Introduction: The Agricultural Mosaic of Imperial China

The Qin (221–206 BCE) and Han (206 BCE–220 CE) dynasties marked a golden age of agricultural development in ancient China, where sophisticated economic zones supported a burgeoning empire. Historical records reveal three primary production zones: grain-focused agricultural regions, livestock-based pastoral areas, and mixed farming-pastoral zones. Among these, agricultural districts dominated both geographically and economically, forming the backbone of societal stability. This article explores the remarkable diversity within these agricultural systems—from cash crops to aquaculture—that fueled China’s first imperial era.

The Rise of Cash Crops: Beyond Staple Grains

While millet and wheat formed dietary staples, Qin-Han farmers strategically cultivated non-food crops that drove rural economies.

### Fiber and Dye Plants
– Hemp: Dual-purpose as both food (“nine grains”) and textile fiber, evidenced by:
– Agricultural manuals like Fàn Shèngzhī’s Book detailing cultivation
– Murals in Inner Mongolia’s Eastern Han tombs depicting hemp retting pools
– Widespread archaeological finds of hemp fabrics

### The Silk Revolution
– Mulberry cultivation: The foundation of China’s silk industry:
– Western Han ruins at Neihuang, Henan reveal orderly mulberry rows
– Tomb murals show women harvesting leaves from both tree and bush varieties
– Silk fragments from Mawangdui attest to advanced sericulture

### Oil and Industrial Crops
– Soybeans: Primary oil source, with remains found in multiple burial sites
– Specialty oils:
– Perilla and sesame recorded in agricultural texts
– Rape seeds preserved in Yangjiawan Han tombs
– Sichuan’s brick carvings depict tung oil harvesting for lamps

Archaeobotanical evidence confirms these crops’ economic significance, with peppercorns from Hebei to Guangxi tombs highlighting long-distance spice trade networks.

Horticultural Advancements: From Royal Orchards to Peasant Plots

### Vegetable Cultivation
– Staple varieties:
– Gourds (dual-use as containers) found in Jiangling tombs
– Frontier garrisons grew leeks, ginger, and brassicas per Juyan bamboo slips
– Mawangdui’s remarkably preserved lotus roots and malva vegetables

### Fruit Cultivation Zones
– Northern orchards:
– Jujubes and chestnuts dominate Shandong and Beijing tomb offerings
– Southern specialties:
– Lychees perfectly preserved in Guangxi bronze vessels
– Citrus seeds in Hunan, Sichuan sites show regional specialization
– Tropical fruits like carambola in Nanyue royal tombs

This horticultural diversity, captured in tomb inventories and actual plant remains, demonstrates advanced propagation techniques and microclimate adaptation.

Animal Husbandry: The “Six Domestic Animals” Economy

### Strategic Livestock
– Horses: Military and transport backbone
– Terracotta armies reflect state breeding programs
– Legal statutes (e.g., Jiuyuan Laws) regulated equine management
– Cattle: Plow agriculture’s driving force
– Murals in Inner Mongolia depict grazing scenes
– Household inventories list oxen as major assets

### Small-Scale Husbandry
– Meat and secondary products:
– Pig models ubiquitous in Han burial goods
– Guangdong tomb figurines show integrated livestock pens
– Regional patterns:
– Sichuan favors chickens and ducks
– Central Plains prioritize dogs and pigs

Statistical analysis of 115 tomb assemblages reveals typical smallholder portfolios: 1-2 pigs, several chickens, and a watchdog.

Aquatic Production: Rivers as Farmland

### Freshwater Systems
– Managed ecosystems:
– Sichuan’s pond models feature integrated fish-duck systems
– Imperial parks like Shanglin’s Kunming Pool doubled as fish farms
– Fishing technologies:
– Shandong carvings show net-casting techniques
– Sichuan’s stone reliefs detail weir fishing

### Marine Resources
– Coastal exploitation:
– Nanyue palace remains reveal turtle breeding
– Pearl River Delta sites contain mixed freshwater-marine species

Hunting and Game Management

While domesticated animals dominated, wild resources remained vital:
– Royal menageries: Qin Shi Huang’s bronze waterfowl, Han imperial pandas
– Common game:
– Mawangdui’s pheasants, deer, and migratory geese
– Beijing tombs’ wild swans suggest elite falconry

Legacy: The Blueprint for Traditional Chinese Agriculture

The Qin-Han period crystallized China’s integrated farming model:
1. Crop rotation systems balancing grains and cash crops
2. Regional specialization based on ecological factors
3. Smallholder resilience through diversified production

This agricultural sophistication directly supported:
– Population growth (Han China reached 60 million)
– Silk Road trade (via surplus textile production)
– Cultural unification through shared farming practices

Modern Chinese agriculture still echoes these 2,000-year-old patterns, proving the enduring wisdom of Han agronomists who, as Fàn Shèngzhī advocated, “followed the land’s nature to exhaust its benefits.” The archaeological record—from Sichuan’s fishing ponds to Henan’s mulberry fields—testifies to an agricultural revolution that fed an empire and shaped a civilization.