There are four Yellow Door Attendants who, along with the Privy Secretary, manage the affairs of the palace. When the emperor visits the suburban temples or palaces, one of them holds the ceremonial flag. The "Han Baiguanbiao" states that there were also Yellow Door Attendants in the Qin Dynasty, but the number was not fixed and they were mainly responsible for serving the emperor. The Han Dynasty inherited this system. In the Eastern Capital of the Han Dynasty (Chang'an), they were called the Yellow Door Attendants, also with no fixed number, responsible for serving the emperor, handling internal and external communications, and escorting princes and kings to their seats when they visited the emperor. Ying Shao said, "Those who visit the emperor at the Green Gate in the evening are referred to as Xilang." Historical records show that Liu Xiang wrote to his son Liu Xin, saying, "The position of Yellow Door Attendant is quite prestigious!" Thus, the position of Yellow Door Attendant existed as early as the Western Han Dynasty. Dong Ba stated in the "History of the Han Dynasty," "The inner gate of the palace is known as the Yellow Gate and is managed by the inner servants, so it is called the Yellow Door Officer." Therefore, the Yellow Door Officer is responsible for duties inside the Yellow Gate. After the Wei and Jin Dynasties, the Yellow Door Attendants were composed of four individuals, each earning a salary of six hundred stones.
The Official Carriage Officer is overseen by one individual, responsible for receiving memorials. In the Qin Dynasty, there was an Official Carriage Sima Officer under the command of the Weiwei, and the Han Dynasty inherited this system, responsible for managing the Southern Gate of the palace. All officials and citizens who submit memorials, tributes from all directions, and those summoned to the official carriage are managed by him. In the Jiangnan region during the Jin Dynasty, it was simply referred to as the Official Carriage Officer.
The Imperial Physician Officer consists of one individual and an assistant. In the "Rites of Zhou," this position is called a physician, which was renamed the Imperial Physician Officer during the Qin Dynasty and was part of the Ministry of Household in the Han Dynasty. The Imperial Food Officer consists of one individual and an assistant. In the "Rites of Zhou," this position is called a chef, which was renamed the Imperial Food Officer during the Qin Dynasty and also belonged to the Ministry of Household in the Han Dynasty.
The Chief of the Imperial Stables is a single position. In the Western Capital of the Han Dynasty (Chang'an), it was called the Dragon Horse Chief; in the Eastern Capital of the Han Dynasty (Luoyang), it was called the Wei Yang Stable Officer; and during the Wei Dynasty, it was referred to as the Hualiu Officer. From the Official Carriage Officer to this position, all were under the Privy Secretary.
Simaqi Changshi, four people. Responsible for serving the Emperor. The Qin Dynasty established the positions of Simaqi and Zhongchangshi, with the Simaqi following behind the Emperor's carriage, while Zhongchangshi had access to the palace. These positions were not fixed and were appointed on an ad hoc basis. In the early Eastern Han Dynasty, Simaqi was abolished and the Zhongchangshi positions were held by eunuchs. During the reign of Emperor Wen of Wei in the Huangchu era, Simaqi was reinstated and merged with Zhongchangshi, becoming Simaqi Changshi, with Meng Da as the first to hold this position. Experienced Simaqi Changshi could serve as a Jijiu Simaqi Changshi, with a salary equivalent to two thousand stones.
Now, let's discuss the position of "Tongzhi Simaqi Changshi". There were four people in this position. During the late Wei Dynasty, some Simaqi Changshi also had roles in the outer office. Later, Emperor Wu of Jin assigned two of them to handle government affairs along with the Simaqi Changshi working in the palace, thus they were referred to as "Tongzhi Simaqi Changshi". This position was later expanded to include five people in the Jiangzuo region of the Jin Dynasty. Regarding the "Yuanwai Simaqi Changshi", this position was established in the late Wei Dynasty but was not actually filled by anyone.
Next, we have the position of "Simaqi Shilang", also held by four people. During the early Wei Dynasty, it was established alongside Simaqi Changshi. In the Wei and Jin periods, Simaqi Changshi and Simaqi Shilang, like Shizhong and Huangmen Shilang, were authorized to review and handle memorials submitted to the Shangshu. However, this authority was revoked in the Jiangzuo region of the Jin Dynasty. The position of "Tongzhi Simaqi Shilang" was also initially held by four people, with Emperor Wu of Jin establishing four Yuanwai Simaqi Shilang, later having two of them handle government affairs with the Simaqi Shilang working in the palace, hence they were called "Tongzhi Simaqi Shilang", and was later increased to four. The "Yuanwai Simaqi Shilang" was established by Emperor Wu of Jin, but, in practice, no one held this position.
Next is the position of "Geshizhong," which does not have a fixed number of people. It was first established during the Western Capital period of the Han Dynasty, mainly responsible for advising and responding to the emperor's inquiries, which ranked below the Zhongchangshi. This position was abolished during the Eastern Capital period of the Han Dynasty but was later re-established during the Wei Dynasty.
Finally, let's discuss the position of "Fengchaoqing." It does not have a fixed number of people, and it is not regarded as a formal official position. During the Eastern Capital period of the Han Dynasty, the court dismissed many officials from the Three Excellencies, the imperial clan, and the princes, appointing them as "Fengchaoqing." Essentially, "Fengchaoqing" refers to individuals who are summoned by the court as needed. Emperor Wu of Jin also appointed some members of the imperial clan and members of the imperial family as Fengcheduwei, Fuma duwei, and Qiduwei, while also holding the title of "Fengchaoqing." When Emperor Yuan was the Prince of Jin, he appointed military officers as Fengcheduwei, clerks as Fuma duwei, and attendants and chamberlains as Qiduwei, all of whom also held the title of "Fengchaoqing." Eventually, the positions of Fengcheduwei and Qiduwei were abolished, with only Fuma duwei and Fengchaoqing remaining. Beginning in the Yongchu era, the court began using "Fengchaoqing" to select various minor officials, while those serving the empress were exclusively appointed as Fuma duwei. These three duwei positions were created by Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty. In the early years of the Xiaojian era, the position of "Fengchaoqing" was abolished. The ranks of Fuma duwei and the three duwei positions were equivalent to two thousand shi.
The Chief of the Imperial Secretariat is managed by one person; the Imperial Secretariat is also overseen by one person; there are four Deputy Chiefs of the Imperial Secretariat; and there are also four Attendants of the Imperial Secretariat. During Emperor Wu of Han's reign, he liked to wander in the harem, so he let eunuchs handle the affairs of the Imperial Secretariat, referred to as "Middle Book Yezhe," and also established the positions of Chief and Supervisor. During the reign of Emperor Yuan, the Chief of the Imperial Secretariat, Hong Gong, and the Supervisor, Shi Xian, held great power and held power over everyone. During the reign of Emperor Cheng, the title of Chief of the Imperial Secretariat was changed to Middle Yezhe, and the Supervisor was removed. In the Eastern Capital of the Han Dynasty, there was a Middle Yezhe and a Middle Palace Yezhe, but these two were not in the same department at all.
When Emperor Wu of Wei was still a prince, he established a Secretary of the Imperial Secretariat to specifically manage the memorials submitted to the Imperial Secretariat, which served a similar role. During the reign of Emperor Wen in the Huangchu period, the Secretary of the Imperial Secretariat was renamed Chief of the Imperial Secretariat, a Deputy Chief of the Imperial Secretariat was added, as well as an Attendant, and then the Yellow Gate Attendant. The Yellow Gate Attendant addressed matters first, and the Attendant presented the processed documents to the Emperor for his review, to see if the writing was in line with the rules. During the Jin Dynasty, the Attendant was renamed Deputy Chief of the Imperial Secretariat, with four in total. At the start of the Jin Dynasty, a Chamberlain and an Attendant position were established. In the early period of the Eastern Jin Dynasty, the Chamberlain and Attendant were merged into one position, called the Attendant of the Imperial Secretariat, responsible for submitting memorial documents. Later, the Attendant position was eliminated, and an Attendant from the Imperial Secretariat was sent to the Western Province to serve on duty and convey imperial edicts. In the early Song Dynasty, the Attendant of the Imperial Secretariat was established again, which had less power than its predecessor. The Chamberlain worked directly in the palace under the authority of the Imperial Secretariat. There was also a Chief Clerk position below, which had previously been held by military officials but was transitioned to civil officials during the Song Dynasty.
First, the position of the Secretary is managed by a single person. The Deputy Secretary is also a single person. As for the Secretary's Assistant, there are four of them. The position of Secretary was established in the second year of the Yanxi era during Emperor Huan's reign in the Han Dynasty. "What’s going on with my cousin, the Secretary?" Huangfu Gui wrote to Zhang Huan. Ying Shao wrote in "Han Officials": "The Secretary has one person and receives a salary of 600 stone." Later, this position was abolished. When Cao Cao became the King of Wei, he established the positions of Secretary, Deputy Secretary, and Secretary's Assistant, with the Secretary responsible for conveying memorials to the Imperial Secretariat. During the early years of Emperor Wen of Wei, the position of Imperial Secretary was established, also responsible for conveying memorials to the Imperial Secretariat, and the "Ling" in the title of Secretary was changed to "Jian." Later, it was planned for He Zhen to become the Right Deputy Secretary, but there was already a Deputy under the Secretary, so He Zhen became the Right Deputy Secretary. Later, this position was also abolished. The Secretary was mainly responsible for overseeing classics and paintings. In the "Zhou Officials," it is mentioned that the "Waishi" oversees historical records and the books of the Three Emperors and Five Sovereigns, which is similar to the responsibilities of the Secretary. The books in the Western Capital of the Han Dynasty were stored in places such as Tianfu, Shiqu, Lantai, Shishi, Yange, and Guangnei. The books in the Eastern Capital were stored at Dongguan. During the reign of Emperor Wu of Jin, the Secretary and the Imperial Secretariat were merged, the Secretary was abolished, and the Deputy Secretary was changed to the Deputy Secretary of the Imperial Secretariat. Emperor Hui later reestablished one Zuo Zuo Lang and eight Zuo Zuo Zuo Lang, in charge of managing national history. During the Zhou Dynasty, the Left Historian recorded events, and the Right Historian recorded words, which was similar to the duties of the Zuo Zuo Lang. The books in the Eastern Capital of the Han Dynasty were stored at Dongguan, so famous scholars were invited to write national history in Dongguan. This is when the term "Zhuozuo" originated. During the Wei Dynasty, the Zuo Zuo Lang was under the Imperial Secretariat. During the reign of Emperor Wu of Jin, Miao Zheng served as the Zuo Zuo Lang of the Imperial Secretariat. During the Yuankang period, the Zuo Zuo Lang was once again placed under the Imperial Secretariat, later becoming an independent ministry but still under the Imperial Secretariat. The Zuo Zuo Lang was also known as the Grand Zuo Zuo, specifically in charge of the writing of historical books. In the Jin Dynasty, it was stipulated that when a Zuo Zuo Lang took office, they must write a biography of a famous minister. In the early Song Dynasty, shortly after the court was established and there was no time to establish a joint writing system, this rule was abolished.
Next, let's continue. Speaking of the general in charge, he is the only one responsible for the internal affairs of the army. During the Han Dynasty, there were two military forces responsible for defending the capital. During the reign of Emperor Wu, a central camp commander was established to specifically manage the northern army's camp. After Emperor Guangwu ascended the throne, the central camp commander was abolished and replaced by a northern army commander, responsible for supervising five army camps. When Cao Cao was prime minister, he also established a leading general in his own prime minister's office, which was not a recognized official position in the Han Dynasty. It was not until Emperor Wen of Wei became the King of Wei that the position of leading general was officially established, overseeing five army camps, the central regimental camp, and the martial guard camp.
At the beginning of Emperor Wu of Jin's reign, the leading general was removed, and the central general Yang Hu was put in charge of the soldiers from seven army camps, which was essentially the responsibility of the leading general. Yang Hu was later transferred, and the position of northern army commander was restored. Below the northern army commander, there was also a deputy official. During the reign of Emperor Huai in the Yongjia period, the northern army commander was renamed as the central leading general. In the first year of Emperor Yuan's Yongchang era, it was reverted to the northern army commander; shortly thereafter, it was reverted to the leading general. During the reign of Emperor Cheng, it was changed back to the northern army commander, with Tao Hui taking on this role; shortly after, it was reverted to the leading general. Currently, the position of leading general also includes a commander for the southern army.
The General of the Guard, a single person, is responsible for the management of foreign troops. During the Qin Dynasty, this position was called the Guard Commander, which continued into the Han Dynasty. Chen Ping served as the Guard Commander, responsible for protecting the safety of other generals. As you can see, this position evolved from Guard Commander to Lieutenant. In the fourth year of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, the Guard Commander was placed under the jurisdiction of the Grand Marshal, and the title reverted to Guard Commander. According to "Book of Han: Biography of Li Guang," Li Guang served as the Valiant Cavalry General, subordinate to the General of the Guard. Therefore, the main responsibility of the General of the Guard is to protect other generals. In the first year of Emperor Ai of the Han Dynasty, the Guard Commander was renamed the Chief of Justice. In the first year of Emperor Yuan Shi of the Han Ping Emperor, it was changed back to Guard Commander. In Dongjing Province, Ban Gu served as the Guard of the Grand General, belonging to the Grand General's Office, which was not a recognized official position in the Han Dynasty. When Cao Cao was appointed as the Prime Minister, he appointed Han Hao as the Guard and Shi Huan as the Commander, which were similarly not recognized as official positions in the Han Dynasty. In the twelfth year of Jian'an, the Guard was renamed the Central Guard, the Commander was renamed the Central Commander, and two positions of Chief Historian and Marshal were added. In the early Wei Dynasty, the position of Guard was used to mainly select military officers, subordinated to the Commander, but in the Jin Dynasty, it lost this subordinate status. In the first year of Emperor Yuan of the Jin Dynasty, the positions of Guard and Commander were officially abolished. In the second year of Emperor Ming of the Jin Dynasty, these two positions were once again reestablished. During the Wei and Jin periods, the Commander and the Guard each oversaw a military unit in Jiangyou; in the Jiangzuo area, the Commander no longer maintained separate military camps, but instead commanded the Imperial Guards and Valiant Cavalry units, while the Guard continued to have its own military camp. Those in higher positions were referred to as Commander General and Guard General, while those in lower positions were called Central Commander and Central Guard. Their subordinates included Chief Historian, Marshal, Registrar, Chief Clerk, and Five Officials. If they received orders to go to war, a Military Advisor would also be appointed.
General of the Left Guard and General of the Right Guard, each overseeing the camp and troops of the Imperial Guards. The Western Han, Eastern Han, and Wei dynasties did not have these two official positions. During the reign of Emperor Wen of Jin, the position of General of the Central Guard was established at the Prime Minister's office. In the early period of Emperor Wu of Jin, the General of the Central Guard was divided into two, establishing the General of the Left Guard and the General of the Right Guard; Yang Xiu held the position of General of the Left Guard, while Zhao Xu served as the General of the Right Guard. In the Jiangnan region, the General of the Left Guard and the General of the Right Guard were each under the supervision of a Chief Historian, a Master of Records, a Commandant, and a Registrar, while in the Jiangbei region, there were no Chief Historians.
General of the Valiant Cavalry, in the sixth year of Emperor Wu's Yuanguang era, Li Guang served as the General of the Valiant Cavalry. During the Wei dynasty, the General of the Valiant Cavalry was in charge of the internal military and held by high-ranking officials. Initially, there were Commandants, Masters of Records, and Registrars, but they were later abolished.
General of the Swift Cavalry, during the reign of Emperor Wu of Han, Han Shuo served as the General of the Swift Cavalry. These six generals were referred to as the "Six Armies."
In ancient times, the position of general in the military was quite numerous. During the reign of Emperor Ming of Wei, there was the General of the Left Army, an official position in the Wei dynasty. In the early period of Emperor Wu of Jin, the positions of General of the Front Army and General of the Right Army were established; in the eighth year of Taishi, the position of General of the Rear Army was added, resulting in four distinct armies.
Furthermore, there were also the General of the Left Imperial Attendants and the General of the Right Imperial Attendants, positions that originated in the Qin dynasty and continued into the Han dynasty. Along with them were the General of the Five Officials and three Deputy Generals. During the Wei dynasty, the positions of these three Deputy Generals were not established, but the official positions were retained. Later, Emperor Wu of Jin reduced the number of positions, and Emperor Taizong of Song reestablished them during the Daming era of the Song dynasty.
Let's talk about the Colonel of Tunqi, Infantry Colonel, Yueqi Colonel, Changshui Colonel, and Shesheng Colonel. These five colonels were all established during the reign of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty. The Colonel of Tunqi and Infantry Colonel were mainly responsible for the garrisons near the Shanglin Garden Gate; the Yueqi Colonel was said to be in charge of those who surrendered from the Yue, which is why it’s called Yueqi. Some say it is because they selected strong soldiers. The Changshui Colonel was in charge of the Hu cavalry stationed at Changshui Xuanqu. Changshui is the name of a tribe of the Hu people, and the Hu cavalry were stationed under the Xuanqu Observation. Wei Yao said, "The Changshui Colonel is in charge of the Hu cavalry, and the stables were located near Changshui, so that's why it's called that. Changshui is actually the name of a small river in Guanzhong." The Shesheng Colonel was in charge of the Shesheng soldiers, known for their ability to hit targets solely by sound, which is why it’s called Shesheng. In the early period of Emperor Guangwu of the Han Dynasty, Colonel of Tunqi was changed to Xiaotunqi, and Yueqi was changed to Qingjin. In the fifteenth year of Jianwu, the original names were restored. The five regiments of the Eastern Capital during the Han Dynasty were mainly responsible for guarding the palace. From guerrilla forces to the five regiments, from Wei and Jin to Jiangzuo, they all initially managed the camp soldiers and had auxiliary officials such as Sima, Gongcao, and Zhubu, which were eventually streamlined. The two Zhonglang generals were not originally in charge of the camp soldiers. The rank of these five colonels was all equivalent to 2,000 shi.
There is also the Zhonglang General of the Tiger Bravery, which is recorded in the "Book of Rites." In the third year of Emperor Wu of Han, when he went out in disguise, he selected strong soldiers to escort him with weapons, waiting at various palace gates, which is why it’s called Qimen. This position had no fixed number of personnel and could have as many as a thousand personnel at most. In the first year of Emperor Pingdi Yuanshi, it was renamed Tiger Warriors, and a Zhonglang General was established to command them. The Tiger Warriors were originally written as Tiger Running, describing the way they ran like tigers. During the reign of Wang Mang, because there was a brave warrior named Mengben in ancient times, the character '奔' was changed to '贲'. The rank of this position was also roughly equivalent to 2,000 shi.
Finally, let's talk about the Rong Cong Pushe (冗从仆射). During the Han Dynasty, the Central Yellow Gate Rong Cong Pushe (中黄门冗从仆射) were responsible for guarding the imperial palace, although it was not their official duty. The Wei Dynasty continued to use this title and established the official position of Rong Cong Pushe.
During the reign of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty in the first year of Taichu, the court established the Jianzhang Camp, responsible for guarding the imperial palace, later renamed as the Yulin Cavalry, with two official positions of Ling and Cheng. During the reign of Emperor Xuan, the Yulin Cavalry was managed by the Yulin Zhonglangjiang (羽林中郎将), known as the General of the Yulin Cavalry. During the Eastern Han Dynasty, the Yulin Left Supervisor and Yulin Right Supervisor were also established, which remained in place until the Wei Dynasty. Later during the Jin Dynasty, the Yulin Zhonglangjiang was abolished, along with one supervisor, leaving only one Yulin Supervisor. From the Huben to the Yulin, these three positions can be considered as high-ranking generals. During the reign of Emperor Ai, these positions were abolished, but were reestablished during the reign of Emperor Gaozu of the Song Dynasty. In the Jiangdong region, military camps existed, while in the Jiangzuo region, they did not. The salary for the Yulin Supervisor was 600 shi.
Next, let's talk about the Jishe General and Qiangnu General. During the reign of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, Lu Bodai served as the Qiangnu Xiaowei, Li Ju served as the Qiangnu General, and during the reign of Emperor Xuan, Xu Yanshou also served as the Qiangnu General. The Qiangnu General became a miscellaneous general during the Eastern Han Dynasty, and the Jishe General position was absent from the Former Han to the Wei Dynasty. In the tenth year of the Taikang period of the Jin Dynasty, the shooting camp and crossbow camp were established, resulting in the establishment of the Jishe General and Qiangnu General positions. From the General of the Agile Cavalry to the Qiangnu General, each of these positions was previously held by a single individual; after the reign of Emperor Taizong of the Song Dynasty, these official positions were mostly obtained based on military achievements, and these positions have since been abolished.
Let's talk about the Palace Generals and Palace Commandants. During the reign of Emperor Wu of Jin, the palace guards were referred to as the Three Commanders, and these two official positions were established, each under the jurisdiction of the left and right guards. In the early days of the Jiangdong region, there were ten individuals in each of these positions. During banquets or court sessions, the generals had to wear armor and serve by the emperor's side; at night when the city gates were opened, they would carry white tiger flags for monitoring. During the reign of Emperor Xiaowu of Jin in the Taiyuan era, these positions were filled by the scions of noble families. During the reign of Emperor Gaozu of Song in the Yongchu era, the number of individuals in these positions was increased to twenty. When their numbers exceeded the allowed limit, they were called Palace External Generals and External Commanders, and eventually these positions were abolished.
The position of Military Guard General did not have a fixed number of individuals. Initially established by the Prince of Wei as the General of the Guards, it was renamed the Guard General when Emperor Wen ascended the throne, primarily responsible for the Imperial Guards, which now have different responsibilities from the palace guards. This position was also rarely established during the Jin dynasty. During the reign of Emperor Shizu of Song in the Daming era, the position of Military Guard General was reestablished, taking over the responsibilities of the Palace Generals, with a status comparable to that of the External Cavalry Attendant.
Lastly, the Military Cavalry Attendant also did not have a fixed number of individuals. This position was established during the Western Capital period of the Han dynasty, where they were responsible for accompanying the emperor on hunting expeditions and hunting down fierce beasts. This position was absent during the Later Han, Wei, and Jin periods. During the reign of Emperor Shizu of Song in the Daming era, this position was reestablished, with a status comparable to that of the Court Attendant.
In ancient times, there was an official position called the Imperial Censor, with a single individual in charge, primarily responsible for impeaching those who violated the law. During the Qin dynasty, the Chief Imperial Censor had two subordinates, one called the Imperial Censor and the other called the Deputy Imperial Censor. The palace archives and documents were stored in the Orchid Terrace, where the Deputy Imperial Censor conducted their duties. The Deputy Imperial Censor supervised local officials, oversaw the attending censors, received reports from court officials, addressed matters in accordance with regulations, and carried out impeachments. At that time, the Deputy Imperial Censor also processed reports, thus their responsibilities differed.
In the first year of the Chengdi Suihe era, the Grand Censor was renamed as the Grand Minister of Construction, and a Chief Historian was also appointed, but the position of the Deputy Censor remained the same. In the second year of the Aidi Jianping era, it was reverted to the Grand Censor. In the second year of the Yuanshou era, it was changed back to Grand Minister of Construction. At that time, the Deputy Censor was sent to the Imperial Censorate to serve in the chief position, and was renamed as the Chief Historian of the Imperial Censorate. During the reign of Emperor Guangwu, the title was changed back to Deputy Censor, who also managed certain affairs of the Privy Treasurer. During the time of Emperor Xian, the title of Grand Censor was reinstated, with a Chief Historian appointed, and the Deputy Censor was no longer under their jurisdiction. During the Han Dynasty, when the Deputy Censor encountered a Deputy Director of the Imperial Secretariat, the Deputy Censor had to dismount and bow holding a tablet, while the Deputy Director could simply wave his hand in response. It's unclear when this custom was abolished. Every 25th day of the month, the Deputy Censor had to walk around the palace walls. It is said in historical records that in the past, the Capital Commandant used to walk around the palace three times a month, which may have been replaced by the Deputy Censor, who was then responsible for this task. The Deputy Censor's salary was one thousand shi.
Now let's talk about the Censor-in-Chief of the Palace Archives, whose main responsibility was to impeach officials ranked sixth or higher. Emperor Xuan of Han once handled political affairs behind closed doors and assigned two Censors to manage documents, hence they were called Censors of the Palace Archives. During the Han Dynasty, the Censor-in-Chief of the Palace Archives in the capital was responsible for interpreting laws, and in cases of difficult legal disputes across the country, they would determine right from wrong according to the law. By the time of the Wei and Jin dynasties, the Censor-in-Chief oversaw various departments under the Censors, similar to the two Deputy Directors in the Secretariat.
In simple terms, the position of Censor in ancient China was called "Zhuxi Shi" during the Zhou Dynasty. The responsibilities of the Censors were recorded in the "Zhou Guan," which were similar to those of the Censors. The Qin Dynasty established the position of Censor, which was continued in the Western and Eastern Han dynasties. A total of fifteen individuals served in this position during that period. Their main duties included overseeing and investigating unlawful activities, receiving reports from officials and ministers, and reporting any violations or mistakes. The Censorate had five departments: the Department of Orders, which managed laws and regulations; the Department of Seals, which oversaw the creation of official seals; the Department of Sacrifices, which managed ceremonial activities; the Department of Horses, which managed the government's horses; and the Department of Chariots, which was responsible for escorting the emperor on his travels.
During the Wei Dynasty, there were only eight Censors, including the Department of Records, which handled financial expenditures and transportation; the Department of Assessments, which evaluated the performance of officials; and other departments that are unclear to me. In the Western Jin period of the Jin Dynasty, the Censorate comprised thirteen departments: the Department of Officials, the Department of Assessments, the Department of Affairs, the Department of Seals, the Department of Central Command, the Department of External Commanders, the Department of Marriage Affairs, the Department of Ceremonies, the Department of Water, the Department of Banners, the Department of Military Camps, the Department of Calculations, and the Department of Laws, with only nine Censors. In the Eastern Jin period of the Jin Dynasty, the Department of Assessments was abolished and the Department of Treasury was created to oversee horses, cattle, sheep, and market taxes. Later, the Department of Treasury was divided into the Left External Treasury and the Left Internal Treasury. During the reign of Emperor Taizu of the Song Dynasty, the Left External Treasury was abolished, and the Left Internal Treasury was renamed the Cloud Left Treasury. During the reign of Emperor Shizu of the Song Dynasty, the Left External Treasury was reestablished. In the first year of the reign of Emperor Feidi of the Song Dynasty, the Left External Treasury was abolished once more. During the early reign of Emperor Shundi, the Departments of Military Camps and Water were abolished, the Departments of Calculations and Laws were combined, the Department of Officials ceased appointing Censors, leaving only ten Censors at that time.
The Wei Dynasty also had two Palace Censors, likely assigned two officials from the Orchid Pavilion to the palace to supervise illegal activities. In the Western Jin Dynasty, there were four Palace Censors, while the Eastern Jin Dynasty only had two. During the Qin and Han Dynasties, there was the official position of the Symbolic Minister, which belonged to the Imperial Treasury, overseeing the Symbolic Order and the Symbolic Order Historian. This was probably derived from the duties of the Dianrui and Zhangjie as mentioned in the "Book of Rites." From the Han Dynasty to the Wei Dynasty, the Symbolic Minister evolved into an independent department, ranking below the Deputy Imperial Censor, primarily responsible for issuing symbolic orders, bronze tiger seals, and bamboo messenger tokens. In the ninth year of the Taishi reign of Emperor Wu of Jin, the Orchid Pavilion and the Symbolic Minister were merged, and the Symbolic Order Censor was established to manage these affairs.
Hi everyone, today we're going to discuss some ancient official titles. First is the "Yezhe Puyi," who is a high-ranking official in charge of the audience and ranking of all officials, aided by ten Yezhe who helped manage minor audiences and memorials. This position has existed since the Qin Dynasty. "Yezhe" means request. According to the records in the "Han Officials," Emperor Yao asked Emperor Shun to try governance, receiving guests at the four city gates, which closely resembles the duties of the Yezhe Puyi. In the Qin Dynasty, there were seventy Yezhe, a system that was adopted by the Han Dynasty. During the later Han Dynasty, the Yezhe Puyi mainly guided officials. There was someone named He Xi, who, after becoming the Yezhe Puyi, praised in the palace with a loud voice that shook the surroundings, suggesting that this official also had a role in ceremonial praise! During the Han Dynasty, there were also five Constant Attendant Yezhe and thirty-five Yezhe, half the number compared to the Western Capital period. In the Wei Dynasty, there were only ten Yezhe, and during the period of Emperor Wu of Jin, the Puyi position was abolished, and the Yezhe were reassigned to the Orchid Pavilion. Later, the Puyi title was reinstated in the Jiangnan region, but was later abolished again. During the reign of Emperor Shizong of the Song Dynasty, it was reestablished, with a rank equivalent to that of a Prefect.
Next, let's talk about the Chief Water Official, who is also in charge of ship transportation and water conservancy projects. During the Qin and Han dynasties, there were the Chief Water Officer and the Deputy Chief Water Officer, mainly responsible for the construction and maintenance of water conservancy projects, under the Ministry of Rites. In the Eastern Capital region of the Han Dynasty, the positions related to water management were streamlined, and Riverbank Officials were established, a system that was inherited by the Wei Dynasty. During the Han Dynasty, the Water Regulation Command was responsible for water management at Shanglin Garden, while the Wei Dynasty was responsible for the vessels and equipment of the national water force. During the reign of Emperor Wu of the Jin Dynasty, the Water Regulation Command was abolished, and the Chief Water Official was established, with responsibility for riverbank management. The Chief Water Official had two aides and one envoy, with the number of other subordinate officials varying. The Western Jin Dynasty had aides, but no envoys, as the envoys were instituted in the Jiangzuo region. In the sixth year of Yongjia, when the nomadic tribes attacked Luoyang, the Chief Water Official Yan Jun urged for transportation in advance, which saved the situation. Therefore, the primary purpose of this position, established by Emperor Wu of the Jin Dynasty, was transportation. The Jiangzuo region later abolished the official positions of riverbank management.
Finally, let's talk about the Grand Tutor and the Assistant Grand Tutor for the Crown Prince. Each was held by a single individual, with one Cheng under each position. "Fu" was an ancient official title. "The Prince of Wenwang" records that in ancient times, the three kings educated the crown prince, with the Grand Tutor in front and the Assistant Grand Tutor behind, their main responsibility being to guide the crown prince. In the ninth year of Emperor Gaozu of the Han Dynasty, Shusun Tong was appointed as the Grand Tutor for the Crown Prince, a position superior to that of the Ministry of Rites. During the Han Dynasty, there was no position of Cheng, and during the Wei Dynasty, there was no Eastern Palace, so the Jin Dynasty established the position of Cheng. In the fifth year of Emperor Wu of the Jin Dynasty, he ordered the crown prince to treat the Grand Tutor and Assistant Grand Tutor with the same respect afforded to teachers, and neither tutor was permitted to submit memorials, and both were required to show respect. The Grand Tutor and Assistant Grand Tutor had subordinate officials, including a secretary, a registrar, and various other officials. The Grand Tutor held a rank equivalent to two thousand shi, and the Assistant Grand Tutor also held a rank equivalent to two thousand shi.
The Chancellor of the Prince only has one position, with one assistant. The status is similar to that of the Minister of Personnel and the General of the Army. The term "Zhan" refers to a province. During the Western Capital of the Han Dynasty, the officials, sons, grooms, attendants, etc., under the Prince fell under the jurisdiction of the two tutors (the Junior Tutor and the Grand Tutor), while the officials such as supervisors, household managers, attendants, and guards belonged to the Chancellor. These official positions existed since the Qin Dynasty. Later on, the Han Dynasty eliminated the Chancellor, and the officials under the Prince fell under the jurisdiction of the Junior Tutor, while the Grand Tutor no longer managed people. In the early period of the Jin Dynasty, the officials under the Prince were once again under the jurisdiction of the two tutors. However, in the first year of Xianning, the Chancellor was restored, and the two tutors no longer managed the officials under the Prince. The official position of Chancellor holds a rank equivalent to 2,000 shi.
There is only one Household Supervisor, with one assistant below. This was an official position established during the Jin Dynasty. During the Han Dynasty, the Prince had ten privileged counties, and the Household Supervisor was responsible for overseeing these counties. They were also in charge of judicial matters and food and drink affairs, with a status similar to that of the Minister of Justice, the Minister of Agriculture, and the Minister of Finance. In the Eastern Capital of the Han Dynasty, there was an official called the Food Officer, responsible for the Prince's food and drink. In the Jin Dynasty, the Food Officer became an independent official position and was no longer under the Household Supervisor's jurisdiction.
There is only one Supervisor, responsible for the affairs of the palace gates and rewards and punishments, with a status similar to that of the Palace Attendant and the Commandant of the Guards. In the Eastern Capital of the Han Dynasty, the Supervisor also managed the sons and attendants, but this was no longer the case in the Jin Dynasty. From the Han Dynasty to the Jin Dynasty, the Household Supervisor's status was below that of the Supervisor; by the Song Dynasty, the Household Supervisor's status surpassed that of the Supervisor.
There is only one Attendant. During the Han Dynasty, the Prince had to attend court every five days. If it was not an official court day, the Attendant and the Chamberlain would go early in the morning to inquire about the Prince's well-being. The Attendant was also responsible for managing the carriages, horses, and affairs of imperial relatives, with a status similar to that of the Grand Charioteer and the Director of the Imperial Clan. From the Household Supervisor to the Attendant, these three positions were the Prince's key officials, all holding a rank of 1,000 shi.
There are two Gatekeepers. Established in the capital of the Han Dynasty, with a status comparable to that of a General, responsible for managing memorials from various regions. They are of the rank of 600 stones.
Four Chamberlains exist. Their status is comparable to that of an Imperial Attendant. Originally, there were five in the capital of the Han Dynasty, but it was reduced to four during the Jin Dynasty. They are also of the rank of 600 stones.
There are four Middle Aides. In the capital of the Han Dynasty, there was an official position under the Crown Prince called Middle Attendant, ranking below the Chamberlains and above the Grooms. It feels somewhat like the current Middle Aide of the Imperial Secretariat. The position of Middle Aide was established in the early Jin Dynasty, holding a status similar to that of the Yellow Gate Attendant.
There is a single Food Officer, holding a status comparable to that of the Grand Minister of Food. This position existed in the Han Dynasty capital. It is now under the jurisdiction of the Chamberlains.
There are four Aides. Their status is comparable to that of the Cavalier in Regular Attendance and the Supervisor of the Imperial Library. This is the system of the Jin Dynasty. In the capital of the Western Han Dynasty, there were five, but in the capital of the Eastern Han Dynasty, this position did not exist, holding a status similar to that of the Chamberlains of the Three Offices. The heirs of ancient feudal lords held this official position of Aide, a name that was adopted by the Qin Dynasty. They are of the rank of 400 stones.
There are sixteen Attendants in total. Their positions are equivalent to those of the Attendants in Regular Attendance and the Imperial Library Attendants, as per the system of the Jin Dynasty. This position did not exist during the Han Dynasty, and their duties overseeing the night guards were similar to those of the Chamberlains of the Three Offices in the Han Dynasty.
There are a total of eight Grooms. Their positions are equivalent to that of the Court Gentleman and the Secretariat Attendant. During the Han Dynasty, there were sixteen individuals holding this position. When the Crown Prince traveled, the on-duty Grooms were responsible for leading the way, upholding the dignity of the procession. Their salary is equivalent to that of 600 stones.
The Left Guard Leader of the Crown Prince had seven members, while the Right Guard Leader had two. The responsibilities of these two leaders are comparable to those of the Second Guards. The position of Guard Leader was established during the Qin Dynasty and continued into the Han Dynasty, primarily tasked with guarding the palace gates. During Emperor Hui's reign, additional Front and Rear Guard Leaders were appointed when the Crown Prince resided in the Eastern Palace. When Prince Ying of Chengdu was made Crown Prince, a Central Guard Leader was appointed as well, bringing the total to five Guard Leaders. In the early days of the Jiangzuo region, the Front and Rear Guard Leaders were abolished. They were re-established during Emperor Xiaowu's reign. All of these official positions had deputies, established in the early Jin Dynasty. During the Song Dynasty, only the Left and Right Guard Leaders were retained. Their salaries were originally four hundred stones.
The Prince's Stables Colonel, the Prince's Infantry Colonel, and the Prince's Military Colonel, each with seven members, were established in the early Song Dynasty. The Stables and Infantry Colonels developed from the Taixiaowei; the Military Colonel was established during the reign of Emperor Wu of Jin and initially also held the position of Taixiaowei, which was later discontinued in the Jiangzuo region.
The Prince's Attendant Supervisor, consisting of seven members, was established in the early Song Dynasty.
The Prince's Traveling Vanguard General, consisting of ten members, had duties similar to those of the Tiger Vanguard General. Established in the early Song Dynasty, the "Zhou Guan" records the Traveling Vanguard Shi. In the Han Dynasty, the Emperor had the Tiger Vanguard, while feudal princes had the Traveling Vanguard. Traveling means many.
The Prince's Left Crossbow General had ten members, while the Prince's Right Crossbow General had two. During the Eastern Capital of the Han Dynasty, the Crossbow General was a miscellaneous official position without a left or right division. During the Jiangzuo period from the Wei Dynasty to the Jin Dynasty, the Left and Right Crossbow Generals became Taishi, commanding the camp soldiers. During the Song Dynasty, the Eastern Palace no longer had camp soldiers.
The Palace General, consisting of ten members, and the Palace Deputy General, consisting of twenty, were established in the early Song Dynasty.
The Middle General of Pingyue, established by Emperor Wu of Jin, was stationed in Guangzhou and was responsible for governing the Nan Yue region.
The Southern Barbarian Colonel, established by Emperor Wu of Jin, was stationed in Xiangyang. Initially abolished in the Jiangzuo region, it was soon re-established and stationed in Jiangling. During the reign of Emperor Xiaojian of Song Shizu, it was abolished again.
Colonel of the Xirong, established in the early Jin Dynasty, stationed in Chang'an. Re-established during Emperor An's reign in the Jin Dynasty, stationed in Hanzhong.
Colonel of Ningman, established by Emperor Wu of Jin, stationed in Xiangyang; Lu Zongzhi once held this position.
By the way, the Nan Yi Colonel position was established during the reign of Emperor Wu of Jin, overseeing the Ningzhou region. Later, when it came to Jiangzuo, it was renamed as Zhenman Colonel. There was also a Colonel of the Siyi Zhonglang; these positions had officials like Changshi, Sima, and Canjun to help manage affairs.
During the Wei and Jin Dynasties, there were also various other military roles, including generals, and similar positions still exist today, such as Zhenman Protector, Anyuan Protector, and so on. The Zhenman Protector title is conferred upon the Prefects of Lujiang, Jinxian, and Xiyang, equivalent to a higher title; while the Anyuan Protector is added to Wuling's Interior Historian, following similar principles.
Speaking of ancient governors, each province had only one. This position dates back to the establishment of the Four Supervisors during the Yellow Emperor's era, tasked with governing the country, as well as the Twelve Pastoral Officials from the times of Tang, Yao, and Shun, who were responsible for similar tasks. Later, during the Zhou Dynasty, it was renamed as Dian, in the Qin Dynasty as Jianyushi, and later the Prime Minister sent officials to inspect each province, known as governors. The term "ci" means to inspect or examine, and writing articles is also referred to as "ci"; during the Han Dynasty, governors were prohibited from interfering in Shangshu affairs, adhering to the same principle.
Every year, the inspector must submit six important memorials. The first is about powerful families who exceed the limits of land and houses, oppress the weak, bully the weak, and take advantage of the situation. The second is about officials who do not follow the court's orders, do not abide by the rules, act unfairly, collude in secret, seize the benefits of the people, collect money, and engage in corrupt practices. The third is about officials who do not handle difficult cases seriously, hastily administer death sentences, impose harsher penalties out of anger, reward at will when happy, oppress the people harshly, harm the people, stir up grievances, and spread rumors. The fourth is about officials who unjustly select and appoint officials, promote only those they like, suppress the talented, and favor the incompetent. The fifth is about officials' children who rely on their parents' power, leverage connections everywhere, and take the back door. The sixth is about officials who violate imperial laws, curry favor with the powerful, accept bribes, and undermine laws and regulations. At the end of each year, the inspector must travel to the capital by courier to report on their work. In the first year of the reign of Emperor Cheng, the inspector's title was changed to "governor," and in the second year of the reign of Emperor Ai, it was changed back to "inspector."
During the Western Han Dynasty, inspectors traveled around in postal carriages without a fixed office location. It was not until the Eastern Han Dynasty that inspectors had fixed office locations and conducted inspections every eight months, without the need to report to the capital. In the Jiangzuo region of the Jin Dynasty, the decrees of the counties were still followed. As written in Zaoju's "Chasing Distant Poems": "My ancestors served as the governor of Julu, for three generations. I am honored to be the inspector of Jizhou, following the decree after the county magistrate," meaning that. By the time of Emperor Ling, the world gradually became chaotic, with the powerful seizing control of various states and counties. Liu Yan and Liu Yu were appointed as inspectors of Yizhou and Youzhou from the position of the Nine Ministers, and the power of the inspectors continued to expand.
The subordinates of the governor include a Deputy Governor, who accompanies the governor on inspections; an Administrative Officer, who manages finances and documents; a Military Affairs Officer, who is responsible for military affairs; an Inspector of Illegal Activities, who is in charge of investigating illegal activities; a Chief Registrar, who is responsible for recording state affairs and reviewing documents; a Gatekeeper of the State Government, who is in charge of the main gate of the state government; a Personnel Officer, who is responsible for selecting and appointing officials; an Examiner of the "Classic of Filial Piety," who is in charge of testing the text; a Master of Seasonal Rituals, who is responsible for overseeing seasonal ceremonies; a Legal Advisor, who is responsible for interpreting laws; a Document Officer, who is responsible for managing documents; a County Document Officer, who is responsible for managing county documents. In addition to these roles, there are also Chief Historians, Administrative Officers, Chief Registrars, Assistant Document Officers, Chief Priests, Council Historians, and Regional Inspectors, with varying numbers in each state, which had no fixed number previously. During the reign of Emperor Cheng of the Jin Dynasty, Jiangzhou established a Chief Priest positioned above other officials, while the position of Chief Historian was retained but has since been abolished. The Chief Priest and Assistant Document Officers are responsible for governance and election affairs, while the Administrative Officer manages departmental document affairs. The Chief Priest oversees military, bandit, warehouse, household, water, and armor affairs. Yangzhou does not have a Chief Priest, so the Chief Registrar manages these affairs. Jingzhou has a Deputy Chief below the Council Historian, likely established during the Wei and Jin dynasties. Guangzhou and Xuzhou now have Seasonal Ritual Officers, similar to other states' Document Officers, retaining the old Han Dynasty titles. In the fourth year of Emperor Wu of Han's Yuanfeng reign, each state was required to recommend a Recommended Scholar annually. Later, to avoid the taboo of Emperor Guangwu Liu Xiu, the title was changed to "talented individual," then back to "Recommended Scholar" during the Wei Dynasty. During the Jin Dynasty in Eastern Wu's Yangzhou, two individuals were recommended annually, while other states recommended one person, some every three years, depending on the size of the state, all required to take the exam. During the Jin Dynasty, when Sima Yue served as the governor of Yuzhou, the governor's office included a Chief of Staff and a Military Advisor, with Yu Kai as the Chief of Staff and Xie Kun as the Military Advisor, a position that did not exist for governors. The Governor's position was 600 stones, while the governor's office was a position of 2,000 stones.
Speaking of which, the junior official is an official position of the Qin Dynasty. After the Qin Dynasty conquered the six states, they changed each region into counties, with each county having one junior official, county deputy, and county military officer. The junior official is responsible for managing the people, with the county deputy assisting him in his work. If the county is on the border, the county deputy will also act as the chief historian. In the Jiangnan region, the county deputy is referred to as the deputy. The county military officer is tasked with maintaining order and preventing theft. During the reign of Emperor Jing of Han, the title of junior official was changed to taishou, and the county military officer was changed to duwei. Later, Emperor Guangwu abolished the position of duwei, but later on, they often appointed duwei for the eastern and western regions. If the jurisdiction includes barbarian tribes, a duwei for vassal states may also be appointed. During the late Han Dynasty and the Three Kingdoms period, many places were governed by duwei from various departments. During the reign of Emperor Cheng of Jin, the position of county deputy was abolished. During the reign of Emperor Taizu of Song, it was reinstated.
The county office is similar to the central government, except that there are no East and West Departments. There is a Gongcao (功曹) responsible for talent selection; there are also five officials responsible for various affairs. Each county also has postal stations and gatekeepers, as well as a historian responsible for documentation and oversight. These systems, inherited from the Han Dynasty, have largely remained unchanged. Each county has its own established customs, and the names of departments often vary. Emperor Wu of Han adopted Dong Zhongshu's suggestion. Starting from the first year of Yuanguang, it was stipulated that counties must recommend individuals of filial piety and integrity. For counties with a population of over 200,000, one person should be recommended every year; for over 400,000, two individuals every year; for over 600,000, every three years; for over 800,000, every four years; for over 1 million, every five years; for over 1.2 million, every six years; for less than 200,000, one person every two years; for less than 100,000, one person every three years. The recommended candidates must meet four criteria: first, they must have high morals and noble aspirations; second, they must be knowledgeable and have studied in the Imperial Academy; third, they must be familiar with laws and regulations, able to solve difficult problems, and review documents like the Imperial Censor; fourth, they must be resolute and decisive, capable of serving as a county magistrate in the Three Auxiliary Roles. In the early Wei Dynasty, the regulations were changed. For counties with a population of over 100,000, one person should be recommended every year, and exceptionally outstanding talents could be recommended regardless of population. In the Jiangnan region, major counties like Danyang, Wu, Kuaiji, and Wuxing recommend two individuals each year. The practice of sending a Jiyan Shi to report on county affairs to the court annually, producing a report known as Jiebu, has been in use since the Han Dynasty. A magistrate earns a salary of 2,000 shi, while a county magistrate receives 600 shi.
County magistrate, county chief, these are official positions that existed since the Qin Dynasty. The higher-ranking one is called county magistrate, the lower-ranking one is called county chief, and the one in charge of affairs in a marquisate is called 'xiang.' In the Han Dynasty system, each county had a 'cheng,' with larger counties having two 'wei' and smaller counties having one 'wei.' Five families formed a 'wu,' led by a 'wu' leader; two 'wu' formed a 'shi,' led by a 'shi' leader; ten 'shi' formed a 'li,' led by a 'li' leader; ten 'li' formed a 'ting,' led by a 'ting' leader; ten 'ting' formed a 'xiang,' and within the 'xiang' there was a 'xiangzuo,' three elders, 'youzhi,' 'seifu,' and 'youjiao,' each. The 'xiangzuo' and 'youzhi' were responsible for tax collection, the three elders were responsible for educating the people, 'seifu' was responsible for resolving disputes, and 'youjiao' was responsible for capturing criminals. Other officials were generally similar to those in the commandery. In the county, five officials served as 'tingyuan,' later the position of 'cheng' was abolished, with only Jiankang County still retaining a 'yu cheng'; other official positions varied from county to county, following old customs without unified regulations. During the Jin Dynasty, Jiangyou Luoyang County established six 'dawei,' other large counties had two, and medium-sized counties had one each. In the 15th year of Emperor Taizu of the Song Dynasty, some of the smaller counties were again abolished. Official business at all levels of government in the commandery was accompanied by an entourage of five hundred people; the old saying goes that in ancient times, sovereigns traveled with troops, and the ministers traveled with attendants. These attendants numbered five hundred. Today, officials above the county magistrate are akin to ancient princes, so they bring four or five hundred people, just like ancient armies traveling, following ancient customs. Wei Yao noted that the number five hundred originally referred to 'wubo.' 'Wu' means to lead; 'bo' means path. Let these people guide and walk on the right path to clear obstacles. In the Zhou Dynasty, five hundred people formed a 'lu,' led by a 'daifu,' and there was no mention of officials of such low rank as those today. Also, in the 'Zhou Li,' there is a record that the autumn official of the Tiao Lang family was in charge of leading the way with a whip; when the emperor traveled, eight people flanked the road; when the princes traveled, six people; when the marquises traveled, four people; when the viscounts traveled, two people, which closely resembles the current situation, albeit with different titles. In the 'Han Guan,' there is also the official position of 'boshi,' mainly responsible for leading the way for other officials to walk on the right path, so it is called 'boshi,' which is similar to what was mentioned earlier. The salary of the county magistrate ranged from one thousand 'shi' to six hundred 'shi,' while the county chief earned five hundred 'shi.'
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In conclusion, the structure of ancient county-level governments saw considerable changes from the Qin and Han dynasties through to the Jin and Song dynasties. The personnel arrangements were also quite complex, and the situations in different regions varied, without a unified standard. The reasoning behind the five hundred attendants varies. Some seek evidence in the "Rites of Zhou" and "Han Officials," with differing opinions, but all related to ancient government systems and ceremonial practices. In summary, salaries for county magistrates and county chiefs varied significantly, with magistrates earning as much as one thousand shi and at least six hundred shi, while county chiefs only received five hundred shi.
In the early Han dynasty, the court appointed a Grand Tutor to support the emperor, an Interior Minister to govern the people, a Prime Minister to lead the officials, and a Commandant to oversee military affairs. The local government positions were similar to those in the capital.
By the reign of Emperor Jing, to learn from the chaos during the Seven States, it was mandated that princes could no longer manage their own fiefdoms. Instead, officials were appointed by the court to oversee them, and the title of Prime Minister was altered to "Xiang." Furthermore, positions like Grand Master of the Palace, Minister of Justice, Minister of Works, Director of the Imperial Clan, and Court Scholars were eliminated, and the number of other officials was also decreased.
Later, the Han Dynasty changed the position of Neishi to Jingzhao Yin, Zhongwei was changed to Zhi Jinwu, and Langzhong Ling was renamed Guanglu Xun, while the official positions in the vassal states were kept unchanged; Taifu was changed to Fu, and Sinong was renamed Danong. During the reign of Emperor Cheng, the duties of the Xiang were specified to be the same as those of the County Governor, thus the position of Neishi was abolished. The duties of Zhongwei were also the same as those of the County Governor, and Taifu was simply referred to as Fu. A Taifu was also appointed in the Han Dynasty capital, and all the vassal kings had to obey his teachings; there was also a Xiang in charge of governing the people; a Zhongwei in charge of the security of the officials; a Fu, and a Zhi Shu, which was initially called Shangshu and later renamed; in addition, there were Zhong Daifu, with a variable number, mainly responsible for the Emperor's missions to the capital and the vassal states; there were also Yezhe, Li Le, Weishi, Yigong, Yongxiang, Sili, and other officials, each with one official; the number of Langzhong was variable. The rank of the Yezhe in the Wei Dynasty is not specifically recorded in historical records.
During the early years of Emperor Wu's reign in Jin, a Shi, You, and Wenxue were established. Shi referred to the Taifu, because Emperor Jing's name included the character "Shi", so it was changed to Taifu. The Song Dynasty later changed Taifu back to Shi. As for the official position of Wenxue, it already existed during the Western Han Dynasty. The official position of You was established based on the belief that King Wen and Confucius each had four friends. The Song Dynasty changed Neishi to Taishou, and the positions of Xiang and Fu were abolished. Langzhong was abolished, and two Shilang were appointed. In large countries, there were also three generals for the Upper, Middle, and Lower Armies; in medium-sized countries, there was one general for both the Upper and Lower Armies; small countries had only an Upper Army General. Dianshu, Diansi, Dianwei, Xueguan Ling, and Dianshu Ling each had one official, there were four Zhi Shu, one Zhongwei, one Sima, one Crown Prince's son, one Lingmiao, one Muzhang, four Yezhe, six Zhong Daifu, ten Sheren, one Dianyi Cheng, and one Dianfu Cheng.
After the Song Dynasty, following the system of the Jin Dynasty, both large and small vassal states established the three armies. According to the system of the Jin Dynasty, the position of Chief Librarian was below the Palace Attendant and above the Gentleman of the Yellow Gate; however, in the Jiangnan region, the position of the Gentleman of the Yellow Gate was below the Palace Attendant, while the Chief Librarian was below the three armies. After the Jiangnan region, vassal states no longer set up the Commandant, Palace Attendant, or the three armies, and the marquisates no longer established the Grand Minister or Gentleman of the Yellow Gate. The sons of earls only held positions beneath the Chief Librarian, and the Academician was no longer established. Other positions also decreased in rank in succession. In the Jin Dynasty, Jiangnan region, the establishment of positions below the duke and marquis was determined according to the size of the state, without fixed standards. In the Jin Dynasty, Jiangnan region, vassal states implemented a system where one-third of the land was directly managed by the court.
In the first year of the reign of Emperor Yuan, which was in the year 318 AD, the policy of taking nine-tenths of the harvest and leaving one-tenth for the common people was introduced. This was big news, equivalent to the country officially introducing policies to safeguard the basic livelihood of farmers. Before, it was estimated that the government took all the harvest, and the common people must have had a hard time.
With the introduction of this policy, the common people must have been overjoyed, finally having some hope and not worrying about having no harvest and going hungry. Just think, after toiling in the fields for a year, they could finally keep some food to live on. This policy was truly a timely relief! Although only one-tenth was left, it was better than nothing, at least ensuring food and clothing, which was a crucial measure at that time. The introduction of this policy also reflected the social situation at the time. It was estimated that the previous taxes were excessive, making life difficult for the people, so this policy was introduced to appease public sentiment and stabilize social order.
In conclusion, "In the first year of Emperor Yuan's reign, the system of collecting nine-tenths of the harvest and leaving one-tenth" is a succinct statement that conveys a wealth of information. It not only reflects the political system at the time but also the social and economic conditions, as well as the rulers' concern for the people, even if limited, represents progress. The actual effect of this policy implementation is unknown, but looking at the policy itself, it certainly embodies the idea of "sharing joy with the people," at least on the surface.
Dear leaders, hello! Here is a table of official ranks; let's take a look together.
The first level is quite high! Grand Tutor, Grand Protector, Grand Chancellor, Grand Commandant, Minister of the Masses, Minister of Works, Grand Marshal, and Grand General, along with some other officials of the same rank, belong to this level.
The second level is also quite powerful! Special Attendant, General of Cavalry and Chariots, General of the Guards, and other Grand Generals and Regional Inspectors are ranked here.
The third level is slightly behind. Palace Attendant, Regular Cavalry Attendant, Prefect of the Masters of Writing, and Supervisor, Master of Writing, Director of the Palace Library, Prefect, Director of the Palace Secretariat, as well as those generals who campaign and guard the borders, with the highest rank being Dragon-herald General, Grand Counsellor, and other Ministers and Governors, Grand Tutor of the Crown Prince, Grand Preceptor of the Crown Prince, Grand Minister of Agriculture, Minister to the Crown Prince, Commanders and Protectors, as well as County Marquises belong to this level.
The fourth level features more detailed official positions. From Second Commandant to Fifth Commandant, from General Who Pacifies the Frontiers to General Who Conquers the Five Barbarians, Fourth Colonel of the Gentlemen of the Palace, those governors overseeing military affairs, Colonel of the Southern Tribes, Chief Clerk of the Imperial Secretariat, Envoy to the Imperial Court, as well as Village Marquises are in this level.
The fifth level has quite a few officials as well. Palace Attendant, Yellow Gate, Regular Mounted Attendant, Vice Director of the Palace Library, Prefect of the Palace Writers, Three Generals, Accumulated Shooting General, Strong Crossbow General, Crown Prince's Household Tutor, Household Tutor to the Crown Prince, Three Ministers, Leader, from General Who Displays Valor to General Who Pacifies the Jiangling, those provincial governors who do not lead troops, Prefects of Counties and Provinces, Intendants, Chancellor, as well as Pavilion Marquises belong to this level.
The sixth level sees official titles becoming more complex. Deputy Master of Writing, Gentleman, Imperial Clerk, Imperial Clerk, Three Commandants, Academician, Chief Clerk of the Imperial Secretariat for the Army, Marshal, Acting Colonel of the Gentlemen of the Palace, Chief Justice, Inspector, Reviewer, Deputy Director of the Palace Library, Gentleman, Three Ministers of the Kingdom, Teacher, Friend, Scholar, those officials in counties earning an annual salary of over one thousand shi, Grand Master of the Crown Prince's Palace, General of the Palace, Inspector of the Marshals, various Protectors, along with Marquises of the Inner Gates are in this level.
At the seventh level, the official positions are more grassroots. The Attendant, Palace Supervisor, other officials and deputies of the Qing and Yin, the Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince, the Crown Prince's Chancellor, and the deputies of the military commanders, military historians and Sima with an annual salary of six hundred shi, various government officials, the Chief Historian and Sima of the Rong Man Bureau, officials of the Public Office, the Groom of the Crown Prince, the Food Supervisor, and the county magistrates with an annual salary of six hundred shi all belong to this level.
At the eighth level, this level is even lower. The Chief Clerk of the Internal Office, the county magistrate, the county magistrate's deputy, and various officials below the Xuan Wei generals are at this level.
The ninth level is the lowest. The Clerk of the Internal Office, the Chief Clerk of the External Office, the deputy head of the county, and Wei are all at this level. Regarding newly established official positions not listed in this table, they will be classified based on their actual rank, as previously mentioned.
