From the Tang Dynasty to the Song Dynasty,the tea production in Jingzhou-Xiangyang are increased un-precedentedly,and tea drinking culture was popular for a while.The smuggling of tea also became more active in this area.The proximity to the border and convenient waterway transportation provide convenience for armed trafficking activities in this area.The lack of grassroots officials and the decline in the military's combating force have turned"tea bandits"into a chronic social disease.During the reign of Emperor Xiao,the activities of"tea bandits"reached its peak.Faced with the gradual shrinking finances and weak official armies,the Song Dynasty began to gradually shift the way of governing"tea bandits"from legal punishment and military suppression to recruiting them into the military.Local elites were used to transform"tea bandits"into important supplements to border defense.This change led to the emergence of a"Tea Merchant Army"composed of"tea bandits"and armed tea merchant groups in Jingzhou-Xiangyang area,compensating for the border defense of the Southern Song Dynasty and playing an important role in enhancing the defensive capabilities.
关键词
荆襄/茶寇/茶业经济/地方精英
Key words
Jingzhou-Xiangyang area/tea bandits/tea industry economy/local elites
维普
万方数据