Ox In Northwest Han Slips

The northwest bamboo slips of Han Dynasty include Ju Yan bamboo slips,Jin Guan bamboo slips,Xuanquan bamboo slips and Shu Le River bamboo slips,as well as other scatterings.After dissected the content,unearthed information,shape and format of bamboo slips,the data cattle can be divided into official cattle information,private cattle information,oxcart and sale of cattle.However,the classification of cattle data in different places has different emphasis,and the reasons are related to the administrative nature and function of each bamboo slips unearthed.The management of cattle is divided into official and private in Northwest China.Cattle is compiled roster,which includes names,sex,age,waistlines and logo.The roster is prepared once a month and submitted to governors.Some institutions named Mushiyuan(???)and stable and some people named Niuzhang(??)and Yamen runner were used to feed official cattle.Except for special feeding,cattle's food is grass,millet,wheat and so on.A cow eat six liters of grain one day.There are laws about prohibition of cattle killing.And if the cattle sick or dead,someone should report to governors in detail.The roster in the Xuanquan bamboo slips include breeder's names and hometown,the number of cattle and the grade evaluation of the regular supervision.So we think official cattle is fed by husbandman.The registration of private cattle is relatively simple,which include the owner's information and the number of cattle.In addition,private cattle is allowed to trade,but it needs to be carried out in an orderly manner under the supervision of the government.Generally speaking,the price in the northwest was much higher than that in the mainland.Because of the good conditions for the development of stock breeding,the price of cattle in the northwest was equal to that in the mainland.There was a brief decline in the price of cattle when Wang Mang ruled the country.One reason is the illusion of prosperity,another is the economic chaos caused by the reform of the currency system many times.Cattle prices rose substantially in the early Eastern Han Dynasty,it is because that the north-west was affected by war-stricken in mainland.Recovered for a long time,price of cattle put right in Eastern Han Dynasty.The cattle in the northwest region mainly have three uses: plough,transportation and edible.The cattle used in cultivated land are the important labor force in the Tuntian area,which provides the help for the effective implementation of the Tuntian policy,and helps the Han Dynasty to realize the long-term stability of the northwest.Because of the bad landform in Northwest China,cattle is the best choice for transportation,which not only strengthens the connection between the mainland and the frontier fortress,but also help the Han Dynasty control the northwest area.At the same time,it promotes the material and cultural exchanges between the Han Dynasty and the countries of the Western region.In terms of food,beef was widely eaten in the north-west,and the price was reasonable,that most of people could afford it.