Quantifying Accomplishments, Rewarding Performance Military Bounties in Early Imperial China

Abstract

How to motivate soldiers to fight is a perennial question in military history. This study aims to present a picture of the development of military rewards in early imperial China, particularly focusing on the form of military bounties that were made readily available to all walks of life. Witnessing the decline of the status-oriented reward, namely, the jungong jue system, which had developed since the Warring States period, the imperial state employed monetary reward as a supplement to incentivize its subjects to strive for military merits. Military bounties quantified military achievements and granted extraordinary payment for the completion of specific tasks. By encouraging people to acquire rewards through their military services, the system helped to strengthen imperial frontier security.