The military system in the late Tang and Five Dynasties is principally characterized by the transformation of the practice of conscription to the recruitment of mercenary soldiers, along with the changes of military establishments and soldiers’ remuneration. In the early Tang Dynasty, the status and wealth of conscripts were highly valued. While in the late Tang, the martial art of recruits was more valued. This transformation in medieval China illustrates the decline of the imperial power’s direct control over its subjects and reflects the historical trends of the social evolutions taking place during the Tang-Song Era.

唐五代兵制的变化趋势, 主要表现为从征兵制走向雇佣职业兵制, 其军队编制与兵士待遇亦随之变化。 唐代前期兵役制度重视兵士的身份和家庭经济条件; 后期则重视应募者的武艺技术。 中古社会历史的这种变革, 体现了国家通过权力直接控制臣民的制度的转化, 从一个侧面反映了唐宋社会变迁的历史大趋势。