Escort Vehicle with a Chest in Pingyao 平遥
There doesn’t seem to be an end to the musuem which demonstrates how the Armed Escorts lived back in the time of Pingyao’s prominence. It isn’t really surprising since they played a major role in securing Pingyao’s place as a financial center in the Qing dynasty. There were numerous places which showcased the lives of these armed escorts and I can’t seem to avoid them. It wasn’t very obvious from the entrance by some of the establishments here would display armed escort related stuff.
Large Chest on Top of an Escort Vehicle 镖车
In one place, it exhibited the modes of transport used by these escorts. These were basically wagons with one or two wheels to be dragged by horses. There was a large cache of money locked and prominently displayed. Usually there will be a flags telling everyone the identity of the armed escort. I presume that the escorts make names for themselves and would eventually come to be feared at the sight of their flag. This is probably also a form of advertising so that they can get other jobs in the future.
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