Abstract:
The time factors in the land tenancy contracts unearthed in Turpan included the date of signing the contracts and the date of renting payment, which all reflected the law of the farming season from the Jin to the Tang Dynasties. The signing of tenancy contracts must be signed before sowing seeds. In the Gaochang Kingdom, the date of signing the contracts was concentrated at the beginning of the year, mainly in February. However, in the Tang Dynasty, the contract signing date developed to the end of the year, mostly in November, because the increase of population caused a land shortage in Xizhou. So in this period, the situation of renting land was increased. To avoid rent arrears, rent payment usually took place in May and October, during which the grain was ripened. The rent also included some seasonal crops if orchard and vegetable farm were leased. The law of the farming season not only played a guiding role in agricultural production, but also affected daily life such as imposition of taxes, storage of grain and maintenance of water conservancy facilities.