Song Tea-Horse Trade

Timeline

1. 1074–1100Qinzhou (modern Tianshui) · GansuUnder Shenzong of the Northern Song, the tea-horse law was implemented and the Tea and Horse Supervisorate established, exchanging state tea for Tibetan horses. Tea-licensing monopolies and horse-price conversions were standardized, strengthening control over military horse supplies in the context of the war against Western Xia.
2. c. 1120–1150Chengdu Prefecture Circuit · SichuanAfter overland war-horse sources in the northwest were cut off, the Southern Song turned to the southwestern tea-horse route. Tea was shipped from Ya'an, Dujiangyan and elsewhere to exchange markets at Lizhou, Yazhou and other places, trading with Tibetans and various Wuman groups; the southwestern segment of the Ancient Tea Horse Road grew increasingly busy.
3. 1241–1250Ya'an–Dajianlu tea-horse route · Ancient Tea Horse RoadThrough the middle and late Southern Song, the southwestern tea-horse exchange continued to operate. Border tea varieties (compressed tea) were produced specifically for Tibetan consumption; exchange revenues and horse quality remained sources of frontier military reinforcement, and also promoted multi-ethnic economic and cultural exchange.
4. 1279–1350Southwest Ancient Tea Horse Road · SouthwestAfter the fall of the Southern Song, the Yuan dynasty retained the state tea-horse exchange system. The tea-licensing management, horse grading, and exchange-site layout developed under the Song provided a model for the Ming and Qing tea-horse systems; the Song system as a dynastic frontier trade framework came to an end.