The Chief Sources of "Yinguan" in the Qin and Han Dynasties Revealed from the Unearthed Bamboo and Wooden Slips

There are coincidental exact records of Yinguan on the bamboo slips of the Qin Dynasty unearthed in Shuihudi and on those of the Han Dynasty unearthed in Zhangjiashan as well as those of the Qin Dynasty unearthed in Liye.The four sources of Yinguan in the Qin and Han Dynasties can be found in them,i.e.those who had been rehabilitated from the unjust,false and wrong cases;some of the handicraft slaves whose status could be changed through military exploits;those who were exempted from punishment after having received corporal punishment;those slaves and maid-servants who could be set free as freemen,which thus shows that Yinguan couldn′t be an institution but people who could be taken pity on and afforded certain compensations or favor,after having received corporal punishment,which,for some special reasons,were affirmed by the feudal officials.However,they were neither common people nor slaves and maid-servants of the government officials or other persons but people with special status who were low and degrading between them.