Imperial Tallies (Daxia): Difference between revisions

At the start of the year all of the subject peoples and nations would send small delegations to Daguo. The delegates would ritually prostrate themselves and submit gifts to the Imperial court, then they would ask permission to review their obligations on the imperial tallies. Each nation had its own personalized scroll and a scribe that would read it to the delegation accompanied by music. The tallies were updated annually even if a tributary was in open rebellion, so that when they were forced back into the imperial fold they returned in arrears. If a tributary acquired new territories, a team of auditors was sent to inspect what new materials and industries would be added to the tallies for the next year. Earlier dynasties like the Xie and Shang took their tribute in goods ranging from horses, jugs of wine and milk to forged weapons and slaves, seeing offerings of coin as vulgar. The Qian dynasty however only accepted tribute in coins made of precious metals or in high value goods such as gems and spices.

[[Category:Daxia]]