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China

Shāng, c. 1600 BC – c. 1045 BC

Inner and outer areas system (內外服制)

Inner area (內服): capital region; controlled by the king; officials consist of the noble family members.

• Outer court officials (外廷官) perform public duties.
  • public duty officials:
    • Ministers (相) assist the king; the number of ministers has been increased from 1 to 3 to disperse ministers' power.
    • the Multiple-Governor (多尹) group makes decisions for the king; its members mainly consist of officials and chiefs and are not fixed.
    • Emissaries (史) are sent to communicate with and observe regional officials by the king.
  • clerical officials deal with affairs in agriculture, livestock husbandry, handicrafts, etc.
• Inner court officials (内廷官) handle the king's private affairs.

Outer area (外服): outer regions; controlled by different rulers outside of the king's family.

Outer area rulers are obliged to present tribute to Shāng and join Shāng's wars; outer area and inner area are almost equal in status; outer area's obeisances rely on Shāng's military power.

Western Zhōu, c. 1045 BC – 771 BC

The hierarchy of the Overlord (天子) – lords (諸侯) – ministers and senior officials (卿大夫) – scholar-officials (士) – civilians (庶人) is established.

Patriarchal clan system (宗法制)

Its core is primogeniture: the firstborn son inherits.

Demarcation and Establishment (分封制)

The practice of dividing land to others and creating vassal states has been present since long before. With the patriarchal clan system, it becomes mature in Western Zhōu.

Vassal states of Zhōu also have their own vassal states.

Capital-countryside system (国野制)

In those vassal states, there is a division between the capital region and countryside. Inhabitants in the capital are conquerors in the region, and the upper class; inhabitants in the countryside are the conquered, and the lower class.

official positions

The highest ranks of officials are Three Ducal Ministers (三公): Grand Preceptor (太师), Grand Tutor (太傅), Grand Protector (太保); the second highest ranks are Six Ministers (六卿) and Five Administrators (五官).

The positions of Six Ministers are different in different records. The Five Administrators are Administrator of Land (司徒), Administrator of Military (司馬), Administrator of Supervision (司士), Administrator of Construction (司空), Administrator of Penalty (司寇). These administrator titles are also present in vassal states of Zhōu.

Eastern Zhōu 771 BC – 256 BC

In Warring States period, the minister (丞相, 相邦, etc.) has become the second powerful position, only below the king; official positions are divided into military and civilian ones; official positions are no longer inherited.

Commandery and County system (郡縣制)

A commandery (郡) is a region often placed at the border and governed by a military officer; a county (縣) is a region managed by an appointed official.