The Textual Criticism Of The Zhuanshi Law In Qin And Han Dynasties

The Food Law, preserved respectively by Shuihudi Qin bamboo slips which is one of the18Qin Laws and Zhangjiashan Han bamboo slips which is part of the Second Year Law, is the firsthand resource for the research of the Food System in Qin and Han dynasties. Many of records have been found in other bamboo slips and ancient documents which offer possibility and proof to know further of the Food System. There are distinct differences and close connections between the Food System and the Postal System. This article, by accumulating lots of codes and records about the Food System from Qin and Han bamboo slips and ancient documents against their back Grounds, adopting the methods of characters’explanation, connotation analysis and comprehensive survey, tries to discuss the Food System in a new way. It shows that as the important administrative system, the Food System provided transportation, accommodation and reception for officers and their attendants. This system, enjoying an important position in the law system of Qin and Han dynasties, had a close relation with political administration, which was very necessary for the officeers’executing authorities and reflected region’s contact, efficient government decrees and nationn’s prosperity. It also played a pillar role in the supervision from the above to the below and delivering urgent political and military intelligence, which meant much to the stabilization and consolation of regime.