wei

The term "wei" (Chinese: "guard post") refers to military garrison units used by China's Ming dynasty (1368–1644) to maintain peace. These units, originally developed by the Yuan dynasty, consisted of 5,600 men. Each "wei" was divided into smaller units, with the head reporting to provincial headquarters rather than local civil administration. These nearly 500 units were stationed along frontiers and at strategic locations. The system, however, deteriorated by the mid-16th century as hereditary soldier positions and land grants led to a decline in military effectiveness.1

It is important to distinguish this from the ancient state of "Wei" during China's Warring States period (475–221 BCE), which was eventually conquered by the state of Qin. Additionally, the "Wei dynasty" (386–534/535 CE) was a powerful northern Chinese dynasty known for its military strength and significant cultural contributions, particularly in Buddhist art.23