明淸時代の民壯について

Abstract

Under the Ming in such frontier provinces as Shen-si (陝西) and Shan-si (山西) the militia played the role of frontier guards side by side with the regular soldiers. When in the latter days of the Cheng-t'ung (正統) era of Emperor Ying-tsung (英宗), Esen of Mongolia invaded north China, the militia were recruited from various provinces and became a permanent organization to take part in frontier defense because of the relaxation of military discipline on the part of the regular army. Since the militia were recruited from among the peasants throughout the country, the institution became a heavy burden upon the peasantry, while the wealthy evaded recruitment by paying a certain amount of money. As frontier wars became more frequent, the burden became heavier, while sometimes the militia were often employed as fatigues at various government offices. The Ming Government collected payment in silver as substitute for militia recruitment, and used part of it for employing voluntiers, and this in turn led to the professionalization of the militia. When the Manchu dynasty came in power, Emperor Yung-cheng tried to use the militia for keeping public order, but the Ch'ing militia which had become a mere fatigue party proved of little use for the purposes.