Three Departments and Six Ministries
Encyclopedia
The Three Departments and Six Ministries system was the main central administrative system adopted in ancient China
. The system first took shape after the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC-24 AD), was officially instituted in Sui Dynasty
(589-618 AD), and matured during Tang Dynasty
(618–907 AD). It replaced the Three Lords and Nine Ministers
system that was instituted in Qin Dynasty
(221-206 BC). The three departments were the Secretariat (中書省), the Chancellery (門下省, also translated as "Edict Examination Bureau"), and the Department of State Affairs (尚書省), while the six ministries referred to the Ministry for Personnel (吏部), Revenue (戶部), Rites (禮部), War (兵部), Justice (刑部) and Works (工部). This system was once adopted by Tang's neighbors.
, next only to the emperor in rank and power.
The six ministries were direct administrative organs of the state, and each was headed by a Minister (尚書) who was assisted by a Vice Minister (侍郎):
Beneath each ministry were many "Sī" (司), bodies responsible for grass roots administration.
(206 BC–220 AD). The Han government adopted the so-called Three Lords and Nine Ministers
system led by the Chancellor
, the head of all civil service officials. After emperor Wu
(156–87 BC), however, the Chancellor gradually lost his power. At the beginning of Cao Wei
, a secretarial institution was established to assist the emperor, which was later expanded and renamed as the Secretariat.
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
. The system first took shape after the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC-24 AD), was officially instituted in Sui Dynasty
Sui Dynasty
The Sui Dynasty was a powerful, but short-lived Imperial Chinese dynasty. Preceded by the Southern and Northern Dynasties, it ended nearly four centuries of division between rival regimes. It was followed by the Tang Dynasty....
(589-618 AD), and matured during Tang Dynasty
Tang Dynasty
The Tang Dynasty was an imperial dynasty of China preceded by the Sui Dynasty and followed by the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period. It was founded by the Li family, who seized power during the decline and collapse of the Sui Empire...
(618–907 AD). It replaced the Three Lords and Nine Ministers
Three Lords and Nine Ministers
The Three Lords and Nine Ministers system was a central administrative system adopted in ancient China that was officially instituted in Qin Dynasty and was replaced by the Three Departments and Six Ministries system since Sui Dynasty .Three Lords referred to three highest rank officials in the...
system that was instituted in Qin Dynasty
Qin Dynasty
The Qin Dynasty was the first imperial dynasty of China, lasting from 221 to 207 BC. The Qin state derived its name from its heartland of Qin, in modern-day Shaanxi. The strength of the Qin state was greatly increased by the legalist reforms of Shang Yang in the 4th century BC, during the Warring...
(221-206 BC). The three departments were the Secretariat (中書省), the Chancellery (門下省, also translated as "Edict Examination Bureau"), and the Department of State Affairs (尚書省), while the six ministries referred to the Ministry for Personnel (吏部), Revenue (戶部), Rites (禮部), War (兵部), Justice (刑部) and Works (工部). This system was once adopted by Tang's neighbors.
Overview
Under this system, the Department of State Affairs, which controlled the six ministries, was the highest executive institution of the imperial government. The Secretariat was the main policy-formulating agency that was responsible for proposing and drafting all imperial decrees. The main function of the Chancellery was to advise the emperor and the Secretariat. The head of the Secretariat or the Department of State Affairs was generally referred to as the ChancellorChancellor of China
The Chancellor , variously translated as Prime Minister, Chancellor of State, Premier or Chief Councillor, was a generic name given to the highest-ranking official in the imperial government in ancient China...
, next only to the emperor in rank and power.
The six ministries were direct administrative organs of the state, and each was headed by a Minister (尚書) who was assisted by a Vice Minister (侍郎):
- The Ministry of Personnel was in charge of appointments, merit ratings, promotions, and demotions of officials, as well as granting of honorific titles.
- The Ministry of Revenue was in charge of gathering census data, collecting taxes, and handling state revenues, while there were two offices of currency that were subordinate to it.
- The Ministry of RitesMinistry of RitesThe Ministry of Rites was one of the Chinese Three Departments and Six Ministries which existed from the time of the Tang Dynasty until the Xinhai Revolution of 1911 brought an end to Imperial China. Prior to its formation, the tasks given to the Ministry were assigned to officials such as the...
was in charge of state ceremonies, rituals, and sacrifices; it also oversaw registers for Buddhist and Daoist priesthoods and even the reception of envoys from tributary states. It also managed the Imperial examinations. - The Ministry of War （) was in charge of the appointments, promotions, and demotions of military officers, the maintenance of military installations, equipment, and weapons, as well as the courier system.
- The Ministry of Justice was in charge of judicial and penal processes, but had no supervisory role over the Censorate or the Grand Court of Revision.
- The Ministry of Works was in charge of government construction projects, hiring of artisans and laborers for temporary service, manufacturing government equipment, the maintenance of roads and canals, standardization of weights and measures, and the gathering of resources from the countryside.
Beneath each ministry were many "Sī" (司), bodies responsible for grass roots administration.
History
The origin of the Three Departments and Six Ministries system can be traced as far as the Han DynastyHan Dynasty
The Han Dynasty was the second imperial dynasty of China, preceded by the Qin Dynasty and succeeded by the Three Kingdoms . It was founded by the rebel leader Liu Bang, known posthumously as Emperor Gaozu of Han. It was briefly interrupted by the Xin Dynasty of the former regent Wang Mang...
(206 BC–220 AD). The Han government adopted the so-called Three Lords and Nine Ministers
Three Lords and Nine Ministers
The Three Lords and Nine Ministers system was a central administrative system adopted in ancient China that was officially instituted in Qin Dynasty and was replaced by the Three Departments and Six Ministries system since Sui Dynasty .Three Lords referred to three highest rank officials in the...
system led by the Chancellor
Chancellor of China
The Chancellor , variously translated as Prime Minister, Chancellor of State, Premier or Chief Councillor, was a generic name given to the highest-ranking official in the imperial government in ancient China...
, the head of all civil service officials. After emperor Wu
Emperor Wu of Han
Emperor Wu of Han , , personal name Liu Che , was the seventh emperor of the Han Dynasty of China, ruling from 141 BC to 87 BC. Emperor Wu is best remembered for the vast territorial expansion that occurred under his reign, as well as the strong and centralized Confucian state he organized...
(156–87 BC), however, the Chancellor gradually lost his power. At the beginning of Cao Wei
Cao Wei
Cao Wei was one of the states that competed for control of China during the Three Kingdoms period. With the capital at Luoyang, the state was established by Cao Pi in 220, based upon the foundations that his father Cao Cao laid...
, a secretarial institution was established to assist the emperor, which was later expanded and renamed as the Secretariat.
See also
- Grand SecretariatGrand SecretariatThe Grand Secretariat was nominally a coordinating agency but de facto the highest institution in the Ming imperial government. It first took shape after Emperor Hongwu abolished the office of Chancellor in 1380 and gradually evolved into an effective coordinating organ superimposed on the Six...
- CensorateCensorateThe Censorate was a top-level supervisory agency in ancient China, first established during the Qin Dynasty ....
- Three Lords and Nine MinistersThree Lords and Nine MinistersThe Three Lords and Nine Ministers system was a central administrative system adopted in ancient China that was officially instituted in Qin Dynasty and was replaced by the Three Departments and Six Ministries system since Sui Dynasty .Three Lords referred to three highest rank officials in the...
(Three ExcellenciesThree ExcellenciesThe Three Ducal Ministers , also translated as the Three Dukes, Three Excellencies, or the Three Lords, was the collective name for the three highest officials in ancient China...
-Nine MinistersNine MinistersThe Nine Ministers was the collective name for nine high officials in the imperial government of the Han Dynasty , who each headed a specialized ministry and were subordinates to the Three Councillors of State...
)