Chapter 13 Section IV Official System of the Northern Dynasties

Since the Rebellion of the Eight Kings in the Western Jin Dynasty (291-306 A.D.), more than 20 regional regimes of various sizes have emerged in northern my country, known as the "Five Hu and Sixteen Kingdoms" in history.There were basically two types of official systems during the Sixteen Kingdoms period.One is the regime established by the Han people or ethnic minorities deeply influenced by Han culture, most of which imitated the official system of the Western Jin Dynasty.The other is the regime established by ethnic minorities who moved inward later and retained more of their own ethnic characteristics, and implemented the system of "Hu and Han partitioned rule", that is, the "Hu officials" managed their own tribes, and the new development was managed by an official system similar to the Western Jin Dynasty. In the region, two sets of official systems co-exist.It was not until the Northern Dynasties that the northern official system tended to be unified again.The Northern Dynasties included Northern Wei (386-534 AD), Eastern Wei (534-550 AD), Western Wei (535-556 AD), Northern Qi (550-577 AD), and Northern Zhou (557-581 AD).

The official system of the Northern Wei Dynasty can be roughly divided into three stages. The first stage is before and after Emperor Daowu became emperor.Emperor Daowu once practiced the Han system, using Han scholars to establish official affiliations such as Shangshu, Zhongshu, and Menxia provinces, but they were not often set up, and they often had a false name. The Xianbei official system was really dominant.The high-level official positions in the Xianbei official system include eight officials, Sanqi Changshi, and Daizhao officials.The eight doctors are located in the four directions (east, west, south, and north) of the imperial city (east, west, south, and north) and four dimensions (southeast, southwest, northeast, and northwest).Sanqi Changshi and Daizhao are internal servants, who are responsible for guarding, propagating orders, and sometimes consulting and discussing politics.

The second stage is the period of Emperor Taiwu. "Book of Southern Qi Biography of Wei Lu" records: Foli (that is, Emperor Taiwu) placed Sangong, Dazai, Shangshuling, Pushe, and Shizhong to decide state affairs with the prince.The Shangshu in the hall knows the warehouse of soldiers and horses in the hall, the Shangshu in the Music Department knows Jiji (jiji) (referring to singing and dancing girls) Lejijiaoshi (similar to today's military band) Wu Bo, the Shangshu in the Driving Department knows cattle, horses, donkeys and mules, and the Southern Shangshu knows Nanbian counties, The northern minister knows the northern states and counties.There is also Qi [si 4] Qin Dihe, compared to the Shangshu; Mo Di, compared to the governor;There are warehouses in Zhucao's mansion, and they all set up Biguan.All of them are proficient in the Chinese language of the captives, and they think it is a post station.In Lantai, there are Zhongcheng and Yushi, who know the internal affairs of the city.

Southern states and counties refer to areas inhabited by Han people, while northern states and counties are areas inhabited by ethnic minorities such as Xianbei.It can be seen from the settings of the Southern and Northern Shangshu that the Northern Wei Dynasty implemented the Hu-Han dual-track management mechanism at that time. The third stage is the period of Emperor Xiaowen.Emperor Xiaowen made great efforts to govern, advocated Sinicization, and made major changes to the official system.At that time, the Northern Wei Dynasty Shangshu, Zhongshu, the three provinces under the door and the ministers were all set up, and officials were appointed to guide the Southern Dynasty, thinking that it would be permanent.

The most distinctive feature of the official system in the Northern Wei Dynasty was the administrative system of Shangshu Province.The way of discussing politics in the Northern Wei Dynasty emphasized the collective.There are eight ways of discussing matters, namely Shangshuling, Pushe, and Zhucao Shangshu. There is also a way of discussing affairs extended to Cheng and Langzhong, and there is also a way of collaborating between Shangshu Province, Menxia Province, Zhongshu Province and other institutions.In particular, the last way of discussing government affairs had an extremely profound impact on the development of the Sui and Tang Dynasties.The chief of Yushitai in the Northern Wei Dynasty was not called Yushi Zhongcheng, but Yushi Lieutenant.Additional institutions include Zhongshi Zhongsheng and Zhaoxuan Temple.Zhongshi Zhongsheng is a close servant organization, with Zhongshizhong and Zhongchangshi as the chief officers, and under it are Zhongji Shizhong, Zhongshang Medicine, Zhongshang Food, and Neiye Bureau.Zhaoxuan Temple is an institution that manages Buddhist affairs, with Datong and Tong as the chief officials.The five-level nobility system is implemented for the nobility.The place is still divided into states, counties, and counties.In addition, there is a walking platform.The Wei, Jin and Southern Dynasties also had the title of Xingtai, which is the abbreviation of Shangshu Xingtai. One refers to the Shangshutai traveling with the emperor, and the other refers to the Linshishutai in exile.Xingtai, which appeared in the late Northern Wei Dynasty, served as an agency of the central government and had command over the local government.There are four major platforms: East Road (Xuzhou), West Road (Guanyou), South Road (Jingzhou) and North Road (Bingzhou).Xingtai gradually developed into an administrative district of the state.The official ranks of the Northern Wei Dynasty changed greatly, divided into nine ranks, and each rank was assigned a principal and a subordinate. "Wei Shu·Guan Shi Zhi" said: "There was no official post in the previous life, and the Wei family started to set it up, which is also a different system from generation to generation." It has a great influence on later generations.

In addition, what is worth noting about the official system of the Northern Wei Dynasty is the reappearance of official positions such as prime minister, grand prime minister, and prime minister in the later period.These official positions are not the residence of ordinary people and ministers, and they are often appointed by ministers who control the military and political power in the DPRK and China, such as Gao Huan and Yu Wentai.Later, the Eastern Wei, Northern Qi, Western Wei, Northern Zhou, and Yang Jian replaced the Later Zhou and established the Sui Dynasty, all of which arose from this.

The official system of the Eastern Wei Dynasty was the same as that of the Northern Wei Dynasty, with minimal changes.The most prominent thing in the official system of the Northern Qi Dynasty was that the various institutions of Lieqing were officially renamed as temples.There are Taichang, Guanglu, Weiwei, Taipu, Dali, Honglu, Sinong, Taifu, Guozi, Changqiu, Jiangzuo, and Zhaoxuan twelve temples.The chiefs of the temples from Taichang to Taifu are called Qing and Shaoqing, the chiefs of Guozi Temple are called Jijiu, the chiefs of Changqiu Temple are called Qing and Shaoyin, the chiefs of Jiangzuo Temple are called Dajiang, and the chiefs of Zhaoxuan Temple are called Datong, Tong.Temple, since the Qin and Han Dynasties, has been the general name for the seat of the official offices of the ministers. Since the Northern Qi Dynasty, it has officially become the name of some state institutions.What needs to be explained is that some state institutions in ancient times were called temples, and Buddhist temples were also called temples. What is the relationship between the two?It is said that during the time of Emperor Ming of the Han Dynasty, monks Jia [jia Jia] Ye Moteng and Zhu [zhu Zhu] from Tianzhu (now India) came to Luoyang with a white horse carrying Buddhist scriptures and statues from the Western Regions, and lived in Dahonglu to entertain foreign guests. The official residence (temple), after Kasyapa Moten died in the temple, the official residence of Dahonglu was changed to the residence of Buddhists, still called the temple, and named after the white horse.This is the famous White Horse Temple.Since then, all the places where Buddhists live are called temples ("Stones in the Stone Forest").

During the Western Wei Dynasty, Yu Wentai, who was in power, ordered Su Chuo and Lu Bian to use the official system contained in "Zhou Li" to reform the Western Wei official system.It was officially implemented in the third year of Emperor Gong (556 AD).In the second year, the Northern Zhou Dynasty replaced the Western Wei Dynasty, but the official system remained unchanged.The official ranks are divided into nine lives, the first rank is nine lives, the ninth rank is one life, and nine is the highest.Lu rank is calculated in stone.Taishi, Taifu, and Taibao are the three princes, with nine lives.Shaoshi, Shaofu, and Shaobao are the three orphans, with eight lives.The three lords and the three orphans are all "officials who discuss the Tao" and have nothing to do with actual government.The central government affairs are presided over by the "six officials" set up according to the "Zhou Rituals".The so-called six officials refer to the heavenly officials, local officials, spring officials, summer officials, autumn officials, and winter officials.Each of the six officials has a mansion, and the chief is called Qing, and they are combined into six ministers, all of whom have seven orders.Otsuka Zaiqing, Chief of the Heavenly Government, Da Situ Qing, Chief of the Local Government, Da Zong Boqing, Chief of the Spring Government, Da Sima Qing, Chief of the Xia Government, Da Si Kou Qing, Chief of the Autumn Government, and Da Sikong, Chief of the Winter Government.The Six Ministers preside over the central government affairs.Tianguan Mansion Commander Council, Grand Master, Left and Right Palace Boss, Yuzheng, Nayan, Food Department, Imperial Physician, Taifu, Jibu, etc.The Ministry of Tongmin, Zaishi, Shishi, Baoshi, Sicang, Simen, Sishi, Yubu, etc. of the local government.The official government of Chun was in charge of Sizong, Shoumiao, Diansi, Internal History, Ministry of Rites, Taizhong, Music Department, Taibu, Taizhu, Siche Ren, etc.The Xia government governs Sima, Zhifang, Libu, Sishi, Sixun, Zuowu Bo, Bingbu, Dayu, Siyou, Sishe, Driving Department, Musang, etc.The Qiu government was in charge of Sixian, Xingbu, Zhangchao, Buxian, Fanbu, Binbu, Siyao, Sidiao, Tianzheng, and Sili.The Ministry of Industry, Craftsman, Si Mu, Si Tu, Si Jin, Si Shui, Si Yu, Si Pi, Si Se, Si Weaving, Si Hui, etc.There are upper doctor, middle doctor, doctor, upper sergeant, sergeant, and corporal.In the early years of the Northern Zhou Dynasty and the New Year of the Northern Zhou Dynasty, the Tianguan Mansion had great power, and the affairs of the other five mansions were always in the hands of the Tianguan.In addition, there are official titles such as Daqianyi, Dayoubi, Dazuofu, Dahoucheng (above referred to as Sifu), Dachengxiang, and general manager.The reform of the official system in the later Zhou Dynasty was the same as Wang Mang's reform of the official system, full of retro ideas, but the development of the three provinces system since the Wei and Jin Dynasties has been irreversible.Even in the official system of the later Zhou Dynasty, the connotation of the three provinces system still existed.Yu Zhengshang, the doctor of the Tianguan Mansion, is in charge of edicts and edicts, and the internal history doctor of the Chunguan Mansion is "confidential to the government, and must be consulted for details", which is equivalent to the appointment of Zhongshu Provincial Superintendent and Order.Doctor Nayan of Tianguan Mansion is in charge of attendants, and also participates in confidential affairs, which is equivalent to the role of attendants.The status of the six officials is actually equivalent to that of the eight ministers.Therefore, after the Sui Dynasty and the Northern Zhou Dynasty, it was not accidental that the six officials were first eliminated and the three provinces were restored.The Northern Zhou Dynasty was divided into three levels: prefecture, county and county.Except for Yongzhou (which governs the northwest of Xi'an City, Shaanxi Province today), there is a prefectural pastor, and each prefecture has a governor.Except for Jingzhao who set up Yin, each county has a prefect.County order.The prefectures, counties, and counties are divided into five classes according to the number of private households, and the order of officials is determined.The military system also imitated the six-army system of Zhou officials, changing the Xianbei forbidden brigade from the twelve armies to six armies, and the six armies were divided into six pillar countries. On the twenty-fourth day of the opening of the government, there are generals under the opening of the government, which is called the military system of the government.In the Western Wei Dynasty, Yuwentai and the clan Yuanxin, who held real power, were both pillar states, and they were combined with the six army pillar states to form the eight pillar states.