Fubing system

The Fubing system (府兵制), also romanized as Fu-ping, was a local militia system existing in China between 6th century and 8th century. It originated in the Western Wei dynasty, and was subsequently used in the Sui and Tang dynasties.

Characteristics

The basis of the Sui and early Tang militaries was the fubing militia system, first employed by Western Wei, under Yuwen Tai's administration. These militia units also served as reserves, and could be mobilized quickly in times of war.

The system involved a system of militia who were assigned tracts of land. Men between 21 and 60 years of age were eligible. Officers received permanent commissions, but regular troops reported for duty, at the province capital on a rotation system that varied upon living distance. Those who lived 500 "li" from the capital served one month every five months, and those over 2000 "li" away served for two months every 18 months. When off-duty, they would farm their land, but when they were or a war occurred, they would be re-mobilized. This supplemented the equal-field system, which assigned all households a share of land to farm. These units subsequently became hereditary military families, and ushered forth vast militarized settlements and communities. [ [http://203.72.198.245/web/Content.asp?ID=51235 Fubingzhi] ]

Sui placed these units under local civil administration, and later Tang incorporated them under metropolitan control, more specifically the Ministry of the Army. Tang fielded 634 militia units, later called Zhechongfu. Each unit consisted of 800 to 1200 men, and in turn were subdivided into "tuan" of 300, "dui" of 50, and "huo" of 10. [ [http://203.72.198.245/web/Content.asp?ID=53253 Zhechongfu] ] Peers, p.110-112] Many were concentrated in the northern region, especially in Guanzhong, which alone fielded 261 militia units, the rests include 164 in Shanxi, and 74 in Henan and Shandong, all constituting about 80 percent of Fubing conscripts. Fubing required little government expenditure, since militiamen could support themselves by farming. [Liu, p. 85-86]

The Fubing system only had provisions for brief military campaigns and peacetime. Prolonged warfare would prevent the cultivation of agriculture for the economy. Fubing was gradually abandoned in favor of full time army units, known as Jian Er (健儿). [ [http://203.72.198.245/web/Content.asp?ID=51598 Jian Er] ]

Notes

References

* [http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9035544/fubing-system Fubing system in Encyclopædia Britannica]
*Liu, Zhaoxiang et al (2000). "History of Military Legal System". Beijing: Encyclopedia of China Publishing House. ISBN 7-5000-6303-2.
*Tang, Gengou. [http://203.72.198.245/web/Content.asp?ID=51598 "Jian Er"] . "Encyclopedia of China" (Chinese History Edition), 1st ed.
*Yang, Zhijiu et al. [http://203.72.198.245/web/Content.asp?ID=51235 "Fubingzhi"] . "Encyclopedia of China" (Chinese History Edition), 1st ed.
*Yang, Debing. [http://203.72.198.245/web/Content.asp?ID=53253 "Zhechongfu"] . "Encyclopedia of China" (Chinese History Edition), 1st ed.
*Peers, C.J. (2006). "Soldiers of the Dragon". New York: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 1-84603-098-6