Speaking of the "Grand Chancellor," it is a position held by one person. During the time of King Wu of Zhou, Duke of Zhou was the first to hold this position, mainly responsible for governing the country, ranking first among the Six Ministers of State, with a very high status. However, during the Qin, Han, and Wei dynasties, this position was quite unstable, sometimes existing and sometimes absent. During the Jin dynasty, they re-established the Three Dukes according to the rules of the "Rites of Zhou," with the Grand Chancellor ranking first. However, Emperor Jing felt that the name "Grand Chancellor" did not sound very pleasant, so he replaced it with "Grand Chancellor," so it can be said that the Grand Chancellor is actually the ancient Grand Chancellor. In the time of King Zhou of Shang, Ji Zi served as the Grand Chancellor; during the time of King Wu of Zhou, Jiang Tai Gong also served as the Grand Chancellor; during the time of King Cheng of Zhou, Duke of Zhou also served, and after Duke of Zhou's death, Bi Gong succeeded him. In the early Western Han dynasty, the position of Grand Chancellor was not established, and it wasn't until the time of Emperor Ping that it was re-established, with Kong Guang taking on that role. During the Eastern Han dynasty, this position was abolished. During Emperor Xian's reign, Dong Zhuo served as the Grand Chancellor, but after Dong Zhuo was killed, this position was once again abolished. The Wei dynasty also did not establish this position. During the Jin dynasty, because there was a precedent for the Grand Chancellor, the Grand Chancellor was established, with Wang Fu serving in that position.
Next, let's talk about the "Grand Tutor." This position is also held by one person. During the time of King Cheng of Zhou, Bi Gong served as the Grand Tutor. In the first year of Emperor Gao of Han, Wang Ling served for the first time in this position.
Now let's talk about the "Grand Protector," also a position held by one person. During the time of King Tai Jia of Shang, Yi Yin served as the Grand Protector; during the time of King Wu of Zhou, Zhao Gong served as the Grand Protector; in the first year of Emperor Yuan Shi of Han, Wang Shun served for the first time in this position. From the Eastern Han dynasty to the Wei dynasty, this position was abolished, and it wasn't until the Jin dynasty that it was re-established. The Grand Chancellor, Grand Tutor, and Grand Protector, collectively known as the Three Dukes, are responsible for assisting the monarch, governing the country, emphasizing the principles of governance, and harmonizing yin and yang. If no suitable candidates are found, the position remains unfilled. Their main responsibility is to assist the monarch and guide the monarch in matters of morality and justice.
Finally, let's talk about the position of 'Xiangguo.' This official position was established in the eleventh year of Emperor Gao of the Han Dynasty, with Xiao He as the first to hold the position. At that time, the position of Chancellor was abolished; after Xiao He's death, Cao Can succeeded him, and after Cao Can's death, the position of Xiangguo was abolished once more. The Prince of Qi of the Wei Kingdom conferred the title of Xiangguo upon Emperor Jing of Jin. During the reign of Emperor Hui of Jin, Prince Luen served as Xiangguo; during the reign of Emperor Min, Prince Bao of Nanyang served as Xiangguo; during the reign of Emperor An, the founder of the Song Dynasty held the position of Xiangguo; during the reign of Emperor Shun, the Prince of Qi also served as Xiangguo. Starting from the Wei and Jin Dynasties, the position of Xiangguo was no longer held by ordinary officials, and its status rose significantly.
The chancellor is just one person. King Tang of the Shang Dynasty appointed Yi Yin as the right chancellor and Zhong Hui as the left chancellor. It was only in the second year of King Wu of Qin that the position of chancellor was established. "Cheng" means to assist, and "xiang" means to help. King Zhaoxiang of Qin originally appointed Chuli Ji as chancellor, and later appointed left and right chancellors. At the beginning of Emperor Gaozu Liu Bang of the Han Dynasty, only one chancellor was appointed; eleven years later, the position was renamed "Prime Minister" (相国). During the reigns of Emperor Xiaohui and Empress Dowager Lü, left and right chancellors were appointed again. In the second year of Emperor Wen, only one chancellor was reinstated. In the second year of Emperor Ai, the position was renamed "Grand Minister" (大司徒). The capital of the Han Dynasty, Chang'an, later did not have chancellors. It was not until the thirteenth year of Emperor Xian that chancellors were reinstated. The Wei Dynasty and the early Western Jin Dynasty later abolished the position. During the reign of Emperor Hui, Prince Zhao Lün usurped the throne and appointed Prince Rong of Liang as chancellor. In the first year of Yongxing, Prince Ying of Chengdu was appointed chancellor. In the first year of Jianxing of Emperor Min, Prince Rui of Langye was appointed as the left chancellor, and Prince Bao of Nanyang was appointed as the right chancellor; three years later, Prince Bao was appointed as Prime Minister, and Prince Rui was appointed as chancellor. In the first year of Yongchang of Emperor Yuan, Wang Dun was appointed as chancellor, wanting to transfer Xun Zu of the Ministry of Works to the position of Grand Commandant, merge the officials of the Ministry of Works into the Chancellor's Office, and leave Wang Dun in charge, but Wang Dun did not agree. During the reign of Emperor Cheng, Wang Dao was appointed as chancellor, the Ministry of Works was abolished, and the Chancellor's Office was established; after Wang Dao's death, the position of chancellor was abolished, and the Ministry of Works was reestablished. In the early reign of Emperor Shizu of the Song Dynasty, Prince Yixuan of Nanjun was appointed as chancellor, and the Ministry of Works continued to exist.
The Grand Commandant is also one person. From top to bottom, the management is called "wei." He is mainly responsible for military affairs, responsible for the offerings during worship ceremonies, and during the emperor's grand mourning, responsible for reporting the posthumous title at the southern altar. During the time of Emperor Yao, Shun served as the Grand Commandant, and the Han Dynasty followed this system. It was abolished in the second year of Emperor Jianyuan of the Western Han Dynasty. In the twenty-seventh year of Emperor Guangwu, the position of Grand Marshal was abolished, and the Grand Commandant was established as its replacement. In the late years of Emperor Ling, Liu Yu was appointed as Grand Marshal, and the position of Grand Commandant was maintained.
Situ is a title held by a person. He is mainly in charge of civil affairs, responsible for inspecting the sacrificial animals during the sacrifices to the gods held outside the city, and overseeing the ancestral hall during the emperor's funeral. During the time of Shaohao, official titles were derived from bird names, and Zhujiu served as Situ. During Yao's reign, Shun also held the position of Situ. After Shun ascended to the throne, he appointed Qi as Situ. Wei, the great-grandson of Qi, also served as Situ during the Xia Dynasty. During the Zhou Dynasty, Situ was a local official responsible for overseeing education in the state. In the early Western Han Dynasty, there was no Situ appointed. In the second year of Emperor Ai's Yuanshou, the position of Prime Minister was abolished, and the Grand Situ was established. In the twenty-seventh year of Emperor Guangwu's Jianwu, the "Grand" was removed.
Sikong, on the other hand, oversees water management and land affairs. During the sacrifices to the gods held outside the city, he is in charge of cleaning the musical instruments, and when the ruler dies, he directs the soldiers in burying the tomb. Legend has it that when Shun ascended to the throne, he appointed Yu as Sikong. Qi's son Ming also served as Sikong during the Xia Dynasty. King Tang of the Shang Dynasty appointed Jiu Dan as Sikong. During the Zhou Dynasty, Sikong was a winter official in charge of national affairs. This position was not created during the early Western Han Dynasty, and it was not until the first year of Emperor Cheng of Han that the Grand Minister of Justice was renamed Grand Sikong. In the second year of Emperor Ai's Jianping, it reverted to Minister of Justice; in the second year of Emperor Yuan's Yuanshou, it changed back to Grand Sikong; and in the twenty-seventh year of Emperor Guangwu's Jianwu, the "Grand" was removed. In the thirteenth year of Emperor Xian of Han, the position of Sikong was abolished once more, replaced by the Minister of Justice. After Minister of Justice Xi Lu stepped down, this position remained vacant. In the early Wei Dynasty, the position of Sikong was reestablished.
The Grand Marshal is also a position, in charge of military affairs. "Si" means in charge; "ma" refers to military. According to legend, during the time of Emperor Yao, he relinquished the position of Hou Ji and also took charge of the Grand Marshal. During the Zhou Dynasty, the Grand Marshal was a high-ranking official responsible for national affairs. Xiang Yu appointed Cao Wujiu and Zhou Yin as Grand Marshals at the same time. In the early Han Dynasty, this position was not established until the fourth year of Emperor Wu of Han. It was initially just called the Marshal, and some felt that since the Han Dynasty already had the position of "Marshal of a Thousand Men," the term "Grand" was added. Later, the position of Sikong was established, and there was also a county official responsible for prisons known as "Yusi Kong," so the Sikong position also added the word "da." When Wang Mang usurped power, he believed that the Han Dynasty lacked the position of Xiaositu, so he decided to add the word "da" to the three official positions of Grand Marshal, Sikong, and Sikong. In the twenty-seventh year of Emperor Guangwu's reign, the position of Grand Marshal was abolished and replaced with that of Grand Commandant. In the second year of Huangchu, Emperor Wen of Wei reinstated the position of Grand Marshal, appointing Cao Ren, while the Grand Commandant position remained unchanged.
The Grand General is also a position, overseeing all military affairs. In the Zhou Dynasty system, the emperor had six branches of the military. During the reign of Duke Xian of Jin, this was changed to two military branches, with the duke personally commanding the upper army. The official title of General originated at that time. King Huai of Chu sent three branches of the military to enter the Hangu Pass, and Song Yi was the Chief General. Emperor Gaozu of Han, Liu Bang, appointed Han Xin as Grand General. During the Western Han period, the position of Grand Marshal was higher than that of Grand General. During the Eastern Han period, the Grand General was an independent official position, ranking above the Three Excellencies. In the third year of Emperor Ming of Wei, Emperor Xuan of Jin was promoted from Grand General to Grand Commandant, indicating that the Grand General ranked below the Three Excellencies. Later, the Grand General's position was restored to being above the Three Excellencies. When Emperor Jing of Jin held the title of Grand General, his uncle Fu served as Grand Commandant, and Fu submitted a memorial requesting that the position of Grand General be below that of Grand Commandant, but later it was restored to its original position.
During the reign of Emperor Wu of Jin, Prince Fu of Anping became the Grand Chancellor, Zheng Chong became the Grand Tutor, Wang Xiang became the Grand Guardian, Prince Wang of Yiyang became the Grand Commandant, He Ceng became the Minister of the Masses, Xun Yi became the Minister of Works, Shi Bao became the Grand Marshal, and Chen Qian became the Grand General. All of a sudden, there were eight dukes at once, but there was a lack of a Prime Minister.
It is said that there was a black slave named Yilu. During the Han Dynasty, whenever there was something to report at the Prime Minister's residence, as soon as he got to the office, he would shout "Yilu," and this became a routine. The Prime Minister's residence had three chief clerks. If the Prime Minister fell ill, the Minister of Justice was required to bring a group of officials to check on him for three days straight. When the Prime Minister recovered, the Emperor would send a cow along with fine wine, via the Minister of Works or the Grand Herald. During the reign of Emperor Jing of Han, if any of the Three Excellencies fell ill, the Emperor would send the Central Yellow Gate to inquire about their condition. During the Wei and Jin dynasties, they would send the Yellow Gate Attendant, and if it was deemed more important, they would send the Palace Attendant. After Cao Cao became Prime Minister, only two chief clerks were assigned. In the Eastern Capital of the Han Dynasty, the Grand Tutor's residence had ten secretaries, one imperial secretary, and twelve clerks, but the exact responsibilities are now unclear. From the Grand Commandant to each general (Grand General, General of Chariots and Cavalry, General of Chariots and Cavalry, General of the Guards), each had a chief clerk, and the generals had their own Marshals, but the Grand Tutor did not have a chief clerk assigned.
The office of the Grand Marshal has 24 clerks, with the West Bureau, which is responsible for handling official documents, the East Bureau, which is responsible for the promotion and transfer of officials, the Household Department responsible for population registration, sacrifices, and agricultural production, the Petition Bureau, which is responsible for drafting petitions, the Litigation Bureau, which handles legal cases, the Law Bureau responsible for postal and travel arrangements, the Military Bureau responsible for the movement and transportation of troops, the Bureau of Thieves responsible for handling theft cases, the Judicial Bureau, which oversees criminal law, the Military Bureau responsible for military affairs, the Treasury Bureau responsible for currency, salt, and iron, the Granary Bureau responsible for grain storage, and the Yellow Chamber Master responsible for auditing various affairs. In addition, there is an Imperial Attendant responsible for driving the Grand Marshal's carriage, as well as 22 historians, including those of the Yellow Chamber, the Record Room, and the Gate, with the specific responsibilities of the other historians not recorded in the history books. These 24 clerks, apart from the East and West Bureaus, also have 10 bureaus, meaning each bureau has a clerk, totaling 24 in all.
The Minister of Works has 31 clerks, one Imperial Attendant, and 35 historians. The Minister of Works has 29 clerks, one Imperial Attendant, and 31 historians, with an additional clerk specifically in charge of roads and bridges. The names of other official positions are not recorded in historical records, so we have no way of knowing.
During the Han Dynasty, the General of the Eastern Capital and the Cavalry General had quite a few people under them! They had two Middle Guards, who had a total of twenty-nine clerks and subordinates, one Imperial Attendant, and thirty historians. The Cavalry General and the Guard General also had two Middle Guards, twenty clerks and subordinates, one Imperial Attendant, and twenty-four historians. The Military Bureau had clerks and historians responsible for military affairs, while the Bureau of Leave Requests had clerks and historians that manage leave requests, as well as a special officer tasked with apprehending criminals and enforcing the law.
If these generals lead soldiers into battle, the camp will be divided into five sections, each with a junior officer and a military officer; the subordinates will be further divided into units, each with a military commander; under the units, there will be camps, each with a camp leader. If there is no junior officer, there will only be a military officer. There are also deputy military officers and deputy military commanders. If another camp is set up, it will be called a separate military unit. Other generals going to war will not have a fixed establishment in the mansion, but there will still be some subordinates leading soldiers. The number of officials below the Grand General and those in the three mansions is not completely documented in historical records, missing a lot of information. As you can see, there are recorders and imperial attendants, similar to those in the three mansions; but those that only list "recorder" will only have a recorder, without an attendant, let alone recorders and imperial attendants, which are different from the three mansions. In the early Wei Dynasty, the situation of officials in the public mansion was not fully recorded in historical records. When Emperor Jing of Jin was the grand general, he appointed ten recorders, one for each of the West Bureau, East Bureau, Household Bureau, Warehouse Bureau, Bandit Bureau, Gold Bureau, Water Bureau, Military Bureau, and Cavalry Bureau, but he had no subordinates under them. During the Xianxi reign of Emperor Yuan of Wei, when Emperor Wen of Jin was the Prime Minister, there were many officials in the Prime Minister's mansion: Central Guard General, Valiant Cavalry General, Left and Right Chief Historians, Military Officer, Four Chief Secretaries, Four Principal Secretaries, Nineteen Attendants, Twenty-two Staff Officers, Eleven Combatants, making a total of thirty-three recorders and subordinates. One recorder and one subordinate in the East Bureau; one subordinate in the West Bureau; one recorder and two subordinates in the Household Bureau; one recorder and two subordinates in the Bandit Bureau; one recorder and one subordinate in the Gold Bureau; one recorder and one subordinate in the Military Bureau; two recorders and one subordinate in the Cavalry Bureau; one recorder and one subordinate in the Chariot Bureau; one recorder and one subordinate in the Armor Bureau; one recorder and one subordinate in the Water Bureau; one recorder and one subordinate in the Collection Bureau; one recorder and one subordinate in the Law Bureau; one recorder and one subordinate in the Memorial Bureau; two subordinates in the Warehouse Bureau; one subordinate in the Military Bureau; one subordinate in the Horse Bureau; one subordinate in the Matchmaking Bureau, bringing the total to thirty-three individuals. In addition, there are nine additional subordinates, bringing the total to forty-two individuals.
During the early period of the Jin Dynasty, officials above the rank of nobles were required to be accompanied by a Chief Clerk, a Western Pavilion Sacrificial Official, an Eastern Pavilion Sacrificial Official, a Clerk of the Western Bureau, a Clerk of the Eastern Bureau, a Subordinate of the Household Bureau, a Subordinate of the Granary Bureau, and a Subordinate of the Banditry Bureau each; if they were also in charge of military affairs, they would need to add a Marshal, a Central Langzhong, a Chief Clerk, a Supervisor of Records, and four Attendants; if they were serving as a Commander-in-Chief, they would need to be accompanied by six military officers.
After Anping Xianwang Fu became the Grand Preceptor, ten additional clerks were appointed, and five new departments were established: the Military Department, the Armory Bureau, the Soldier Bureau, the Camp Military Bureau, and the Espionage Bureau, each with one person, totaling an additional ten people.
After Yang Jun became the Grand Tutor, the number of Sacrificial Officials increased to four, and the clerks increased to twenty. The Military Department was further divided into ten departments: the Left Military Bureau, the Right Military Bureau, the Legal Affairs Military Bureau, the Gold Military Bureau, the Field Military Bureau, the Collection Military Bureau, the Water Military Bureau, the War Military Bureau, the Chariot Military Bureau, and the Horse Military Bureau, each with one person, adding another twenty people.
After Zhao Wang Lun became the Prime Minister, four Chief Clerks, Marshals, and Central Langzhongs were established, along with twenty military officers. Four Chief Clerks, Supervisors of Records, and Sacrificial Officials were appointed, along with forty clerks and additional members for the Eastern and Western Bureaus, and clerks for the remaining eighteen departments, adding another forty people.
In summary, these departments were all equipped with Imperial Attendants, Chief Clerks, and Historians. The Imperial Attendants were mainly responsible for recording events.
By the time of the Eastern Jin Dynasty, officials at all levels were accompanied by a Chief Clerk, a Clerk of the Granary Bureau, a Subordinate of the Household Bureau, and Sacrificial Officials of the Eastern and Western Pavilions, each with one person. Two Chief Clerks, two Attendants, and two Imperial Attendants were also appointed, with an unspecified number of Historians. If they were in charge of military affairs, they would need one Marshal, two Central Langzhongs, and an unspecified number of military officers; if their rank was higher, they would also need to add four Chief Clerks, Marshals, Central Langzhongs, four clerks, additional members for the Granary Bureau, and clerks for the Household Bureau. The most lavish arrangement of officials during the Eastern Jin Dynasty was as outlined above.
Chancellor, Sima, and Sheren are official positions in the Qin Dynasty. Positions such as Cavalry Officer, Yuan, Shu, Zhubu, and Lingshi are official positions in the Western Han Dynasty; for example, Chen Tang served as a Cavalry Officer for General Wang Feng. Yushu (Imperial Attendant) and Canjun (Military Officer) are official positions in the Eastern Han Dynasty, with Sun Jian serving as a Canjun for the Cavalry. In the past, officials in the mansion did not have to show respect to their superiors, until the Jin Dynasty when Sun Chu from Taiyuan disrespected his superior, Da Sima Shi Bao, which established the rule of showing respect to superiors. Ji Jiu is a ceremonial position in the Jin Dynasty, with Liu Bi, the King of Wu in the Han Dynasty, serving as the Liu family's Ji Jiu. Rituals are fundamental, with wine as a key component, and the elders presiding over them, hence the name Ji Jiu. The Shizhong in the Han Dynasty, the Sanki Changshi in the Wei Dynasty, and other high-ranking officials also served as Ji Jiu. The title of Ji Jiu in public offices likely derives from this tradition. Chancellor and Cavalry Officer are in charge of officials, Sima is in charge of the army, Zhubu, Ji Jiu, and Sheren are in charge of the internal affairs of the mansion, while Canjun, Yuan, Shu, and Lingshi manage various departments. If there are no nobles in the Situ Mansion, only a Sheren is appointed. The Situ Mansion is a permanent institution with distinct powers compared to other offices. The Situ Mansion has one left and right Chancellor, one left West Cao Yuan, and one left Shu, while the rest are similar. Other government offices have these official positions if there are nobles; otherwise, they are removed. When Emperor Yuan of Jin held the titles of Grand General of the Eastern Garrison and Prime Minister, he appointed Cavalry Officers, with a variable number of officials managing various departments, including the Recording Cavalry Officer, the Financial Cavalry Officer, and the Three Military Cavalry Officer. Regarding the Canjun positions, there were two Consultative Canjun responsible for advising and discussing political matters, first established in the Jiangzuo region, evolving from the military Consultative Ji Jiu. When Emperor Gaozu of Song served as Prime Minister, only Consultative Canjun were designated, with a variable number of officials.
Currently, there are a total of eighteen departments participating in the military, including the Registrar, the Registrar, the Household Bureau, the Warehouse Bureau, the Central Army, the External Army, the Cavalry, the Long-term Bandit Bureau, the Criminal Bureau, the City Bureau Bandit Bureau, the Legal Bureau, the Field Bureau, the Water Bureau, the Armor Bureau, the Chariot Bureau, the Officer Bureau, the Collection Bureau, the Right Household, and the Ink Bureau. The number of military personnel who are not specifically responsible for a certain department is not fixed. In the early days of the Jiangzuo region, the Jin Emperor's East Prime Minister's Office had the Registrar, the Registrar, the Eastern Bureau, the Western Bureau, the Treasury, the Household Bureau, the Legal Bureau, the Finance Bureau, the Warehouse Bureau, the Administrative Bureau, the Central Army, the External Army, the Cavalry, the Regular Army, the Military Bureau, the Bandit Bureau, the Transport Bureau, the Defense Bureau, the Guest Bureau, the Armor Bureau, the Field Bureau, the Officer Bureau, the Cavalry, and the Chariot Bureau participating in the military. The Eastern Bureau, the Western Bureau, the Treasury, the Finance Bureau, the Administrative Bureau, the Regular Army, the Military Bureau, the Bandit Bureau, the Transport Bureau, the Defense Bureau, the Guest Bureau, the Cavalry, and the Chariot Bureau—these thirteen departments—are now gone, leaving only twelve departments. Later, seven more departments were added: the Central Army, the Long-term Bandit Bureau, the Criminal Bureau, the City Bureau Bandit Bureau, the Water Bureau, the Right Household, and the Ink Bureau. When Song Gaozu was the Prime Minister, the Central Army and the Direct Army were merged into one military department, but the departments remained two. Nowadays, the Long-term Bandit Bureau military personnel are not set up in the small government; instead, the Defense Bureau military personnel are set up. In the office of the Shu Han Prime Minister Zhuge Liang, a military department was set up, and in the office of the Jin Dynasty Grand Tutor Sima Yue, a military department and an additional military department were also set up, gradually adding the words "Long and Joint." The formal appointment is called military personnel, and the temporary appointment in the office is called acting military personnel. After the end of the Jin Dynasty, military personnel and acting military personnel each have their own appointment documents. Below the acting military personnel is the Long and Joint Acting Military Personnel. The Military Supervisor was established in the Jiangzuo region, originally in charge of the army, with its own subordinates, but now the Military Supervisor no longer exists. The Chief Historian and the Sima in the Public Office receive a salary of 1,000 shi each; the Central Lang, 600 shi; the clerks in the Eastern and Western Bureaus, 400 shi; other clerks receive 300 shi; subordinates receive 200 shi.
Special Assistant, this was an official position established during the Western Han Dynasty, which was later used during the Eastern Han, Wei, and Jin Dynasties as well. It was considered an additional position, enjoying the same privileges as the original position without the need to command troops while traveling. During the reign of Emperor Hui of Jin, the rank of Special Assistant was below those of dukes but above that of General of Chariots and Cavalry.
There was only one General of Chariots and Cavalry. In the second year of Emperor Wu of Han's Yuan Shou era, Huo Qubing was appointed as the General of Chariots and Cavalry for the first time. In the Western Han system, the positions of Grand General and General of Chariots and Cavalry ranked below that of the Prime Minister.
There was also only one General of Chariots. In the first year of Emperor Wen of Han, Bo Zhao was appointed as the General of Chariots for the first time. Yú Huàn said, "During the Wei Dynasty, the General of Chariots served as a commander, with the same rank as the Four Expeditions Generals. If he did not serve as a commander, even if he held the Emperor's seal to command the Four Expeditions Generals, his status would be the same as the other generals. If he was recalled to the court to serve as a civil official, then his rank would be similar to that of the Three Ministers (Imperial Secretaries, Masters of Writing, and Grandee Secretary)." During the Jin and Song Dynasties, the General of Chariots and the Guard General were no longer under the jurisdiction of the Four Expeditions Generals.
There was also only one Guard General. In the first year of Emperor Wen of Han, Song Chang was appointed as the Guard General for the first time. The ranks of these three generals were all below that of the Three Ministers. In the third year of Jianchu of Emperor Zhang of Han, for the first time, the General of Chariots Ma Fang and the Three Ministers were ranked as equals with each other, setting a precedent for generals and the Three Ministers being equals. In the late Han Dynasty, the General of Fervor; in the Jin Dynasty, the General Who Pacifies the South of the Yangtze River and the General Who Assists the State were all elevated in rank and ranked as equals with the Three Ministers. Starting from the Eastern Jin Dynasty, generals such as Central Army General, Garrison Army General, Comfort Army General, Four Garrison Generals, or those generals with additional positions, as well as other officials like the Grand Masters of Splendor on the Left and Right, could rank as equals with the Three Ministers, while those below this rank could not.
Let's talk about the position of "Governor" first. There is no fixed number for this position. The term "holding the seal" was only used when the Han Dynasty began sending envoys. Emperor Guangwu Liu Xiu, when he had just become emperor, was fighting everywhere and temporarily appointed military inspectors and censors, but later this position was abolished. During the Jian'an period, when Cao Cao was prime minister, he began appointing generals to the position of Governor, such as in the 21st year of Jian'an, when Cao Cao returned from his campaign against Sun Quan, Xiahou Dun led twenty-six armies. In the second year of Emperor Wen of Wei, the position of overseeing military affairs across various provinces was officially established, and some Governors also served as provincial governors. Three years later, Cao Zhen became the Grand General of the Upper Army, overseeing military affairs for both domestic and foreign forces, and was granted the Yellow Battle-axe, which was the supreme commander of the national military. During Emperor Xuan of the Jin Dynasty's campaign against Shu Han, the title of Grand Commander was also conferred. During the reign of Emperor Wen of the Jin Dynasty, he also oversaw military affairs for both domestic and foreign forces and was later conferred the title of Grand Commander.
During the Jin Dynasty, the hierarchy of official titles was as follows: Governor of the various armies was the highest, followed by Supervisor of the various armies, and then Commander of the various armies. The rank of Envoy was the highest title, followed by Acting Envoy, and then Deputy Envoy. An Envoy had the authority to execute officials below the rank of 2,000 shi; Acting Envoys could execute those without official positions, and if it involved military matters, the power of Acting Envoys was as great as that of Envoys; Deputy Envoys could only execute those who violated military orders. After the Jin Dynasty, the role of overseeing military affairs for both domestic and foreign forces gained significant importance, and only Wang Dao ever held this position. During the Song Dynasty, ministers did not hold such a position. However, Prince Yigong of Jiangxia was once granted the Yellow Battle-axe, a symbol of life-and-death authority, a privilege not enjoyed by ordinary ministers.
Next, let's talk about the generals whose titles start with the character "征". There is only one person for each of these four generals. In the third year of the Chuping period of Emperor Xian of Han, Ma Teng held the title of General of the East; during the Jianwu period of Emperor Guangwu of Han, Cen Peng held the title of General of the South; also during the Jianwu period, Feng Yi held the title of General of the West; as for the General of the North, Yu Yan noted that these four generals were established by Cao Cao, with a rank of 2,000 shi, and during the Huangchu period, their status was only surpassed by the Three Excellencies. The role of the General of Conquest in the Han Dynasty was comparable to other generals and their deputies.
Next are the generals whose titles start with the character "镇", with only one person for each position. At the end of the Later Han Dynasty, Cao Cao held the title of General Who Guards the East; Liu Biao held the title of General Who Guards the South; in the third year of the Chuping period of Emperor Xian of Han, Han Sui held the title of General Who Guards the West; records of the General Who Guards the North are sparse.
Lastly, there are the generals of the Central Army, the Guard Army, and the Pacifying Army, with only one person for each position. During the reign of Emperor Wu of Han, Gongsun Ao held the title of General of the Central Army, which was considered a minor title at the time. During the Wei Dynasty, Chen Qun held the title of Guard Army General, and Sima Yi held the title of Pacifying Army General. The status of these three generals was similar to that of the four generals whose titles start with the character "镇".
In ancient times, the positions of generals were varied and numerous. For example, there was only one General Who Pacifies the East, which was held by Tao Qian in the late Han Dynasty; there was also one General Who Pacifies the South and one General Who Pacifies the West, with Duan Wei serving as the General Who Pacifies the West in the late Han Dynasty. There was also one General Who Pacifies the North. Scholar Yu Yan noted that the titles "General Who Guards the North" and "Four Pacifying Generals" (Pacifying the East, Pacifying the South, Pacifying the West, Pacifying the North) were established during the Huangchu period of the Wei Dynasty.
Next are the Generals Who Pacify the East, South, West, and North, established during the Wei Dynasty as well, with only one person for each position. There are also the Left General, Right General, Front General, and Rear General, whose titles date back to the Zhou Dynasty, continuously used throughout the Qin and Han Dynasties. They were abolished during the seventh year of Emperor Guangwu's Jianwu period, but were restored later during the Wei Dynasty.
General of Conquering the Enemy, this position was only established during the reign of Emperor Guangwu of Han, and was held by Jie Zun at that time. Champion Commander, the origin of this name is quite interesting. It was originally appointed by King Huai of Chu to Song Yi as Qingzi Champion Commander, so the name Champion Commander originated from that time. During the Zhengshi period of the Wei Dynasty, Wen Qin served as Champion Commander and Governor of Yangzhou. General of Supporting the State, during the reign of Emperor Xian of Han, Fu Wan held this position. During the reign of Emperor Taizong of the Song Dynasty, it was renamed as General of Supporting the Teacher, but later reverted to its original name. Dragon General, during the reign of Emperor Wu of Jin, Wang Jun held this position.
Eastern Commander General, during the reign of Emperor Ling of Han, Dong Zhuo held this position; Southern Commander General, during the Jian'an period of Emperor Xian of Han, Cao Zhi held this position; Western Commander General and Northern Commander General, also during the Jian'an period of Emperor Xian of Han, Cao Zhang held the position of Northern Commander General. According to He Chengtian, these four Commanders were all established during the Later Han period.
General of Establishing Martial, during the reign of Emperor Guangwu of Han, Geng Yan held this position, but he held the title of Grand General of Establishing Martial. General of Inspiring Martial, during the early period of Later Han, Song Deng held this position; General of Fervent Martial, during the Western Han period, Ren Qianqiu held this position; the titles of Raising Martial General, Broadening Martial General, and General of Establishing Martial were all created during the Wei Dynasty. General of Inspiring Martial, towards the end of Western Han, Wang Kuang held this position; General of Fervent Martial, towards the end of Later Han, Lü Bu held this position; General of Raising Martial, during the reign of Emperor Guangwu of Han, Ma Cheng held this position; Broadening Martial General, established in the Jiangnan region of the Jin Dynasty.
Eagle General, during the Jian'an period, Cao Cao appointed Cao Hong to this position. Strike General, also during the Jian'an period, Cao Cao appointed Yue Jin to this position. Light Cavalry General, during the reign of Emperor Wu of Han, Gongsun He held this position. General of Raising Valor, during the Jian'an period, it was bestowed upon Gongsun Yuan. General of Pacifying Remote, established in the Jiangnan region of the Jin Dynasty. General of Capable Officers, appointed by Emperor Wu of Han, Li Xi held this position. General of Subduing Waves, established during the expedition against Nanyue by Emperor Wu of Han, and held by Lu Bode.
Next, let's talk about General Lingjiang, established by the Wei Kingdom. Below General Lingjiang, there are also titles including Xuanwei, Mingwei, Xiangwei, Liwei, Weili, Weikou, Weilu, Weirong, Weiwu, Wulie, Wuyi, Wufen, Suiyuan, Suibian, Suirong, Taokou, Taolu, Taonan, Taoyi, Dangkou, Danglu, Dangnan, Dangni, Tiankou, Tianlu, Tiannan, Tianni, Saoyi, Saokou, Saolu, Saonan, Saoni, Liwu, Lifeng, Huwei, Huya, Guangye, Hengye, Pianjiangjun, and Bijiangjun, totaling forty general titles. Among them, General Weilu was appointed by Emperor Guangwu of the Han Dynasty; General Huya was once held by Gai Yan, who was later promoted to Grand General Huya; General Hengye was held by Geng Chun; General Dangkou was held by Man Chong during the Jian'an period; General Huwei was held by Yu Jin. Some of the other general positions were established during the Eastern Han and Wei Kingdom periods, while some are currently in place and others are not.
From the General of Chariots and Cavalry down, there are only four Colonel Generals, and the rest do not have a fixed number of personnel. From the General of Chariots and Cavalry downwards, officials who serve as provincial governors, commanders, and the Three Excellencies have positions set up just like leading troops; however, if they are only commanders and not Three Excellencies, they do not have a Colonel to assist, only a scribe responsible for managing documents, with a rank above that of a registrar, a position that existed during the late Han Dynasty. In the Eastern Capital during the Han Dynasty, there were scribes and clerks, similar to governors of various provinces, retaining the same title. There was one scribe assistant to assist the registrar, with a position higher than that of a household clerk. Below the supervisor, there were no consultants or clerks; everything else was the same. After Emperor Taizong of the Song Dynasty, even if the princes and imperial brothers were not commanders, they still had scribe assistants. These minor generals were appointed as auxiliary officials to support the border defenses of major regions, and also had a Chief of Staff; everything else was the same.
The position of Grand Minister was held by a single individual. When Emperor Shun was in power, he appointed Boyi to be in charge of the Three Rites, and this title originated in this manner. During the Zhou Dynasty, this position was called Zongbo, part of the Spring Officials, responsible for managing the country's rituals. The Qin Dynasty renamed it the Minister of Rituals, a title that continued into the Han Dynasty. In the sixth year of Emperor Jing of the Han Dynasty, it was renamed to Grand Minister. Ying Shao said, "In order for the country to prosper and last long, it is called the Grand Minister." During the Western Han Dynasty, this position was typically held by loyal and filial nobles, but it was not necessarily a noble during the Eastern Han Dynasty.
The title of Doctor, as Ban Gu noted, was an official title existing since the Qin Dynasty. Historical records show that even during the Warring States period, many states had scholars responsible for mastering both ancient and contemporary knowledge. In the fifth year of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, the Five Classics Scholars were officially appointed. During the reigns of Emperor Xuan and Emperor Cheng, the schools and interpretative methods for the Five Classics expanded over time, with only one scholar appointed for each classic. In the capital Luoyang of the Eastern Han Dynasty, there were fourteen scholars in total. Specifically, the Book of Changes had four scholars: Shi, Meng, Liangqiu, and Jing; the Book of Documents had three scholars: Ouyang, Xiaohao, and Dahao; the Book of Songs had three scholars: Qi, Lu, and Han; the Book of Rites had two scholars: Daidai and Xiaodai; and the Spring and Autumn Annals had two scholars: Yan and Yan. Among these fourteen scholars, the most esteemed became the chief scholar. During the Wei, Jin, and Western Zhou Dynasties, the number of scholars increased to nineteen, then decreased to nine, and by that time, it was unclear which classics they oversaw. In the later years of Emperor Yuan, one scholar was added for both the "Rites of Zhou" and the "Gongyang Commentary on the Spring and Autumn Annals," totaling eleven. Later, this number increased to sixteen, with no specific classics assigned, and they were collectively referred to as Tai Xue Scholars. Their salary was six hundred shi.
The National Teacher is one person, the National Scholar is one person, and there are ten National Assistants. The "Book of Changes," "Book of Documents," "Book of Songs," "Book of Rites," "Officials of Zhou," "Rites of Zhou," "Zuo Zhuan," "Gongyang Zhuan," and "Guliang Zhuan" each count as one classic book, while the "Analects" and "Classic of Filial Piety" are counted as one, making a total of ten classic books. The assistants are responsible for teaching these classic books. The title of National Teacher has its origins in the Zhou Dynasty, where the position of Master Shi was equivalent to the current National Teacher. The National School was reestablished in the early Jin Dynasty to educate students, but it was subordinate to the Imperial Academy. In the early Jin Dynasty, there were fifteen National Assistants, but the number was reduced during the Eastern Jin Dynasty. Starting from the Song Dynasty, if the National School was not in operation, only one assistant would be appointed, while the positions of Teacher and Scholar remained unchanged.
The Grand Temple Supervisor is one person. The Deputy Supervisor is one person. Both of these positions were established during the Western Han Dynasty. The capital of the Western Han Dynasty was Chang'an, while the capital of the Eastern Han Dynasty was Luoyang, where this position was referred to as "Ling." The Grand Temple Supervisor oversees 24 Assistant Supervisors.
The Great Hall of Enlightenment Supervisor is one person. The Deputy Supervisor is one person. The position of Deputy Supervisor was established in Luoyang during the Eastern Han Dynasty, while the position of Supervisor was established during the reign of Emperor Taizu Zhao Kuangyin of the Song Dynasty.
The Grand Priest is one person, with a Deputy Supervisor below them responsible for conducting rituals, reciting prayers, and welcoming or bidding farewell to deities. The position of Grand Priest has its origins in the Zhou Dynasty. During the Western Han Dynasty in Chang'an, the positions of Grand Priest and Deputy Grand Priest were established, which were later renamed "Temple Worship" in the first year of Emperor Wu's reign. When the capital was relocated to Luoyang during the Eastern Han Dynasty, the title was changed back to Grand Priest.
The Grand Historiographer is also an official who has a subordinate Cheng. They are responsible for overseeing the stars, moon, time, dates, and matters of fortune and misfortune, and at the end of the year, they submit a new calendar. The Grand Historiographer is an ancient official title that existed in the Xia, Shang, and Zhou dynasties. During the Zhou dynasty, he oversaw the country's six codes and systems, responsible for determining the start of the year and communicating the months and days systematically to the entire nation. At that time, there was also a Fengxiangshi responsible for celestial order and a Baozhanshi overseeing astronomical matters. The current Grand Historiographer essentially merges the three official positions of the Zhou dynasty: Grand Historiographer, Fengxiang, and Baozhang. During the Han dynasty's Western Capital period, this position was referred to as the Grand Historiographer, and during the Eastern Capital of the Han dynasty, there were two Cheng, one of whom worked in Lingtai.
The Grand Musician is an official who has a subordinate Cheng, in charge of all matters related to music. In the Zhou dynasty, this role was known as the Grand Musician. During the Han dynasty's Western Capital period, it was called the Grand Musician, and during the Eastern Capital of the Han dynasty, it was referred to as the Grand Yu Musician. The Wei dynasty later changed it back to Grand Musician.
Each tomb has an assigned Tomb Keeper, an official position that existed during the Han dynasty.
The Imperial Charioteer is in charge of the emperor's chariot and the horses that draw it. This was a position that was established during the Wei dynasty. From the Scholar to the Imperial Charioteer, all fall under the authority of the Ministry of Rites.
Guanglu Xun was managed by one person, with a deputy assisting him. The title "Guanglu Xun" consists of three characters: "Guang" means bright, "Lu" means title, and "Xun" means merit. During the Qin Dynasty, it was called Langzhong Ling, and the Han Dynasty continued to use this title. It was not until the first year of the reign of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty that it was renamed Guanglu Xun. Guanglu Xun was in charge of the officials of three bureaus; these officials carried halberds and were responsible for guarding the palace and opening and closing the gates. Guanglu Xun lived in the palace, with a status similar to that of an imperial censor. His office was located outside the palace gate, called Guanglu Wai Bu. During sacrifices, Guanglu Xun was responsible for presiding over the three offerings ceremony. By the time of the Wei and Jin dynasties, Guanglu Xun no longer lived in the palace, the officials of the three bureaus were gone, and this title was only used during palace meetings. If someone was accused by the two courts (referring to the Censorate and the Court of Judicial Review), Guanglu Xun had to be notified to prohibit them from entering the palace, and the lifting of the ban also required Guanglu Xun's approval. Here, "prohibit" means to prevent this person from entering the palace because Guanglu Xun was in charge of the palace gates, so the restrictions on palace entry still fall under Guanglu Xun's jurisdiction. In the second year of the Xingning reign of Emperor Ai of Jin, the position of Guanglu Xun was abolished and was merged into the Ministry of Works. In the first year of the Ningkang reign of Emperor Xiaowu, it was reestablished.
During the Han Dynasty, officials from the three bureaus in the Eastern Capital were required to recommend outstanding candidates from the imperial examinations each year, selecting two exceptional candidates and two capable individuals. Later, the three bureaus were abolished, but Guanglu Xun continued to recommend four capable individuals according to the old practices, usually young talents from prominent families. The three bureaus were the Wuguan Bureau, Left Bureau, and Right Bureau, each with a Zhonglangjiang to manage. Each prefecture recommended filial and incorrupt candidates to serve as officials in these three bureaus; those over fifty were assigned to the Wuguan Bureau, and others were divided into the Left and Right Bureaus. Overall, the officials held four ranks: Zhonglang, Yilang, Shilang, and Langzhong, with no fixed number, potentially reaching up to tens of thousands.
Left and Right Guanglu Daifu were official positions established in the early Jin Dynasty. Guanglu Daifu, known as Zhong Daifu during the Qin Dynasty, was renamed Guanglu Daifu during the first year of Emperor Wu's reign in the Han Dynasty. In the early Jin Dynasty, Left and Right Guanglu Daifu were established, but the title of Guanglu Daifu was retained. Guanglu Daifu wore a silver insignia and a green sash, and those of higher status could also wear a gold badge and a purple sash, known as Jinzi Guanglu Daifu. The salary for this position was traditionally equivalent to two thousand stones.
Zhong San Daifu was established by Wang Mang and continued to exist during the Eastern Han Dynasty. The Western Han Dynasty did not have a fixed number of Daifu and were primarily responsible for discussing political affairs. During the Eastern Han Dynasty, there were three Guanglu Daifu, twenty Zhong Daifu, and thirty Zhong San Daifu. After the Wei Dynasty, these official positions lost their fixed numbers. Positions below Left Guanglu Daifu were primarily ceremonial and held little real power. The salary of Zhong San Daifu was six hundred stones.
The position of Wei Wei was held by a single individual, assisted by two deputies. It was mainly responsible for the deployment of troops guarding the palace gates, a role that dates back to the Qin Dynasty. In the early years of Emperor Jing's reign in the Han Dynasty, it was renamed Zhong Daifu Ling. Later, in the first year of the Han Dynasty, the title of Wei Wei was restored. During the Jin Dynasty, the Jiangyou region (south of the Yangtze River) was tasked with smelting and casting, overseeing thirty-nine smelting factories, which had a population of five thousand three hundred and fifty households. All these smelting factories were situated north of the Yangtze River, with only two factories, Meigen and Yetang, located south of the Yangtze River, and were not under the jurisdiction of Wei Wei. The official position of Wei Wei was absent from the Jiangzuo region (south of the Yangtze River) for a time, until the first year of Emperor Xiaojian's reign in the Song Dynasty, when it was reestablished. Initially, there was only one deputy, but Emperor Song Shizu later added another.
The Court of the Grand Justice, with one person serving as the official and being assisted by a deputy, is primarily responsible for hearing cases and handing down sentences. All cases must be reported to the court of the emperor, and decisions are made through joint deliberation, which is a very important principle. The handling of military cases and ordinary cases is the same, hence the name Court of the Grand Justice. According to legend, during the reign of Emperor Shun, Jiu Yao held this position, which was the prototype of the Court of the Grand Justice. During the Zhou Dynasty, the Grand Minister of Justice was the official in charge of punishments, while in the Qin Dynasty, this official was called the Court of the Grand Justice. In the sixth year of Emperor Jing's reign in the Han Dynasty, it was renamed the Grand Justice. In the fourth year of the reign of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, it was changed back to the Court of the Grand Justice. In the second year of the reign of Emperor Ai of the Han Dynasty, it was changed back to the Grand Justice. After the establishment of the capital of the Eastern Capital of the Han Dynasty, it was changed back to the Court of the Grand Justice.
The Court of the Grand Justice, the Supervisor of the Court of the Grand Justice, and the Assessor of the Court of the Grand Justice, each held by one person, were all official positions existing in the Qin Dynasty. Originally, there were also Left and Right Supervisors, but Emperor Guangwu of the Han Dynasty abolished the Right Supervisor, leaving only the Left Supervisor; after the Wei and Jin Dynasties, they were simply called Supervisors. The Assessor of the Court of the Grand Justice, established during the third year of the reign of Emperor Xuan of the Han Dynasty, had Left and Right Assessors. Emperor Guangwu of the Han Dynasty abolished the Right Assessor, leaving only the Left Assessor; after the Wei and Jin Dynasties, they were simply called Assessors. The Court of the Grand Justice, Supervisor, and Assessor all had to show respect to the Grand Justice. The salaries for the Grand Justice, Supervisor, and Assessor were one thousand shi each, while the Assessor received six hundred shi. The Legal Scholar of the Grand Justice Court, also held by one person, was established by Emperor Wu of Wei during the early days of the Wei Kingdom.
The Grand Minister of Agriculture, held by one person and assisted by a deputy, was primarily responsible for supplying the royal family with food, livestock, and other provisions. According to legend, during the reign of Emperor Shun, Qi was appointed to this position, which was the prototype of the Grand Minister of Agriculture. During the Zhou Dynasty, it was called the Grand Storehouse, in the Qin Dynasty it was called the Superintendent of Grain, and in the first year of the reign of Emperor Yuan of the Han Dynasty, it was renamed the Grand Minister of Agriculture. In the first year of the reign of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, it was renamed the Grand Minister of Agriculture. At the end of the reign of Emperor Ai of the Jin Dynasty, the Grand Minister of Agriculture and the Minister of Works were merged and subsequently abolished, but were reinstated during Emperor Xiaowu's reign. During the Han Dynasty, the Grand Minister of Agriculture had two deputies, but after the Wei Dynasty, there was only one deputy.
The Taicang Ling was a position held by one person, with a Cheng serving under them, a position that existed since the Qin Dynasty. In the Jiangzuo region of the Jin Dynasty, the positions of Dongcang Cheng and Shitoucang Cheng were created, each with one person.
The Daoguan Ling was held by one person, with a Cheng serving under them, tasked with managing the royal rice and grains. This position was also created in the eastern regions of the Han Dynasty. "Dao" means to select, to choose the best rice and grains to supply to the royal family, hence the name Daoguan Ling. Sima Xiangru wrote in the "Fengshan Shu": "Select a stalk with six ears from the kitchen."
The Jitian Ling was held by one person, with a Cheng serving under them. They were responsible for cultivating the fields of ancestral temples and altars, known as Dianshi in the Zhou Dynasty. Emperor Wen of the Han Dynasty established the Jitian Ling when he came to power, with one Ling and one Cheng. This position was absent during the Eastern Han and Wei Dynasties. It was reinstated during the tenth year of the Taishi reign of Emperor Wu of the Jin Dynasty. In the Jiangzuo region, it was reestablished during the Yuanjia period of Emperor Taizu of the Song Dynasty. From Taicang to Jitian Ling, they were all under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Agriculture.
The Shaofu was held by one person, with a Cheng serving under them, tasked with managing the emperor's clothing and accessories. This was an official position in the Qin Dynasty, which the Han Dynasty continued. The Shaofu managed the palace finances, which supported the emperor's private life, hence the name Shaofu. Towards the end of Emperor Ai's reign in the Jin Dynasty, the Shaofu and Danyang Yin positions were merged and streamlined. It was reinstated during the reign of Emperor Xiaowu.
There is one person each for the Left Shangfang Ling and Cheng, and one person each for the Right Shangfang Ling and Cheng, all responsible for the production of weapons. This is an official position of the Qin Dynasty, inherited from the Han Dynasty. In the Zhou Dynasty, it was equivalent to the Jade Office. In the Jin Dynasty, the Jiangyou region had three institutions: the Zhong Shangfang, the Left Shangfang, and the Right Shangfang. After this, only one Shangfang remained in the Jiangzuo region. After Emperor Gaozu of the Song Dynasty ascended the throne, a portion of the Xiangfu was repurposed into a new department and assigned to the Tai Province, called the Left Shangfang, while the original Shangfang was referred to as the Right Shangfang. Another part of the Xiangfu's secret service department was converted into a department, retaining its original name, with one Ling and two Chengs, which fell under the jurisdiction of the Menxia Province. During the reign of Emperor Shizu of the Ming Dynasty, it was renamed the Yufu, with one Ling and one Cheng. The Yufu was responsible for overseeing palace women and servants tasked with making the emperor's undergarments and laundering clothes. During the Wei and Jin periods, this role was maintained, but it was abolished in the Jiangzuo region. Later, in the early years of the reign of Emperor Houfei, the Yufu was abolished, and the Zhongshu was established under the Right Shangfang. In the capital of the Eastern Han Dynasty, there was a Kao Gong Ling among the officials of the Taipu, responsible for overseeing craftsmen involved in smelting and casting, which were handed over to the Zhijinwu to be sent to the armory when completed, and it was also responsible for weaving silk ribbons and other miscellaneous work. The Shangfang Ling was only responsible for making exquisite items such as knives, belts, and swords for the emperor. Therefore, the Kao Gong Ling corresponds to what later became known as the Shangfang, and the Shangfang Ling corresponds to the later Zhongshu.
Dongye Ling, which consisted of one person and a Cheng. Nanye Ling, which consisted of one person and a Cheng. During the Han Dynasty, there was an Iron Commissioner, which was renamed Ling in the Jin Dynasty, responsible for overseeing craftsmen involved in smelting and casting, subordinate to the Weiwei. Subsequently, the Weiwei underwent streamlining in the Jiangzuo region and was subordinated to the Shaofu. Although the Song Dynasty had the Weiwei, the metallurgical officials still belonged to the Shaofu. In various counties in Jiangnan, where iron mines existed, some established Dongye Ling while others had Cheng, most of which were established during the Wu Kingdom period.
Pingzhun Ling, which consisted of one person and a Cheng. Responsible for dyeing and weaving, this was an official position of the Qin Dynasty, inherited from the Han Dynasty. During the Han Dynasty, it was subordinate to the Sinong, but it is unknown when it was subordinated to the Shaofu. After Emperor Shundi of the Song Dynasty ascended the throne, to avoid using the emperor's name, it was renamed the Dyeing Office.
In ancient times, there was an official position called the Grand Master of Works, which was managed by one person with a deputy underneath. It was mainly responsible for civil engineering projects. During the Qin Dynasty, this position was called the Grand Master of Works of the Lesser Treasury, and the name was continued in the Han Dynasty. In the sixth year of Han Emperor Jing’s reign, it was renamed the Grand Master of Works. In the second year of Emperor Guangwu of Han, this position was discontinued, and the responsibilities were given to the Court Attendant. In the first year of Emperor Zhang of Han, this position was reestablished. In the Jin Dynasty and later periods, this position was established when needed and abolished when not needed.
Next is the role of the Grand Herald, mainly responsible for receiving and introducing princes and kings. During the Qin Dynasty, it was called the Director of Guests, and in the sixth year of Han Emperor Jing, it was renamed the Grand Prefect. In the first year of Emperor Wu of Han, it was renamed the Grand Herald. In the Jiangzuo region during the Jin Dynasty, this position was initially abolished and only established temporarily when needed.
Then there is the role of the Grand Minister, in charge of the royal chariots and horses. This position was created by King Mu of Zhou and continued in the Qin Dynasty. Later, the functions of managing horses and chariots were combined into the role of the Grand Minister. In the Jiangzuo region during the Jin Dynasty, this position was sometimes established and sometimes not, and it was completely abolished after the Song Dynasty. It was only temporarily reinstated during the grand ceremonies of suburban sacrifices to lead the horses and was abolished after the ceremonies.
Lastly, let's talk about the Three Officials of the Empress Dowager, each position held by only one person. According to the "Han Officials" written by Ying Shi, the Commandant of the Guards and the Grand Minister were official positions in the Qin Dynasty, and the Grand Minister was established by Emperor Cheng of Han. These three positions were all under the Empress Dowager, ranking above the regular officials. During the Wei Dynasty, the system was revised to place these three positions below the Nine Officials. The Jin Dynasty reinstated the original system, placing them at the same level as the regular officials.
The last official position next to the queen is the Grand Changqiu. This position is established if the queen exists; if not, it is abolished. It was known as Jiang Xing during the Qin Dynasty, and in the sixth year of Emperor Jing of the Han Dynasty, it was renamed Grand Changqiu. Wei Yao explained that "Changqiu" refers to an internal official of the queen. 'Qiu' marks the onset of Yin energy, and 'Changqiu' signifies its end and suggests longevity, hoping for its enduring presence. From the Minister of Rites to the Grand Changqiu, these official positions include roles such as Gongcao, Zhubu, and Wuguan. Each county in the Eastern Han capital also had officials known as Wuguan Yuan. In the Han Dynasty, it was stipulated that the official rank for a minister was Zhong Erqian Shi, and a Cheng was Yi Qian Shi. The role of Shangshu is an ancient official title. Emperor Shun appointed Long as a Nayan, which corresponds to the duties of Shangshu. The "Zhou Li" mentions that Sihui is similar to the modern role of Shangshu, according to Zheng Xuan. During the Qin Dynasty, the Shao Fu sent four officials to handle documents in the palace, which is why it is called Shangshu. Shang means to be in charge. In the early Han Dynasty, there were Shangguan, Shangyi, Shangshi, Shangyu, Shangxi, and Shangshu, collectively known as the Six Shangs. In fact, as early as the Warring States period, there were official positions such as Shangguan and Shangyi. During the Qin Dynasty, there were Shangshu Ling, Shangshu Puye, and Shangshu Cheng. In the early Han Dynasty, these official positions were all under the Shao Fu and had always been part of the civil service system. In ancient times, military officials were highly regarded, and those skilled in archery were entrusted with certain affairs, hence the name Puye. Puye refers to a person who serves archery affairs. During the Qin Dynasty, there were some officials of the Left and Right Cao, without defined duties, allowing generals and lower officials to occupy this position. Under Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, officials of the Left and Right Cao were assigned to assist with processing the memorials of the Shangshu. After Emperor Zhao ascended the throne, Huo Guang was in charge of the affairs of the Shangshu; in the early reign of Emperor Cheng, Wang Feng was in charge of the affairs of the Shangshu. In the capital of the Han Dynasty, whenever a new emperor took the throne, a Grand Tutor would be appointed to oversee the Shangshu's affairs, and this position would be discontinued following the Grand Tutor's death.
During the reign of Emperor Kang of the Jin Dynasty, He Chong resigned from his position as Ministerial Recorder and submitted a memorial saying, "During the Xiankang era, three positions of Ministerial Recorder were established. Wang Dao was in charge of one, and Xun Song and Lu Ye each managed six affairs." By this calculation, it seems that there were twenty-four affairs. If there were only twenty, then Xun Song and Lu Ye each managed six, then what was Wang Dao responsible for? If Wang Dao was in charge overall, with Xun Song and Lu Ye managing separately, it wouldn't make sense to say that Wang Dao only managed one. Later on, each time two positions of Ministerial Recorder were established, each managing six affairs, so there were only twelve. It's unclear exactly what these twelve affairs were. In the Jiangyou region of the Jin Dynasty, there were four recorders of the Ministry of Rites handling affairs together. Zhang Hua from Jiangyou and Yu Liang from Jiangzuo were both involved in handling seven affairs of the Ministry of Rites, but the specifics of these affairs remain unclear. After He Chong resigned from his position as Ministerial Recorder, he was once again involved in handling the affairs of the Ministry of Rites. The role of Ministerial Recorder always requires an overall manager. Wang Su noted in his commentary on the "Book of Documents" that "Yao and Shun arranged themselves in honorable offices, managing all political affairs." High-ranking generals or governors can be appointed by the Ministry of Rites, but they cannot be dismissed or promoted on their own. During the reign of Emperor Xiaojian of the Song Dynasty, in order to prevent the leakage of power, the Ministerial Recorder position was abolished. It was reinstated towards the end of the Ming Dynasty. Since then, the Ministerial Recorder position has been created and dissolved at various times. In the fourth year of Jian'an during the reign of Emperor Xian of the Han Dynasty, Rong He was appointed as the Left Deputy of the Ministry of Rites, and Wei Zhen was appointed as the Right Deputy of the Ministry of Rites. The two deputy positions were established separately from that point forward.
In the fourth year of the Han Cheng Emperor, the Shangshu was officially established as an institution with four members, and four additional Cheng officials were appointed. The four departments of Shangshu were: Changshi Cao, responsible for handling the affairs of court officials; Erqian Shi Cao, responsible for handling the affairs of county officials; Min Cao, responsible for handling the petitions of the common people; and Ke Cao, responsible for handling the affairs concerning foreign nations and ethnic minorities. During the reign of Emperor Guangwu, the Erqian Shi Cao was divided into two departments, and the Ke Cao was divided into Southern and Northern Ke Cao. The Changshi Cao was renamed Li Cao, resulting in six Shangshu departments. Two Cheng were reduced, leaving only the Left and Right Cheng. Ying Shao's "Han Guan" stated: "The Shangshu Ling and Left Cheng are in charge of the rules and regulations, overseeing all affairs. The Pushi and Right Cheng are responsible for managing loans and supplies. The two Shangshu serving the Three Excellencies oversee national tax collection at year-end; the Li Cao is responsible for elections and rituals; the Erqian Shi Cao is responsible for disasters, theft, lawsuits, and criminal law; the Ke Cao is responsible for meetings with minority groups such as the Qiang and Hu, as well as protecting the emperor during inspections; the Min Cao is responsible for repairs, construction, salt fields, and parks. The Li Cao position holds significant importance, and many individuals have received promotions as a result." It can be seen that the names and functions of the Shangshu departments at the end of the Han Dynasty differed from those in the era of Emperor Guangwu. The Wei Dynasty had five Shangshu departments: Li Bu, Zuo Min, Ke Cao, Wu Bing, and Du Zhi. During the early Jin Dynasty, there were six Shangshu departments: Li Bu, San Gong, Ke Cao, Jia Bu, Tun Tian, and Du Zhi. In the second year of Emperor Wu Xian Ning, the Jia Bu Shangshu was abolished but reinstated four years later. During the Taikang period, there were six Shangshu departments: Li Bu, Dian Zhong, Wu Bing, Tian Cao, Du Zhi, and Zuo Min. During the reign of Emperor Hui, the Right Min Shangshu was established. The Shangshu departments remained at six, but it is unclear which department was abolished at that time. In the Jiangzuo region, there were five Shangshu departments: Ci Bu, Li Bu, Zuo Min, Du Zhi, and Wu Bing. In the early reign of Emperor Gaozu of the Song Dynasty, the Duguan Shangshu was created. If there was a Right Pushi, the Ci Bu Shangshu would not be established. In the second year of Emperor Shizu Daming, two Li Bu Shangshu officials were appointed, while the Wu Bing Shangshu was abolished but was subsequently reinstated. In the first year of Emperor Shundi Shengming, the Wu Bing Shangshu was reinstated.
Well, to put it simply, the Grand Minister is the highest leader, in charge of all major departments; the Deputy Ministers and Ministers are responsible for managing various departments.
The Left Deputy Minister oversees the Department of the Palace and the Department of Guests; the Minister of Personnel oversees the Ministry of Personnel, Editing, San Gong, and the Department of Appointments; the Minister of Rites manages the Ministry of Rites and the Department of Ceremonies; the Minister of Revenue oversees the Ministry of Revenue, the Department of Finance, the Treasury Department, and the Department of Expenditures.
The Minister of Civil Affairs oversees the Civil Affairs Department and the Department of Chariots; the Minister of Justice oversees the Ministry of Justice, the Water Department, the Treasury, and the Public Works Department; the Minister of War oversees the Central Army and the Foreign Army. There used to be three other departments, the Cavalry, the Separate Army, and the Capital Army, which is why it is referred to as the Ministry of War of the Five Armies.
In total, there are five Ministers, two Deputy Ministers, and one Grand Minister; these eight officials are known as the "Eight Seats." If there is a need to construct ancestral temples and palaces, then an additional Minister of Construction will be appointed, and once the work is completed, the position will be dissolved.
Emperor Cheng of Han established four Shangshu positions, but there were no official records of Shangshu Lang at that time. According to "Han Yi," there were a total of four Shangshu Lang: one responsible for the affairs of the camp of the Xiongnu Chanyu, one responsible for managing the people in the Qiangyi region, one responsible for household registration and land reclamation, and one responsible for the transportation and allocation of money. The Xiongnu Chanyu surrendered to the court during the reign of Emperor Xuan but ran to the north during the reign of Emperor Cheng. Therefore, the Shangshu Lang responsible for the affairs of the Xiongnu Chanyu's camp was likely appointed during the reign of Emperor Guangwu, overseeing the Southern Xiongnu at that time. According to "Han Guan," there were a total of thirty-six Shangshu Lang; it is unclear which emperor increased this number. This means that each Shangshu oversaw six Shangshu Lang. Their main job was drafting documents and handling government affairs. They started as Langzhong and were promoted to Shilang after a year. The Shangshu Temple was located inside Jianli Gate. When the Shangshu Lang was on duty, the government provided blue and white silk quilts, as well as cotton ones. They also provided tents, felt, mattresses, pillows, food from the Tai Guan, and biscuits and fruits from the Tang Guan, and assigned a Shangshu Bo and two female attendants, all chosen for their beauty and grace. They were responsible for burning incense, taking care of clothes, and attending to matters in the Mingguang Hall. The walls of the Mingguang Hall were painted with powdered chalk, depicting ancient sages and heroes, with a red cinnabar floor called Dan Chi. The Shangshu Lang held chicken tongue incense in his mouth to ensure his breath was fragrant during presentations. During the presentation, they had to bow and salute each other alongside the Huangmen Shilang. After the Huangmen Shilang said "Understood," he would leave. The seasonal clothing worn by the emperor would be given as rewards to the servants of the Shangshu Ling, Shangshu Cheng, and Lang, who each received a pair of red tubular brushes and a ball of high-quality ink every month.
During the Wei Dynasty, there were a total of twenty-three departments under the Secretariat, including the Imperial Court, Libu, Jiabu, Jinbu, Yucao, Bibu, Nanzhuke, Cibu, Duzhi, Kebu, Nongbu, Shuibu, Yicao, Sangong, Cangbu, Mincao, Erqianshi, Zhongbing, Waibing, Biebing, Dubing, Kaogong, and Dingke. In the second year of the Qinglong era, following military upheaval, the Secretary Chen Jiao suggested adding two more departments, the Duguan and Qibing, making a total of twenty-five departments. After the Western migration of the Jin Dynasty, the departments under the Secretariat included Direct Affairs, the Imperial Court, Cibu, Yicao, Libu, Sangong, Bibu, Jinbu, Cangbu, Duzhi, Duguan, Erqianshi, Zuomin, Youmin, Yucao, Army Agriculture, Qibu, Shuibu, Zuozhuke, Youzhuke, Jiabu, Chebu, Kebu, Zuozhongbing, Youzhongbing, Zuowaibing, Youwaibing, Biebing, Dubing, Qibing, Zuoshi, Youshi, Beizhuke, Nanzhuke, totaling thirty-four departments; later, the Yuncao department was added, making a total of thirty-five departments. During the early Eastern Jin period, ten departments were abolished, leaving only seventeen departments. During the reign of Emperor Kang and Emperor Mu, two departments, Yucao and Erqianshi, were also abolished, leaving eighteen departments. Later, three departments, Zhuke, Qibu, and Shuibu, were also abolished, leaving fifteen departments. In the early period of the Song Dynasty, four departments, Qibing, Zhuke, Qibu, and Shuibu, were added, making a total of nineteen departments. In the tenth year of Emperor Taizu's reign, four departments, Yicao, Zhuke, Bibu, and Qibing, were abolished. In the eleventh year, they were restored. In the eighteenth year, adjustments were made to the departmental officials, with the Merit Evaluation Department placed above the Zuomin department, which should be the Dingke department of the Wei Dynasty. In the thirtieth year, the Merit Evaluation Department was added, placed below the Duguan department and above the Merit Evaluation Department. During the period of Emperor Taizong of the Song Dynasty, the Qibing department was abolished. There are currently twenty departments. Sangong and Bibu are responsible for legal systems; Duzhi oversees financial budgeting, where "du" means measurement and "zhi" means distribution; Duguan is responsible for military and judicial matters; the functions of the other departments align with their names.
In ancient times, it was stipulated that officials from high-ranking court positions down to those below the Imperial Censor must yield to high-ranking officials such as the Ministers, Masters of Ceremonies, Masters of the Left and Right, and Masters of Records. They must get off their carriages and wait for these grand officials to pass before continuing. Even now, when Ministers go to court or leave work, pedestrians are not allowed to pass on the road, which still follows the old rules. During the Han Dynasty, there was also a rule that officials were required to address the Ministers as "Mingshi," and the Masters of the Left and Right as "Zuo Jun" and "You Jun," respectively. Below the Ministers, there were positions such as Prefectural Historians, Historians, Chief Historians, and Clerks. In the Han Dynasty, the Ministers in the capital (Luoyang) had eighteen officials, and in the early Jin Dynasty, there were one hundred and twenty Chief Historians and one hundred and thirty Historians. From the Jin Dynasty to the present, the number of these official positions has varied, making it hard to pin down. The "Han Yi" records the position of Prime Minister's Chief Historian, which probably existed since the Western Han Dynasty. In the Western Jin Dynasty (Chang'an), there was a Prefectural Historian named Zhu Dan, indicating that the position of Prefectural Historian has existed for a long time, and the responsibilities of various departments are comparable to those of the Ministers. The eight Masters of the Left and Right and Masters of Records in the Western and Eastern Jin Dynasties had to attend court sessions every morning and evening, while in the Jiangnan region (Eastern Jin), they only had to attend the morning court session. When these eight officials took office for the first time, they had to bow to each other at the court session, and after promotion, they had to bow again, in accordance with Han Dynasty traditions. Nowadays, only these eight officials bow when promoted, and the Chief Historians no longer bow to each other. The salary of the Minister is one thousand shi, while the Masters of Ceremonies and Records receive six hundred shi, and the Chief Historians and Historians receive four hundred shi, measured in shi. The Armory Director, which existed since the Qin Dynasty, oversaw military equipment and later fell under the Commandant of Justice during the Han Dynasty. In the early Jin Dynasty, the Commandant of Justice was abolished, and the Armory Director then came under the jurisdiction of the Ministers of the Imperial Library. The Chariot Director, which also existed since the Qin Dynasty, was held by one official and an assistant. During the Han, Wei, and Jin Dynasties, it was under the Grand Charioteer. After the Grand Charioteer position was abolished, it came under the Ministers of the Carriages Department.
Shanglinling (上林令), there is only one official, along with a deputy, and is an official position in the Han Dynasty. The Shanglin Garden located in the Western Capital (Chang'an) during the Han Dynasty had eight deputies, twelve guards, and ten pool supervisors. The deputies and guards report to the Water Balance Guard, while the pool supervisors are under the jurisdiction of the Privy Treasurer. In the Shanglin Garden in the Eastern Capital (Luoyang), there is also a Shanglin Garden magistrate and a deputy, both of whom are under the Privy Treasurer. The Jiangzuo region during the Jin Dynasty (Eastern Jin) did not have this official position. This official position was restored in the third year of Emperor Taizu's reign during the Song Dynasty and was under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Personnel and the Privy Treasurer.
The Materials General, only one person, with an additional Sima, is tasked with overseeing craftsmen and civil engineering projects. The Left and Right Inspectors during the Han Dynasty were responsible for these duties. During the Wei Dynasty, the Materials Inspector was established to oversee national timber affairs. In the Jiangzuo region of the Jin Dynasty (Eastern Jin), the Materials Inspector was rebranded as the Materials General, and the Left Inspector was abolished. Today, the Materials General falls under the Ministry of Personnel and the Commander of the Army.
Hi everyone! Today, we're going to discuss the ancient official position of "Shizhong." Simply put, it refers to four personal attendants who stand by the emperor, responsible for handling memorials, staying by the emperor's side at all times, answering questions, and offering suggestions. When the emperor goes on inspection tours, one of them is responsible for carrying the emperor's seal. They are basically in charge of all matters big and small in the palace. The term "Changbo" mentioned by Duke Zhou in "Lizheng" refers to this role.
The official position of "侍中" can be traced back to Chancellor Shi of the Qin Dynasty. At that time, there were five officials moving back and forth in the eastern wing of the palace, processing memorials, hence the name "侍中". By the time of the Western Capital of the Han Dynasty, the number of people in this position increased, even numbering in the dozens, all serving in the imperial palace, responsible for managing the emperor's chariots, horses, clothing, and even the emperor's toilet. During the reign of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, Kong Anguo served as "侍中" because he was a Confucian scholar, and the emperor made an exception and allowed him to be in charge of the imperial spitting pot, demonstrating the significance of this position at that time. Those with deep qualifications in the position of "侍中" could be promoted to the position of "Pushe". In the Eastern Han Dynasty, the "侍中" fell under the jurisdiction of the "Shaofu", and the number of people was not fixed. Their responsibilities continued to include serving the emperor, assisting in handling various affairs, and answering the emperor's questions. When the emperor went on inspection tours, usually the most knowledgeable official would carry the imperial seal and the Sword of the White Snake, while others would ride horses behind the imperial carriage. During the reign of Emperor Guangwu, the position of "Pushe" was re-designated as "Jijiu". During the Han Dynasty, like the eunuchs, the "侍中" also resided in the palace.
However, during the reign of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, a "侍中" named Mang Heluo actually plotted a rebellion armed with a knife! Since then, the "侍中" no longer lived in the palace, only entering when necessary and exiting after completing their duties. Later, when Wang Mang was in power, the "侍中" returned to reside in the palace, alongside the eunuchs. During the reign of Emperor Zhang of the Han Dynasty, the "侍中" Guo Ju colluded with members of the harem, even wielding a sword to intimidate others, and was ultimately killed. After this incident, the "侍中" was once again expelled from the palace. During the Wei and Jin Dynasties, the number of "侍中" was set at four, along with several other positions, no longer restricted by numbers, and equivalent in rank to "Erqianshi".
