Abstract
We can see two types of the Official Communication System of China, viz., “Pu” and “I”. The former is the foot-transmission of the official papers by the relay system, while the latter is the one to supply the horses and lodgings to the bearer and to transport the official baggages.
The “I” (Stage) was mainly placed at the seat of Prefectural government, but some were placed on the way in case of long distance existing between the governments. Near Pe-king it was placed in almost everv prefecture, while in South China found only along the main route. Along the Great Wall many Military Stages were established. These are the characteristics of “I” distribution.
The Stage Route is classified into three. Main Route (Kuan-Lu), Seconary Main Route (Ta-Lu), and Local Route. The first and second of them are described as the important route given in the Ta Chin Hui Tien Su Li (in the detailed regulations of the law), but the third is not.
The scale of the stage can easily be guessed by the number of horses employed. They had 200-0 horses, except 600 horses at Pe-king. The Stage also can be classified into three in accordance with the classification mentioned above.
