Chapter 15 Section 7 Han Bamboo Slips: Records of Correspondence in the Han Dynasty

We can get very detailed records of the postal communication and beacon communication in the Han Dynasty in the Han bamboo slips discovered over the years. Han bamboo slips are letters and documents inscribed on wooden or bamboo slips left by the people of the Han Dynasty.From the bamboo slips of the Han Dynasty, we can have a more detailed understanding of the situation of border defense communications in the Han Dynasty.Fortunately, many archaeological discoveries of these Han bamboo slips have been made in recent years, and more than 30,000 pieces have been unearthed in Juyan area alone. They have become precious materials for the study of post offices in the Han Dynasty.

Several copies of the Beacon Fires on the Great Wall unearthed in Dunhuang and Juyan, Gansu Province, are the most detailed and important materials of beacon communications in the Han Dynasty that are currently known.The so-called "quality agreement" is the rule.Such rules are usually set by local authorities at the county level.It can be seen from these pin regulations that at that time, intelligence was divided into five ranks, that is, five levels, according to different enemy situations.Those with less than 10 enemies are called first-rank, and the situation is not very urgent; those with more than 10 enemies and less than 500 are called second-rank, and the situation is slightly urgent; those with more than 1,000 enemies and entering the fortress are called third-rank, and the situation is more urgent; Those who have more than a thousand enemies and attack the pavilion barrier are called the fourth rank and fifth rank, and the situation is extremely urgent.Different levels of enemy situation have different signals to report beacons.The bamboo slips of the Han Dynasty also recorded the locations where the frontier beacons were fired, telling people that there were high platforms, hopeful towers, dock walls, and small towns where the beacons were fired.These precious materials enable people to have a detailed understanding of the beacon communication system in the Han Dynasty.

A large number of bamboo slips in Han Dynasty can also be seen the procedures of postal communication at that time.The words "by mail", "horse travel" and "chicken" mentioned in the bamboo slips show that the postal system at that time stipulated the delivery methods of letters according to the different situations of priority. "Using the postal line" means delivery by step, and "sprinting" means the document is sent on a fast horse.These rules are clearly written on the cover of the mail.This seems to be equivalent to the classification of ordinary mail and express mail today.In addition, in the Han bamboo slips, we can also see the sending direction of the official documents and letters at that time. Some slips read "Ruxi Shu", and some marked "South Shu" and "North Shu", just like today's postal codes. Delivery without confusion.

From the bamboo slips of the Han Dynasty, we can also see the format of official documents issued by the people of the Han Dynasty.Generally, the date, address, and name of the sender are written in the official document, and the official name, address, and name of the recipient are also written.These formats are similar to modern ones.It can be seen that the postal system of the Han Dynasty already had strict procedures. It can also be seen from the Han bamboo slips that Han Dynasty had very strict regulations on the sending and receiving of official documents and letters. If there were mistakes in delivery and transfer, they would be held legally responsible.There is such a record in a Han Bamboo slip: "If you fail to deliver the book within a certain time limit, you will not be charged, and you will be punished for crimes."

From the above-mentioned records in the Han bamboo slips, it can be seen that various correspondences in the Han Dynasty had formed a complete system, which ensured the timely issuance of official documents.Of course, it also safeguards the effective implementation of national policies.