Historical Study about 'Military training rituals' in China

Author : Heo, Dae-yeong

Page : 129-167

Abstract

  Military training in which a large number of soldiers operate according to a predetermined procedure has the character as a ceremony in itself. So in the ancient society, military training was performed both as a ritual and as a training. In Chinese history, military training rituals changed according to the military and social systems of each period. This paper reviewed the changes of military training rituals in each period. 

  In the Zhou, military training rites were stipulated in Rites of Zhou(周禮), which were conducted in the order of 'training-hunting-sacrificing' every season. The military training rituals of Rites of Zhou was handed down to future generations as the ideal. At Tang Dynasty which newly classified and systematized the Confucian national rituals into five rituals, also basically inherited the Rites of Zhou. However, military training rituals were divided into two types, hunting training and Jinbeop(陣法: battle formation) training, and the specific training contents were also changed based on the rites theory of the time. Nevertheless, the Tang Dynasty's military training rituals were inherited as a new ideal model.

  While the Tang Dynasty's military training rituals emphasized ideological and formal procedures, the military training rituals of the Song Dynasty emphasized practical functions as military training. These changes were related to the establishment of Muhak(武學: national academy of military science) in the Song dynasty, the implementation of Mugwa(武科: state examination of military officer), and the establishment of Byeonghak(兵學: military science). In the same context, the Song dynasty hunting rite gradually changed to a rite of loyalty between emperor and military officers rather than a military training ritual. at last it was stopped. 

  On the other hand, Mongolia has been conducting great hunting as an important national work since the time of Genghis Khan. Genghis Khan's great hunting was a military training and was for the order and harmony of the entire tribe, and it was also an economic activity for survival in winter. It was similar to ancient hunting rites. After the founding of the Yuan Dynasty, Kublai changed traditional hunting according to sitiation at that time. Every year, he toured the capital city and conducted a large-scale hunting with his imperial guards, Keshik, and along with this, local officials hunted in their territory and offered the game to the Khan. As a result, nationwide hunting was carried out as a ritual.

< Key Words >

​​Military training rituals, military rituals, military training, Gangmu(講武), Junryup(田獵)​