Reflections | Ancient China’s news service: how liaison reports or ‘dibao’ in the Han period were an early form of newspapers

The journalists Maria Ressa and Dmitry Muratov won this year’s Nobel Peace Prize for their efforts to champion freedom of expression in the Philippines and Russia, their respective countries. Their investigative work often involves great personal risks, for which they deserve respect and recognition.

For most journalists, however, the biggest challenge is staying relevant for the TikTok and Instagram generation, who rarely read anything that requires more than a flick of the thumb.

Ancient China also had a news channel. Soon after the nation became an empire, in the 3rd century BC, the heads of local governments began sending representatives to the capital. By the early Han period (202BC-AD220), these liaison agencies (di) had become a permanent fixture.

Besides submitting various reports from regional heads, liaison agencies also conveyed documents back to the provinces, including dibao (“liaison reports”), an early form of newspapers. These reports were posted at the entrances of local government offices, marketplaces and other locations for public viewing. In AD981, all the regional liaison agencies were placed under the command of the central government. Henceforth, all official news carried the imperial imprimatur.

The main news items in dibao were policies implemented by the government in the name of the emperor. There was also a “royalty section”, detailing the lives of the emperor and his family. Readers were also informed of new appointments as well as crime and punishment. As a tool for controlling and pacifying the people, dibao did not carry any news about natural disasters, armed rebellions or any other issues deemed sensitive by the government.