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In progress.

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.
    • 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.

The highest ranks of officials are Three Lords (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.

Senior officials (大夫) may have city-fiefs (采邑).

Five Ranks (五等爵制): duke (公) – marquis (侯) – earl (伯) – viscount (子) – baron (男).

Patriarchal clan system (宗法制): Its core is primogeniture, which means that 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 (國野制): 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.

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.

Commandery and County system (郡縣制): A commandery (郡) is a region governed by an appointed military officer; a county (縣) is a region managed by an appointed official.

Qín, 221 BC - 207 BC

The supreme ruler Emperor (皇帝) comes into being.

Under the Emperor are the Three Lords (三公): Grand Commandant (太尉), Chancellor (丞相), Imperial Secretary (御史大夫).

Under the Chancellor are Nine Ministers (九卿): Minister of Ceremonies (太奉常), Supervisor of Attendants (郎中令), Commandant of Guards (衛尉), Minister of Coachmen (太僕), Commandant of Justice (廷尉), Grand Herald (典客), Director of the Imperial Clan (宗正), Grand Minister of Agriculture (治粟內史), Small Treasurer (少府)

There are 20 ranks of nobility (二十等爵).

Administrative divisions:

• commandery (郡)
  • county (縣)

Administrative divisions under a county are townships (鄉); under a township are districts (亭); under a district are villages (里).

Western Hàn, 202 BC – 9

There are three groups of officials:

• Outer Court Officials (外朝官) under the Chancellor (丞相) are in charge of public duties.
• Inner Court Officials (內朝官) under the Supreme General (大將軍) are in charge of the Emperor's official duties.
• Palace Officials (宮廷官) are in charge of the Emperor's private affairs.

There are Title for Military Accomplishments (武功爵).

Administrative divisions:

• commandery (郡)
  • county (縣)
  • circuit (道)
• state (國)
• city (邑)

Circuits are authorities for minorities; cities are fiefs for empresses dowagers, empresses and princesses.

The system of having commanderies and states together is called Commandery and State system (郡國制).

Xīn, 9 - 23

There are Eleven Lords (十一公).

The Five Ranks (五等爵制) are brought back, placed above the 20 ranks.

Eastern Hàn, 25 – 220

The Grand Tutor (太傅) and the Supreme General (大將軍) are the most powerful positions under the Emperor.

The Supreme General has his own secretariat (幕府).

The Chancellor has been abolished most of the time.

The Three Lords (三公) are below the Grand Tutor: Grand Commandant (太尉), Administrator of Land (司徒), Administrator of Construction (司空).

The Nine Ministers (九卿) are divided and placed under the Three Lords:

• Grand Commandant (太尉): Minister of Ceremonies (太常), Supervisor of Attendants (光祿勛), Commandant of Guards (衛尉)
• Administrator of Land (司徒): Minister of Coachmen (太僕), Commandant of Justice (廷尉), Grand Herald (大鴻臚)
• Administrator of Construction (司空): Director of the Imperial Clan (宗正), Grand Minister of Agriculture (大司農), Small Treasurer (少府)

The Five Ranks are abolished.

Administrative divisions:

• province (州)
  • commandery (郡)
    • county (縣)
    • circuit (道)
• state (國)
• city (邑)