The Research Of The Royal Household Registration System In Tang Dynasty

Royal household registration means the household registration of imperial clan and exterior relatives. Royal household registration system was stable in a long term, while it experienced some changes at the same time. In Tang Dynasty, royal household registration had many features in a lot of aspects.During the Tang Dynasty, Zongzhengsi was the royal household registration management institution. The officer of Zongzhengsi, such as Zongzhengqing and Zongzhengshaoqing, managed the household registration books. Most of the officers were imperial clan, but there were some exceptions in early Tang Dynasty. During the reign of Emperor Taizong, the officers had already begun to compile the royal household registration books. But the royal household registration books were seriously destroyed because of Rebellion of An Lushan and Shi Siming. After the rebellion was pacified, the royal household registration books was repaired. In the middle and later periods of the Tang Dynasty, Zongzhengsi compiled kinds of genealogy according to the royal household registration books.In Tang Dynasty, not only close kin but also estranged relatives could be registered because the yearn for natural affection, even if they were deprived from the royal household registration books. In early Tang Dynasty, exterior relatives could also be registered. There were some persons became imperial clan because of surname granting as Li by monarchs. During national unification, surrendered officers and meritorious staffs were granted surname frequently by monarchs. In early Tang Dynasty, national power was strong, therefore the chiefs of minority submit to the central government and were granted surname. In the middle and later periods of the Tang Dynasty, the country was suffering from both domestic trouble and foreign invasion. While minority generals make huge contributions to the consolidation of governing, and they were granted surname as Li. In addition, meritorious staffs whose surname were Li became imperial clan. While the king of Xiliang was considered as ancestor of Tang Dynasty, and his descendants became imperial clan.The imperial clan would be deprived if their blood relationship become estranged or they attempt to rebel. Part of imperial clan and exterior relatives became common people because of failure in palace politics struggle. In addition, “Wu-chou Revolution” deprived the imperial clan from royal household registration. While Emperor Zhongzong took the power, the imperial clan recovered their status.The imperial clan and exterior relatives had kinds of privileges. In the aspect of politics, they got official post just resort to their relationship with emperor. Close kin could enter political stratum by family status, while estranged relatives could partake in tests mastermind by Zongzhengsi. In the aspect of economy, the imperial clan and exterior relatives could exempt from taxes and corvee. At the same time, they could enjoy expenditure of awards. In the aspect of law, the legal cases of imperial clan were judged by Zongzhengsi, and imperial clan could enjoy many legal privileges.However, the imperial clan and exterior relatives were limited in many aspects. In the aspect of politics, imperial clan were imprisoned in the capital during the middle and later periods of the Tang Dynasty. They were nominal military governors but could not leave the capital. At the same time, government forbade imperial clan and exterior relatives to make friends with ministers. In the aspect of economy, imperial clan could not do business. In the aspect of law, the imperial clan and exterior relatives would get certain punishment after they broke the law.