Organisation territoriale et monopole du thé dans la Chine des Song (960-1059)

摘要

Territorial Organbation and the Tea Monopoly in Northern-Song China (960-1059). A study of the effects of the location of the monopoly administration in Southern- Huai, which was the first tea-monopoly zone the Song dynasty, sheds light on the link between the evolution of monopoly regulations and the re-unification of the empire during that period. After the territorial break-up of the Five Dynasties the new Song dynasty organized the Southern-Huai tea trade in order to channel profits to the capital Kaifeng. But following the complete reunification of South China in 976, the admi nistration had to strengthen its territorial cohesion in order to fight enemies concen trated on the northern borders. An analysis of the circulation of tea certificates is in fact indicative of the tea-merchant control over the monopoly until the abolition in 1059. Such was the price paid by the administration in order to insure the financial regularity required/or commercial transactions on the borders i.e. in order to control these areas through financial network.