Research on territorial control in Ancient China using Warring States and Qin Han bamboo and wooden slips

本研究以近年来出土的古代行政文书为基础，旨在阐明中国古代王朝支持领土控制的制度特征。首先，汉代高度发达的文书管理制度已为世人所知，但以往的研究却很少探讨这一成就的过程。从这一角度出发，本文以汉代以前的木质行政文书为研究对象，阐明了战国至汉代文书管理制度的变迁。第二，秦汉时期的行政文书多见于军事城市，而到了21世纪世纪，考古学家们又在民间政府城市中发现了木质文书。通过对这些新资料的整理，本研究确定了秦时期西安地方行政单位的基本特征，即由县厅及其下属局所组成。

This research being based on deciphering ancient administrative documents recently excavated in China, aimed to clarify the characteristic of systems that supported the territorial control of Ancient Chinese dynasties. Firstly, highly developed Han documental administration system has been well known, however, the previous studies has rarely discussed the process of such achievement. In this point of view, using wooden administrative documents before Han period, this research clarified the transition of the document administration system from Warring States to Han periods. Secondly, administrative documents in Qin-Han period has been found only in military cites, whereas in 21st century, archaeologists discovered wooden documents in civil government cites. Dealing with these new materials, this research identified the characteristics of local administrative unit Xian, which consists of xianting (prefectural court) and its subordinate bureaus in Qin period.