Study On The "Caohe Labors" Of Ming Dynasty

Caohe labors are classified into different types according to its different division. theyare qianpu labors、laoqian labors、 brake labors、dam labors、 liu labors、 hong labors、spring labors、pond labors、 lake labors. different labors have different regional in the spatialdistribution. Caohe labor servant is not only a people group, but also a system concept, it hasits unique operating mechanism. From the origin, the service labors come mainly from the61counties along the canal. The major undertakers of Caohe labors servant are the civilian’shouses and Weisuo corps. Ming Dynasty also uses some refugees and prisoners as servicelabors when have a big project. There are mainly three kinds of methods of labor servantrecruitment: offering labors、employ labors、white labors. Among them offering labors aremost commonly used in the early Ming Dynasty. Along with the reform of state taxes andcorvee system, offering labors gradually become to employ labors, especially one lash methodis implemented, the caohe labors servant entirely employed by the State according to levysilvers. As a huge number of people group, there are three main types of grass-rootsorganizations, they are old man responsible system, zongjia、xiaojia responsible system, brakeofficer directly responsible system. Maintenance and management of Caohe River is a veryhard work, long hours, low pay, poor environment, high risk. Other fatigues first will beexempted by the government after hard work as exchange, which specializes in canal works.At the same time, government also gives them the corresponding working food silver andgratuity, sometimes give money for travelling expenses and medical security.The caohe service labors are the main force in managing and protecting of Caohe River.They play a important role in smoothing caohe river and stabling the national political andeconomic order. Managing caohe river absorb a large number of idle labors, partly solves theemployment problem, provides a livelihood for the poor, unemployed and victims. Which notonly played a welfare-to-work role, but also conducive to the stability of social order. Thecaohe labor servant,from the requisition to battle, experience a number of links, in theprocess of requisition and management there are many problems, accounting for existingphenomenon, mainly on the poor rich difference, occupy labors seriously. contrary to theagricultural production, service labors escape problems. In the late Ming Dynasty, Countiesalong caohe river were trapped in the river battle, people suffer unspeakably, which influencethe stability of social order.