On the social significance of tea-horse trade at that time. Who knows? It is the topic of tea culture.

"Tea-horse exchange" originated in the Tang and Song Dynasties, which is a traditional trade exchange centered on exchanging tea for horses or horses for tea between Han and Tibetan nationalities in the history of western China. Tea-horse trade is the main form of commercial trade between ancient Central Plains and northwest minority areas. In fact, it was a financial measure implemented by the imperial court in areas where nomadic people in the west did not have the conditions for taxation.

Historical significance

The tea-horse trade policy in Song Dynasty has been perfect, and various measures are also very powerful. For example, the amount and price of a horse "increase or decrease with the market, and the price is uncertain"; "The horse price is divided into nine grades", and each grade is different according to the horse's driving and folding tea; The price of buying horse tea is lower than the monopoly price, and "selling more horse tea" is conducive to selling more; It is also stipulated that the famous tea of Yazhou with good quality is dedicated to Boma, and it is forbidden for vendors to sell it before the task of Boma is completed. These regulations are in line with the principle of commodity exchange and the objective laws of commodity economy market, and have been welcomed and supported by ethnic minorities, which has enabled the tea-horse trade to continue. Therefore, the author believes that the tea-horse market is the economic interdependence of both sides, the adjustment of material surplus and shortage, mutual benefit and mutual benefit, in line with the common interests of the people.

Song Dynasty and Tubo and other ethnic minorities promoted economic prosperity through tea-horse trade. First of all, it expanded the tea-horse market and promoted the development of animal husbandry and tea industry. At the same time, it also promotes the exchange of other commodities. Cattle, sheep, hides, medicinal materials and other agricultural and sideline products in alpine grassland areas have flowed into Han areas in large quantities, and handicrafts and agricultural and sideline products such as silk, cloth, ceramics and salt in Han areas have also entered minority areas in large quantities, which not only promoted the development of local handicrafts and other industries, but also promoted the exchange of science, technology, culture and art with frequent economic and trade activities, which has had a far-reaching impact on promoting the development and social progress in border areas.

Tea-horse trade in Song Dynasty is conducive to national unity and the formation and unification of a multi-ethnic country. Tubo drove horses to buy tea, ranging from hundreds to thousands of people, both officials and people, and had extensive contacts and exchanges with people from all walks of life of the Han nationality, which was conducive to promoting exchanges between the two sides and enhancing understanding and friendship. Northwest Tubo was willing to accept the rule of Song Dynasty through tea-horse exchange, and the border area was relatively peaceful, resisting the attack of Xixia. The confrontation between Xixia and Song Dynasty aroused people's dissatisfaction, forcing them to make peace with Song Dynasty and buy tea. In Song Xiaozong, the Qiang people in Qingtang, Lizhou, Sichuan, interrupted the tea-horse trade in Song Dynasty, gathered people to disturb the border and demanded the resumption of the trade. Therefore, the tea-horse trade is of great political significance to strengthening national unity and the formation of a multi-ethnic country, as well as to the consolidation and development of the Song Dynasty.