Does anyone know the military ranks that were used by the Northern Song?

I know Ming Dynasty rank emblems ... but I can't find anything for the Song period.

I am specifically looking for the rank of a junior officer. What would have been the Chinese term for a junior officer of the 9th rank?

I am writing a fantasy based in 12th century northern China. Even though this is a fantasy, I would like the story to be grounded in as much reality as possible. To this end, I've had a lot of fun researching Song Dynasty culture.

Any information would be useful.

Dave Chin AKA Chef Dave

Jiangyuhou 将虞候, Chengju 承局 or Yaguan 押官 (in descending order of rank) would be the most junior officers in early-to-mid Northern Song armies. These officers served on the staff of the Du 都 ('company'), which usually numbered around 100 men and was commanded by the Junshi 军使 in the case of cavalry or the Dutou 都头 in the case of infantry. The Du was the basic combat unit in the army, in that there were no smaller permanent units.

During the Wang Anshi reforms, the Dui 队 ('platoon') of 50 men was introduced to replace the Du. Under the new system, the Junshi and Dutou were renamed as Yongdui 拥队 ('platoon commanders') and were required to follow in the rear of their Dui with sword drawn, ready to slay any one who tried to flee from battle. In the front of the Dui, holding a big flag to lead the men into battle (执持大旗，麾众当先者), was a junior officer called the Qitou 旗头 - he was selected based on his physical strength and courage, as well as his skill in using the flagpole as a spear once the battle began (选壮勇善枪者). He was followed closely by another junior officer called the Yinzhan 引战, who was also specially selected for courage and martial prowess (选勇悍者) and whose task was similarly to lead the men forward by personal example. The Dui system was essentially continued under Southern Song, except that the Yinzhan came to be renamed as Yadui 押队.

So, depending on which period of Song history you are in, your junior officer could be a Jiangyuhou 将虞候, Chengju 承局 or Yaguan 押官 (for the earlier period), or a Qitou or Yinzhan (for the later period).

For lots of detailed information on Song military structure - if you can read Chinese - see the online copy of Wang Cengyu's 《宋朝兵制初探》 at http://bbs.cqzg.cn/thread-337388-1-1.html

This is precisely what I was looking for. Thank you so much!

D. Chin

Interesting that the senior was given the stay-in-the-back task of prodding the troops forwards while the traditional role model job was taken over by another junior. So both of these junior officer jobs required above average fighting skill and courage?

Also, this is the first time I've heard about such an aggressive flagbearer. I've always seen the spearheads on the flags, but assumed them for show or merely used in desperation. Was this a common practice (along with the assignment of a particularly capable lancer to the job), or unique to the Song?

Were these two junior officers merely picked unofficially from the soldiers, or was it an official ranking? If it was an official ranking, were they better paid? Or was it more responsibility at the same pay as the regular troops?

Hi first time poster and hey look i'm after answer's..

I'm trying to find out what sort of units were about in the Sung Dynasty and what people were commonly armed with and wearing..

Any links hints and such would be a great help to me as i'm sort of coming in with need for a steep learning curve..

Thanks

Hey Lupus, I merged your question with an earlier thread on Song military ranks and units.

On Song weapons and armour, see these threads:

http://www.chinahistoryforum.com/index.php?showtopic=27967
http://www.chinahistoryforum.com/index.php?showtopic=26862
http://www.chinahistoryforum.com/index.php?showtopic=27349
http://www.chinahistoryforum.com/index.php...=27652&st=0
http://www.chinahistoryforum.com/index.php...0&hl=shenbi
http://www.chinahistoryforum.com/index.php...278&hl=song

Thanks for this a real great help..