This paper discusses the Qin and Han Dynasties unearthed legal document “shù rén (common person)”. The exact identity of “shù rén (common person)” comprises “males (over 56 years old, exempt from military service, but serve corvee)”, “males (over 15 years old, exempt from military service, but serve corvee)”, “females (over 15 years old)”, pardoned criminals, pardoned slaves. Their common is that they are not required to perform military service. So we speculated that the difference between “Shi Wu (soldier)” and “shù rén (common person)” is “Shi Wu (soldier)” required military service, and “shù rén (common person)” without military service. Early Western Zhou Dynasty “shù rén (common person)” means adult males. Comparison with the “shù rén (common person)” of the Western Zhou, Qin and Han Dynasties, Qin and Han Dynasties “shù rén (common person)” comprises “females (over 15 years old)” that is symboled to enhance the status of women. As well as Qin and Han Dynasties “shù rén (common person)” comprises “pardoned criminals” and “pardoned slaves” that is symboled social stratification upward mobility without being impeded.
shù rén (common person), shì wǔ (soldier), criminal, slave, identity
Citations are generated automatically from bibliographic data as a convenience, and may not be complete or accurate.
