The common people cannot manage themselves; therefore, a monarch is needed to govern them. However, the monarch cannot rule by themselves, so ministers are appointed to assist him. Thus, effective governance and stability cannot be achieved by one person alone. The records of past events are incomplete, making it difficult to explain clearly. By the time of Fuxi, Xuanyuan, Di Ku, and Di Zhi, the responsibilities of the dragon, fire, bird, and human could still be somewhat understood. During the times of Tang Yao and Yu Shun, there was a sixty-year cycle, while the Xia and Shang dynasties lasted twice as long. The Zhou dynasty lasted over three hundred years, which is regarded as a relatively complete system. The Qin, Han, Wei, and Jin dynasties all experienced changes in their systems, rise and fall, and prosperity or decline based on the actual circumstances at the time. Furthermore, each country has different systems, and each family has different customs. The appointment of officials is not fixed, and the governance styles of emperors and kings, along with their systems of rituals and music, vary. The reasons behind these differences are deeply rooted in history.
Xuanshuo, the monarch of the Wei Kingdom, had various officials in charge of political affairs, each with their own ranks and titles among his officials in the remote border areas. After establishing friendly relations with the Southern Xia, there were some adjustments made. After King Zhaocheng ascended the throne, he appointed Yan Feng as the Right Chief Historian and Xu Qian as the Director of the Palace. Most other official positions and titles resembled those of the Jin dynasty. In the second year of the founding of the country, positions of close attendants were established, with no set limit, occasionally numbering in the hundreds, serving in the palace and conveying the emperor's orders. These individuals were selected from officials and prominent families based on their demeanor, intelligence, and competence. Four internal attendants were also appointed to advise, correct mistakes, and answer the emperor's questions, similar to contemporary attendants and cavaliers. Those miscellaneous people who came from various places seeking asylum were collectively known as the "Wuwan." Based on their numbers, chiefs and sub-chiefs were appointed, divided into northern and southern parts, each managed by a northern and southern chief. At that time, the emperor's brother oversaw the northern region, and his son managed the southern part, dividing their governance, akin to the ancient dual lords.
In the first year of the founding emperor's reign, the previous system was maintained, and the northern and southern departments were still managed by high officials. This year, a Commander-in-Chief was also established, along with positions such as Banner Generals and officials in the Outer Court. The Commander-in-Chief led the troops within the palace to protect the royal residence; there were six Banner Generals responsible for the Three Young Guards stationed in the palace; all officials from the Chamberlain down to the Junior Secretary were under their jurisdiction; there were no fixed quotas for the officials in the Outer Court, who were responsible for carrying out the emperor's orders, entering and leaving the palace, and participating in major national funerals or sacrificial ceremonies, arranged according to specific circumstances.
In the first year of the Emperor's reign, the Cao province was established, various official positions were set up, and five ranks of nobility were conferred; for official positions in other regions, such as Inspectors, Governors, and County Magistrates, some positions had not yet been fully established, and they were gradually set up.
In November of the first year of Tianxing, the emperor appointed Minister of Personnel Deng Yuan to oversee the official system and establish ranks of nobility.
In December, the court appointed officials for the eight departments, the Court Attendants, and the Waiting Guards. These eight officials were arranged one for each of the four cardinal directions in the imperial city, symbolizing the eight directions, which is why they were referred to as "Eight Nations." The Court Attendants and Waiting Guards served at the emperor's side, responsible for conveying imperial edicts and entering and leaving the palace.
In March of the second year, the court divided the thirty-six departments of the Ministry of Personnel and some other external agencies into a total of three hundred sixty departments, each managed by a high official. These officials had subordinates responsible for document recording, directly reporting their work to the departments, aimed at streamlining the review and rejection processes. Initially, it was also stipulated that various texts, including the "Five Classics," would each have a scholar assigned, and the number of students in the Imperial Academy increased to thirty.
In the tenth month of the third year, four official positions were established: Officer of Benefaction, Officer of Nurturing, Officer of Long Virtue, and Officer of Scholar Instruction. The Officer of Benefaction's rank is equivalent to that of a Special Merit Scholar, without a fixed establishment, created only when necessary, and typically held by royal relatives or respected individuals. The Officer of Nurturing's rank is equivalent to that of a Grand Minister, also without a fixed establishment, primarily selecting diligent and honest retired officials. The Officer of Long Virtue's rank is equivalent to that of a Junior Grand Minister, similarly without a fixed establishment. The Officer of Scholar Instruction's rank is equivalent to that of an Advisory Minister, primarily responsible for advising the emperor and court officials, correcting their mistakes. Additionally, the position of Doctor of Immortality was established, responsible for researching and refining various medicines.
In the seventh month of the fourth year, the position of General of the Xiongnu Tribes was abolished, and all military guards from various departments were placed under the jurisdiction of the General's Office.
In September, the position of External Censor of the Lan Tai was abolished, and they were all placed under the management of the Internal Ministry.
In December, thirty-six departments within the Ministry of Personnel were restored, each equipped with one Deputy Historian for Orders, one Historian for Translations, and two Document Historians.
In the first year of Tian Ci, in the eighth month, the court established six Envoy Officers, based on the ancient Six Ministers, holding a fifth-grade rank. Below the six Envoy Officers are the Grandee, of sixth grade; below the Grandee are the Original Scholars, of seventh grade; below the Original Scholars are the Chief Officer, of eighth grade; and below the Chief Officer are the Deputy Chief, of ninth grade.
In September, the emperor changed the original five ranks into four ranks, namely king, duke, marquess, and viscount, eliminating the titles of count and baron. Princes and those who had made great contributions were granted the title of king, while royal relatives and previous kings were demoted to dukes, dukes were further demoted to marquesses, and viscounts were also demoted accordingly. In total, ten kings, twenty-two dukes, seventy-nine marquesses, and one hundred and three viscounts were granted titles. Kings were granted titles in larger jurisdictions, dukes in smaller jurisdictions, marquesses in larger districts, and viscounts in smaller districts. Kings were of the first rank, dukes of the second rank, marquesses of the third rank, and viscounts of the fourth rank. The emperor also established five ranks of non-hereditary officials: fifth-rank non-hereditary officials were equivalent to third-rank captains, sixth-rank non-hereditary officials were equivalent to district officers, seventh-rank non-hereditary officials were equivalent to grand masters, middle-ranking officials, and counselors, eighth-rank non-hereditary officials were equivalent to supervisors, and ninth-rank non-hereditary officials were equivalent to attendants. Officials of the fifth rank and below, as well as those with special talents, were ranked accordingly, divided into five ranks; military officers of the fifth rank and below, those who could serve as commanders, were also ranked into five ranks. If any official position became vacant, individuals from these ranks could be promoted to fill the vacancy.
Initially, the emperor wanted to emulate the simplicity of ancient traditions, so when establishing the names of official positions, many names did not follow the conventions of the Zhou and Han dynasties; some were inspired by people's names, some were taken from objects, and some were derived from local customs, all imitating the names of birds and beasts from ancient myths. For example, the lower-ranking officials who ran errands were referred to as "teal ducks," because teal ducks are known for their speed; officials in charge of reconnaissance were called egrets, because egrets have long necks and can see far. Other official titles carried similar meanings, all with corresponding metaphors. The emperor also mandated that each state appoint captains to lead the army.
In November, due to the large population and complex blood relations of the eight countries, the state appointed senior and junior masters to be responsible for clarifying the clan relationships of these individuals and recommending talented individuals. In places outside the eight countries, each district set up similar institutions, with functions equivalent to those established by the eight countries, akin to today’s local officials. The royal family also appointed clan masters, with a system similar to that of the states and counties as well as the eight countries.
In December, the emperor began to grant official positions to those holding titles such as kings, dukes, marquises, and viscounts, as well as their subordinate officials. The kings of the larger districts had two hundred subordinates, the kings of the medium districts and the dukes of the higher districts each had one hundred subordinates, the dukes of the medium districts had fifty subordinates, the marquises had twenty-five subordinates, and the viscounts had twelve subordinates. They all had official stewards, whose duties were similar to those of a household manager, responsible for managing their subordinates.
In February of the following year, the emperor abolished the thirty-six departments of the Ministry of Personnel and established two new official positions: Wu Gui (similar to a senior official) and Xiu Qin (similar to a secretary), each responsible for handling government affairs.
In the first month of the following year, the emperor established twenty inner officials, equivalent to Shizhong and Changshi, who would take turns on duty. They also established three regional inspectors for each state, with the inspector's position ranked at the sixth grade, one of whom was a royal relative, while the other two were from outside families, corresponding to the ancient three great officials—Upper Great Official, Middle Great Official, and Lower Great Official. Each district had three magistrates, all of whom were seventh-grade officials; each county had three county magistrates, all of whom were eighth-grade officials. The inspectors and county magistrates managed the states and counties respectively, while the magistrates were above the inspectors and below the county magistrates. Although these official positions were established, they had not yet begun to actually govern the common people. Those meritorious generals who served as state officials were all recalled to the capital and returned to their residences based on their titles, and were then assigned less demanding positions such as scattered cavalry, hunting cavalry, and various provincial clerks.
After four years, in May, the position of court attendant was increased, serving beside the emperor and responsible for conveying imperial edicts. These attendants were selected from the sons of good families from the eight countries, along with respected elders from the counties of Dai, Shanggu, Guangning, and Yanmen.
In the eleventh month of the first year of Yongxing, forty Qilin officials were appointed to be on duty in the palace and government departments, with a status similar to that of the regular attendants and attendants. In the spring of the first year of Shenrui, eight senior officials were appointed, each with three subordinate officials responsible for handling national affairs; hence they were later referred to as the "Eight Lords." In the summer of the second year of Taichang, six senior officials were appointed for the six departments: the Department of Heaven, the Department of Earth, the Department of East, the Department of West, the Department of South, and the Department of North, with these positions held by senior court officials, each with three subordinate officials. In the first month of the first year of Shiguang, the position of Right Minister of the People was established. In the third month of the first year of Shenwei, Left and Right Protectors and Left and Right Ministers, as well as several departmental ministers, were established, each residing in different government offices. In July, the emperor ordered that all generals serving on the battlefield could establish their own staff organizations based on their official ranks, equipped with corresponding assistants. In the third month of the first year of Yanhe, the title of Daiyin was renamed to Wannianyin, and the title of Dailing was changed to Wannianling, but later changed back. In the first month of the fifth year of Zhenjun, the Shizhong, Zhongshu Jian, Prince Yidu Mu Shou, Situ, Duke of Dongjun Cui Hao, Shizhong, Guangping Gong Zhang Li assisted in governance efforts, and four communication officials were established. At the same time, some outstanding officials from various departments were selected to work in the East Palace. In the seventh month of the first year of Zhengping, because there were too many officials in various departments, some personnel were cut. In the first month of the second year of Xing'an, the positions of Minister of the Chariot Department and Right Minister were created. In the fifth month of the third year of Tai'an, all departmental military guards were appointed as governors. In the fifth month of the second year of Yanxing, the emperor issued a decree that said: "Without merit, one cannot receive a title; without talent, one cannot receive a salary. All officials transferred from outside must report according to this standard, requesting appointment or temporary borrowing of official ranks. Those who have achievements during their tenure can be promoted based on their merits; if there are no significant achievements, they will be demoted. According to previous regulations, generals and governors can temporarily borrow up to five ranks, and those who have contributed cannot pass on their temporary ranks to their descendants." In the second month of the fourth year, the position of the Foreign Affairs Minister was established. In the ninth month of the fifth year, the Office of Supervision was established.
In May of the year 583 AD, the court reduced the number of candidate officials by 400, mainly targeting those officials who violated regulations. Four years later, two internal departments were streamlined, specifically concerning their military leaders. In August of the year 588 AD, the court added 100 ceremonial officials and 200 court officials (both idle positions). In July of the year 591 AD, the position of Ceremonial Officer was established (responsible for ceremonies). In December of the same year, the court added the following positions:
- Four Privy Councilors
- Four Gentlemen of the Yellow Gate
- Four Scattered Cavalry Commanders
- Four Ministers
- Six Direct Scattered Cavalry Commanders
- Six Deputy Ministers
- Six External Scattered Cavalry Commanders
- Six Deputy Ministers
In addition, positions such as Minister of Works, Chief Guest, Grand Treasurer, Minister of the Imperial Clan, Minister of Agriculture, Minister of Music, Minister of Justice, Master of the Palace Carriages, and Assistant Minister of Education were also added. At the same time, positions such as Glorious Chalice, Valiant Cavalry, Five Schools, Middle Official, and Scattered Officer were added, along with 120 attendants. The court also reorganized institutions such as the Imperial Guard and the Tiger Guard.
Previously, those who were granted titles due to their achievements could pass down military posts to their descendants. By the year 592 AD, the court reformed this system, reducing hereditary military posts to five ranks and ultimately abolishing hereditary military posts, allowing only hereditary titles.
Previously, border regions were governed by Grand Commandants, who commanded the military, were responsible for defense, and held a position equivalent to a Governor. The Grand Commandants managed cities and warehouses but were not involved in day-to-day operations, so their power was greater than that of Governors. (This assertion is debatable.)
From the founding Emperor to the early reign of Emperor Gaozu, the court made multiple adjustments to the ranks of internal and external officials based on specific circumstances at the time, rather than following regular practices, such as the positions of Ten Thousand Cavalry, Flying Swans, Loyal Generals, and Straightforward Generals. Due to the loss of previous rules and regulations, there was no basis to follow. During the Taihe period, Emperor Gaozu ordered the ministers to discuss and determine the appointment of officials, which were subsequently codified into law. Now I will list these official positions below, excluding ranks and lower-level positions:
Grand Tutor, Grand Commandant, General of the Guards; Grand Protector, Minister of War, Commander-in-Chief of all military forces; Grand Preceptor, Minister of Works, Specially Advanced; Right Three Divisions, Right Three Dukes.
The following are the official titles and ranks within the court hierarchy.
Grand Marshal Zhu Kaifu
General of the Cavalry
General of Chariots (the two generals ranked higher are above the Three Departments.)
Guard General (those with higher ranks follow the Deputy of the Three Departments.)
Right Third General
Right First Rank Upper, Middle, and Lower
Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince, Four Expeditions (those with higher ranks follow the Guard General) and Four Towns (those with higher ranks follow the Minister of Personnel.)
Grand Mentor to the Crown Prince, Left and Right Grand Court Officials, Minister of Personnel
Grand Protector to the Crown Prince, Left Deputy Minister of Personnel, Grand Minister
Right Three Masters of the Eastern Palace, Right Deputy Minister of Personnel, Grand Court Official
Minister of Personnel, Director of the Central Secretariat, Guard Commander
Governor of the Capital and Military Affairs of Various Provinces, Right Three Officials
General of the Central Army
General of the Garrison
General of the Pacification
The positions listed above are numerous and densely packed, making it dizzying to read. Let’s go through them one by one, starting from the highest position. You see, the highest is "Right Third General," which is a high-ranking official, below the Four Expeditions General. Next is "Golden Purple Grand Court Official," which sounds impressive! Below that, there are Right First Rank Upper, Middle, Lower, Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince, various Ministers, and the Four An Generals, among others. The Four An General is also a high official, below the Three Lesser Generals.
Next are the Grand Mentor to the Crown Prince, Minister of the Central Secretariat, and various generals; any general ranked Third or above and Fifth or below must have their ranks elevated. The Grand Protector to the Crown Prince, General of the Leading Army, and Left and Right Grand Attendants to the Crown Prince are all important positions. There are also Right Three Young Officials of the Eastern Palace and Guard Generals; if court attendants hold both positions concurrently, their ranks will be elevated even further. The positions of Regular Attendant, Central Attendant, Governor of the Province, and Commander of Military Affairs in Three Provinces are also significant. Below that are the Grand Minister of Agriculture, Grand Minister of Justice, Grand Minister of Ceremonies, Grand Minister of the Clan, Grand Minister of Finance, and Grand Minister of the Imperial Household; these six are collectively known as the "Right Six Officials," all of whom lead important departments in the court.
There are commanding generals and protective generals; these two types of generals cannot exist simultaneously. Then there are Right Second Rank Generals: Upper, Middle, and Lower, Front, Rear, Left, Right Generals, Secretary Supervisor, Martial Guard General, Four Equal Generals (of a rank below the Guardian General), Guanglu Dafu (Silver and Azure), Provincial Military Commander, Grand Chancellor of the Autumn Court, Grand Architect, Left Guard General and Right Guard General. Right Second Rank Upper, Middle, Lower, Son-in-law, Yellow Door Attendant, Supervisor of the Palace Attendants, all these official positions hold significant importance. Prince's Tutor, Prince's Chief Scholar, City Gate Captain, Prince's Left and Right Guard Commanders, South, North, East, West Household Generals, General of the Imperial Guards, Chief of Imperial Police, General of the Household for the Qiang, Rong, Yi, Man, and Yue, Grand Master of the Palace, Chief Attendant, Guard against Qiang, Rong, Yi, Man, Yue Commandant, General of Barbarian Suppression, General of State Support, General of Dragon Cavalry, Supervisor of the Imperial Guards, Chief Minister, Junior Minister, Bright Minister, Deputy Minister. Next in rank, there are Right Third Rank Upper, Middle, Lower, Cavalry Officer, Middle Supervisor, General of Distant Defense, Valiant Cavalry General, Chief of Archers, Pacifying Distant General, Prince's Steward, Cavalry Commandant, Establishing Distant General, Prince's Chief of Staff, Cavalry Commandant, Establishing Central General, Prince's Attendant, Infantry Commandant, Establishing Honorable General, Prince's Chief Scholar, Long River Commandant, Upright Righteous General, Middle Supervisor, Military Supervisor, Upright Loyal General, Front, Rear, Left, Right Army Generals, Upright Honorable General, Senior Officer, Restoring Martial General, Chief Secretary, Brave Martial General, Supervisor, Radiant Martial General, Shining Martial General, Eminent Martial General, Director of the Imperial Library, Right Third Rank Upper, Middle, Lower. This is essentially a comprehensive list of official positions!
Speaking of ancient official positions, there were truly numerous and varied. Let's start with the high-ranking officials, such as the Grand Sacrificial Official of the National Academy, the Public Office Commander, and the Grand Councillor. Just hearing their titles exudes power and authority, each one a respected minister of the court. Then there are the Lower Ministers, the Deputy Secretary of State, and the Deputy Marshal, all holding high positions of authority. Moving further down the list, there are the Chief Historian of the Public Office, the General of Military Establishment, the Deputy Left Secretary, the Prince's Chamberlain, and the General of Military Resurgence. These official positions are also not simple, each one a pillar of the court. The Prince's Three Inspectors, the Chief of the Central Yellow Gates, the Valiant General, the Cavalry Officer, the Chief, the Raised General, the Deputy of the Central Secretariat, the Director of the Inner Office, the General of the Broad Army, the Chief Envoy, the Capital Water Envoy, the Broad Martial General, the Central Envoy, and the Standard Officer, although these positions may sound a bit complicated, each one is a genuine official position. The Central Strong General, the Straight Cavalry Attendant, the Central Medium General, the Established Martial General, the Pacifying Frontier General, the Aroused Martial General, and these generals are even more awe-inspiring, leading thousands of troops.
Then, there are the ranks of Upper Right Fourth Rank, Middle Right Fourth Rank, Lower Right Fourth Rank, as well as Yuan Scholar, various District Commanders, various Wangyou, advisors in the court, officials in the provincial Military Affairs Bureau, various long historians in the court, officers in the Five Bureaus, and senior officials at the Prince's Gate, officials in the Ministry of Personnel, Ministry of War, and Ministry of Rites, officers overseeing the Prince's stables, various bureau captains, Tiger Ben generals, officers in the cavalry, generals with strong crossbows, Feather Forest officers, and various other positions. Some of these titles sound familiar, while others may sound quite strange, but they all represent different powers and statuses. The ranks of Right Assistant Fourth Rank Upper, Right Assistant Fourth Rank Middle, and Right Assistant Fourth Rank Lower also hold a place in the court system.
Lastly, there are long historians of the Central, Garrison, and Pacification Armies, officials in the Central Secretariat, scholars from the Imperial Clan, Eagle Generals, various officials in the court’s advisory army, Marquis of Righteous Return, generals of the Zhezhong, officials in the court's archives, Marquis of Shunyi, generals of the Yanglie, the Zheng of Yanyuan, supervisors, evaluators, and Marquis of Court Dress, various officials in the court’s advisory army, attendants of the Prince, officials in the Ministry of Religion, officials in the Ministry of Books, and supervisors of the Central Yellow Gate, officials in the court of light vehicles, officials in the Central Yellow Gate, Weiyuan Generals, attendants in the Central Court, generals of Tiger Might, officers in the Central Army, Garrison Army, and Pacification Army Sima, various officials in the court’s advisory army, and generals in the palace, officials in the Ministry of Personnel, and supervisors of scattered ministers, generals of Fubo, and officials in charge of the Prince's granaries, generals of Lingjiang, generals of Pingmo, and so on. These official positions are responsible for military affairs, civil affairs, and palace matters. In short, there is a wide variety of roles and responsibilities, forming a vast and complex bureaucratic system. Ancient officialdom is indeed quite complex!
His Royal Highness has many positions by his side! First is the Culinary Officer for the Crown Prince in charge of his meals, then the Crown Prince's Bodyguard in charge of his safety. Then, in order of rank from highest to lowest, there are Upper Fifth Rank, Middle Fifth Rank, Lower Fifth Rank, with corresponding positions such as Secretary, Gentleman Secretary, Attached General of Yi, Doctor of the National Academy, Various Offices Supervisor, Ritual Official of the Imperial Academy, Official of the Imperial Secretariat, Tiger Ben General, Imperial Attendant, Tiger Ben Sergeant Major, Tiger Ben General, Deputy Superintendent of Animal Husbandry, Tiger Ben General of the High Chariot, Chief of the Fangleang Bureau, Water Regulation Commandant, Guard Commander, Superintendent of Salt, Tiger Ben General, Chamberlain of the Palace, Bamboo Superintendent, Tiger Ben General, Superintendent of Guests, Superintendent of Empty Titles, Supervisor of Medicines, Supervisor of Ceremonies, Deputy Minister, Middle Envoy, Assistant Minister of the Palace Gate, Chief Priest, Deputy Minister of Justice, Palace Gate Sergeant, Grand Priest, Various Imperial Secretaries, Envoy, Chief Scribe of the Various Departments, General of the External Generals, Distinguished Gentleman, Imperial Chancellor, Grand Priest of Music, Superintendent of Granary Sacrifices, Recorder of the Imperial Household, Palace Supervisor, Attendant to the Carriage, Winged Charioteer, Feathered Forest Gentleman of the High Chariot, Observer of the Court, Fangleang Official.
Continuing down, the official ranks include Right Fifth Rank Upper, Right Fifth Rank Middle, Right Fifth Rank Lower. Positions include Military Attendant at the Public Office, Imperial Academy Scholar, Cavalry Commander, General of Martial Valor, Imperial Historiographer, Court Gentleman Attendant, General Who Displays Bright Martial Spirit, Legal Scholar, General of Martial Valor, General Who Supports Military Virtue, General Who Exemplifies Valor, Supervisor of the Court's Scribes, General Who Displays Martial Courage, Imperial Guard Attendant, General Who Oversees Music, Central Army, Pacification Army, Chief Military Officer of the Central Forces, General Who Commands Respect, Envoy to the River Dikes, Chief of the Imperial Secretariat, General Who Defends Against Invaders, Minister of the Bureau of Military Affairs, General Who Pacifies the Borders, Chief of the Imperial Secretariat, Secretary of the Ministry of Justice, Administrator of the Provincial Government, Deputy Administrator of the Provincial Government, Chief Clerk of the County of Daijun.
Finally, the official ranks include Right Sixth Rank Upper, Right Sixth Rank Middle, Right Sixth Rank Lower. Positions include Military Attendant at Various Provincial Governor Offices, Commander of the Huai and Hai River Defenses, Commander of the Tiger and Leopard Armored Soldiers, Dispersed Soldier, Adjutant of Various Offices, Recruiter of Tiger and Leopard Armored Soldiers, Secretary of the Central Secretariat, Court Dancer, Commander of the High Chariot Tiger and Leopard Armored Soldiers. In short, the staff around the Crown Prince—covering everything from his daily needs to security, document handling, and ceremonial music—are all meticulously arranged, reflecting his high status.
Wow, that’s quite a long list! Let's take a look at them one by one and see what kind of officials they are.
First of all, there are some palace officials: the chief of the guards, the head of the guards, the servants at the palace gates, the ceremonial officials, the secretary overseeing the palace treasury, the prison warden, the chief scribe of the Grand Secretariat, the chief scribe of the Sima office, the chief copyist, the supervisor of a thousand men, military officers and regional commanders, guard officers, the five official officers, mid-ranking officers, the commanders of the guards, the tiger guards by the prince's side, the attendants of the prince, the monks in the temple, the gatekeepers, the seal keepers of the prince, the prince's residence steward, the clothing steward, the banquet steward, palace scribes, the copyists, the secretaries, and the supervisors of timekeeping.
These official positions also vary in rank, such as sixth rank officials in public office, students of the Imperial Academy, officials in the Secretariat, the chief scribes in the prince's palace, as well as generals with names like "Conqueror" and "Subduer," which indicate their military roles. In addition, there are officials in charge of the capital, the chief scribes, the officials in the prince's palace, and officials overseeing state records.
Next are the seventh rank officials in public offices, including seventh rank officials, priests, supervisors of various departments, chief scribes, officials in charge of the temple, prison officials, royal guards, scholars in the Imperial Academy, chief scribes, princess's officials, royal historians, historians, doctors, and temple officials.
Finally, there are the official positions at the Upper, Middle, and Lower Right Eighth Ranks, as well as the direct officer of historical records, the clerks of the Ministry of Personnel, the clerks of various temples, the military officers of the imperial guard, the attendants for receptions, and the historical record clerks of various departments. This really encompasses a wide variety of offices!
Everyone here is an official of the court, from grassroots clerks to high-ranking generals, with the ranks clearly defined. For example, those clerks who run errands and deliver messages in various departments, the clerks responsible for military documents, the clerks working in public offices, and the messengers tasked with conveying information, have ranks ranging from Upper Eighth Rank to Lower Eighth Rank. There are also clerks working in the government offices, officials in charge of sacrifices, officials in white robes, officers tasked with palace guard duty, officials in charge of receiving guests, and so forth, as well as clerks in various departments, assistants to the imperial physician, and assistants to the grand historian; all of these positions also have clear ranks.
Furthermore, there are positions like book supervisor, chief book supervisor, and chief bookkeeper, as well as military generals such as General Guangye, General Hengye, General Pian, and General Bi, with ranks ranging from Upper Ninth Rank to Lower Ninth Rank. There are also positions like the historical supervisor, chief post doctor, eight clerks, lieutenant, and royal clerks, with ranks fluctuating around the Ninth Rank. In December of the eighteenth year of the Taihe era, the emperor decreed that the salaries for the positions of Chariots and Cavalry General, Palace Attendant, and Yellow Gate Attendant should be executed according to the old regulations of the Wei and Jin dynasties. In August of the nineteenth year, new positions were created for the direct officers of the imperial guards on both sides. In the twenty-third year, Emperor Gaozu issued another decree to standardize the official position system, and it wasn't until after the emperor's passing that Emperor Shizong officially continued this system, establishing it as a permanent system.
The highest-ranking officials are naturally the Grand Preceptor, Grand Tutor, and Grand Guardian, the three Dukes, as well as the Grand Marshal, Great General, Grand Commandant, Minister of Works, and Minister of War, who are all high-ranking officials of the first rank. Below them are the first-rank officials such as those with the title equivalent to the Three Ministers, the founding County Dukes, the Governor General of both internal and external affairs, the officials of the Open Office, and the various Dukes. Positions such as the Crown Prince's Grand Preceptor, Crown Prince's Grand Tutor, Crown Prince's Grand Guardian, Specially Appointed Official, Minister of Personnel, General of the Cavalry, and General of the Chariots have specific rankings; for instance, if "Great" is prefixed to the General of the Cavalry or the General of the Chariots, their rank falls below that of the Governor General of both internal and external affairs. If the General of the Guard is prefixed with "Great," their rank is above that of the Crown Prince's Grand Preceptor; if the General of the Four Campaigns is prefixed with "Great," their rank is below that of the Grand General of the Guard; similarly, other generals will also have their ranks elevated accordingly with the prefix "Great." There are also the Left and Right Grand Ministers and the founding County Marquis, who are second-rank officials.
If the position of Minister of Personnel is set with both a Left and Right Minister, then the Left Minister's rank is higher than that of the Right Minister. Additionally, there are second-rank officials such as the Director of the Central Secretariat, the Governor of the Province, the Four Generals of Peace (with "Great" prefixed, they rank below the General of the Guard), the General of the Central Army, the General of the Town Army, and the General of the Pacification Army. The Golden Purple Grand Minister and various Dukes are officials below the second rank. The Minister of Personnel, the Four Generals of Peace, the Central Commander, and the Central Protector, if the Central Commander and Central Protector are prefixed with "General," then the "Central" is omitted, and their rank falls below that of the General of the Pacification Army. The three ministers: the Grand Minister, the Grand Official, and the Guard Minister, as well as the Crown Prince’s Junior Preceptor, Junior Tutor, Junior Guardian, Minister of the Central Secretariat, Crown Prince’s Grand Master, Chamberlain, various Ministers, the Four Generals of Peace, Grand Official, Minister of the Court, Grand Herald, Clan Minister, Grand Minister of Agriculture, and Grand Minister of Finance, all have ranks that are clearly defined.
Speaking of official positions, the ranks are clearly defined. First, let's mention the highest ones, which are held by powerful figures: the Governor of Henan, the Inspector of Shangzhou, the Grand Secretary, the Royal Tutors, the Generals of the Left and Right Wings, as well as the Front, Left, Right, and Rear Generals, and the Grand Minister of Rites (those wearing silver-blue official robes). Adding a Marquis of a founding county, these are all prominent characters.
Next is the Right Third Rank, which also has significant positions: the Cavalry Commandant, the Generals of the Four Directions, the Protector of the Xiongnu, Qiang, Rong, Yi, Man, and Yue, the Central General, the Grand Sacrificial Official, the Deputy Censor-in-Chief, the Grand Minister of Long Autumn, the Chief Craftsman, the General of Conquest, and two Grand Ministers of Agriculture and two Grand Ministers of Education (if the Minister of Education has two Chief Secretaries, the Left Chief Secretary's rank is below the Cavalry Commandant, and the Right Chief Secretary is below the Central Gentleman). The Crown Prince's Chief Attendant, the General of the Imperial Guard, the Champion General, the Protector of the Qiang, Rong, Yi, Man, and Yue, the Colonel, the Grand Minister of the Central Court, the General of Dragon's Might, and the Scatter Marquis—these positions are also quite significant.
Then there is the Right Third Junior Rank, which is slightly lower but still notable: two Grand Ministers of Agriculture, two Grand Ministers of Education, and the positions of Grand Minister of Ceremonies, Grand Minister of Rites, and the General of the Imperial Guard, which sound impressive just by their names.
Further down is the Right Three Junior Ministers, considered mid-level leadership: the Minister of Personnel, the Deputy Minister of the Yellow Gate, the Crown Prince's Central Gentleman, the Minister of Agriculture, the Chief Secretary to the Prince, the Grand Minister of the Stable, the Grand Minister of the Court, the Minister of Ancestral Rights, the Grand Minister of Agriculture, and the Grand Minister of the Treasury.
Finally, there is the Right Six Junior Ministers, which has an even lower rank: the Central Attendant, the Central Governor, the City Gate Colonel, the Minister of Agriculture, the Prince's Chief Secretary, the First-Rank General, the Chief Secretary of the Office, the Guerrilla General, and the General of Valiant Cavalry.
Let's talk about the positions that could be promoted to higher ranks in the past: General of Town Defense, General of Peacekeeping, General of Stability, Jianyi General, Jianzhong General, Jianjie General, Liyi General, Lizhong General, Lijie General, Huiwu General, Yongwu General, Yaowu General, Zhaowu General, Xianwu General, as well as the Marshal of the First Rank, Imperial Attendant, Consultant to the Minister of Works, Gentleman of the Palace Attendant, Provincial Inspector, Prefect of Upper Commandery, Historiographer, and Marquis of the founding county.
Lastly, the Right Fourth Rank positions, which are relatively lower in rank: Central Stalwart General, Central Valiant General, Deputy Secretary of the Left, two Grand Ministers of Works, two Grand Consultants to the Minister of Works, Historiographer of the Provincial Governor's Office, Second Rank General, Chief Clerk of the Prince of Shifan, Chief Steward of the Crown Prince's Household, Chief Equerry of the Crown Prince, Crown Prince's Attendant, Crown Prince's Tutor, General of the Second Rank, Marshal of the Prince of Shifan, Front, Left, Right, Rear Army General. Similarly, there were also positions that could be promoted to higher ranks in the past.
Oh, these are all official positions listed above, ranging from the First Rank to the Fifth Rank, which can be quite overwhelming. Let's start with those First Rank Grand Generals, Ning Shuo, Jianwei, Zhenwei, Fenwei, Yangwei, Guangwei Generals, each of them sounds really impressive! There are also Councillors, Deputy Secretary of the Right, Minister of Works, and these civil officials, as well as the Prince's Consultant to the Minister of Works, Provincial Governor's Office Historiographer, and even Left, Right, Central Army Generals, Jianwu, Zhenwu, Fenwu, Yangwu, Guangwu Generals, and the First Rank Marshal's Consultant to the Minister of Works, very high-ranking positions! Lastly, there is the designation 'Sanzi,' probably referring to the Emperor's sons or similar, suggesting a highly esteemed status. Then there is the Right Fourth Rank, a slightly lower rank, Ningyuan General, Yingyang General, Zhechong General, Yanglie General, as well as the Chief Clerk of the Second Prince, two Grand Officials, two Grand Attendants, Secretariat Attendant, Prince's Companion, Imperial Academy Scholar, Palace Attendant, Crown Prince's Aide, and Assistant Cavalryman of the Crown Prince, all at this level.
Looking further down, the previous high-ranking official positions included the Shooting Sound Cavalry Commander, the Yue Cavalry Commander, the Tun Cavalry Commander, the Infantry Commander, the Long Water Commander, as well as the Minister of State, the Prince's Chief Clerk, the Second-Rank Generals, the Advisors to the King of the First Tribes, the Chief Clerk under the Minister of State, the Prefects of the Central Commandery, the Interior Minister, and the Chancellor, and even the Marquis of the Founding County; these official titles are quite diverse.
Next is the fifth rank on the right, which includes the Fubo General, the Lingjiang General, the Pinghan General, as well as the Third-Rank Generals, the Chief Clerk to the King of the Three Tribes, the Second-Class and Second-Grade Officials, the Literary Official, the Regular Attendant of the Straight Riding, the Prince's Horse Groom, and also the Second-Rank Generals, the Advisors to the King of the Two Tribes, the Third-Rank Generals, the Military Officer of the Three Tribes, and the Commander of the Chariot. Previously high-ranking official positions included the Prince's Cavalry Commander, the Prince's Infantry Commander, the Prince's Later Army Commander, the Water Envoy, the Minister of State, the Prince's Chief Clerk, the Chief of the Long History, the Military Officer, as well as the Marquis of Returning Righteousness, the Marquis of Leading Righteousness, the Marquis of Following Righteousness, the Marquis of Court Attire, the Light Chariot General, the General of Tiger Might, the Chief Clerk under the Minister of State, the Governor of Luoyang, the Middle Attendant, and also the lesser nobles. There are indeed many types of official positions in this fifth rank on the right! The official titles listed above, from first rank to fifth rank, are simply numerous and dazzling to behold.
Old Zhang, take a look at this pile of official titles; it's so densely packed, it’s giving me a headache! The Xuanwei General, the Mingwei General... from the Third-Rank General's Chief Clerk... a whole bunch, what are they all? The titles listed above are all ancient official positions, each one more impressive than the last, and they all sound quite formidable.
Second Master, Second Princess' Registrar, Second Master, Prince's Chief Attendant, Sikong Zhubu, Sikong, Prince's Registrar of Military Affairs... These official titles sound increasingly prestigious. From the third-grade general Sima, the third-grade general, the consultative positions of the three tribal kings... What are all these official titles? The ancient official system is really complicated! Second Master, Second Princess' Chief Clerk, Jishi, Hucao, Cangcao, Zhongbing Registrar of Military Affairs, Prince's Literature, Zhishu Shiyushi, Yezhe Pushe... Ah, I can't remember any of them! From the first-grade general Kaifu Registrar of Military Affairs, Sikong, Prince's Chief Clerk, Jishi, Hucao, Cangcao, Zhongbing Registrar of Military Affairs, Prince's Chief Clerk Shi... This is simply a jumble of official titles! In the past, these official positions all had to attend court.
County Magistrate of Henan, Commander of the Imperial Guards, Yulin Jian, Rongcong Pushe, Fuma Duwei, Tingwei Zheng, Jian, Ping Shangshu Langzhong, Zhongshu Sheren... Some of these titles sound quite impressive, while others seem rather unfamiliar. From the first-grade general Kaifu Chief Clerk, Jishi, Cangcao, Hucao, Zhongbing Registrar of Military Affairs, Chief Clerk Shi... Xia Jun Taishou, Neishi, Xiang... Shang Xianling, Xiang... The hierarchy of these official ranks is truly dizzying. Sixth Rank... This rank system is truly baffling.
General Xiang Wei, General Li Wei, Second-Rank General, Registrar of the Prince of Shifan, Two Dais and Two Counts' Staff Officers, Imperial Censor, Grand Master of the Prince's Household, Prince's Grand Farmer, Cavalry Captain, Seal Bearer... What kind of official positions are these again? In the past, these positions used to require attendance at court. Starting from the Second-Rank General, Registrar of the Prince of Shifan, Prince's Chief Scribe, Minister of Works, Prince's Staff Officers... These official titles just keep getting longer. Second-Rank General, Assistant to the Prince of Shifan, Secretary, Treasurer, Storekeeper, Military Staff Officer, Assistant Historian... Starting from the First-Rank General's Chief Scribe, Staff Officer... Second-Rank General, Assistant to the Prince of Shifan, Secretary, Treasurer, Storekeeper, Military Staff Officer, Assistant Historian... Prince's Attendant, Attendant to the Three Ministers... Ranked sixth in the hierarchy... These ancient official positions are truly dazzling! General Weilie, General Weikou, General Weilu, General Weirong, General Weiwu... Fourth-Rank Chief of General Staff... These are all generals with the character "Wei," which sounds quite imposing! Two Dais, Two Counts' Libationers, Third-Rank General, Assistant to the Three Princes, Minister of Works' Libationer to the Prince... Martial General Wulie, General Wuyi, General Wufen... King, Count, Chief Commandant of the Nation, Accumulated Crossbow General, Accumulated Archery General, Attendant Cavalry Officer, Prince's Lieutenant, Two Dais, Two Counts' Staff Officers, Two Dais, Two Counts' Staff Officers, Libationer... There are so many official positions, I can’t keep track of any! These positions used to require attendance at court.
First, he served as a military officer to the Minister of Works and the Prince. Then, he became a military officer to the Minister of Works and the Prince. After that, he was promoted to the position of third-grade general and served as a military officer in the records department. He was then promoted to second-grade general, chief clerk of the Prince of Shifan, and military officer in the records department, before being promoted to first-grade general, where he served as a military officer in the Prince's household. He also served as a third-grade general while concurrently serving as secretary, accountant, warehouse officer, supply officer, and military officer for the central army, as well as historian. In addition, he held the positions of second-grade general, chief clerk of the Prince of Erban, and military officer in the records department.
His positions also included being the commander of the Second Guard, generals tasked with suppressing bandits, enemies, crises, and barbarians, as well as serving as a third-grade general in various military roles. He also served as the assistant minister of the imperial family, assistant minister of the imperial court, deputy secretary in the Secretariat, assistant compiler, county magistrate, and minister, with a rank of seventh grade on the right. Furthermore, he served as generals for pacifying bandits, enemies, crises, rebels, as well as a fifth-grade chief military historian and marshal, and a general of strong crossbows. He also served as a military officer in various roles for the Second Duke, Second Prince, second-grade general, chief clerk of the Prince of Shifan, third-grade general, chief clerk of the Prince of Sanfan, and military officer in the records department, as well as a military officer in the Prince's household, and even as the chief agricultural officer of a principality. These positions were all obtained through promotions.
He also served as a professor at the Imperial Academy, attendant to the Prince, doctor of the imperial rituals, second-grade general, military officer for the Prince of Erban, second-grade general, military officer in the records department for the Prince of Erban, chief clerk of the third-grade general, military officer in the records department, fourth-grade chief military historian, accountant, warehouse officer, supply officer, and military officer for the central army, as well as chief clerk of the provincial governor, court advisor, teaching assistant at the National Academy, with a rank of seventh grade on the right.
In the end, he also served as General for the Suppression of Bandits, General for the Suppression of Captives, General for the Suppression of Disturbances, General for the Suppression of Barbarians, as well as Second-Class General, Military Counselor to the King of Shifan, Third-Class General, Military Counselor to the King of Sanfan, Fourth-Class Adjutant General, Military Advisor, Marquis and Chief Minister of the Earl, Assistant to the Chief of the Western Bureau of the Provincial Governor's Office, Palace General, Attendant to the Imperial Family, Grand Minister; these positions were all historically significant.
General of Pacifying Bandits, General of Pacifying Invaders, General of Pacifying Disturbances, General of Pacifying Rebellions... these are all titles of military leaders, sounding quite imposing, roughly equivalent to modern military titles responsible for suppressing rebellions, resisting foreign enemies, and maintaining order. The official in charge of the Secretariat, the two grand officials and the two dukes who concurrently serve as military advisors, the minister in charge of public transport, the command of the imperial decree, and various secretarial positions, typically those of higher rank... these official positions involve multiple areas such as administration, military, and transportation, with varying levels of authority. The Minister of the Court, the official recorder of the Ministry of the Interior, the chief scribe, the imperial censor in the palace, the deputy of the central palace, and the miscellaneous attendants of the central palace... these positions mainly serve within the palace, responsible for handling palace affairs. The term "Upper Ranks" refers to the fact that these official positions were relatively high in rank in the past. The deputy of the palace gate, the grand agricultural officials of the marquisate and dukedom, the Minister of Works, the princes who concurrently serve as military advisors, the upper, middle, and lower generals of the princes, the middle officials of the princes, the deputy of the two rates, and the fourth-rank generals who served as military advisors... these positions involve multiple areas such as the royal family and local administration. The royal and ducal constant attendants, the Fierce General, the Sharp General, the Tiger Tooth General, the Tiger Fierce General, the fifth-rank generals who served as chief clerks and military advisors, the literary officials of the Secretariat, from the first-rank general, the chancellor concurrently serving as military advisor, and the external general... these titles carry a sense of authority and power, reflecting the hierarchy and cultural characteristics of ancient official positions. The right subordinate of the eighth rank indicates the level of this official position.
General of the Wilds, Minister of the Imperial Family, Prefect of the Grand Acolyte, Prefect of Various Offices (those holding positions above 600 dan) in the Yellow Gate, Prefect of the Princess's Household, Prefect of the Imperial Sons' Library, Scholar of the Four Gates, Doctor of Law, Registrar, Two Great and Two Public Military Advisors, Inspector of the Censorate... These official positions cover various fields such as military, education, law, etc., each with different levels. Previously, the term "shangjie" signified the higher ranks of these official positions. Minister of State for Princes, Commandant of the State for Marquises or Earls, Attendant, Three Ministers of the Crown Prince, Fifth-rank General, Minister of Works, Imperial Prince's Military Advisor, Second-rank General, Military Advisor to the Prince of Shan, First-rank General, Military Advisor to the Prince of Kai, Inspector of the Palace... These official positions also involve various aspects and have different levels. Ninth Rank on the Right indicates the rank of the position. Adjunct General, Assistant General, Steward of the Crown Prince's Stables, Supervisor of the Huaihai River Crossing, Various Prefects, Imperial Prince's Sacrificial Prefect, Imperial Prince's Educational Prefect, Imperial Prince's Guard Prefect, General of the Upper, Middle, and Lower Ranks of the State for Princes and Dukes, Grandee of the State for Princes and Dukes, Prefect of Various Offices (those below 600 dan)... Most of these positions are relatively low-ranking and handle specific responsibilities.
In conclusion, this passage lists a large number of ancient official positions, covering both civil and military officials, with strict levels and diverse functions. To accurately translate it into modern spoken Chinese, it is necessary to combine historical background and specific official positions for explanation in order to better understand its meaning. Simply translating it into modern job titles is not comprehensive enough, as the power and responsibilities of ancient official positions are often more complex than modern positions.
Speaking of ancient official positions, the hierarchical system was quite complex! From First-rank General to Ninth-rank Minor Official, there were many types, progressing step by step. Those official positions in the past had no ranks at all, and were only established during the Wei Dynasty, which was a distinct system established during the Wei Dynasty!
In the eleventh month of the first year of the Zhengshi era, the Central Government Officials in the county were removed. In the ninth month of the fourth year, the emperor issued a decree stating: "The five military academies that used to manage the army, with ranks higher than ministers, and the Attendant of the Imperial Chariot, a favored official of the emperor, have become redundant. Although their titles remain, the number of personnel must be limited, and the number of palace marshals must also be set. Now, each of the five schools has twenty members, the Attendant of the Imperial Chariot has twenty members, the Cavalry Commanders have sixty members, the palace marshals have two hundred members, and the Assistant Marshals have three hundred members." In the twelfth month of the first year of the Yongping era, the Minister of Works Gao Zhao, the Minister of Ceremonies, and the Prince of Qinghe submitted a memorial requesting the establishment of three thousand Junior Scholars. In the first month of the second year, Minister Gao Zhao submitted another memorial, stating that the two envoys of the Capital Administration, military officers, courtiers, record keepers, and clerks must be adjusted according to the situation. The emperor said: "Follow your suggestions for the two envoys. As for lower-ranking officials, as long as they can perform their duties, there’s no need for a large number. Keep one military officer and one record keeper, add two courtiers, and keep the clerks as they were." Gao Zhao also requested the removal of the military officers from various administrative offices in each province. In the seventh month of the fourth year, the emperor issued a decree renaming the Imperial Guards as Imperial Scholars, and the ranks would be determined by the Ministry of Works. Officials below the seventh rank and above the eighth rank were to be rearranged. In the seventh month of the first year of the Zhengguang era, Left and Right Guard Generals were established, two for each. In the twelfth month, the Central Government Officials in each province were removed again, and the counties were instructed to register their population themselves, which was later reinstated. In the tenth month of the second year of the Xiaochang era, the emperor issued a decree to increase the number of Imperial Scholars and Commoner Scholars by two hundred each. Four hundred Guards were also established, selected from the imperial relatives and nobles who were skilled in martial arts. In the early years of the Xiaozhuang era, due to Erzhu Rong's contributions in supporting the throne, he was appointed as the Grand General of the Pillar State, ranking above that of the Prime Minister; later, he was further appointed as the Grand Prime Minister and Grand General of the Heavenly Pillar, with additional supporting officials. The Grand Commandant and Prince of Shangdang, Tian Mu, were appointed Grand Chancellor, with additional supporting officials.
In the second year of Yong'an, the emperor issued a decree to restore ten Sizhi officials, equivalent to the fifth rank, under the jurisdiction of the Tingwei, responsible for reviewing the impeachment memorials submitted by the censors. During the Putai era, the emperor appointed Er Zhu Shilong as the Yitong of the Three Departments, a position above the Three Excellencies. Additionally, new positions were created, including Shizhong, Huangmen, and Wuwei Jiangjun, with six individuals allocated to each position.
After the Yong'an period, constant warfare broke out across various regions, prompting the court to establish the Jingji Dudu Fu and set up Dudu Fus in each province, all responsible for commanding the military. In the summer of the fourth year of Tianping, the court abolished the Dudu Fus in six provinces and placed these provinces under the jurisdiction of the Jingji Dudu Fu, which remained unchanged, and appointed a Deputy Chief.
The previous system was that if there was a Generalissimo, the position of Grand Commandant would be vacant; if there was a Chancellor, there would be no Minister of Works. After the Zhengguang period, due to frequent turmoil across the land and the coexistence of meritorious officials and the nobility, the court simultaneously established both the Generalissimo and the Grand Commandant, as well as the Chancellor and the Minister of Works.
In November of the second year of Wuding, the relevant authorities reported: "The merits of Prince Qi Xianwu are great, his virtue is esteemed, and his status is above all other ministers. In the past, after Huo Guang's death, his tomb was managed by a Chief and a Deputy Chief. Now, we request to appoint one Chief, one Deputy Chief, one Clerk, one Household Registrar, one Guard Registrar, and one Attendant for the tomb of Prince Qi Xianwu, with all positions ranked one level below the usual imperial tomb officials. The rank of the Attendant remains unchanged." The emperor issued a decree of approval.
In March of the seventh year, the emperor ordered to add two individuals in the left and right Guanglu Dafu Fu, to add four in the Jinzi Guanglu Dafu Fu, to add four in the Guanglu Dafu Fu, and to add six in both the Taizhong Dafu Fu and the Zhongsan Dafu Fu. In May, he further ordered the restoration of the four Zhonglang Generals from the temporary affiliation with the Lingjun Fu established during the Yongping era of Shizong to return to the Hujun Fu.
Since ancient times, the emperor established merit based on his birth, bestowing surnames and granting land to clans; the nobles were named based on their family and posthumous titles, and those with hereditary titles formed noble families, as did local regions. Surnames represent their origins, clan records their ancestry; that’s essentially how it works. Some surnames are based on place of residence, some on country names, some on official titles, and some on objects; although the origins are different, the meanings are the same. The Wei clan originally resided in the Shuofang region, which was remote and had different customs from the Central Plains, with various practices of bestowing surnames, such as Changshao, Weishi, and Zhongkui. Initially, during Emperor An's unification of the country, there were ninety-nine surnames among various tribes. By the time of Emperor Xian, the population was divided into seven groups for his brothers to govern, thus different clans were formed. Later, the Wei kingdom annexed other countries, each with its own tribes, and within the tribes, there were different clans, which became the internal surnames within the Wei kingdom. Over the long years, surnames changed over time, experiencing rises and falls, survival and extinction, occurring from time to time; now only some clearer examples are given.
Another older brother of Emperor Xian was originally surnamed Ge Gu, but later changed it to Hu. Another older brother of Emperor Xian was originally surnamed Pu, but later changed it to Zhou. Another older brother of Emperor Xian was originally surnamed Tuoba, but later changed it to Zhangsun. Emperor Xian's younger brother was originally surnamed Daxi, but later changed it to Xi. My second brother was originally surnamed Yilou but later changed it to Yi. The third brother was originally surnamed Qiudun but later changed it to Qiu. The third brother was originally surnamed Hou but later changed it to Hai. These seven major surnames in our family came about in this way.
Later, I also conferred surnames upon my uncle's descendants, naming them Yizhan Shi, which was later changed to Shusun Shi. I also conferred surnames on some distant relatives, naming them Che Kun Shi, which was later changed to Che Shi. Thus, including the royal family, there are a total of ten surnames, and members of these surnames were prohibited from intermarrying for hundreds of years. Prior to the Taihe period, individuals outside these ten surnames were not allowed to participate in national funerals and sacrifices. Emperor Gaozu abolished this rule, allowing everyone to fulfill their roles.
During the reign of Emperor Shenyuan, some people of other surnames were also incorporated into the imperial family. For example, the Qiu Mu Ling clan was changed to the Mu clan; the Bu Liugu clan was changed to the Lu clan; the He Lai clan was changed to the He clan; the Dugu clan was changed to the Liu clan; the Helou clan was changed to the Lou clan; the Wuniu clan was changed to the Yu clan; the Si Lian clan remained as the Si clan; the Pu Lan clan was changed to the Pu clan; the Ruoguan clan was changed to the Gou clan; the Balie clan was changed to the Liang clan; the Bolue clan was changed to the Lue clan; the Ruoyin clan was changed to the Kou clan; the Chiluo clan was changed to the Luo clan; the Pulou Ru clan was changed to the Ru clan; the Hege clan was changed to the Ge clan; the Si Ben clan was changed to the Feng clan; the Afu Yu clan was changed to the A clan; the Kedian clan was changed to the Yan clan; the Aluhuan clan was changed to the Lu clan; the Talo Ba clan was changed to the Luo clan; the Boxi clan was changed to the Bo clan; the Wuwan clan was changed to the Huan clan; the Suhe clan was changed to the He clan; the Tuyuhun clan remained the Tuyuhun clan; the Hugu Kouyin clan was changed to the Hou clan; the Heruo clan remained the Heruo clan; the Guhun clan was changed to the Hun clan; the Pilou clan was changed to the Lou clan; the Sili Fa clan was changed to the Bao clan; the Tufulu clan was changed to the Lu clan; the Dieyun clan was changed to the Yun clan; the Siyun clan was changed to the Si clan; the Chili clan was changed to the Li clan; the Fulu clan was changed to the Fu clan; the Na clan remained the Na clan; the Ruo Luo clan was changed to the Ruo clan; the Qifu clan was changed to the Fu clan; the Adan clan was changed to the Dan clan.
Let's talk about the renaming of ancient clans. First, let's look at a few clans that changed their names to the same one—there's not much difference! There's also the He'er clan, which was later simplified to the Er clan—short and straightforward. The Tu Xi clan became the Gu clan, and the Chu Lian clan became the Bi clan—now that's a significant change. The Yu clan has always kept its name, unchanged. The He Ba clan was changed to the He clan, the Chi Lu clan became the Lu clan, the Mo Na Lou clan became the Mo clan, the Xi Dou Lu clan became the Suo Lu clan, and the Mo Lu clan became the Lu clan.
Next up, the Chu Da Han clan became the Han clan, the Mo Lu Zhen clan became the Lu clan, the Hu Di Yu clan became the Hu clan, the Mo Yu clan became the Yu clan, the Ge Gan clan became the Gan clan, and the Si Fu Jin clan became the Fu clan. The Shi Lou clan became the Gao clan, the Shi Tu clan became the Qu clan, the Ta Lu clan became the Ta clan, the Wa Shi Lan clan became the Shi clan, the Jie Pi clan became the Jie clan, the Qi Jin clan became the Qi clan, the Xu Bu clan became the Bu clan, the Qiu Lin clan became the Lin clan, the Da Mo Gan clan became the He clan, the Er Mian clan became the Mian clan, the Gai Lou clan became the Gai clan, the Su Li clan became the Li clan, and the Ke Dan clan became the Dan clan.
The Yi Dou Juan clan became the Ming clan, the Chi Men clan became the Men clan, the Su Liu Jin clan became the Su clan, the Bi Han clan became the Han clan, the Tu Nan clan became the Shan clan, the Wu Yin clan became the Fang clan, the Shu Luo Yu clan became the Shu clan, and the Yi Fu clan became the Yi clan. By the way, we should mention the Dongfang Yuwen clan and the Murong clan—these two clans were the most powerful in the east during Emperor Xuan's reign—definitely worth discussing in more detail later.
In the south, there was a clan called 茂眷氏, later changed to 茂氏. Further south, there was a clan called 纥豆陵氏, changed to 窦氏. There was also a clan called 侯莫陈氏, changed to 陈氏, 库狄氏 changed to 狄氏, 太洛稽氏 changed to 稽氏, and 柯拔氏 changed to 柯氏. In the west, 尉迟氏 changed to 尉氏, 步鹿根氏 changed to 步氏, 破多罗氏 changed to 潘氏, 叱干氏 changed to 薛氏, and finally 俟奴氏 changed to 俟氏. Aren't the stories of these clans changing their names fascinating?
The earliest clan, 辗迟氏, was later changed to 展氏; 费连氏 became 费氏; 其连氏 became 綦氏; 去斤氏 became 艾氏; 渴侯氏 became 缑氏; 叱卢氏 became 祝氏; 和稽氏 became 缓氏; 冤赖氏 became 就氏; 嗢盆氏 became 温氏; 达勃氏 became 褒氏; 独孤浑氏 became 杜氏. The leaders of these tribes each managed their own people, but the tribes beneath 尉迟氏 couldn’t compare to larger clans like 贺兰氏.
In the northern region, 贺兰氏 later changed to 贺氏; 郁都甄氏 changed to 甄氏; 纥奚氏 changed to 嵇氏; 越勒氏 changed to 越氏; 叱奴氏 changed to 狼氏; 渴烛浑氏 changed to 味氏; 库褥官氏 changed to 库氏; 乌洛兰氏 changed to 兰氏; 一那蒌氏 changed to 蒌氏; 羽弗氏 changed to 羽氏. These tribes from all directions paid tribute annually. At the beginning of the country's founding, the Emperor resettled these people in various regions, and from that point forward, they were treated like ordinary citizens.
In the nineteenth year of Taihe, the emperor issued a decree that many people are now requesting to be included in the royal family, but such a system has never existed. Even descendants with merits are all mixed together without distinction. Therefore, some officials have reached high positions as dukes, but their relatives are still holding low-ranking official positions. Now, there is a plan to establish a royal family system, but many aspects are still unfinished, so we will first select certain individuals and arrange them step by step. The eight surnames of Mu, Lu, He, Liu, Lou, Yu, Ji, and Wei have all been rewarded during the time of Emperor Taizu, with notable contributions and have been granted titles as princes, all of which can be verified. Therefore, we must inform Sizhōu and the Ministry of Personnel not to assign them to low-ranking positions, treating them the same as the previous four surnames. Other gentry families will be addressed by another decree in the future.
Those who were originally leaders of northern tribes, whose ancestors have held positions at or above the rank of minister, provincial governor, or general for three generations since the dynasty's founding, or who have attained the rank of prince, will be recognized as surnames. If they are not tribal leaders, but their ancestors have held positions above the rank of minister for three generations since the establishment of the dynasty, and have not been demoted, attaining the rank of prince, they will also be recognized as surnames. The descendants of those tribal leaders who have not attained the aforementioned ranks since the dynasty was established, but whose ancestors have held positions above the rank of Zhong San or Inspector General for three generations, or have served as governors or county magistrates in other regions, achieving the rank of gentleman, will be recognized as clans. If they are not tribal leaders, but their ancestors have held positions at or above the rank of commandant for three generations since the establishment of the dynasty, or have served as deputy generals, county magistrates, or governors in other regions, achieving the rank of marquis or higher, they will also be recognized as clans.
Any relatives of these families, as long as they are their immediate family (during the mourning period), even if their ancestors held official positions only one or two generations back, should be recognized as part of the clan, even if they don’t fully meet the highest standards; those beyond the fifth generation will be counted separately and will no longer receive the clan's protection. Even if they are immediate family, if their ancestors' official positions over the past three generations do not meet the criteria for inclusion, they will not be included unless there are qualifying official positions from three generations that meet the criteria for inclusion. All confirmed members of the clan must have their origins clearly documented, and the proposed list of surnames must be submitted for my final decision. These matters must be inquired about within the clan, clarifying any doubts, and then reviewing their old records to verify their official positions. Only with conclusive evidence can they be reported, and they must not be taken at their word or falsely reported for personal advantage.
If any fraud is discovered, the person who reports it will also be held accountable and punished for "false reporting"; officials found to have committed fraud will be punished according to the regulations for "providing false answers in office." An order was issued to Siku Mu Liang, General Yuan Yan, Guard General Wang Jia of Guangyang, and Minister Lu Xiu to carefully formulate a surname system for the people of the northern regions, striving for fairness and justice. Once the review is completed, a list will be compiled every three months and sent to the Ministry of Personnel for reporting. As a result, there was a clear distinction in how officials were promoted and demoted.
During the reign of the Ming Shizong, common people still tended to invoke family backgrounds in lawsuits, seeking connections. Therefore, the emperor instructed Ministers Yu Zhong, Yuan Kuang, Shi Zhong Mu Shao, and Minister Yuan Chang to devise a solution.
Consequently, these ministers seriously considered how to tackle the issue of common people frequently involving family ties in lawsuits. We can't allow family backgrounds to keep influencing judgment outcomes, can we? That would compromise fairness and justice. We need to find a way to ensure everyone follows the law without favoritism.
