"Zhongxian Dao"in the Qin Bamboo Slips and the Administrative System of the Capital of Qin
In the Qin bamboo slips,the term"Zhongxian Dao"warrants a further interpretation within the framework of three major administrative districts of the county level:Neishi,Shubang,and Jun.In legal documents and the administrative operations,"Zhongxian"can operate independently as a county-level administrative district under the jurisdiction of Neishi.Therefore,"Zhongxian Dao"should be read as"Zhongxian"and"Dao".It is a general term for both"Zhongxian"and"Zhongdao".The Qin bamboo slips collected by Yuelu Academy,which encompass"Shubang Dao"and"Zhongxian",align with county regions and are inferred to be county-level administrative districts under the jurisdiction of vassal states.Both"Zhongdao"and"Shubang Dao"found their place in the former Qin territory,corresponding to"Zhongxian",yet they differed from"Dao"in"Junxian Dao",signifying that"Shubang Dao"under the jurisdiction of vassal states was"Zhongdao".Thus,"Zhongxian Dao"in the capital region of Qin operated as an administrative system under the dual governance of Neishi and vassal states.This structure not only continued the administrative framework of the former royal capital before the unification of Qin but also laid the groundwork for the administrative integration of the capital region in the early Han dynasty.
Qin DynastyCapital RegionZhongxian DaoNeishiVassal States
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