Language/Multiple-languages/Culture/Traditional-Political-Systems:-Eastern-Asia
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.
- public duty officials:
- 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
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.
| Overlord (天子) |
| lords (諸侯) |
| ministers and senior officials (卿大夫) |
| scholar-officials (士) |
| civilians (庶人) |
| duke (公) |
| marquis (侯) |
| earl (伯) |
| viscount (子) |
| baron (男) |
| lord | ||||
| Grand Preceptor (太師) | Grand Tutor (太傅) | Grand Protector (太保) | ||
| [Six Ministers (六卿)] | ||||
| 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) |
Positions of Six Ministers vary in different sources.
Senior officials (大夫) may have city-fiefs (采邑).
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 (郡) |
| county (縣) |
Qín, 221 BC - 207 BC
| Emperor (皇帝) | |||||||||||||||||
| Grand Commandant (太尉) | Chancellor (丞相) | Imperial Secretary (御史大夫) | |||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
There are 20 ranks of nobility (二十等爵).
| 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
| Emperor (皇帝) | |||||||||||||||||
| Chancellor (丞相、相國、大司徒) | Supreme General (大將軍) | ||||||||||||||||
| Grand Commandant (太尉) | Administrator of Land (司徒) | Administrator of Construction (司空) | |||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
There are Title for Military Accomplishments (武功爵).
| commandery (郡) | state (國) | city (邑) | |
| county (縣) | circuit (道) | ||
Circuits are authorities for minorities.
Cities are fiefs for empresses dowagers, empresses and princesses.
Xīn, 9 - 23
| Emperor (皇帝) | ||||||||||
| Grand Preceptor (太師) | Grand Tutor (太傅) | Imperial Preceptor (國師) | Imperial General (國將) | Grand Administrator of Military (大司馬) | Grand Administrator of Land (大司徒) | Grand Administrator of Construction (大司空) | General of Renewal (更始將軍) | Guardian General (衛將軍) | Nation-Founding General (立國將軍) | Front General (前將軍) |
The Five Ranks (五等爵制) are brought back, placed above the 20 ranks.
Eastern Hàn, 25 – 220
| Emperor (皇帝) | |||||||||
| *Chancellor (相國、丞相) | |||||||||
| Grand Tutor (太傅) | Supreme General (大將軍) | ||||||||
| Grand Commandant (太尉) | Administrator of Land (司徒) | Administrator of Construction (司空) | |||||||
| Minister of Ceremonies (太常) | Supervisor of Attendants (光祿勛) | Commandant of Guards (衛尉) | Minister of Coachmen (太僕) | Commandant of Justice (廷尉) | Grand Herald (大鴻臚) | Director of the Imperial Clan (宗正) | Grand Minister of Agriculture (大司農) | Small Treasurer (少府) | |
The Chancellor has been abolished most of the time.
| province (州) | state (國) | city (邑) | |
| commandery (郡) | |||
| county (縣) | circuit (道) | ||