Qing dynasty while Zi Sheng Nan Fu Da Xiao is attributed to a synthesis of population registration in Jia-qing period of Qing dynasty and Ding assessment in the ninth year of Yong-zheng period of Qing dynasty. Those figures with various sources contribute to a process of reconstruction, which reflects compilers'unfamiliarity with terminologies involved.In short, there is no accuracy in those figures from government publications, and any study that applies those figures directly is bound to lead to absurd results.