Post stations originated from military post stations in the Qin and Han dynasties, where specialized personnel rode horses to transmit military orders and other important information. Post stations in mainland China were located under the main transportation institutions of that time, while in border areas, they were located under military institutions such as "beacon" and "tower". After the mid Western Han Dynasty, due to the need for foreign wars and strengthening centralization, "Zhi" gradually became the main transportation institution of the country, and its safe, efficient, and fast postal services were fully developed. During the Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties, warlords ruled and fought fiercely. The widespread use of post stations by the state led to their independent development into post stations, gradually becoming the main military transportation institution of the country. As a result, a militarized post station management system and legal system for post stations began to take shape. On the basis of inheriting the legal system of transportation and post stations from previous generations, the Tang Dynasty established the basic content of the legal system of ancient Chinese post stations, and the militarized management system and legal content of post stations established by it were used until the end of the Qing Dynasty. On our right-hand side, what you see is the Yin Liu Nian, which records the names of Gaoyou Post Stations from the Qin Dynasty to the Ming Dynasty: Gaoyou Pavilion, Yinghua Post Station, Gaoyou Post Station, Qin Post Station, Yucheng Post Station, and Qin Post Mansion The official documents sent by the postal workers must be stamped with such a big seal, indicating that there are no problems in the Gaoyou process, they must arrive on time, be complete, stamped with a big seal, and continue to the next station. (Keep moving forward) Because all the documents sent are official documents, the sealing of the documents is guaranteed to be complete. If there are any abnormalities, they will be returned and the responsibility of the previous station will be pursued. The document must be: can only arrive early, cannot arrive late. Being late will result in severe punishment. Generally, if a document is delayed, it will be punished with a penalty of 60 penalties. If a military document is delayed, it will be punished with execution.
In ancient China, postal services were called "postal stations". What is' post 'or' post '? Scholars believe that "mail" refers to the institution used in ancient border areas to transmit letters. The so-called "post" in ancient times referred to horses and carts used to transmit official documents. Since the Zhou and Qin dynasties, postal stations have had different names. In the Zhou Dynasty, it was called "Zhuan" or "Zu" [r ì ri], and in the Spring and Autumn Period and Warring States Period, it was called "Chou" or "You", also known as "Zhi". In the Qin Dynasty, it was uniformly called "You", in the Han Dynasty it was called "Yi", in the Wei and Jin Dynasties it was called "You" and "Yi" together, and in the Tang Dynasty it was called "Guan". In the Song Dynasty, a new name "Jidi Pu" emerged, and in the Yuan Dynasty, it was also known as "Zhan Chi". In the Ming Dynasty, the stations in the Yuan Dynasty were collectively referred to as "Yi", and in the Qing Dynasty, "You" and "Yi" were combined into one. Nowadays, it is customary to refer to ancient Chinese postal services as "postal stations" or "post stations" or "postal transmission".
China is one of the earliest countries in the world to establish organizations for transmitting information. Although postal service has a history of over 3000 years, there are not many preserved sites and cultural relics. The two post station sites on the stamp belong to the Ming Dynasty. One is our Yucheng Post Station, and the other is Jimingshan Post Station in Huailai County, Hebei Province. It is the only relatively complete post city in China.
Logistics has always accompanied human history from ancient times to the present, and when it comes to ancient logistics, it is inevitable to mention post stations. In simple terms, a post station was a place in ancient times where officials and visiting officials rested and changed horses while receiving and delivering official documents. Its functions gradually expanded and were eventually replaced by new things. The recorded post stations in Liaoning region appeared in the Tang Dynasty. In the "General Principles of the Five Classics" written in the Song Dynasty, it was mentioned that there were post stations set up on Yingzhou Road in the Tang Dynasty. In the Liao Dynasty, there were 14 post stations set up between Dading Prefecture in the central capital and Liaoyang Prefecture in the eastern capital. In the Jin Dynasty, relay stations were set up along the Liaoxi Coastal Road between Huining Prefecture in Shangjing and Yanjing. In order to meet military needs and strengthen communication, the Jin Dynasty imitated the relay shops built by the Song Dynasty in the Liaoning region. Delivery shops are usually built near major transportation routes with stationed troops, resembling a small square fortress with black flags at its corners. The distance between each shop is generally around ten miles, with four people per shop, and the management is very strict, with a military nature. At this time, the delivery shops and post stations were under the leadership of the Ministry of War under the jurisdiction of the imperial court. The post station provides food, lodging, and transportation for passing officials according to the standards set by the court.
In the Yuan Dynasty, due to its vast territory, development of transportation, and strengthening of the post station system, it became an important means of consolidating its political power. At this time, the post station was also called "zhanchi", which is actually the transliteration of "zhanchi" in Mongolian.
In the Ming Dynasty, except for the opening of relay stations from Shenyang to Lushun, relay stations were also set up on other main roads. This is different from the Yuan Dynasty, which only set up relay stations on two main lines. In the Ming Dynasty, delivery offices were also established, which were independent and post stations specializing in the transportation of goods. Their main task was to prepay the country's military supplies, tribute, and rewards. Managed by local health clinics. The delivery office was established in the first year of Hongwu (1376 AD), which was a major advancement in transportation during the Ming Dynasty and provided specialized organization for the transportation of goods. In the Ming Dynasty, land transportation was mainly carried out through fixed-point and relay methods. Therefore, in addition to being responsible for the designated transportation routes at the station, the delivery center also needs to do a good job in the distribution of sea and river transportation.
After Emperor Shunzhi of the Qing Dynasty entered the pass, the capital was established in Beijing, and the original capital Shengjing was called Liudu. Shengjing still holds a very special position in the country. Shengjing Post Station is also different from other provinces. The post station is divided into three parts: post station, station, and shop. A post station is an organization for the government to receive guests and arrange transportation of government supplies. A station is an organization dedicated to transmitting important documents and military intelligence for the military system. Led by local departments, state and county governments, responsible for the transmission of official documents and letters. Shengjing Post Station basically follows the setting of post stations in the Ming Dynasty, not limited by administrative divisions, but determined according to traffic conditions. Spread and deliver official documents. All official documents exchanged between prefectures and counties are transmitted through postal service. Shengjing's storefronts are spread throughout the entire district.