Translation: Ministry of Revenue or Ministry of Households
🧾 Key Responsibilities of Bộ Hộ:
| Area | Function |
|---|---|
| Taxation | Collected land tax, head tax, and trade levies |
| Economic Planning | Oversaw agricultural production, market supply, and grain storage |
| Trade & Market Regulation | Regulated local markets (chợ), pricing, weights/measures, and guild practices |
| Population & Labor | Maintained census records and workforce data for tax and corvée labor |
| Monetary Policy | Supervised minting of copper cash coins and monitored their circulation |
🏛️ Context in the Administrative System:
- Bộ Hộ was one of the Lục Bộ (六部) – the Six Ministries of imperial government.
- This bureaucratic system was modeled after the Tang and Song Chinese administrative structure, but adapted to Vietnamese realities.
- It reported directly to the Thượng thư (尚書) or Grand Chancellor, and ultimately the Emperor (Hoàng Đế).
🛍️ Local Enforcement & Markets:
- Local magistrates (Tri Huyện, Tri Phủ) enforced economic laws in villages and towns.
- Artisan guilds (phường) and merchant associations existed in major urban centers like Thăng Long, regulated by state mandates.
🧠 Related Institutions:
| Name | Function |
|---|---|
| Ty Bạc (司帛) | Oversaw currency and coinage (minting, regulation) |
| Kho Bạc Nhà Nước | Imperial Treasury (managed state funds and granaries) |
| Thị Sát Ty (市察司) | Market inspection agency (ensured honesty and quality control in markets) |
🏆 Legacy:
- While Đại Việt did not have free-market capitalism, its state-controlled economy was remarkably advanced.
- Institutions like Bộ Hộ maintained economic stability, controlled inflation, and supported military and social programs.