or pao-chia
Chinese village militia system created by Wang Anshi as part of his reforms of 1069–76.
Units of 10 families were regularly trained and supplied with arms, thereby reducing the government's dependence on mercenaries. Members were mutually responsible for each other. The system was resurrected in the 19th century to help put down the Taiping Rebellion and was imitated by both the Nationalist Party and the Chinese Communist Party in the 20th century.