Baojia system facts for kids

The baojia system (Chinese: 保甲; pinyin: bǎojiǎ) was a special way of organizing communities in ancient China. It was created by Wang Anshi during the Northern Song dynasty (around 1069–1076). This system helped local communities keep order and manage themselves. It was part of Wang Anshi's big plan to improve the Chinese government, called the "New Policies."

How the Baojia System Worked

The baojia system was designed to help local communities take care of themselves. It was like a neighborhood watch and a way to manage local tasks.

Early Days in Imperial China

In the beginning, leaders of these community groups, called baos, had important jobs. They helped keep the peace, collected taxes, and organized community projects. The main idea was to reduce the government's need for hired soldiers (mercenaries). Instead, local people would be responsible for keeping law and order.

During the Ming dynasty, rules for the baojia system were shared in 1548. However, it wasn't a strict rule for everyone. These rules were more like suggestions for officials who wanted to use the system in their areas. The Ming dynasty also had another system called lijia for collecting taxes, which sometimes worked alongside baojia.

Later, during the Qing dynasty, the baojia system spread across all of China. But some historians say it wasn't always very effective. For many years, it was often just a formal system, not always used strongly. In 1885, the baojia system also started to help collect taxes. This sometimes led to problems and local disagreements.

Baojia in Modern China

The idea of the baojia system continued to be important in China even in the 20th century.

Boycotts and Community Action

In 1919, during the May Fourth Movement, Chinese students used a similar idea to the baojia system. They were protesting against Japanese products. Ten students would promise together to boycott Japanese goods. Each group of ten would then try to convince nine more people to join, forming bigger groups. This showed how the old baojia idea could still inspire people to work together.

Reintroduction Efforts

Later, during the Republic of China era, a leader named Chiang Kai-shek wanted to bring back the baojia system. Some thought it could help create a military where citizens served, instead of relying on hired soldiers. The system had some success, but it was hard to find enough people willing to be baozhang (group leaders) because the job was not paid.

Japanese Use of the System

The Japanese government also used a version of the baojia system, called Tonarigumi, in Manchukuo (a region in China) starting in 1933. Their main goal was to watch and control Chinese citizens. If one family in a group of ten (called a pai) committed a crime, all ten families could be punished. This encouraged the group leader (paizhang) to keep a close eye on everyone. This system also helped with self-defense and watching over communities. It lasted until 1937, when Japan needed more direct control due to the ongoing war.

Baojia in Taiwan

In Taiwan under Japanese rule, the baojia system that was already there from the Qing government was changed into the Hoko system. This new system was very good at keeping things stable and orderly for the Japanese government in Taiwan.

How the Baojia System Was Organized

The way the baojia system was set up changed over time.

Original Structure

In Wang Anshi's first system, the smallest group was called a bao (watch), which had ten families.

Ming Dynasty Changes

During the Ming dynasty, this ten-family group was called a jia (tithing). Ten jia (which meant 100 families) then formed a bao. One family in each jia would take turns being the jiazhang, or tithing captain. The leader of the bigger bao was called the baozhang.

There were also some differences in how it worked in different regions. In some places, a jia might have as few as four families or as many as thirteen. Some areas even added an extra group called a dang (compact), which had thirty families and a dangzhang leader.

Qing Dynasty Structure

During the Qing dynasty, the system changed again. Ten households made one pai. Ten pai made one jia. And every ten jia formed a bao. Studies show that the lowest official, called the xiangbao, looked after about twenty villages. Their job was to connect the people with the government.

Republic of China Structure

When the system was brought back in the Republic of China, the basic structure stayed similar. However, a new level was added called the lianbao (associated bao), which was a group of several bao at the district level.