The equal-field system was designed to reduce land inequality and improve tax revenue in which dynasty?

The equal-field system was designed to reduce land inequality and improve tax revenue in which dynasty?

• A. Tang dynasty
• B. Song dynasty
• C. Han dynasty
• D. Yuan dynasty

Answer: (A)

The equal-field system is about tying land to the people to prevent land from concentrating in a few hands and to guarantee a stable tax base for the state. In the Tang dynasty, the government allocated land to households based on family size and registered households, granting a fixed amount of arable land per person. This land stayed with the household for a time, but could revert to the state if the family grew or moved, allowing reallocation as needed. By standardizing how much land each household received and tying taxation to that land, the system reduced inequality and created predictable revenue for the central government, supporting military and administrative needs. Over time, factors like population growth and shifting power weakened the system, but its design and purpose fit the Tang era’s centralized governance and fiscal goals.

The equal-field system is about tying land to the people to prevent land from concentrating in a few hands and to guarantee a stable tax base for the state. In the Tang dynasty, the government allocated land to households based on family size and registered households, granting a fixed amount of arable land per person. This land stayed with the household for a time, but could revert to the state if the family grew or moved, allowing reallocation as needed. By standardizing how much land each household received and tying taxation to that land, the system reduced inequality and created predictable revenue for the central government, supporting military and administrative needs. Over time, factors like population growth and shifting power weakened the system, but its design and purpose fit the Tang era’s centralized governance and fiscal goals.