On the Word “Congzhe” (Retinue) Seen in the Han Dynasty Bamboo Slips from Jianshuijinguan

Congzhe refers to a common group of people because they often acted as attendants employed privately by officials and scholars, also known as Si congzhe or Si cong. Most of them are youths who had permanent domiciles and could have a title of nobility. They were written into the household register. They not only assisted their employers in finishing their official or private business, but also traveled with their employers and participated in the management of different affairs, thus effectively improving the efficiency and quality of administrative work. In the frontier garrisons, congzhe refers to soldiers' family members, and they got supplies from the government. This study will help better understand the composition of the frontier population and its social structure in the Han Dynasty.