In ancient times, there was no such thing as an ID card. How did the imperial court manage the population?

In ancient times when labor efficiency was low, the total domestic population was the top priority no matter which dynasty it was. Because the population directly determines labor productivity, it indirectly affects the country's production level and economic development.

When the total population of ancient societies reached a certain scale, ancient rulers registered and managed population information. In this way, the ancient household registration system was born.

How to manage the ancient population: On the registration and management measures of the ancient household registration system

Ancient workers are cultivating sculptures

In the ancient household registration system, the registration and management of the population Very important. How do you know how a certain area is developing? How do you know what contribution and impact the region's population has on local development?

This all depends on adjustments and whether relevant population information can be grasped in a timely manner. Therefore, in order to better manage the local population, rulers of all generations have devoted themselves to population registration and management.

During development - Book and Pamphlet Society

A "register" is required to record population information. Judging from the past dynasties, if the government wants to centrally manage population information, it must compile "B&B" so that it can be changed or inquired at any time. As early as the pre-Qin period, population information was centrally managed in this way, and the people responsible for this important task were the so-called historians.

"Zuo Zhuan" in the 10th year of Yang Gong: "The heir to the ancestors of Neishi, Luo Zehao, with a degree of etiquette." "Guoyu Luyu": "High construction tax, vertical axis book elimination." That is It is said that historians in the pre-Qin period mainly recorded the words and deeds of the king, but also kept and managed personnel files.

"Zuo Zhuan"

However, it should be pointed out that the royal families in the pre-Qin period adopted a patriarchal system to rule the world. The basis for enfeoffment is the closeness of blood relationship. Therefore, the population information saved by advanced non-commissioned officers is almost all clan disciples.

Since historians will record royal names and family genealogies, most royal children must be registered. The so-called slaves are often collectively referred to as thousands or hundreds, and are registered with the property of the descendants of the royal family. (slave).

Until the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, with the study of "the emperor losing his official position", palace historians were dispersed among the people, and a trend of advanced historiography flourished to a certain extent. Social changes also made the function of record concrete, so the first household registration record 3354 Manual Association was born.

"Xunzi Zhongni Chapter" records: "The Household Registration of the Manual Association, ESA, is written on the territory." Another reason for the emergence of the Manual Association is that various princes began to compete for hegemony. Obviously, hegemony requires war, and war consumes a lot of financial and material resources.

Therefore, princes need to adequately manage the population under their jurisdiction. After the emergence of the Manual Association, in addition to making it easier for the princes to collect local taxes on a per-capita basis, it also allowed them to be recruited and recognized in time to join the army.

In this case, population survey and registration work have gradually become one of the important contents of the reforms in various countries. For example, the agreed changes that have the greatest impact, etc. (William Shakespeare, Winston, Census, Census, Registration Famous Quotes) "Shang Jun Shu Territory Chapter": "Within the four scenes, husbands and children are all named, the living write, the dead cut. 'How to manage Ancient Population: On the Registration and Management Measures of the Ancient Household Registration System

Shang Yang's Reform

During the pre-Qin period, 25 units were divided into one mile, and units specializing in the preparation of household registrations were set up every mile, called communities. The No. 4 Middle School Management Institute is responsible for registration, and the household registration information and land information of 25 households within its jurisdiction are registered on a board called the Handbook Association.

It is not difficult to find that the population information registration policy in the pre-Qin period was relatively passive. Dedicated personnel to conduct population surveys not only lag behind the time limit, but also cannot guarantee the waste of time and accuracy.

After the establishment of the Qin Dynasty, the government strengthened the registration management of the population and began to implement the declaration review system. The landlord should take the initiative to report truthfully to the official, which is called "self-possession". The official will register it on the book after verification, which is called "case fee".

The situation of concealment or false declaration will be officially confirmed. , the relevant personnel will be severely punished. The Qin Dynasty ruled the world with legalism, and its harsh government was fiercer than a tiger. He said: "The people have nowhere to escape and nowhere to move." ”

Han Gao Emperor Liu Bang worked as a sperm farm before starting his own business. The official positions of the sperm chief and Li Zheng were not big, but they were also responsible for household registration documents between rural areas. Therefore, Liu Bang’s prestige in the countryside was quite high at that time. , there is a certain truth.