ORGANISATION OF DEFENSE AGAINST NOMADS IN THE NORTHWESTERN PREFECTURES OF THE HAN EMPIRE (BASED ON HANJIAN BAMBOO SLIPS OF ZHANGYE COMMANDERY)

Bamboo and wooden slips named hanjian dated by the Western and Eastern Han Dynasties (202 BCE - 220 CE) found in the northwestern commanderies of the empire bordering the Xiongnu territories often contain information about numerous conflicts with nomads. Unlike historical chronicles, which record only important historical events and major battles, daily reports on bamboo slips tell more about border clashes and routine tasks of soldiers in watchtowers. The wooden documents, which strictly and in detail recorded individual raids by small groups of nomads, can serve as a source for a detailed analysis of the scale and strategy of the Xiongnu or other nomadic peoples’ invasion of Han territories, the amount of damage caused, and the methods of resisting attacks. This investigation examines documents from the Juyan border outpost in Zhangye County, where the most representative collection of slips dedicated to the daily tasks of border fortresses was found. It is determined that the Xiongnu most often attacked in late spring and early winter, in the pre-dawn or evening twilight. The goals of small attacks were related to enriching food for people and animals, stealing weapons, and destroying fortifications of the Han side. The report form by Han soldiers on past conflicts, methods of preparation for repelling enemy attacks, and professional criteria for service on watchtowers are determined in the article.