The basis of the Sui and early Tang militaries was the
fubing militia system, first employed by the Western Wei, under regent
Yuwen Tai's administration. These
militia units also served as reserves, and could be mobilized quickly in times of war or political instability. those over 2000
li away served for two months every 18 months. When off-duty, they would farm their land, but when a war occurred, they would be re-mobilized. This supplemented the
equal-field system, which assigned all households a share of land to farm. These units subsequently became hereditary military families, and ushered forth vast militarized settlements and communities. The Sui placed these units under local civil administration, and later the Tang incorporated them under metropolitan control, more specifically the Ministry of the Army. The Tang fielded 634 militia units, later called Zhechongfu. Under Tang administration every 6 families were expected to provide one man to serve under a garrison unit. Each unit consisted of 800 to 1200 men, and in turn were subdivided into
tuan of 300,
dui of 50, and
huo of 10. Many were concentrated in the northern region, especially in
Guanzhong, which alone fielded 261 militia units, the rest included 164 in
Shanxi, and 74 in
Henan and
Shandong, all constituting about 80 percent of
fubing conscripts.
Fubing required little government expenditure, since militiamen could support themselves by farming. The
fubing system only had provisions for brief military campaigns and peacetime. Prolonged warfare would prevent the cultivation of agriculture for the economy.
Fubing was gradually abandoned in favor of full-time army units, known as ''
jian'er'' (健儿). ==See also==