Chapter 16 The ancient political system described in the first section "Zhou Li"

"Zhou Li" is an ancient pre-Qin scripture discovered in the early Western Han Dynasty, and its original name was "Zhou Guan". "Hanshu Yiwenzhi" has a record of ""Zhouguan": Six Chapters". "Classic Explanations·Xulu" said: "When Wang Mang was a national teacher, Liu Xin began to establish the "Zhou Guan" classic (doctor) and thought it was "Zhou Li".It can be seen that it was renamed "Zhou Li" when Wang Mang was in power. The content of the book "Zhou Li" is simply a description of the six official systems in the central government of the Zhou Dynasty named "Heavenly Officials, Local Officials, Spring Officials, Xia Officials, Autumn Officials, and Winter Officials".But when it was discovered in the early Han Dynasty, there were only five articles: "Tianguan Zhongzai", "Diguan Situ", "Chunguan Zongbo", "Xiaguan Sima" and "Autumn Court Situ". "Winter Officer" did not.It is said that King Xian of the Han River once offered a reward of a thousand pieces of gold to buy it but failed to get it, so he had to use a book about handicraft production "Kao Gong Ji" to make up the number based on the clues of "Dong Guan" in charge of production.Therefore, the title of the sixth chapter I read now is called "The Record of the Winter Official Exam".So "Zhou Li" is an incomplete book.It is "Kaogongji", a valuable ancient work on technology, that has been handed down because of this.

In the past, scholars of ancient texts claimed that "Zhou Li" was written by Zhou Gong, and scholars of modern texts accused it of being forged by Liu Xin, both of which have no basis.It is generally believed that it was written by people in the Warring States Period based on ancient materials, but some people infer that it should be written in the early Eastern Zhou Dynasty based on its language and characters.So it has been more than 2500 years ago.Next, let's focus on the functions and establishment of "Heavenly Officials". Tianguan Zhongzai: "Tianguan" is the name of the department. "Takazai" is a general term for the head of the Ministry.The authority of this department is "to make commanders and subordinates to govern the country, and to assist the king to rule the country. The subordinates of the officials." It means "leading the staff to take charge of the country's administration, assisting the king to coordinate the affairs of the country. It belongs to the administrative organ." , Xiao Zaizhong and the doctor."This is a deputy.The principal position is called "Dazai" (official rank is "Qing" level), and the deputy position is called "Xiaozai" (official rank is "Zhongdoctor" level).Dazai's duty is to "handle the six codes of statehood and govern the state by assisting the king".It means "in charge of the six laws and regulations of the country and assist the king in governing the country".These six scriptures are:

Governance Code: The role is to "govern the state, govern the government, and discipline (make law-abiding) the people". The scriptures: the function is "to secure the country, to teach the government, to harass (pacify) the people". Ceremony: The function is "to harmonize the state, to unify the officials, and to harmonize (make the relationship harmonious) the people". Political Code: The function is "to level the country, to rectify hundreds of officials, and to equalize (coordinate) all people". Penal Code: The role is to "examine (pick up) the state, punish (manage) hundreds of officials, and correct (correct) the people".

Shidian: The role is to "prosper the country, serve as a hundred officials, and live (give livelihood) to the people". Among the six scriptures, except for the governing scriptures, which are in charge of the heavenly officials, the other five scriptures are in turn assigned to the local officials and the four officials of spring, summer, autumn and winter, and the heavenly officials are in charge.In addition, the "Zhou Rituals" also stipulated various working methods and specific tasks for the heavenly officials, from administrative work to production, sacrifices, and banquets.The Tianguan also listens to the reports of various ministries once a year, makes a summary once every three years, and carries out rewards and punishments.Xiaozai's duty is to assist Dazai in his work and at the same time be responsible for court affairs.

There are 60 subordinate departments such as "Zaifu, Gongzheng, Gongbo" and so on under Tianguanzheng and deputy officials.The duties and staffing of each department are also stipulated.For example, the job of a prime minister is to "administer the law of the court, and take the positions of the king, the three princes, the six ministers, the big officials, and the officials. He is in charge of his prohibitions, discusses the governance of the officials, and waits for the orders of the guests."The establishment is "four doctors, eight sergeants, ten and six sergeants, thirty and two brigade corporals, six mansions, two Shishi, two Xushi, and twenty disciples. ", a total of 210 people.Each subordinate department has its own work rules.It can be seen that in addition to the administrative work of the Ministry, the position of the Tianguan also has to work in the six ministries of the Prime Minister and also manage court affairs. The power is very great.The rules for other facial features are generally:

Land attorney Situ: Mainly in charge of land, household registration, education, disaster relief, agriculture, forestry, animal husbandry and local administration. Chunguan Zongbo: Mainly in charge of ceremonies, court meetings, dance music, divination, astronomy, calendar, chariots and horses, guards of honor and other civil work. Xia Guan Sima: Mainly in charge of military affairs, security, weapons, military exploits, logistics, field hunting, inspections and other armament work. Autumn lawsuits and criminals: Mainly in charge of criminal law, litigation, curfew, arresting theft, eliminating harm and other public security and legal affairs.

According to incomplete statistics, there are more than 300 departments of the five sense organs, and more than 20,000 people in the establishment (departments whose numbers cannot be determined are not counted, such as "阍 [hun hun] people, four people in each door of the palace, and you [you] You are the same", etc. ).Although Dongguan has no scriptures, it is estimated to be similar.Then the six departments are 360 ​​subordinate units with about 25,000 people.Such a huge political institution would be difficult to operate without a strict organization.Although "Zhou Li" may not be a true record, it must have some kind of reality and historical data basis.For example, "Zhou Li" records that "Chunguan Zongbo" is in charge of ceremonies, and according to archaeological research, there is a bronze vessel from the Spring and Autumn Period called Huanzi Mengjiang Huan. Ask about funerals.It can be seen that the records in "Zhou Li" are not fabricated by Xiangbi, it does reflect a certain real life, so it is of great historical value.

"Kaogongji" records the production techniques of ancient woodworking, metalworking, pottery, dyeing, milling, leatherworkers, etc., such as palaces, car covers, measuring tools, weapons, etc., all have detailed construction instructions. Rare and good material. The establishment of the six officials in "Zhou Li" had a considerable influence on the dynasties of our country.From the Sui and Tang Dynasties to the Ming and Qing Dynasties, the six departments of the central government, namely, the Ministry of Officials, the Ministry of Household Affairs, the Ministry of Rites, the Ministry of War, the Ministry of Punishment, and the Ministry of Industry, corresponded one-to-one with the six officials in "Zhou Li". This is by no means accidental.