Manshu/Chapter 9

Manshu by Fan Chuo, edited by Palace Museum Library, translated from Template:ISO 639 name by Walter Stanish and Wikisource
Chapter 9

Chapter 10→

Template:Plain sisterManshu (蠻書), written by Fan Chuo in the 9th century, is a Chinese historical text regarding the geopolitics of southwest China, particularly Nanzhao. It is an important historical source for the period. This translation is based upon a digitized version of the recompiled 1774 movable type edition edited by the 武英 (Palace Museum Library).

[[Category:Works originally in Template:ISO 639 name]]

Translator's note

This section has been started and seems at first to be very connected in terms of content to the end of Chapter 8.

Translation

Southern Customs

Chapter 9: Part 1 — Southern Customs
Original	Translation
南俗：務田農菜圃，戰鬥不分文武，無雜色役。	It is southern custom that agricultural affairs and military affairs are segregated, and corvée military service is not employed.
每有征發，但下文書與村邑理人處，克往來月日而已，其兵杖人各自賫，更無官給。	When each military campaign begins, writ is sent to each village and town, specifying the lunar month and solar day of summons and no further information. Each soldier presents individually, and there is no further oversight.
百家已上有總佐一，千人已上有理人官一，人約萬家以來，即制都督，遞相管轄。	Every 100 households is managed by a Zongzuo (總佐; lit. "General Assistant"). Every 1000 people are managed by a Lirenguan (理人官; lit. "Rational Governor"). Each 10,000 homes or so is managed by a Dudu (都督; lit. "Military Commander"). The command is managed in this hierarchy.
上官授與四十雙，漢二頃也。	The Shàngguān (上官; lit. 'Higher Governors') are awarded about forty shuāng (雙) of land, which is equivalent to two Han Chinese qǐng (頃) (ie. about 13 hectares).
上戶三十雙，漢一頃五十畝。	Wealthier families have thirty shuāng (雙) of land, which is equivalent one Han Chinese qǐng (頃) and fifty mǔ (畝) (ie. about 9 hectares).
中戶、下戶各有差降。	Middling and lower families have correspondingly smaller holdings.
每家有丁壯，皆定為馬軍，各據邑居遠近，分為四軍，以旗幡色別其東南西北，每而置一將，或管千人，或五百人。	Each family provides military servicemen,^[1] and is thus fixed within the military ranks, according to nearby cities and their relative distance. There are four militaries, one for each of the cardinal directions (east, south, west, north), each of which drafts a serviceman, a commander of 1000 people, or a commander of 500 people.
四軍又置一軍將統之，如有賦盜入界，即罪在所入處面將。	The four militaries have one overarching Military Commander (軍將), to whom bandits caught within the borders are brought for trial.
羅苴子皆於鄉兵中試入，故稱四軍苴子。	Luójūzi (羅苴子; lit. 'Hemp Gatherer Men'^[2]), formerly known as Sìjūnjūzǐ (四軍苴子; lit. 'Hempen Men of the Four Armies')^[3] are integrated in to local army ranks.
戴光兜鍪(案：《新唐書·南詔傳》作「戴朱鞮鍪」「光」字疑「朱」字之訛)負犀皮銅股排，跣足，歷險如飛。	They wear shiny helmets (Former transliterator's note: It is suspected that in the Nanzhao section of the New Book of Tang that 朱 ("pearl") is recoded in error and should be 光 ("shining").) with rhinoceros horns and copper braids,^[4] go barefoot, and move so rapidly^[5] that it is as if they are flying.
每百人，羅苴佐一人管之。	For every hundred men there is one Luójū (羅苴; lit. 'Hemp Gatherer').
負排，又從羅苴中揀入，無貝數。	Men do not hold military rank-and-file formation, but rather attack in a wedge behind their commanding Luójū (羅苴).
南詔及諸鎮大軍將起坐不相離捍蔽者，皆負排也。	When the Military Commanders (大軍將) of all towns and villages draft their armies to action, they do not coordinate and provide military cover for one another, and are mutually disorganized and without military formation.
羽儀亦無員數，皆清平官等子弟充，諸蠻不與焉，常在雲南王左右，羽儀長帳前管系之。	There are also an unknown number of Yuyi (羽儀), whom are inevitably the children or relations of the Qingpingguan (清平官; ie. Nanzhao palace's ruling family), barbarians from all over. most often near the Yunnan kingdom, the Yuyi commanders (羽儀長) are identified and coordinate through their banners.^[6]
羽儀長八人，如方內節度支衙官之屬。	Yuyi commanders (羽儀長) each oversee eight men, who at home are subordinate to their yaguan (衙官; local petty political office).
清平官已下，每入見南詔，皆不得佩劍，唯羽儀長得佩劍。	At the Qingpingguan (清平官; ie. Nanzhao imperial palace), those who seek audience with Nanzhao are not permitted weapons, except the Yuyi (羽儀).
出入臥外，雖不主公事，最為心腹親信。
其六曹長即為主外司公務。
六曹長六人，兵曹、戶曹、客曹、刑曹、工曹、會曹，一如內州府六司所掌之事。
又有斷事曹長，推鞫盜賊；軍謀曹長，主陰陽占候；同倫長兩人(案：「同倫」原本訛作「司侖」，今據後文改正)，各有副都，主月終唱。(案：此字未詳，疑誤)	...(Former transliterator's note: ...) ... (Former transliterator's note: ...) ...
諸曹稽逋如錄事之職。曹官文牒下諸城鎮，皆呼主者。
六曹長有課效明著，得遷補大軍將。
大軍將一十二人，與清平官同列。
每日見南詔議事，出則領要害城鎮，稱節度。
有事跡功勞殊尤者，得除授清平官(案：原本以除授為句，今據《唐書·南詔傳》「大軍將出治軍壁。稱節度，次補清平官」之文，是除授下應有「清平官」三字，原本蓋因下條相屬而誤脫耳，今增入)。	...(Former transliterator's note: ...) ...
清平官六人，每日與南詔參議境內大事。
其中推量一人為內算官，凡有文書，便代南詔判押處置。
有副兩員同勾當。
又外算官兩人，或清平官或大軍將兼領之。
六曹公事文書成，合行下者，一切是外算官，與本曹出文牒行下，亦無商量裁制。
又有同倫判官兩人，南詔有所處分，輒疏記之，轉付六曹。
近年已來，南蠻更添職名不少。
凡試馬軍，須五次上。
射中片板，為一次上；中雙庶子(案：二字未詳)，為一次上；四十步外走馬據(案：此字未詳)頗柱，中鬥子，為一次上；盤槍百轉無失，為一次上；能算能書，為一次上。	...(Former transliterator's note: ...) ...(Former transliterator's note: ...) ...
試過，有優給。
步卒須為五次上。
玷蒼山頂立旗，先上到旗下，為一次上；驀一丈三尺坑過，為一次上；急流水上浮二千尺，為一次上；弄劍，為一次上；負一石五鬥米四十裏，為一次上。
已上一一試過，得上次者補羅苴也。
蠻王為樓，及諸城鎮林邑，但有空平處，即立木八十尺，刻其上為鬥子，中間以墨三寸規之，名曰「頗柱」。
所試人持竹劍，去頗柱四十步外，走馬向前柱，中鬥子者上，中第二規次之，中第一規為下。
每農隙之時，邑中有馬者，皆騎馬於頗柱下試習。
每歲十一、十二月，農收既畢，兵曹長行文書境內諸城邑村谷，各依四軍，集人試槍劍甲胄腰刀，悉須犀利，一事闕即有罪，其法一如臨敵。布陣，羅苴子在前，以次弓手排下，以次馬軍三十騎為隊。
如此次第，常為定制。
臨行交錯，為犯令。
每戰，南詔皆遣清平官或腹心一人在軍前監視。
有用命不用命及功大小先後，一一疏記，回具白南詔，憑此為定賞罰。
軍將犯令，皆得杖，或至五十，或一百，更重者徙瘴地。
諸在職之人，皆以戰功為褒貶黜陟。
朝廷差使到雲南，南詔迎接遠送。
自數年來，緣邕、交兩地長吏苛暴，恣殺非事，致令眾蠻告冤，因茲頻來攻掠，伏蒙聖心，征發大軍，指揮期於克復。
其容州經管三十四羈縻州(案：《新唐書·地理誌》嶺南道羈縻州九十二，隸桂管者七州，隸邕管者二十六州，隸安南者四十一州，並無屬容管者，與此稍有不合)，伏請委安南大首領為刺史，武定州(案：《新唐書·地理誌》武定州乃安南都護府所屬羈縻州之一)亦請委大首領為長吏者，踵前許經略使眷顧親屬，奏元從押衙為刺史，恐非穩便。	...(Former transliterator's note: ...) ...(Former transliterator's note: ...) ...
臣切知故安南前節度使趙昌相繼十三年，緝理交阯，至今遺愛布在耆老，至境內無事。
其時以都押衙杜英策為招討副使，入院判案，每月料錢供給七十貫，以寄客張舟為經略判官，已後舉張舟為都護。
自李象古任安南經略使(案：原本作「李象古」，今考《唐書》李象古為安南都護，以苛刻失眾，為賊楊清所害，蓋即此人，今改正)，恣意貪害，遂至征兵。	...(Former transliterator's note: ...) ...
續又有李涿繼之誅剝(案：原本「涿」上脫「李」字，今據《通鑒》增入)，令生靈受害，莫非長吏非人所致。	...(Former transliterator's note: ...) ...

↑ 丁壯
↑ This could be a Chinese transliteration of a period Tibeto-Burman word, a possibility which could be given further research. When searching for evidence of a possible Tibeto-Burman language interpretation, then perhaps considering the luo part as an honorific and juzi as the core semantic would be reasonable, based upon the second term presented here, sijun juzi.
↑ See also Chinese Wikipedia entry.
↑ Presumably about the neck as a form of protection, though this is conjecture.
↑ Likely a comment based upon their performance in harsh mountain terrain. One aspect would be familiarity with terrain and flora, another would be raw energy. Modern research has confirmed that long term high altitude dwelling peoples develop a higher capacity to transfer oxygen in their blood, leading to a far greater stamina and aerobic capacity at altitude.
↑ This last phrase translation is uncertain. In any event it seems to be discussing connections between multiple such Yuyi commanders (羽儀長) through the front of some sort of screen, which would appear to be a banner of sorts.

[1] 丁壯

[2] This could be a Chinese transliteration of a period Tibeto-Burman word, a possibility which could be given further research. When searching for evidence of a possible Tibeto-Burman language interpretation, then perhaps considering the luo part as an honorific and juzi as the core semantic would be reasonable, based upon the second term presented here, sijun juzi.

[3] See also Chinese Wikipedia entry.

[4] Presumably about the neck as a form of protection, though this is conjecture.

[5] Likely a comment based upon their performance in harsh mountain terrain. One aspect would be familiarity with terrain and flora, another would be raw energy. Modern research has confirmed that long term high altitude dwelling peoples develop a higher capacity to transfer oxygen in their blood, leading to a far greater stamina and aerobic capacity at altitude.

[6] This last phrase translation is uncertain. In any event it seems to be discussing connections between multiple such Yuyi commanders (羽儀長) through the front of some sort of screen, which would appear to be a banner of sorts.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]