Zongboin System Followed During the Qing Dynasty

When Tibet became a part of China during Chinas Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368), the Yuan ruler granted Jamqoi Gyaincain, the Tibetan chief, the official post of "Dasitu". He then pressed ahead with the system of "Zongboin" (county magistrate) and "manors." A total of 13 administrative units known as "zong" (county) were set up. When the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) emerged to rule the Central Plains in China, the Ming ruler followed the same system of "Zongboin." In 1644, the Ming Dynasty was toppled and the Qing Dynasty was founded. Zongboins appointed during the Ming Dynasty were accepted, and the system of "zong" continued. During the period of the 5th Dalai Lama, Tibet followed the "zong" system introduced during the Ming Dynasty. In 1751, or the 16th year of the reign of Qing Emperor Qianlong, the system of princes holding power was replaced by the Gaxag government. Major officials with the Gaxag were called Galoons. Administrative organs under the Gaxag, which today would be at prefectural level, were called Gyicho, under which were "zongs". Zong was in charge of manors of aristocrats, monasteries and slave owners.

FUNCTIONS. Zongboin appointed by the Gaxag government collected taxes from monasteries and manors according to Gaxag stipulations. One Zongboins salary amounted to the land rent collected from one of the manors. In U-Tsang, a manor was larger in size than ordinary ones. Administratively speaking, it was like a "zong". For "zongs" controlled by monasteries, the role of Zongboin was assumed by the lama with the monastery concerned.

EMPLOYEES OF THE ZONG. A Zong was generally free from civil, judiciary and financial organs. Its employees were divided into two parts: l Those who handled corvee labor and taxes paid in kind; they included what we today call secretaries, accountants, and those in charge of discipline. l Those who handled taxes paid in kind to the Gaxag and its affiliated organs. They included one to four charged with managing corvees and warehouses.

POWER OF ZONGBOIN. During the Qing Dynasty, one zong was staffed with one or two (monk and lay) Zongboin officials. Generally, a small zong was staffed with only one Zongboin. During the Qing Dynasty, Zongboin was called Yingguan. They were charged with the following work:

Defending the border. Tibets neighbors were many tribes in Ghurka (Nepal), Bhutan and Sikkim. Historically, no effective measures were taken to control the visits by the outsiders, and officials with U-Tsang sometimes did not report to the High Commissioners stationed in Tibet by the Qing court. Under the new rule, the Yingguan official sent people to patrol the border and control visits from outside Tibet. Collecting rents. The Gaxag government divided the land into three parts: land controlled directly by the Gaxag itself; land allotted to various high-ranking Gaxag government officials as a kind of salary; and land allotted to the nobility, the Living Buddha and monasteries. Serfs were charged with cultivating these lands, but had to pay rent and taxes to the Yingguan appointed by the Gaxag government.

Collecting business taxes in the border areas. The Tibetan peasants and herders got their material supplies mainly through fairs in border areas. The Yingguan official set up what we today call customs to collect business taxes, which were paid in silver or in kind. For example, Tibetan merchants selling salt to Nepal had to pay a tax in salt, which was used by the Yingguan official to trade with the Nepalese merchants for incense, paper and fruit－all shipped to the Gaxag government.

Controlling corvee cards. To transport materials collected from zong to zong and finally to the Gaxag government, human and beast labor was called for. Ula cards were therefore issued for serfs to pay corvee labor to ula card holders, free of charge.

Maintaining social order. During the period of the 13th Dalai Lama, many decrees were issued for the purpose. And the Yingguan officials were charged with submitting reports on social order to the Gaxag government.

PUNISHMENT FOR ZONGBOIN. The Yingguan officials were charged with civil affairs, including the reception and distribution of official documents, and handling legal cases. In the following cases, they would be punished:

Neglecting their duties;

Taking bribes.