A glimpse into tax exemption system along the Silk Road
An ancient document reveals how tax officials called "Kongmusi" issued tax exemption certificates to merchants along the Silk Road 1,000 years ago. [Photo/seexinjiang]
Check out this fascinating ancient document! It reveals how tax officials called "Kongmusi" issued tax exemption certificates to merchants along the Silk Road 1,000 years ago. According to the document, if the weaver completes a task of weaving 100 feet (33.3 meters) of fabric, he could be exempted from labor duties according to regulations.
It happened in the Qiuci region in Xinjiang, which remains a major cotton-producing area, with locals still engaged in cotton cultivation and textile production.
This document also reflected the flexibility of the central government in allowing locals to pay taxes using items other than currency.