1
明官制,沿漢、唐之舊而損益之。 自洪武十三年罷丞相不設,析中書省之政歸六部,以尚書任天下事,侍郎貳之。 而殿閣大學士只備顧問,帝方自操威柄,學士鮮所參決。 其糾劾則責之都察院,章奏則達之通政司,平反則參之大理寺,是亦漢九卿之遺意也。 分大都督府為五,而徵調隸於兵部。 外設都、布、按三司,分隸兵刑錢谷,其考覈則聽於府部。 是時吏、戶、兵三部之權為重。 迨仁、宣朝,大學士以太子經師恩,累加至三孤,望益尊。 而宣宗內柄無大小,悉下大學士楊士奇等參可否。 雖吏部蹇義、戶部夏原吉時召見,得預各部事,然希闊不敵士奇等親。 自是內閣權日重,即有一二吏、兵之長與執持是非,輒以敗。 至世宗中葉,夏言、嚴嵩迭用事,遂赫然為真宰相,壓制六卿矣。 然內閣之擬票,不得不決於內監之批紅,而相權轉歸之寺人。 於是朝廷之紀綱,賢士大夫之進退,悉顛倒於其手。 伴食者承意指之不暇,間有賢輔,卒蒿目而不能救。 初,領五都督府者,皆元勳宿將,軍制肅然。 永樂間,設內監監其事,猶不敢縱。 沿習數代,勳戚紈袴司軍紀,日以惰毀。 既而內監添置益多,邊塞皆有巡視,四方大征伐皆有監軍,而疆事遂致大壞,明祚不可支矣。 跡其興亡治亂之由,豈不在用人之得失哉! 至於設官分職,體統相維,品式具備,詳列後簡。 覽者可考而知也。
The Ming administrative structure drew on Han and Tang precedent, adapting it where needed. Beginning in Hongwu year 13 (1380), the post of Grand Chancellor was abolished for good. Secretariat functions were split among the Six Ministries; each Minister shouldered empire-wide duties, with Vice Ministers as second-in-command. The Grand Secretaries in the palace halls remained advisers only. The emperor now held the reins of power himself, and the academicians seldom weighed in on policy. Impeachment fell to the Censorate; memorials passed through the Office of Transmission; reversal of wrongful verdicts went to the Court of Judicial Review—in much the spirit of the Han Nine Ministers. The former single Grand Military Commission was split into five commissions, but levies and troop movements came under the Ministry of War. In the provinces, three commissions (governor-general, administration, and surveillance) handled military, judicial, and fiscal matters; their performance was reviewed by the ministries in the capital. In that era the Ministries of Personnel, Revenue, and War held the greatest sway. Under the Ren and Xuan emperors, Grand Secretaries who had served as the heir apparent's tutors were repeatedly elevated to the Three Supporters, and their prestige rose accordingly. Emperor Xuanzong retained every lever of power, large and small, yet routed decisions through Grand Secretaries such as Yang Shiqi for their judgment. Jian Yi at Personnel and Xia Yuanji at Revenue were sometimes summoned and could weigh in on their ministries' business, but they saw the emperor far less often than Shiqi and his circle. Thereafter the Grand Secretariat's power grew day by day. Even when a Personnel or War minister stood his ground on principle, he was usually brought down. By the middle of Jiajing's reign, Xia Yan and Yan Song alternated in power until they functioned as real prime ministers, dominating the Six Ministers. Yet even the Secretariat's draft rescripts required the eunuchs' vermilion endorsement, and real power shifted to the palace staff. Court discipline and the rise and fall of worthy officials were now entirely at their disposal. Grand Secretaries who merely kept the emperor company at table had no choice but to follow eunuch cues. Even an able minister could only watch in dismay, powerless to reverse the tide. Early on, the Five Military Commissions were led by founding meritorious generals, and army discipline was strict. Under Yongle, eunuch overseers were installed, but they still did not dare overreach. After generations, noble kin and pampered youths ran military affairs, and discipline eroded daily. Eunuch appointments multiplied: every frontier gained an inspector, every major campaign a supervising eunuch. Frontier policy collapsed, and the dynasty's fate was sealed. Trace the dynasty's rise and fall, its order and chaos—is the root cause not simply who was put in office, and who was not! The establishment of offices, their hierarchy, and the full table of ranks are set out in the sections below. Readers may consult them for a full picture.
2
宗人府
Court of the Imperial Clan
3
宗人府。 宗人令一人,左、右宗正各一人,左、右宗人各一人,並正一品掌皇九族之屬籍,以時修其玉牒,書宗室子女嫡庶、名封、嗣襲、生卒、婚嫁、諡葬之事。 凡宗室陳請,為聞於上,達材能,錄罪過。 初,洪武三年置大宗正院。 二十二年改為宗人府,並以親王領之。 秦王樉為令,晉王竾、燕王棣為左、右宗正,周王隸、楚王楨為左、右宗人。 其後以勳戚大臣攝府事,不備官,而所領亦盡移之禮部。 其屬,經歷司,經歷一人,正五品典出納文移。
Court of the Imperial Clan. One Director of the Imperial Clan, with Left and Right Directors of the Imperial Lineage and Left and Right Registrars—all first rank—maintained registers of the imperial nine degrees of kinship, updated the jade genealogy on schedule, and recorded enfeoffments, succession, births, deaths, marriages, posthumous titles, and burials for every prince and princess, legitimate or otherwise. They relayed clan members' petitions to the throne, reported their talents, and recorded their offenses. In Hongwu year 3 (1370), the Great Directorate of the Imperial Lineage was established. In year 22 (1389) it became the Court of the Imperial Clan, headed by imperial princes. Prince of Qin Zhu Shuang was Director; Princes of Jin Zhu Gang and Yan Zhu Di were Left and Right Directors of the Imperial Lineage; Princes of Zhou Zhu Su and Chu Zhu Zhen were Left and Right Registrars. Later, meritorious nobles and senior ministers held the court in commission without filling all posts, and its duties passed entirely to the Ministry of Rites. Its Registry Office had one fifth-rank Registrar who handled incoming and outgoing documents.
4
三公三孤
Three Dukes and Three Supporters
5
太師、太傅、太保為三公,正一品; 少師、少傅、少保為三孤,從一品,掌佐天子,理陰陽,經邦弘化,其職至重。 無定員,無專授。 洪武三年,授李善長太師,徐達太傅。 先是,常遇春已贈太保。 三孤無兼領者。 建文、永樂間罷公、孤官,仁宗復設。 永樂二十二年八月,復置三公、三少。 宣德三年,敕太師、英國公張輔,少師、吏部尚書蹇義,少傅、兵部尚書、華蓋殿大學士楊士奇,少保兼太子少傅、戶部尚書夏原吉,各輟所領,侍左右,諮訪政事。 公孤之官,幾於專授。 逮義、原吉卒,士奇還領閣務。 自此以後,公、孤但虛銜,為勳戚文武大臣加官、贈官。 而文臣無生加三公者,惟贈乃得之。 嘉靖二年加楊廷和太傅,辭不受。 其後文臣得加三公惟張居正,萬曆九年加太傅,十年加太師。
Grand Preceptor, Grand Tutor, and Grand Guardian—the Three Dukes—held the first rank; Junior Preceptor, Junior Tutor, and Junior Guardian—the Three Supporters—held the secondary first rank, assisting the emperor, harmonizing cosmic forces, and guiding state policy; their duties were weighty indeed. There was no fixed number of posts and no standing appointment. In Hongwu year 3, Li Shanchang was made Grand Preceptor and Xu Da Grand Tutor. Chang Yuchun had already received the posthumous title Grand Guardian. No one held a Three Supporter post as a concurrent appointment. The Duke and Supporter offices were abolished under Jianwen and Yongle, then restored by Renzong. In the eighth month of Yongle year 22 (1424), the Three Dukes and Three Juniors were re-established. In Xuande year 3 (1428), the emperor ordered Zhang Fu (Duke of Ying, Grand Preceptor), Jian Yi (Junior Preceptor, Minister of Personnel), Yang Shiqi (Junior Tutor, Minister of War and Grand Secretary), and Xia Yuanji (Junior Guardian, Minister of Revenue) to step down from their day-to-day posts and attend at court to advise on policy. For a time the Duke and Supporter titles were awarded as dedicated posts. After Jian Yi and Xia Yuanji died, Yang Shiqi resumed leadership of the Grand Secretariat. Thereafter the Duke and Supporter titles were honorific only—added to or granted posthumously for meritorious nobles and ministers. No civil official received a living appointment as one of the Three Dukes; only posthumous grant conferred that honor. In Jiajing year 2 (1523), Yang Tinghe was offered Grand Tutor but declined. Zhang Juzheng was the only civil official ever promoted to the Three Dukes in life—Grand Tutor in Wanli year 9 (1581), Grand Preceptor in year 10.
6
太子三師三少
Three Tutors and Three Juniors of the Heir Apparent
7
太子太師、太子太傅、太子太保,並從一品,掌以道德輔導太子,而謹護翼之。 太子少師、太子少傅、太子少保,並正二品,掌奉太子以觀三公之道德而教諭焉。 太子賓客,正三品,掌侍太子贊相禮儀,規誨過失。 皆東宮大臣,無定員,無專授。 洪武元年,太祖有事親徵,慮太子監國,別設宮僚或生嫌隙,乃以朝臣兼宮職:李善長兼太子少師,徐達兼太子少傅,常遇春兼太子少保,治書侍御史文原吉、範顯祖兼太子賓客。 三年,禮部尚書陶凱請選人專任東宮官,罷兼領,庶於輔導有所責成。 帝諭以江充之事可為明鑒,立法兼領,非無謂也。 由是東宮師傅止為兼官、加官及贈官。 惟永樂間,成祖幸北京,以姚廣孝專為太子少師,留輔太子。 自是以後,終明世皆為虛銜,於太子輔導之職無與也。
Grand Tutor, Grand Mentor, and Grand Guardian of the Heir Apparent—all secondary first rank—guided the heir through moral instruction and watched over him carefully. Junior Tutor, Junior Mentor, and Junior Guardian—all second rank—attended the heir so he could observe the Three Tutors' conduct and receive their instruction. Guests of the Heir Apparent (third rank) attended the heir, assisted in court ritual, and admonished him when he erred. All were senior Eastern Palace posts, with no fixed number and no standing appointment. In Hongwu 1 (1368), when the Founding Emperor campaigned in person, he feared that appointing a separate palace staff while the heir governed might breed faction. Court ministers therefore held palace posts concurrently: Li Shanchang as Junior Tutor, Xu Da as Junior Mentor, Chang Yuchun as Junior Guardian, and Investigating Censors Wen Yuanji and Fan Xianzu as Guests. In year 3, Minister of Rites Tao Kai asked that dedicated Eastern Palace officers be appointed and concurrent posts abolished, so tutoring would have clear accountability. The emperor cited the case of Jiang Chong as a warning: concurrent appointment was deliberate policy, not oversight. Eastern Palace tutor posts thereafter were only concurrent, honorific, or posthumous titles. Only under Yongle, when Chengzu was at Beijing, was Yao Guangxiao appointed solely as Junior Tutor and left to assist the heir. From then until the dynasty's end they were empty titles, with no real role in tutoring the heir.
8
中極殿大學士 (舊名華蓋殿) ,建極殿大學士 (舊名謹身殿) ,文華殿大學士,武英殿大學士,文淵閣大學士,東閣大學士,並正五品,掌獻替可否,奉陳規誨,點檢題奏,票擬批答,以平允庶政。 凡上之達下,曰詔,曰誥,曰制,曰冊文,曰諭,曰書,曰符,曰令,曰檄,皆起草進畫,以下之諸司。 下之達上,曰題,曰奏,曰表,曰講章,曰書狀,曰文冊,曰揭帖,曰制對,曰露布,曰譯,皆審署申覆而修畫焉,平允乃行之。 凡車駕郊祀、巡幸則扈從。 遇經筵,則知經筵或同知經筵事。 東宮出閣講讀,則領其事,敘其官,而授之職業。 冠婚,則充賓贊及納徵等使。 修實錄、史志諸書,則充總裁官。 春秋上丁釋奠先師,則攝行祭事。 會試充考試官,殿試充讀卷官。 進士題名,則大學士一人撰文,立石於太學。 大典禮、大政事,九卿、科道官會議已定,則按典制,相機宜,裁量其可否,斟酌入告。 頒詔則捧授禮部。 會敕則稽其由狀以請。 宗室請名、請封,諸臣請諡,並擬上。 以其授餐大內,常侍天子殿閣之下,避宰相之名,又名內閣。
Grand Secretary of the Hall of Central Perfection (formerly the Hall of Imperial Largesse) , Grand Secretary of the Hall of Establishing the Utmost (formerly the Hall of Scrupulous Conduct) , and Grand Secretaries of the Halls of Literary Glory and Martial Eminence, the Pavilion of Literary Depths, and the Eastern Pavilion—all fifth rank. They advised the emperor on policy, presented admonitions, reviewed memorials, drafted rescripts for imperial endorsement, and thereby kept government running smoothly. Edicts, proclamations, ordinances, investiture documents, instructions, letters, tallies, orders, and dispatches from the throne were all drafted, submitted for imperial endorsement, and forwarded to the relevant offices. Memorials, reports, tables, lecture chapters, letters, registers, briefing notes, examination answers, victory bulletins, and translations from below were reviewed, endorsed, and revised before forwarding; only when deemed sound were they acted upon. They accompanied the emperor on suburban sacrifices and imperial tours. At the Classics Lecture they served as Lecturer or Associate Lecturer. When the heir left the inner quarters for study, they directed the program, ranked the staff, and assigned their duties. At capping and wedding ceremonies they served as ritual assistants and betrothal envoys. They served as chief editors of Veritable Records, dynastic histories, and similar works. At the spring and autumn sacrifices to Confucius they officiated by proxy. They served as metropolitan examiners and as readers of papers at the palace examination. One Grand Secretary composed the inscription when jinshi graduates were honored, and a stele was erected at the Imperial Academy. After the Nine Ministers and censorial officials had deliberated on major ceremonies and state affairs, the Grand Secretaries weighed statutory precedent against circumstances, judged feasibility, and reported their recommendations to the emperor. They bore promulgated edicts to the Ministry of Rites. When imperial commands were needed, they verified the grounds and requested issuance. They drafted recommendations for imperial clan names and enfeoffments and for officials' posthumous titles. Because they dined in the inner palace and attended the emperor beneath the hall pavilions, the title Chancellor was avoided; they were known as the Grand Secretariat (neige).
9
先是,太祖承前制,設中書省,置左、右丞相,正一品。 甲辰正月,初置左、右相國,以李善長為右相國,徐達為左相國。 吳元年命百官禮儀俱尚左,改右相國為左相國,左相國為右相國。 洪武元年改為左、右丞相,平章政事 (從一品) ,左、右丞 (正二品) ,參知政事 (從二品) ,以統領眾職。 置屬官左、右司郎中 (正五品); 員外郎 (正六品) 、都事、檢校 (正七品) ,照磨、管勾 (從七品); 參議府參議 (正三品); 參軍、斷事官 (從三品); 斷事、經歷 (正七品); 知事 (正八品); 都鎮撫司都鎮撫 (正五品); 考功所考功郎 (正七品)。 甲辰十月以都鎮撫司隸大都督府。 吳元年革參議府。 洪武元年革考功所。 二年革照磨、檢校所、斷事官。 七年設直省舍人十人,尋改中書舍人。
Earlier, following prior practice, the Founding Emperor established the Secretariat with Left and Right Chancellors of the first rank. In the first month of 1364, Left and Right Chancellors of State were first appointed: Li Shanchang on the right, Xu Da on the left. In the first Wu year (1367), court ritual was ordered to favor the left; the Right Chancellor became Left Chancellor and vice versa. In Hongwu 1 (1368) they became Left and Right Chancellors, with Pacification Commissioners (secondary first rank) , Left and Right Vice Chancellors (second rank) , Participation Councillors (secondary second rank) , to oversee all government functions. Subordinate officials included Left and Right Bureau Directors (fifth rank) Vice Directors (sixth rank) , Secretaries, and Inspectors (seventh rank) , Registrars and Archivists (secondary seventh rank) Consultation Office Consultants (third rank) Staff Officers and Adjudicators (secondary third rank) Adjudicators and Registrars (seventh rank) Directors of Affairs (eighth rank) Chief Pacifier of the Pacification Commission (fifth rank) Merit Review Officers of the Merit Review Office (seventh rank) In the tenth month of 1364, the Pacification Commission was subordinated to the Grand Military Commission. In 1367, the Consultation Office was abolished. In 1368, the Merit Review Office was abolished. In 1369, the offices of Registrar, Inspector, and Adjudicator were abolished. In 1374, ten Direct-Province drafting attendants were established and soon renamed Secretariat draftsmen.
10
洪武九年汰平章政事、參知政事。 十三年正月,誅丞相胡惟庸,遂罷中書省。 其官屬盡革,惟存中書舍人。 九月,置四輔官,以儒士王本等為之。 置四輔官,告太廟,以王本、杜佑、襲斅為春官,杜斅、趙民望、吳源為夏官,兼太子賓客。 秋、冬官缺,以本等攝之。 一月內分司上中下三旬。 位列公、侯、都督之次。 尋亦罷。 十五年,仿宋制,置華蓋殿、武英殿、文淵閣、東閣諸大學士,禮部尚書邵質為華蓋,檢討吳伯宗為武英,翰林學士宋訥為文淵,典籍吳沉為東閣。 又置文華殿大學士,徵耆儒鮑恂、餘詮、張長年等為之,以輔導太子。 秩皆正五品。 二十八年敕諭羣臣:「國家罷丞相,設府、部、院、寺以分理庶務,立法至為詳善。 以後嗣君,其毋得議置丞相。 臣下有奏請設立者,論以極刑。」 當是時,以翰林、春坊詳看諸司奏啟,兼司平駁。 大學士特侍左右,備顧問而已。 建文中,改大學士為學士。 悉罷諸大學士,各設學士一人。 又改謹身殿為正心殿,設正心殿學士。 成祖即位,特簡解縉、胡廣、楊榮等直文淵閣,參預機務。 閣臣之預務自此始。 然其時,入內閣者皆編、檢、講讀之官,不置官屬,不得專制諸司。 諸司奏事,亦不得相關白。
In 1376, the posts of Pacification Commissioner and Participation Councillor were abolished. In the first month of 1380, Chancellor Hu Weiyong was executed and the Secretariat abolished. All subordinate offices were abolished; only the Secretariat draftsmen remained. In the ninth month, Four Assistant officials were created, with Wang Ben and other scholars appointed. Upon establishing the Four Assistants, the court reported to the Ancestral Temple: Wang Ben, Du You, and Xi Shuo as Spring Officials; Du Jiao, Zhao Minwang, and Wu Yuan as Summer Officials, also serving as Guests of the Heir Apparent. The Autumn and Winter posts were unfilled; Wang Ben and his colleagues held them in addition. Each month they rotated responsibility across the upper, middle, and lower ten-day periods. They ranked immediately below dukes, marquises, and regional commanders. They were soon abolished as well. In 1382, following Song precedent, Grand Secretaries were appointed to the Canopy Hall, Martial Brilliance Hall, Literary Deep Pavilion, and Eastern Pavilion: Shao Zhi (Minister of Rites) to Canopy; Wu Bozong (Reviewer) to Martial Brilliance; Song Ne (Hanlin Academician) to Literary Deep; Wu Chen (Archivist) to Eastern. Literary Splendor Hall Grand Secretaries were also created, summoning elder scholars Bao Xun, Yu Quan, Zhang Changnian, and others to tutor the heir apparent. All held principal fifth rank. In 1395, an edict addressed the officials: "The state has abolished the chancellorship and established commissions, ministries, courts, and directorates to divide civil affairs among them—legislation of exceptional thoroughness. Future rulers must never consider restoring a chancellor. Any subject who petitions for one shall face capital punishment. At that time the Hanlin Academy and Eastern Quarters reviewed all departmental memorials and also handled approval and rejection. Grand Secretaries attended at the ruler's side merely as consultants. Under the Jianwen Emperor, Grand Secretaries were retitled Academicians. All Grand Secretary posts were abolished, each replaced by a single Academician. The Self-Cultivation Hall was renamed the Rectification Hall, with Rectification Hall Academicians appointed. Upon Yongle's accession, Xie Jin, Hu Guang, Yang Rong, and others were specially chosen to serve at the Literary Deep Pavilion and join in state deliberations. Cabinet ministers' involvement in policy dates from this moment. Yet those admitted to the Grand Secretariat were compilers, reviewers, lecturers, and readers only—they had no staff of their own and could not command the ministries. Ministries reporting business could not route matters through the Secretariat either.
11
仁宗以楊士奇、楊榮東宮舊臣,升士奇為禮部侍郎兼華蓋殿大學士,榮為太常卿兼謹身殿大學士,謹身殿大學士,仁宗始置,閣職漸崇。 其後士奇、榮等皆遷尚書職,雖居內閣,官必以尚書為尊。 景泰中,王文始以左都御史進吏部尚書,入內閣。 自後,誥敕房、制敕房俱設中書舍人,六部承奉意旨,靡所不領,而閣權益重。 世宗時,三殿成,改華蓋為中極,謹身為建極,閣銜因之。 嘉靖以後,朝位班次,俱列六部之上。
Because Yang Shiqi and Yang Rong had served him in the Eastern Palace, the Renzong Emperor promoted Shiqi to Vice Minister of Rites and Canopy Hall Grand Secretary and Rong to Director of Imperial Sacrifices and Self-Cultivation Hall Grand Secretary—the latter post Renzong first created, marking the cabinet's rising stature. Shiqi, Rong, and their colleagues were later promoted to ministerial rank; even while serving in the Grand Secretariat, ministerial title took precedence. Under Jingtai, Wang Wen became the first Left Censor-in-Chief promoted to Minister of Personnel and admitted to the Grand Secretariat. Thereafter Secretariat draftsmen staffed both edict bureaus; the Six Ministries followed their lead in virtually everything, and cabinet power grew heavier still. When the three main halls were completed under the Shizong Emperor, Canopy became Central Ultimate and Self-Cultivation became Establishing Ultimate, and cabinet titles changed accordingly. From the Jiajing reign onward, their places in court assembly and procession ranked above all Six Ministries.
12
吏部。 尚書一人,正二品; 左、右侍郎各一人,正三品; 其屬司務廳,司務二人,從九品; 文選、驗封、稽勳、考功四清吏司,各郎中一人,正五品; 員外郎一人,從五品; 主事一人,正六品。 洪武三十一年增設文選司主事一人。 正統十一年增設考功司主事一人。
Ministry of Personnel. One Minister (principal second rank); one Left and one Right Vice Minister (principal third rank each); subordinate Secretariat Affairs Office with two Secretariat Officers (secondary ninth rank); the four Pure Officials Bureaus—Selection, Seals and Enfeoffments, Records, and Merit Review—each with one Bureau Director (principal fifth rank); one Vice Director (secondary fifth rank); and one Section Chief (principal sixth rank). In 1398, one additional Section Chief was added to the Selection Bureau. In 1446, one additional Section Chief was added to the Merit Review Bureau.
13
尚書,掌天下官吏選授、封勳、考課之政令,以甄別人才,贊天子治。 蓋古塚宰之職,視五部為特重。 侍郎為之貳。
The Minister oversaw empire-wide appointment, enfeoffment, honors, and performance review—distinguishing talent and assisting the emperor's governance. Essentially the ancient office of Director of Stewards, it was held especially weighty among the Five Ministries. Vice Ministers served as his deputies.
14
司務,掌催督、稽緩、勾銷、簿書。 明初,設主事、司務各四人,為首領官,有主事印。 洪武二十九年改主事為司官,裁司務二人。 各部並同。
Secretariat Officers handled urging and supervision, tracked delays, verified clearance, and managed paperwork. Early in the dynasty, four Section Chiefs and four Secretariat Officers served as leading officials and bore a Section Chief seal. In 1396, Section Chiefs were renamed Bureau Officers and two Secretariat Officer posts eliminated. All ministries followed the same pattern.
15
文選,掌官吏班秩遷升、改調之事,以贊尚書。 凡文官之品九,品有正從,為級一十八。 不及九品曰未入流。 凡選,每歲有大選,有急選,有遠方選,有歲貢就教選,間有揀選,有舉人乞恩選。 選人或登資簿,釐其流品,平其銓注,而序遷之。 凡升必考滿,若員缺當補,不待考滿,曰推升。 類推上一人,單推上二人。 三品以上,九卿及僉都御史、祭酒,廷推上二人或三人。 內閣,吏、兵二部尚書,廷推上二人。 凡王官不外調,王姻不內除,大臣之族不得任科道,僚屬同族則以下避上。 外官才地不相宜,則酌其繁簡互換之。 有傳升、乞升者,並得執奏。 以署職、試職、實授奠年資,以開設、裁併、兼攝適繁簡,以薦舉、起廢、徵召振幽滯,以帶俸、添注寄恩冗,以降調、除名馭罪過,以官程督吏治,以寧假悉人情。
Selection handled officials' grades, promotions, transfers, and reassignments in support of the Minister. Civil officials had nine ranks, each with principal and secondary grades—eighteen levels in all. Posts below ninth rank were termed outside the regular stream. Selections included the annual great selection, urgent selection, distant-region selection, tribute-graduate teaching appointments, occasional screened selection, and presented-scholar favor petitions. Candidates were entered on the seniority register; their grade and stream were classified, appointments balanced, and advancement sequenced. Promotion normally required a completed review term; filling a vacancy without awaiting review was termed push promotion. Category push promotion submitted one name; single push promotion submitted two. Third rank and above—Nine Ministers, Vice Censors-in-Chief, and Academy directors—required court recommendation of two or three names. Grand Secretariat posts and the Ministers of Personnel and War required court recommendation of two names. Princes' officials were not transferred out; princes' in-laws were not appointed in the capital; ministers' kin could not hold censorial posts; and subordinates of the same clan yielded to superiors. When an outside official's talent and post mismatched, busy and simple assignments were swapped accordingly. Transmitted promotions and petitioned promotions could all be held and reported to the throne. Provisional, trial, and substantive appointments set seniority; establishment, abolition, merger, and concurrent posts matched workload; recommendation, reinstatement, and summons revived the overlooked; retained salary and supplemental notation accommodated favor and redundancy; demotion, transfer, and name removal disciplined misconduct; schedules supervised administration; and leave policies accommodated human needs.
16
驗封,掌封爵、襲廕、褒贈、吏算之事,以贊尚書。 凡爵非社稷軍功不得封,封號非特旨不得與。 或世或不世,皆給誥券。 衍聖公及戚裏恩澤封,不給券。 凡券,左右各一,左藏內府,右給功臣之家。 襲封則徵其誥券,稽其功過,核其宗支,以第其世流降除之等。 土官則勘其應襲與否,移文選司注擬。 宣慰、宣撫、安撫、長官諸司領士兵者,則隸兵部。 凡廕敘,明初,自一品至七品,皆得廕一子以世其祿。 洪武十六年,定職官子孫廕敘。 正一品子,正五品用。 從一品子,從五品用。 正二品子,正六品用。 從二品子,從六品用。 正三品子,正七品用。 從三品子,從七品用。 正四品子,正八品用。 從四品子,從八品用。 正五品子,正九品用。 從五品子,從九品用。 正六品子,於未入流上等職內敘用。 從六品子,於未入流中等職內敘用。 正從七品子,於未入流下等職內敘用。 後乃漸為限制,京官三品以上,考滿著績,始廕一子曰官生,其出自特恩者曰恩生。 凡封贈,公、侯、伯之追封,皆遞進一等。 三品以上政績顯異及死諫、死節、陣亡者,皆得贈官。 其見任則初授散階,京官滿一考,及外官滿一考而以最聞者,皆給本身誥敕。 七品以上皆得推恩其先。 五品以上授誥命,六品以下授敕命。 一品,三代四軸。 二品、三品,二代三軸。 四品、五品、六品、七品,一代二軸。 八品以下流內官,本身一軸。 一品軸以玉,二品軸以犀,三品、四品軸以鋈金,五品以下軸以角。 曾祖、祖、父皆如其子孫官。 公、侯、伯視一品。 外內命婦視夫若子之品。 生曰封,死曰贈。 若先有罪譴則停給。 文之散階四十有二,以曆考為差。 正一品,初授特進榮祿大夫,升授特進光祿大夫。 從一品,初授榮祿大夫,升授光祿大夫。 正二品,初授資善大夫,升授資政大夫,加授資德大夫。 從二品,初授中奉大夫,升授通奉大夫,加授正奉大夫。 正三品,初授嘉議大夫,升授通議大夫,加授正議大夫。 從三品,初授亞中大夫,升授中大夫,加授大中大夫。 正四品,初授中順大夫,升授中憲大夫,加授中議大夫。 從四品,初授朝列大夫,升授朝議大夫,加授朝請大夫。 正五品,初授奉議大夫,升授奉政大夫。 從五品,初授奉訓大夫,升授奉直大夫。 正六品,初授承直郎,升授承德郎。 從六品,初授承務郎,升授儒林郎,吏材幹出身授宣德郎。 正七品,初授承事郎,升授文林郎,吏材幹授宣議郎。 從七品,初授從仕郎,升授徵仕郎。 正八品,初授迪功郎,升授修職郎。 從八品,初授迪功佐郎,升授修職佐郎。 正九品,初授將仕郎,升授登仕郎。 從九品,初授將仕佐郎,升授登仕佐郎。 外命婦之號九。 公曰某國夫人。 侯曰某侯夫人。 伯曰某伯夫人。 一品曰夫人,後稱一品夫人。 二品曰夫人。 三品曰淑人。 四品曰恭人。 五品曰宜人。 六品曰安人。 七品曰孺人。 因其子孫封者,加太字,夫在則否。 凡封贈之次,七品至六品一次,五品一次,初制有四品一次,後省。 三品、二品、一品各一次。 三母不並封,兩封從優品。 父職高於子,則進一階。 父應停給及子為人後者,皆得移封。 嫡在不封生母,生母未封不先封其妻。 妻之封,止於一嫡一繼。 其封贈後而以墨敗者,則追奪。
Seals and Enfeoffments handled enfeoffment, hereditary privilege, honors, and official registers in support of the Minister. Titles required service to state or military merit; designations required special edict. Whether hereditary or not, patent documents were issued. The Duke Continuing the Sage and grace enfeoffments for imperial affines received no patents. Each patent came in duplicate: the left copy stored in the inner treasury, the right given to the honoree's family. On hereditary succession, the patent was collected, merit and fault weighed, lineage verified, and generational descent or reduction ranked. For native officials, succession eligibility was investigated and referred to Selection for proposed appointment. Pacification commissioners, supervisors, administrators, and chiefs commanding native troops fell under the Ministry of War. For yin privilege, early Ming practice allowed officials from first through seventh rank to secure one son's inherited salary. In 1383, yin privilege rules for officials' descendants were codified. A principal first-rank official's son received principal fifth rank. A secondary first-rank official's son received secondary fifth rank. A principal second-rank official's son received principal sixth rank. A secondary second-rank official's son received secondary sixth rank. A principal third-rank official's son received principal seventh rank. A secondary third-rank official's son received secondary seventh rank. A principal fourth-rank official's son received principal eighth rank. A secondary fourth-rank official's son received secondary eighth rank. A principal fifth-rank official's son received principal ninth rank. A secondary fifth-rank official's son received secondary ninth rank. A principal sixth-rank official's son was placed in upper-tier posts outside the regular rank stream. A secondary sixth-rank official's son was placed in middle-tier posts outside the regular rank stream. A seventh-rank official's son was placed in lower-tier posts outside the regular rank stream. Restrictions tightened over time: only capital officials of third rank or higher who finished review with outstanding merit could secure one son's yin appointment as an office student; sons admitted by special grace were grace students. In enfeoffment and posthumous honors, posthumous titles for dukes, marquises, and earls each rose one grade. Third-rank officials and above with exceptional records, and those who died remonstrating, died holding their integrity, or fell in battle, all received posthumous offices. Active appointees first received honorary titles; after one review cycle, capital officials and outer officials ranked highest in review each received a patent for their own rank. From seventh rank upward, officials could extend honors to ancestors. Fifth rank and above received grand patents (gao); sixth rank and below received simple patents (chi). First rank: four credential scrolls covering three generations. Second and third rank: three scrolls for two generations. Fourth through seventh rank: two scrolls for one generation. Eighth rank and below within the stream received one scroll for themselves alone. First-rank scrolls used jade rollers; second rank rhinoceros horn; third and fourth gilded silver; fifth rank and below horn. Ancestors through the great-grandfather were titled to match the descendant's rank. Dukes, marquises, and earls counted as first rank. Inner and outer titled ladies took the rank of husband or son. Living honors were enfeoffments; posthumous ones were grants. Prior condemnation blocked any grant. The civil honorary ladder had forty-two steps, tied to review cycles. Principal first rank began as Grand Mentor for Splendid Fortune with Special Advancement and rose to Grand Mentor for Imperial Splendor with Special Advancement. Secondary first rank began as Grand Mentor for Splendid Fortune and rose to Grand Mentor for Imperial Splendor. Principal second rank: Grand Mentor for Fostering Goodness, then Supporting Governance, with an additional step as Grand Mentor for Supporting Virtue. Secondary second rank: Grand Mentor of Central Service, then Universal Service, with an additional step as Grand Mentor of Correct Service. Principal third rank: Grand Mentor for Commendable Deliberation, then Penetrating Deliberation, with an additional step as Grand Mentor for Correct Deliberation. Secondary third rank: Subordinate Grand Mentor, then Grand Mentor, with an additional step as Senior Grand Mentor. Principal fourth rank: Grand Mentor for Central Accord, then Central Statutes, with an additional step as Grand Mentor for Central Deliberation. Secondary fourth rank: Grand Mentor of Court Procession, then Court Deliberation, with an additional step as Grand Mentor of Court Petition. Principal fifth rank: Grand Mentor for Presenting Deliberation, then Grand Mentor for Supporting Governance. Secondary fifth rank: Grand Mentor for Court Instruction, then Grand Mentor for Direct Service. Principal sixth rank: Gentleman for Upholding Rectitude, then Gentleman for Upholding Virtue. Secondary sixth rank: Gentleman for Upholding Affairs, then Gentleman of the Forest of Scholars; clerical entrants of proven ability received Gentleman for Proclaiming Virtue. Principal seventh rank: Gentleman for Upholding Affairs, then Gentleman of Literary Grove; able clerical entrants received Gentleman for Proclaiming Deliberation. Secondary seventh rank: Gentleman for Following Service, then Gentleman for Summoned Service. Principal eighth rank: Gentleman for Advancing Merit, then Gentleman for Cultivating Office. Secondary eighth rank: Assistant Gentleman for Advancing Merit, then Assistant Gentleman for Cultivating Office. Principal ninth rank: Gentleman Awaiting Appointment, then Gentleman for Ascending Office. Secondary ninth rank: Assistant Gentleman Awaiting Appointment, then Assistant Gentleman for Ascending Office. Outer titled ladies had nine ranks of title. A duke's consort was Lady of [State]. A marquis's consort was Lady of [Marquisate]. An earl's consort was Lady of [Earldom]. First rank: Lady; later, First-Rank Lady. Second rank: Lady. Third rank: Lady of Cultivated Virtue (Shuren). Fourth rank: Lady of Respectful Bearing (Gongren). Fifth rank: Lady of Easy Grace (Yiren). Sixth rank: Lady of Tranquil Bearing (Anren). Seventh rank: Lady of Tender Youth (Ruren). Titles granted through descendants' honors took the prefix "Grand-"; not while the husband still lived. Grant rounds: seventh through sixth rank once each; fifth rank once; fourth rank once in the original rules, later dropped. Third, second, and first rank: one round each. Three mothers could not be honored at once; when two qualified, the higher rank applied. If the father's rank exceeded the son's, honors advanced one grade. Halted paternal grants and sons given in adoption could shift honors elsewhere. With the principal wife alive, the birth mother received no title; the wife could not be honored before the birth mother. Only one principal wife and one successor wife could receive titles. Corruption after grant triggered revocation.
17
稽勳,掌勳級、名籍、喪養之事,以贊尚書。 凡文勳十。 正一品,左、右柱國。 從一品,柱國。 正二品,正治上卿。 從二品,正治卿。 正三品,資治尹。 從三品,資治少尹。 正四品,贊治尹。 從四品,贊治少尹。 正五品,修正庶尹。 從五品,協正庶尹。 自五品以上,曆再考,乃授勳。 凡百官遷除、降調皆開寫年甲、鄉貫、出身。 每歲十二月貼黃,春秋清黃,皆赴內府。 有故,揭而去之。 凡父母年七十,無兄弟,得歸養。 凡三年喪,解職守制,糾擿其奪喪、匿喪、短喪者。 惟欽天監官奔喪三月復任。
Merit Review handled merit grades, name registers, and mourning support for the Minister. There were ten civil honorific ranks. Principal first rank: Left and Right Pillar of the State. Secondary first rank: Pillar of the State. Principal second rank: Chief Minister of Correct Governance. Secondary second rank: Minister of Correct Governance. Principal third rank: Vice Minister of Supporting Governance. Secondary third rank: Junior Vice Minister of Supporting Governance. Principal fourth rank: Vice Minister of Assisting Governance. Secondary fourth rank: Junior Vice Minister of Assisting Governance. Principal fifth rank: Rectifying Vice Minister of the Masses. Secondary fifth rank: Coordinating Rectifying Vice Minister of the Masses. Fifth rank and above required two completed review cycles before honors were granted. Every appointment, transfer, demotion, or reassignment recorded age, native place, and path of entry. Yellow personnel slips went up each twelfth month; spring and autumn clearing of registers followed—all to the inner offices. On special cause, slips were posted and then withdrawn. Officials whose parents were seventy and who had no brothers could request leave to support them at home. Three-year mourning required leaving office; seizing, concealing, or shortening mourning drew impeachment. Only Astronomy Directorate officials returned after three months' mourning leave.
18
考功,掌官吏考課、黜陟之事,以贊尚書。 凡內外官給由,三年初考,六年再考,並引請,九年通考,奏請綜其稱職、平常、不稱職而陟黜之。 陟無過二等,降無過三等,其甚者黜之、罪之。 京官六年一察,察以巳、亥年。 五品下考察其不職者,降罰有差; 四品上自陳,去留取旨。 外官三年一朝,朝以辰、戌、醜、未年。 前期移撫、按官,各綜其屬三年內功過狀注考,匯送覆核以定黜陟。 倉場庫官一年考,巡檢三年考,教官九年考。 府州縣官之考,以地之繁簡為差。 吏之考,三、六年滿,移驗封司撥用。 九年滿,又試授官。 惟王官及欽天、御用等監官不考。 凡內外官彈章,稽其功過,擬去留以請上裁。 薦舉、保留,則核其政績旌異焉。
Performance Evaluation handled review, demotion, and promotion in support of the Minister. All officials received credentials on a nine-year cycle: review at three and six years, then a comprehensive ninth-year memorial classifying them competent, ordinary, or incompetent for promotion or demotion. Promotions capped at two grades, demotions at three; the worst cases meant dismissal and criminal penalty. Capital officials faced inspection every six years, in si and hai years. Fifth rank and below: incompetence brought graded demotion or penalty; Fourth rank and above submitted self-assessments; the throne decided retention or removal. Outer officials attended court every three years, in chen, xu, chou, and wei years. Provincial commissioners beforehand compiled three-year merit and fault dossiers on subordinates, submitted them for review, and sent them back for final promotion and demotion decisions. Granary officers: annual review; patrol inspectors: three years; education officers: nine years. Prefecture, subprefecture, and county reviews varied with local workload. Clerks completing three- and six-year reviews moved to Seals and Enfeoffments for assignment. After nine years they sat examinations and received formal office. Royal household staff and Astronomy, Imperial Workshops, and similar directorate officials were exempt from review. Impeachment memorials weighed merit and fault and proposed retention or removal for imperial approval. Recommendations and retentions required verified outstanding records for special honors.
19
明初,設四部於中書省,分掌錢鼓禮儀、刑名、營造之務。 洪武元年始置吏、戶、禮、兵、刑、工六部,設尚書、侍郎、郎中、員外郎、主事,尚書正三品,侍郎正四品,郎中正五品,員外郎正六品,主事正七品。 仍隸中書省。 六年,部設尚書二人,侍郎二人。 吏部設總部、司勳、考功三屬部,部設郎中、員外郎各一人,主事各二人。 十三年,罷中書省,仿《周官》六卿之制,升六部秩,各設尚書、侍郎一人。 惟戶部侍郎二人。 每部分四屬部,吏部屬部加司封。 每屬部設郎中、員外郎、主事各一人,尋增侍郎一人。 二十二年,改總部為選部。 二十九年,定為文選、驗封、稽勳、考功四司並五部屬,皆稱清吏司。 建文中,改六部尚書為正一品,設左、右侍中,正二品位侍郎上,除去諸司清吏字。 成祖初,悉復舊制。
Early Ming: four departments in the Secretariat handled currency, ritual music, penal matters, and construction. Hongwu year 1 (1368) created the six ministries—Personnel, Revenue, Rites, War, Punishments, Works—with Ministers through Section Chiefs ranked from third to seventh rank. They still reported to the Secretariat. In 1373 each ministry gained two Ministers and two Vice Ministers. Personnel set up General, Honors, and Performance Evaluation sub-departments, each with one Director, one Vice Director, and two Section Chiefs. In 1380 the Secretariat was abolished; following the Zhou Six Ministers model, ministry ranks rose and each ministry had one Minister and one Vice Minister. Revenue alone kept two Vice Ministers. Each ministry split into four sub-departments; Personnel added Seals and Enfeoffments. Each sub-department had one director, one vice director, and one section chief; a vice minister was added soon after. In 1389 the General Bureau became the Selection Bureau. In 1396 it was fixed as Document Selection, Seals and Enfeoffments, Honors Review, and Performance Evaluation, plus five sub-departments—all called Clear Officials Bureaus. Under Jianwen, ministry ministers rose to first rank; left and right chamberlains at second rank sat above vice ministers; 'Clear Officials' was dropped from bureau titles. At Yongle's accession, the old system was fully restored.
20
按吏部尚書,表率百僚,進退庶官,銓衡重地,其禮數殊異,無與並者。 永樂初,選翰林官入直內閣。 其後大學士楊士奇等加至三孤,兼尚書銜,然品敘列尚書蹇義、夏原吉下。 景泰中,左都御史王文升吏部尚書,兼學士,入內閣,其班位猶以原銜為序次。 自弘治六年二月,內宴,大學士丘濬遂以太子太保、禮部尚書,居太子太保、吏部尚書王恕之上。 其後由侍郎、詹事入閣者,班皆列六部上矣。
The Minister of Personnel set the tone for the bureaucracy, appointed and dismissed officials, and held a selection post of unmatched ceremonial standing. Early in Yongle, Hanlin scholars were posted to the Grand Secretariat. Later Yang Shiqi and other grand secretaries reached the Three Solitaries and held concurrent minister titles, yet in precedence they still ranked below Ministers Jian Yi and Xia Yuanji. Under Jingtai, Left Censor-in-Chief Wang Wen became Minister of Personnel and entered the Grand Secretariat as concurrent academician; his seating still followed his original title. From the second month of Hongzhi 6 (1493), at an inner banquet, Grand Secretary Qiu Jun as Junior Mentor and Minister of Rites ranked above Junior Mentor Wang Su, Minister of Personnel. Afterward, vice ministers and household masters who entered the Grand Secretariat ranked above all six ministries.
21
戶部附總督倉場
Ministry of Revenue — with appended section on the Director-General of Granary Depots
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戶部。 尚書一人,正二品; 左、右侍郎各一人,正三品。 其屬,司務廳,司務二人,從九品; 浙江、江西、湖廣、陝西、廣東、山東、福建、河南、山西、四川、廣西、貴州、雲南十三清吏司,各郎中一人,正五品。 宣德以後增設山西司郎中三人,陝西、貴州、雲南三司郎中各二人,山東司郎中一人。 員外郎一人,從五品。 宣德七年增設四川、雲南二司員外郎各一人,後仍革。 主事二人,正六品。 宣德以後增設雲南司主事七人,浙江、江西、湖廣、陝西、福建、河南、山西七司主事各二人,山東、四川、貴州三司主事各一人。 照磨所,照磨一人,正八品。 檢校一人,正九品。 所轄寶鈔提舉司,提舉一人,正八品,副提舉一人。 正九品,典史一人,後副提舉、典史俱革。 鈔紙局,大使、副使各一人,後革副使。 印鈔局,大使、副使各一人,後俱革。 寶鈔廣惠庫,大使一人,正九品,副使二人,從九品,嘉靖中革。 廣積庫,大使一人,正九品,副使一人,從九品,典史一人,嘉靖中,副使、典史俱革。 贓罰庫,大使一人,正九品,副使二人,從九品,嘉靖中革。 甲字、乙字、丙字、丁字、戊字形檔,大使五人,正九品,副使六人,從九品,丁字形檔二人,嘉靖中革一人,並革乙字、戊字二庫副使。 廣盈庫,大使一人,從九品,副使二人。 嘉靖中革。 外承運庫,大使二人,正九品副使二人,從九品。 後大使、副使俱革。 承運庫,大使一人,正九品。 副使一人,從九品。 嘉靖中革。 行用庫,大使、副使各一人,後俱革。 太倉銀庫,大使、副使各一人。 嘉靖中,革副使。 御馬倉,大使一人,從九品,副使一人。 軍儲倉,大使一人,從九品。 副使一人,後大使、副使俱革。 長安、東安、西安、北安門倉,各副使一人,東安門倉舊二人,萬曆八年革一人。 張家灣鹽倉檢校批驗所,大使、副使各一人。 隆慶六年並革。
Ministry of Revenue. One minister, principal second rank; One left and one right vice minister, each principal third rank. Subordinates included the Registry Office with two registrars at auxiliary ninth rank; Thirteen provincial Clear Officials Bureaus—Zhejiang through Yunnan—each with one bureau director at fifth rank. After Xuande, Shanxi had three directors; Shaanxi, Guizhou, and Yunnan each had two; Shandong gained one more. One vice director, secondary fifth rank. In Xuande 7 (1432) Sichuan and Yunnan each gained a vice director; both were later abolished. Two section chiefs, principal sixth rank. After Xuande, Yunnan gained seven section chiefs; seven bureaus gained a second chief each; Shandong, Sichuan, and Guizhou each gained one. Document Revision Office: one reviser at eighth rank. One inspector, principal ninth rank. It oversaw the Paper Currency Directorate: one director at eighth rank and one vice director. The vice director was ninth rank with one registry clerk; both posts were later abolished. Paper Stock Bureau: one commissioner and one vice commissioner; the vice post was later cut. Note Printing Bureau: one commissioner and one vice commissioner; both were later abolished. Broad Beneficence Paper Currency Depot: one ninth-rank commissioner and two auxiliary-rank vice commissioners—abolished under Jiajing. Broad Accumulation Depot: one commissioner, one vice commissioner, one clerk—Jiajing abolished the vice commissioner and clerk. Confiscation and Fine Depot: one commissioner and two vice commissioners—abolished under Jiajing. Five stem-named archives (Jia through Wu): five commissioners and six vice commissioners; Ding had two commissioners until Jiajing cut one and abolished Yi and Wu vice commissioners. Broad Surplus Depot: one commissioner and two vice commissioners. Abolished under Jiajing. Outer Transport Receipt Depot: two commissioners at ninth rank and two vice commissioners at auxiliary ninth rank. Later all commissioners and vice commissioners were abolished. Transport Receipt Depot: one commissioner at ninth rank. One vice commissioner, auxiliary ninth rank. Abolished under Jiajing. Circulation Depot: one commissioner and one vice commissioner; both were later abolished. Taicang Silver Depot: one commissioner and one vice commissioner. Jiajing abolished the vice commissioner. Imperial Horse Granary: one commissioner and one vice commissioner. Military Stores Granary: one commissioner at auxiliary ninth rank. One vice commissioner; later both posts were abolished. Chang'an, Dong'an, Xi'an, and North Gate granaries each had one vice commissioner; Dong'an Gate once had two until Wanli 8 (1580) cut one. Zhangjiawan Salt Granary Inspection Office: one commissioner and one vice commissioner. Longqing 6 (1572) abolished both posts.
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尚書,掌天下戶口、田賦之政令。 侍郎貳之。 稽版籍、歲會、賦役實徵之數,以下所司。 十年攢黃冊,差其戶上下畸零之等,以周知其登耗。 凡田土之侵佔、投獻、詭寄、影射有禁,人戶之隱漏、逃亡、朋充、花分有禁,繼嗣、婚姻不如令有禁。 皆綜核而糾正之。 天子耕耤,則尚書進耒耜。 以墾荒業貧民,以佔籍附流民,以限田裁異端之民,以圖帳抑兼併之民,以樹藝課農官,以芻地給馬牧,以召佃盡地利,以銷豁清賠累,以撥給廣恩澤,以給除差優復,以鈔錠節賞賚,以讀法訓吏民,以權量和市糴,以時估平物價,以積貯之政恤民困,以山澤、陂池、關市、坑冶之政佐邦國,贍軍輸,以支兌、改兌之規利漕運,以蠲減、振貸、均糴、捕蝗之令憫災荒,以輸轉、屯種、糴買、召納之法實邊儲,以祿廩之制馭貴賤。 洪武二十五年,重定內外文武官歲給祿俸之制。 正一品,一千四十四石。 從一品,八百八十八石。 正二品,七百三十二石。 從二品,五百七十六石。 正三品,四百二十石。 從三品,三百一十二石。 正四品,二百八十八石。 從四品,二百五十二石。 正五品,一百九十二石。 從五品,一百六十八石。 正六品,一百二十石。 從六品,九十六石。 正七品,九十石。 從七品,八十四石。 正八品,七十八石。 從八品,七十二石。 正九品,六十六石。 從九品,六十石。 未入流,三十六石。 俱米鈔本折兼支。
The minister governed household registers and land-tax policy for the realm. Vice ministers assisted him. They audited registers, annual accounts, and actual tax and corvée collections, then relayed orders downward. Every ten years they compiled yellow registers, ranking households upper, lower, or marginal to track growth and decline. Field encroachment, dedicatory gifts, false and shadow registration were banned; concealed households, flight, collusion, and household splitting were banned; illegal succession and marriage were banned. All were audited and corrected. When the emperor plowed the sacred field, the minister presented plow and hoe. They opened wasteland for the poor, registered migrants, limited fields against heterodox holders, and used cadasters to curb land concentration; they set planting duties for agriculture officers, allotted fodder lands for horse herds, and summoned tenants to use land fully; they remitted debts, extended grants and exemptions, regulated rewards in notes and silver, taught law to officials and subjects, and used weights, market purchases, and price appraisals to steady the economy; granary policy eased hardship; revenue from mountains, ponds, passes, markets, and mines supported the state and army; exchange rules aided the grain transport; disaster orders—exemptions, relief loans, equalized purchase, locust control—addressed famine; transport, garrison farming, purchases, and levies stocked the borders; salary scales kept rank in order. In 1392 Hongwu reset annual salary grain for all civil and military officials. First rank: 1,044 shi of grain. Secondary first rank: 888 shi. Second rank: 732 shi. Secondary second rank: 576 shi. Third rank: 420 shi. Secondary third rank: 312 shi. Fourth rank: 288 shi. Secondary fourth rank: 252 shi. Fifth rank: 192 shi. Secondary fifth rank: 168 shi. Sixth rank: 120 shi. Secondary sixth rank: 96 shi. Seventh rank: 90 shi. Secondary seventh rank: 84 shi. Eighth rank: 78 shi. Secondary eighth rank: 72 shi. Ninth rank: 66 shi. Secondary ninth rank: 60 shi. Unranked posts: 36 shi. All were paid in a mix of rice, paper notes, and grain equivalents.
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十三司,各掌其分省之事,兼領所分兩京、直隸貢賦,及諸司、衛所祿俸,邊鎮糧餉,並各倉場鹽課、鈔關。 浙江司帶管在京羽林右、留守左、龍虎、應天、龍驤、義勇右、康陵七衛,神機營。 江西司帶管在京旗手、金吾前、金吾後、金吾左、濟陽五衛。 湖廣司帶管國子監、教坊司,在京羽林前、通州、和陽、豹韜、永陵、昭陵六衛,及興都留守司。 福建司帶管順天府,在京燕山左、武驤左、武驤右、驍騎右、虎賁右、留守後、武成中、茂陵八衛,五軍、巡捕、勇士、四衛各營,及北直隸永平、保定、河間、真定、順德、廣平、大名七府,延慶、保安二州,大寧都司、萬全都司,並北直隸所轄各衛所,山口、永盈、通濟各倉。 山東司帶管在京錦衣、大寧中、大寧前三衛及遼東都司,兩淮、兩浙、長蘆、河東、山東、福建各鹽運司,四川、廣東、海北、雲南黑鹽井、白鹽井、安寧、五井各鹽課提舉司,陝西靈州鹽課司,江西南贛鹽稅。 山西司帶管在京燕山前、鎮南、興武、永清左、永清右五衛,及宣府、大同、山西各鎮。 河南司帶管在京府軍前、燕山右、大興左、裕陵四衛,牧馬千戶所及直隸潼關衛、蒲州千戶所。 陝西司帶管宗人府、五軍都督府、六部、都察院、通政司、大理寺、詹事府、翰林院、太僕寺、鴻臚寺、尚寶司、六科、中書舍人、行人司、欽天監、太醫院、五城兵馬司、京衛武學、文思院、皮作局,在京留守右、長陵、獻陵、景陵四衛,神樞、隨侍二營,及延綏、寧夏、甘肅、固原各鎮。 四川司帶管在京府軍後、金吾右、騰驤左、騰驤右、武德、神策、忠義後、武功中、武功左、武功右、彭城十一衛及應天府、南京四十九衛,南直隸安慶、蘇州、松江、常州、鎮江、徽州、甯國、池州、太平、廬州、鳳陽、淮安、揚州十三府,徐、滁、和、廣德四州,中都留守司並南直隸所轄各衛所。 廣東司帶管在京羽林左、留守中、鷹揚、神武左、義勇前、義勇後六衛,蕃牧、奠靖二千戶所。 廣西司帶管太常寺、光祿寺、神樂觀、犧牲所、司牲司、太倉銀庫、內府十庫,在京瀋陽左、瀋陽右、留守前、寬河、蔚州左五衛,及二十三馬房倉,各象房、牛房倉,京府各草場。 雲南司帶管在京府軍、府軍左、府軍右、虎賁左、忠義右、忠義前、泰陵七衛,及大軍倉、皇城四門倉、並在外臨清、德州、徐州、淮安、天津各倉。 貴州司帶管上林苑監,寶鈔提舉司,都稅司,正陽門、張家灣各宣課司,德勝門、安定門各稅課司,崇文門分司,在京濟州、會州、富峪三衛,及薊州、永平、密雲、昌平、易州各鎮,臨清、許墅、九江、淮安、北新、揚州、河西務各鈔關。
Thirteen bureaus each ran their province plus assigned capital and direct-rule revenues, office and guard salaries, border rations, and granaries, salt, and toll posts. Zhejiang oversaw seven capital guards and the Divine Engine Camp. Jiangxi oversaw five capital guards: Banner Hand and the four Golden Guards plus Jiyang. Huguang oversaw the Imperial Academy, Music Office, six capital guards, and the Xingdu Rear Garrison. Fujian oversaw Shuntian, eight capital guards, Five Armies and related camps, seven North Zhili prefectures, two subprefectures, Daning and Wanquan commands, all North Zhili guards, and three granaries. Shandong oversaw Brocade Clothes and Daning guards, Liaodong command, major salt transport commissions, Yunnan and other salt directorates, Lingzhou salt, and southern Gan salt tax. Shanxi oversaw five capital guards and the Xuanfu, Datong, and Shanxi garrisons. Henan oversaw four capital guards, the horse pasture battalion, Tongguan Guard, and Puzhou Battalion. Shaanxi oversaw the imperial clan court, Five Armies, six ministries, censorate, transmission, judicial review, heir apparent's household, Hanlin, stud, ceremonial, seals, supervising offices, drafters, messengers, astronomy, medicine, capital cavalry, military academy, crafts institutes, four capital guards, two camps, and four northwest garrisons. Sichuan oversaw eleven capital guards, Yingtian, forty-nine Nanjing guards, thirteen South Zhili prefectures, four subprefectures, the Central Capital command, and all South Zhili guards. Guangdong oversaw six capital guards and the Foreign Pasturage and Dianjing battalions. Guangxi oversaw sacrifices, entertainments, music, victims offices, Taicang silver, ten inner storehouses, five capital guards, twenty-three horse granaries, elephant and cattle granaries, and capital pastures. Yunnan oversaw seven capital guards, the Great Army and four imperial-city gate granaries, and Linqing, Dezhou, Xuzhou, Huai'an, and Tianjin granaries. Guizhou oversaw the upper forest park, paper currency, metropolitan tax, gate tax offices, three capital guards, five garrisons, and seven toll stations.
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條為四科:曰民科,主所屬省府州縣地理、人物、圖志、古今沿革、山川險易、土地肥瘠寬狹、戶口物產多寡登耗之數; 曰度支,主會計夏稅、秋糧、存留、起運及賞賚、祿秩之經費; 曰金科,主市舶、魚鹽、茶鈔稅課,及贓罰之收折; 曰倉科,主漕運、軍儲出納料糧。 凡差三等,由吏部選授曰注差,疏名上請曰題差,答刂委曰部差。 或三年,或一年,或三月而代。
Four sections: Civil Affairs tracked geography, people, gazetteers, terrain, land, households, and products for its province; Revenue Expenditure handled summer tax, autumn grain, retained and forwarded grain, rewards, and salaries; Metal and Tax handled maritime trade, fish, salt, tea, note levies, and fines; Granary handled transport grain, military stores, and grain receipts and issues. Assignments came in three kinds: Personnel selection (registered), imperial memorial (titled), and ministry order (ministry). Terms ran three years, one year, or three months.
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初,洪武元年置戶部。 六年,設尚書二人,侍郎二人。 分為五科:一科,二科,三科,四科,總科。 每科設郎中、員外郎各一人,主事四人。 惟總科郎中、員外郎各二人,主事五人。 八年,中書省奏戶、刑、工三部事繁,戶部五科,每科設尚書、侍郎各一人,郎中、員外郎各二人,主事五人,內會總科主事六人,外牽照科主事二人,司計四人,照磨二人,管勾一人。 又置在京行用庫,隸戶部。 設大使一人,副使二人,典史一人,都監二人。 十三年,升部秩,定設尚書一人,侍郎二人。 分四屬部:總部,度支部,金部,倉部。 每部郎中、員外郎各一人。 總部主事四人,度支部、金部主事各三人,倉部主事二人。 尋罷在京行用庫。 二十二年,改總部為民部。 二十三年,又分四部為河南、北平、山東、山西、陝西、浙江、江西、湖廣、廣東、廣西、四川、福建十二部。 四川部兼領雲南。 部設郎中、員外郎各一人,主事二人,各領一布政司戶口、錢糧等事,量其繁簡,帶管京畿。 每一部內仍分四科管理。 又置照磨、檢校各一人,稽文書出入之數而程督之。 十九年,復置寶鈔提舉司。 洪武七年,初置寶鈔提舉司,提舉一人,正七品; 副提舉一人,從七品; 吏目一人,省注。 所屬鈔紙、印鈔二局,各大使一人,正八品; 副使一人,正九品; 典史一人,省注。 寶鈔、行用二庫,各大使二人,正八品; 副使二人,正九品; 典史一人,省注。 尋升提舉為正四品。 十三年罷,至是年復置,秩正八品。 二十六年,令浙江、江西、蘇鬆人毋得任戶部。 二十九年,改十二部為十二清吏司。 建文中,仍為四司。 餘見吏部。 成祖復舊制。 永樂元年,改北平司為北京司。 十八年,革北京司,設雲南、貴州、交阯三清吏司。 宣德十年,革交阯司,定為十三司。 其後歸併職掌。 凡宗室、勳戚、文武官吏之廩祿,陝西司兼領之。 北直隸府州衛所,福建司兼領之。 南直隸府州衛所,四川司兼領之。 天下鹽課,山東司兼領之。 關稅,貴州司兼領之。 漕運及臨、德諸倉,雲南司兼領之。 御馬、象房諸倉,廣西司兼領之。 明初,嘗置司農司,尋罷吳元年置司農司。 卿,正三品; 少卿,正四品; 丞,正五品; 庸田署令,正五品; 典簿、司計,正七品。 洪武元年罷。 三年復置司農司,開治所於河南,設卿一人,少卿二人,丞四人,主簿、錄事各二人。 四年又罷。 後置判錄司,亦罷。 洪武十三年置判錄司,掌在京官吏俸給、文移、勘合。 設判錄一人,正七品; 副判二人,從七品。 尋改判錄為司正,副判為左,右司副。 十八年罷。 皆不隸戶部。
Initially, Hongwu 1 (1368) established the Ministry of Revenue. In 1373 it gained two ministers and two vice ministers. It split into five sections: First, Second, Third, Fourth, and General. Each section had one director, one vice director, and four section chiefs. Only the General Section had two directors, two vice directors, and five section chiefs. In 1375 the Secretariat reported that the Revenue, Justice, and Works ministries were overburdened. For the Revenue Ministry's five sections, each gained a minister and vice minister, two directors, two vice directors, and five section chiefs, plus six chiefs in the internal General Section, two in the external Reference Section, four accounting clerks, two revisers, and one controller. A capital circulating-currency depot was also established under the Ministry of Revenue. It had one commissioner, two vice commissioners, one registry clerk, and two chief overseers. In 1380 the ministry's rank was raised, with one minister and two vice ministers as the fixed establishment. It split into four sub-departments: General, Revenue Standards, Bullion, and Granaries. Each sub-department had one director and one vice director. General had four section chiefs; Revenue Standards and Bullion each had three; Granaries had two. The capital circulating-currency depot was soon abolished. In 1389 the General sub-department was renamed the People sub-department. In 1390 the four sub-departments were reorganized into twelve regional departments: Henan, Beiping, Shandong, Shanxi, Shaanxi, Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Huguang, Guangdong, Guangxi, Sichuan, and Fujian. The Sichuan department also oversaw Yunnan. Each department had one director, one vice director, and two section chiefs, each handling population registers, tax grain, and related matters for one provincial administration commission according to workload, with concurrent oversight of the capital region where appropriate. Within each department, affairs were still managed through four internal sections. One reviser and one inspector were also appointed to audit document traffic and schedule and supervise processing. In 1386 the Paper Currency Directorate was re-established. Hongwu 7 (1374) first established the Paper Currency Directorate, with one director at principal seventh rank; one vice director, auxiliary seventh rank; and one registry clerk, provincially nominated. Under it were the Paper-Making and Note-Printing bureaus, each with one eighth-rank commissioner; one ninth-rank vice commissioner; and one registry clerk, provincially nominated. The Paper Currency and Circulating Currency depots each had two eighth-rank commissioners; two ninth-rank vice commissioners; and one registry clerk, provincially nominated. The directorate head was soon raised to principal fourth rank. It had been abolished in 1380; now it was restored at principal eighth rank. In 1393 natives of Zhejiang, Jiangxi, and the Suzhou-Songjiang region were barred from appointments in the Ministry of Revenue. In 1396 the twelve departments became twelve Clear Officials Bureaus. Under the Jianwen reign they were again reduced to four bureaus. The rest is described under the Ministry of Personnel. The Yongle Emperor restored the former system. In Yongle 1 (1403) the Beiping Bureau became the Beijing Bureau. In Yongle 18 (1420) the Beijing Bureau was abolished and bureaus for Yunnan, Guizhou, and Jiaozhi were added. In Xuande 10 (1435) the Jiaozhi Bureau was abolished, fixing the ministry at thirteen bureaus. Thereafter overlapping duties were consolidated. Stipends for the imperial clan, meritorious nobles, and civil and military officials fell to the Shaanxi Bureau. North Zhili prefectures, subprefectures, guards, and battalions were overseen by the Fujian Bureau. Those of South Zhili were overseen by the Sichuan Bureau. Empire-wide salt revenue was overseen by the Shandong Bureau. Transit duties were overseen by the Guizhou Bureau. Grain transport and the Linqing, Dezhou, and related granaries were overseen by the Yunnan Bureau. Imperial horse and elephant house depots were overseen by the Guangxi Bureau. Early in the dynasty a Ministry of Agriculture was briefly established, then abolished; it was set up again in the inaugural Wu year (1367). a minister, principal third rank; a vice minister, principal fourth rank; an assistant minister, principal fifth rank; a Fallow Fields Office director, principal fifth rank; and a registrar and accounting clerk, principal seventh rank. It was abolished in Hongwu 1 (1368). In 1370 it was restored with its seat in Henan: one minister, two vice ministers, four assistant ministers, and two registrars and two recorders. It was abolished again in 1371. A Receipt Verification Office was later established and also abolished. Hongwu 13 (1380) established the Receipt Verification Office to handle capital officials' stipends, paperwork, and verification tallies. It had one verifier at principal seventh rank; and two vice verifiers at auxiliary seventh rank. The verifier was soon renamed director, and the vice verifiers became left and right assistant directors. It was abolished in 1385. None of these fell under the Ministry of Revenue.
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總督倉場一人,掌督在京及通州等處倉場糧儲。 洪武初,置軍儲倉二十所,各設官司其事。 永樂中,遷都北京,置京倉及通州諸倉,以戶部司員經理之。 宣德五年,始命李昶為戶部尚書,專督其事,遂為定制。 以後,或尚書,或侍郎,俱不治部事。 嘉靖十五年,又命兼督西苑農事。 隆慶初,罷兼理。 萬曆二年,另撥戶部主事一人陪庫,每日偕管庫主事收放銀兩,季終更替。 九年裁革,命本部侍郎分理之。 十一年復設。 二十五年,以右侍郎張養蒙督遼餉。 四十七年,增設督餉侍郎。 崇禎間,有督遼餉、寇餉、宣大餉,增設三四人。 天啟五年,又增設督理錢法侍郎。
One director-general of granary depots oversaw grain storage at the capital, Tongzhou, and other depot sites. Early in the Hongwu reign twenty military reserve granaries were set up, each with its own managing office. After the Yongle move to Beijing, capital and Tongzhou granaries were established, managed by Revenue Ministry bureau staff. In Xuande 5 (1430) Li Chang became the first revenue minister appointed solely to supervise granaries, establishing a permanent practice. Thereafter, whether a minister or vice minister held the post, none handled ordinary ministry business. In Jiajing 15 (1536) the post also gained concurrent oversight of Western Park agriculture. Early in the Longqing reign that concurrent duty was dropped. In Wanli 2 (1574) an extra section chief was assigned to accompany treasury operations, daily assisting the vault chief in receiving and disbursing silver, with quarterly rotation. In Wanli 9 (1581) the post was abolished and vice ministers were assigned to share the duty. It was restored in Wanli 11 (1583). In Wanli 25 (1597) Right Vice Minister Zhang Yangmeng was put in charge of Liaodong provisions. In Wanli 47 (1619) an additional vice minister for provisions supervision was added. Under Chongzhen, supervisors were added for Liaodong, bandit-suppression, and Xuan-Da provisions, bringing the total to three or four such posts. In Tianqi 5 (1625) a vice minister for currency-law oversight was also added.
28
禮部。 尚書一人,正二品; 左、右侍郎各一人,正三品。 其屬,司務廳,司務二人,從九品; 儀制、祠祭、主客、精膳四清吏司,各郎中一人,正五品; 員外郎一人,從五品; 主事一人,正六品。 正統六年,增設儀制、祠祭二司主事各一人。 又增設儀制司主事一人,教習駙馬。 弘治五年增設主客司主事一人,提督會同館。 所轄,鑄印局,大使一人,副使二人。 萬曆九年革一人。
Ministry of Rites. One minister, principal second rank; One left and one right vice minister, each principal third rank. Subordinates included the Registry Office with two registrars at auxiliary ninth rank; four Clear Officials Bureaus—Ceremonial Regulations, Sacrificial Rites, Receiving Guests, and Refined Provisions—each with one bureau director at fifth rank; one vice director, auxiliary fifth rank; and one section chief at sixth rank. In Zhengtong 6 (1441) the Ceremonial Regulations and Sacrificial Rites bureaus each gained an additional section chief. Another Ceremonial Regulations section chief was added to instruct imperial sons-in-law. In Hongzhi 5 (1492) the Receiving Guests Bureau gained a section chief to supervise the Hall of Joint Harmonies. It oversaw the Seal-Casting Bureau: one commissioner and two vice commissioners. In Wanli 9 (1581) one post was cut.
29
尚書,掌天下禮儀、祭祀、宴饗、貢舉之政令。 侍郎佐之。
The minister directed empire-wide policy on ritual, sacrifice, banquets, and civil service examinations. Vice ministers assisted him.
30
儀制,分掌諸禮文、宗封、貢舉、學校之事。 天子即位,天子冠、大婚,冊立皇太子、妃嬪、太子妃,上慈宮徽號,朝賀、朝見,大饗、宴饗,大射、宴射,則舉諸儀注條上之。 若經筵、日講、耕耤、視學、策士、傳臚、巡狩、親徵、進曆、進春、獻俘、奏捷,若皇太子出閣、監國,親王讀書、之籓,皇子女誕生、命名,以及百官、命婦朝賀皇太子、后妃之禮,與諸王國之禮,皆頒儀式於諸司。 凡傳制、誥,開讀詔、敕、表、箋及上下百官往來移文,皆授以程式焉。 凡歲請封宗室王、郡王、將軍、中尉、妃、主、君,各以其親疏為等。 百官於宗王,具官稱名而不臣。 王臣稱臣於其王。 凡宗室、駙馬都尉、內命婦、蕃王之誥命,則會吏部以請。 凡諸司之印信,領其制度。 內閣,銀印,直紐,方一寸七分,厚六分,玉箸篆文。 徵西、鎮朔、平羌、平蠻等將軍,銀印,虎紐,方三寸三分,厚九分,柳葉篆文。 宗人府、五軍都督府,俱正一品,銀印,三臺,方三寸四分,厚一寸。 六部都察院、各都司,俱正二品,銀印,二臺,方三寸二分,厚八分。 衍聖公、張真人、中都留守司,俱正二品,各布政司,從二品,銀印,二臺,方三寸一分,厚七分。 後賜衍聖公三臺銀印。 順天、應天二府,俱正三品,銀印,方二寸九分,厚六分五釐。 通政司、大理寺、太常寺、詹事府、京衛、各按察司、各衛,俱正三品,苑馬寺、宣慰司,俱從三品,銅印,方二寸七分,厚六分。 太僕寺、光祿寺、各鹽運司,俱從三品,銅印,方二寸六分,厚五分五釐。 鴻臚寺各府,俱正四品,國子監、宣撫司,俱從四品,銅印,方二寸五分,厚五分。 翰林院、左右春坊、尚寶司、欽天監、太醫院、上林苑監、六部各司、宗人府經歷司、王府長史司、各衛千戶所,俱正五品,司經局、五府經歷司、招討司、安撫司,俱從五品,銅印,方二寸四分,厚四分五釐。 各州,從五品,銅印,方二寸三分,厚四分。 都察院經歷司、大理寺左右司、五城兵馬司,大興、宛平、上元、江寧四縣,僧錄司、道錄司、中都留守司經歷司、斷事司,各都司經歷司、斷事司,各衛百戶所、長官司,王府審理所,俱正六品,光祿司各署,各布政司經歷司、理問所,俱從六品,銅印,方二寸二分,厚三分五釐。 六科行人司、通政司經歷司、工部營繕所、太常寺典簿廳、上林苑監各署、各按察司經歷司、各縣,俱正七品,中書舍人,順天應天二府經歷司、京衛經歷司、光祿寺典簿廳、太僕寺主簿廳、詹事府主簿廳、各衛經歷司、各鹽運司經歷司、苑馬寺主簿廳、宣慰司經歷司,俱從七品,銅印,方二寸一分,厚三分。 戶部、刑部、都察院各照磨所,兵部典牧所,國子監繩愆廳、博士廳、典簿廳,鴻臚寺主簿廳,欽天監主簿廳,各布政司照磨所,各府經歷司,王府紀善、典寶、典膳、奉祀、良醫、工正各所,宣撫司經歷司,俱正從八品,銅印,方二寸,厚二分五釐。 刑部、都察院各司獄司,順天、應天二府照磨所、司獄司,鴻臚寺各署,國子監典籍廳,上林苑監典簿廳,內府寶鈔等各庫,御馬倉、草倉,會同館,織染所,文思院,皮作局,顏料局,鞍轡局,寶源局,軍器局,都稅司,教坊司,留守司司獄司,各都司司獄司,各按察司照磨所、司獄司,各府照磨所、司獄司,王府長史司典簿廳、教授、典義所,各府衛儒學、稅課司,陰陽學、醫學、僧綱司、道紀司、各巡檢司,俱正從九品,銅印,方一寸九分,厚二分二釐。 各州縣儒學、倉庫、驛遞、閘壩批驗所、抽分竹木局、河泊所、織染局、稅課局、陰陽學、醫學、僧正司、道正司、僧會司、道會司,俱未入流,銅條記,闊一寸三分,長二寸五分,厚二分一釐。 已上俱直紐,九疊篆文。 監察御史,銅印,直紐,有眼,方一寸五分,厚三分,八疊篆文。 總制、總督、巡撫並鎮守、公差等官,銅關防,直紐,闊一寸九分五釐,長二寸九分,厚三分,九疊篆文。 外國王印三等:曰金,曰鍍金,曰銀。 刓敝則換給之。 凡祥瑞,辨其名物,無請封禪以蕩上心。 以學校之政育士類,以貢舉之法羅賢才,以鄉飲酒禮教齒讓,以養老尊高年,以制度定等威,以恤貧廣仁政,以旌表示勸勵,以建言會議悉利病,以禁自宮遏奸民。
Ceremonial Regulations handled ritual texts, imperial enfeoffments, examinations, and schools. For the emperor's accession, capping, wedding, investiture of the crown prince, consorts, and crown prince's consort, bestowal of the empress dowager's honorific title, congratulatory and formal audiences, state banquets, and archery ceremonies, it compiled and submitted the relevant ritual protocols. For the classics lecture, daily lectures, ceremonial plowing, school inspections, scholar examinations, announcement of examination results, imperial tours, personal campaigns, presentation of the calendar and spring rites, presentation of captives and victory reports, the crown prince's coming-of-age or regency, princes' studies or departure to fiefs, birth and naming of imperial children, officials' and titled palace women's congratulatory rites toward the crown prince and consorts, and rites of the princely states—it promulgated the prescribed forms to the relevant offices. For promulgated rescripts and patents, the reading aloud of edicts, commands, tables, and petitions, and official correspondence at every level, it supplied the prescribed forms. Annual requests to enfeoff imperial princes, commandery princes, defenders, supporters, consorts, princesses, and noble ladies were graded by degree of kinship. Officials addressed imperial princes by full title and personal name but did not treat themselves as subjects. A prince's own officials styled themselves as his subjects. Patents for the imperial clan, imperial sons-in-law, palace women of rank, and foreign kings were prepared jointly with the Ministry of Personnel. It regulated the specifications for all official seals. The Grand Secretariat: silver seal with a straight knob, 1.7 cun square and 0.6 cun thick, in jade chopstick seal script. The Pacification-of-the-West, Quelling-the-North, Pacification-of-the-Qiang, and Pacification-of-the-Man generals, among others: silver seals with tiger knobs, 3.3 cun square and 0.9 cun thick, in willow-leaf seal script. The Imperial Clan Court and the Five Military Commissions, all principal first rank: silver seals with triple-platform knobs, 3.4 cun square and 1 cun thick. The Six Ministries, the Censorate, and each regional military commission, all principal second rank: silver seals with double-platform knobs, 3.2 cun square and 0.8 cun thick. The Duke of Yansheng, the Celestial Master Zhang, and the Zhongdu garrison commissioner, all principal second rank; each provincial administration commission, auxiliary second rank: silver seals with double-platform knobs, 3.1 cun square and 0.7 cun thick. Later the Duke of Yansheng was granted a triple-platform silver seal. The Shuntian and Yingtian prefectures, all principal third rank: silver seals, 2.9 cun square and 0.65 cun thick. The Office of Transmission, Court of Judicial Review, Court of Imperial Sacrifices, Household of the Heir Apparent, capital guards, each provincial surveillance commission, and each guard, all principal third rank; the Stud Farm Directorate and pacification commissions, all auxiliary third rank: bronze seals, 2.7 cun square and 0.6 cun thick. The Court of the Imperial Stud, Court of Imperial Entertainments, and each salt transport commission, all auxiliary third rank: bronze seals, 2.6 cun square and 0.55 cun thick. The Court of State Ceremonial and each prefecture, all principal fourth rank; the Directorate of Education and pacification offices, all auxiliary fourth rank: bronze seals, 2.5 cun square and 0.5 cun thick. The Hanlin Academy, Left and Right Spring Mansions, Court of Imperial Seals, Directorate of Astronomy, Imperial Medical Institute, Directorate of the Imperial Parks, each bureau of the Six Ministries, registry of the Imperial Clan Court, chief steward offices of princely establishments, and each guard battalion, all principal fifth rank; the Directorate of Classics, registries of the Five Commissions, pacification offices, and comfort offices, all auxiliary fifth rank: bronze seals, 2.4 cun square and 0.45 cun thick. Each prefecture, auxiliary fifth rank: bronze seals, 2.3 cun square and 0.4 cun thick. The Censorate registry, left and right offices of the Court of Judicial Review, Five-City Military Patrol Office, the four counties of Daxing, Wanping, Shangyuan, and Jiangning, Buddhist and Taoist registries, Zhongdu garrison registry, adjudication offices, registries and adjudication offices of each regional military commission, guard companies and native-official offices, and princely judicial review offices, all principal sixth rank; various sub-offices of the Court of Imperial Entertainments and registries and judicial inquiry offices of each provincial administration commission, all auxiliary sixth rank: bronze seals, 2.2 cun square and 0.35 cun thick. The Six Sections, Courier Office, Office of Transmission registry, Ministry of Works construction office, Court of Imperial Sacrifices registry, sub-offices of the Directorate of the Imperial Parks, surveillance commission registries, and each county, all principal seventh rank; secretariat drafters and registries of the Shuntian and Yingtian prefectures, capital guards, Court of Imperial Entertainments, Court of the Imperial Stud, Household of the Heir Apparent, guards, salt transport commissions, Stud Farm Directorate, and pacification commissions, all auxiliary seventh rank: bronze seals, 2.1 cun square and 0.3 cun thick. Rubbing offices of the Ministries of Revenue, Punishments, and Censorate, the Ministry of War herd office, Directorate of Education discipline, doctoral, and registry halls, registry halls of the Court of State Ceremonial and Directorate of Astronomy, provincial administration rubbing offices, prefectural registries, and princely tutor, treasury, commissary, sacrificial, medical, and works offices, plus pacification office registries, all eighth rank: bronze seals, 2 cun square and 0.25 cun thick. Punishments and Censorate prison offices; Shuntian and Yingtian rubbing and prison offices; Court of State Ceremonial sub-offices; Directorate of Education classics hall; imperial parks registry; inner-palace treasuries, horse and fodder stables, Hall of Joint Harmonies, dyeing works, literary crafts, leather, pigment, saddlery, treasure source, and armory bureaus; metropolitan tax and music offices; garrison and regional military prisons; surveillance and prefectural rubbing and prison offices; princely steward registry, instructor, and ritual offices; prefectural and guard Confucian schools and tax offices; yin-yang and medical schools; Buddhist and Taoist directorates; and inspection posts, all ninth rank: bronze seals, 1.9 cun square and 0.22 cun thick. Prefectural and county Confucian schools, storehouses, courier stations, sluice inspection posts, bamboo levy offices, fisheries, dyeing and tax offices, yin-yang and medical schools, and Buddhist and Taoist rectory and assembly offices, all outside the regular ranks: bronze strip seals 1.3 cun wide, 2.5 cun long, and 0.21 cun thick. All of the above had straight knobs and nine-fold seal script. Investigating censors: bronze seals with straight perforated knobs, 1.5 cun square and 0.3 cun thick, in eight-fold seal script. Grand coordinators, supreme commanders, touring grand coordinators, garrison commanders, and officials on special assignment: bronze travel credentials with straight knobs, 1.95 cun wide, 2.9 cun long, and 0.3 cun thick, in nine-fold seal script. Foreign kings' seals came in three grades: gold, gilt, and silver. Worn seals were replaced and reissued. For auspicious omens it identified their named objects and barred requests for feng and shan rites that would unsettle the emperor's mind. It nurtured scholars through school policy, gathered talent through examinations, taught precedence through village drinking rites, honored the aged through old-age care, fixed ranks through regulations, extended benevolence through poverty relief, encouraged merit through commemorative tablets, aired public concerns through memorials and conferences, and checked wicked commoners by banning self-castration.
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祠祭,分掌諸祀典及天文、國恤、廟諱之事。 凡祭有三,曰天神、地祇、人鬼。 辨其大祀、中祀、小祀而敬供之。 飭其壇鵒遺、祠廟、陵寢而數省閱之。 蠲其牢醴、玉帛、粢羹、水陸瘞燎之品,第其配侑、從食、功德之上下而秩舉之。 天下神祇在祀典者,則稽諸令甲,播之有司,以時謹其祀事。 督日官頒曆象於天下。 日月交食,移內外諸司救護。 有災異即奏聞,甚者乞祭告修省。 凡喪葬、祭祀,貴賤有等,皆定其程則而頒行之。 凡諡,帝十七字,後十三字,妃、太子、太子妃並二字,親王一字,郡王二字,以字為差。 勳戚、文武大臣請葬祭贈諡,必移所司,核行能,傅公論,定議以聞。 其侍從勤勞、忠諫死者,官品未應諡,皆得特賜。 凡帝后湣忌,祀於陵,輟朝不廢務。 凡天文、地理、醫藥、卜筮、師巫、音樂、僧道人,並籍領之,有興造妖妄者罪無赦。
Sacrificial Rites handled all sacrificial codes and matters of astronomy, national mourning, and tabooed temple names. Sacrifices fell into three kinds: spirits of Heaven, spirits of Earth, and spirits of the dead. It distinguished great, middle, and minor sacrifices and saw that they were reverently supplied. It maintained altar sites, ritual provisions, temples, and imperial tombs and inspected them regularly. It adjusted offerings of victims, wine, jade and silk, grain broth, and land and water burial and burning rites, and ranked accompanying spirits, secondary offerings, and merit recipients in proper order. For deities empire-wide listed in the sacrificial code, it checked the relevant statutes, notified responsible offices, and ensured sacrifices were performed on schedule. It supervised calendar officers in issuing calendars and astronomical tables empire-wide. On solar or lunar eclipses it notified inner and outer offices to perform rescue rites. On omens or anomalies it reported immediately; in serious cases it requested sacrificial announcements and imperial self-cultivation. For funerals and sacrifices, noble and humble each had their grade; it fixed the rules and promulgated them. Posthumous titles ran: emperors seventeen characters, empresses thirteen, consorts, crown prince, and crown prince's consort two each, imperial princes one, commandery princes two—graded by character count. Burial rites, sacrificial grants, or posthumous titles for meritorious kin or senior civil and military officials required referral to the responsible office, verification of conduct and ability, consultation of public opinion, and a settled recommendation to the throne. Attendants who had served faithfully or died in loyal remonstrance might receive a special posthumous title even when rank did not qualify. On anniversaries of an emperor's or empress's death, sacrifice was performed at the tomb; court audiences were suspended but routine business continued. Practitioners of astronomy, geography, medicine, divination, shamanism, music, Buddhism, and Taoism were registered and overseen; those spreading heterodox or fraudulent teachings were punished without pardon.
32
主客,分掌諸蕃朝貢接待給賜之事。 諸蕃朝貢,辨其貢道、貢使、貢物遠近多寡豐約之數,以定王若使迎送、宴勞、廬帳、食料之等,賞賚之差。 凡貢必省閱之,然後登內府,有附載物貨,則給直。 若蕃國請嗣封,則遣頒冊於其國。 使還,上其風土、方物之宜,贈遺禮文之節。 諸蕃有保塞功,則授敕印封之。 各國使人往來,有誥敕則驗誥敕,有勘籍則驗勘籍,毋令闌入。 土官朝貢,亦驗勘籍。 其返,則以鏤金敕諭行之,必與銅符相比。 凡審言事,譯文字,送迎館伴,考稽四夷館譯字生、通事之能否,而禁飭其交通漏泄。 凡朝廷賜賚之典,各省土物之貢,鹹掌之。
Receiving Guests handled reception, entertainment, and gifts for tributary missions from foreign states. For foreign tributary missions it distinguished route, envoys, and tribute—their distance, number, and abundance—and thereby fixed grades for welcoming kings or envoys, lodging, provisions, and rewards. All tribute was inspected before entry into the inner treasury; extra carried goods were paid for at value. If a foreign state requested succession and enfeoffment, enfeoffment patents were dispatched there. On envoys' return they reported local products and suitability, and the propriety of gifts and ritual exchanges. Foreign states with merit in guarding the frontier received command seals and enfeoffment patents. Envoys of various states were checked against edicts or inspection registers on entry and exit; none were permitted to enter improperly. Native officials on tribute missions were likewise checked against inspection registers. On their return, gilded edicts of instruction were issued and had to match the bronze tally. It examined memorial language, translated texts, and received and escorted envoys; tested translators and interpreters of the Four Barbarians Halls; and forbade their private dealings and leaks. It also handled court bestowal regulations and provincial tribute of local products.
33
精膳,分掌宴饗、牲豆、酒膳之事。 凡御賜百官禮食,曰宴,曰酒飯,為上中下三等,視其品秩。 番使、土官有宴,有下程,宴有一次,有二次,下程有常例,有欽賜。 皆辨其等。 親王之籓,王、公、將軍來朝,及其使人,亦如之。 凡膳羞、酒醴、品料,光祿是供,會其數,而程其出納焉。 凡廚役,僉諸民,以給使於太常、光祿; 年深者,得選充王府典膳。 凡歲藏冰、出冰,移所司謹潔之。
Refined Provisions handled banquets, sacrificial victims and beans, and wine and food. Imperial ceremonial food for officials came as banquets or wine meals in upper, middle, and lower grades according to rank. Foreign envoys and native officials received banquets and travel provisions; banquets might be held once or twice; travel provisions followed regular rules or imperial grants. It distinguished all their grades. The same applied when imperial princes proceeded to their fiefs, when kings, dukes, and generals came to court, and when their envoys arrived. Delicacies, wine, and foodstuffs were supplied by the Court of Imperial Entertainments; it tallied quantities and regulated issue and receipt. Kitchen laborers were conscripted from the populace to serve the Court of Imperial Sacrifices and Court of Imperial Entertainments; those of long service might be selected as princely commissaries. For annual ice storage and issue it notified responsible offices to keep supplies scrupulously clean.
34
初,洪武元年置禮部。 六年,設尚書二人,侍郎二人。 分四屬部:總部,祠部,膳部,主客部。 每部設郎中、員外郎各一人,主事各三人。 十三年,升部秩,設尚書、侍郎各一人,每屬部設郎中、員外郎、主事各一人。 尋復增置侍郎一人。 二十二年,改總部為儀部。 二十九年,改儀部、祠部、膳部為儀制、祠祭、精膳,惟主客仍舊,俱稱為清吏司。
Initially, in Hongwu 1 (1368) the Ministry of Rites was established. In the sixth year two ministers and two vice ministers were appointed. Four subordinate departments were established: General, Sacrificial, Provisions, and Receiving Guests. Each department had one bureau director, one vice director, and three section chiefs. In the thirteenth year the ministry rank was raised; one minister and one vice minister were appointed, and each subordinate department had one bureau director, one vice director, and one section chief. Shortly afterward one additional vice minister was added. In the twenty-second year the General Department was renamed the Ceremonial Department. In the twenty-ninth year the Ceremonial, Sacrificial, and Provisions departments became Ceremonial Regulations, Sacrificial Rites, and Refined Provisions; only Receiving Guests kept its old name; all were styled Clear Officials Bureaus.
35
按周宗伯之職雖掌邦禮,而司徒既掌邦教,所謂禮者,僅鬼神祠祀而已。 至合典樂典教,內而宗籓,外而諸蕃,上自天官,下逮醫師、膳夫、伶人之屬,靡不兼綜,則自明始也。 成、弘以後,率以翰林儒臣為之。 其由此登公孤任輔導者,蓋冠於諸部焉。
Under the Zhou, though the Minister of Masses took charge of state rites, the Minister of Education already took charge of teaching—rites meant chiefly sacrifices to spirits and gods. Only under the Ming did one office combine ritual, music, and education, oversee the imperial clan within and foreign states without, and comprehensively administer everyone from celestial officers down to physicians, cooks, and performers. From the Chenghua and Hongzhi reigns onward, Hanlin scholar-officials usually held the post. More ministers who rose from this post to the Three Dukes and chief tutorship than from any other ministry held the highest offices.
36
兵部附協理京營戎政
Ministry of War, with appended note: joint management of capital camp military affairs.
37
兵部。 尚書一人,正二品左、右侍郎各一人。 正三品其屬,司務廳,司務二人,從九品武選、職方、車駕、武庫四清吏司,各郎中一人,正五品。 正統十年,增設武選、職方二司郎中各一人。 成化三年,增設車駕司郎中一人。 萬曆九年並革。 員外郎一人,從五品。 正統十年增設武選司員外郎一人。 弘治九年增設武庫司員外郎一人。 後俱革。 嘉靖十二年,增設職方司員外郎一人。 主事二人,正六品。 洪武、宣德間,增設武選司主事三人,職方司主事四人。 正統十四年,增設車駕、武庫二司主事各一人。 後革。 萬曆十一年,又增設車駕司主事一人。 所轄,會同館大使一人,正九品副使二人,從九品大通關大使、副使各一人,俱未入流。
Ministry of War. One minister, principal second rank; one left and one right vice minister each. Vice ministers were principal third rank. Subordinates included the Registry Office with two registrars at auxiliary ninth rank; the four Clear Officials Bureaus—Military Selection, Appointments and Operations, Chariots and Travels, and Military Storehouses—each with one bureau director at fifth rank. In Zhengtong 10 (1445) the Military Selection and Appointments and Operations bureaus each gained an additional bureau director. In Chenghua 3 (1467) the Chariots and Travels Bureau gained an additional bureau director. In Wanli 9 (1581) all were abolished. One vice director, auxiliary fifth rank. In Zhengtong 10 the Military Selection Bureau gained an additional vice director. In Hongzhi 9 (1496) the Military Storehouses Bureau gained an additional vice director. Later all were abolished. In Jiajing 12 (1533) the Appointments and Operations Bureau gained an additional vice director. Two section chiefs, principal sixth rank. During Hongwu and Xuande three additional section chiefs were added to Military Selection and four to Appointments and Operations. In Zhengtong 14 (1449) the Chariots and Travels and Military Storehouses bureaus each gained an additional section chief. Later they were abolished. In Wanli 11 (1583) the Chariots and Travels Bureau again gained an additional section chief. It oversaw the Hall of Joint Harmonies with one commissioner at principal ninth rank and two vice commissioners at auxiliary ninth rank; the Great Pass Office with one commissioner and one vice commissioner each, all outside the regular ranks.
38
尚書,掌天下武衛官軍選授、簡練之政令。 侍郎佐之。
The minister directed empire-wide policy on selection, appointment, and training of military guards and troops. Vice ministers assisted him.
39
武選,掌衛所土官選授、升調、襲替、功賞之事。 凡武官六品,其勳十有二。 正一品,左、右柱國。 從一品,柱國。 正二品,上護軍。 從二品,護軍。 正三品,上輕車都尉。 從三品,輕車都尉。 正四品,上騎都尉。 從四品,騎都尉。 正五品,驍騎尉。 從五品,飛騎尉。 正六品,雲騎尉。 從六品,武騎尉。 散階三十。 正一品,初授特進榮祿大夫,升授特進光祿大夫。 從一品,初授榮祿大夫,升授光祿大夫。 正二品,初授驃騎將軍,升授金吾將軍,加授龍虎將軍。 從二品,初授鎮國將軍,升授定國將軍,加授奉國將軍。 正三品,初授昭勇將軍,升授昭毅將軍,加授昭武將軍。 從三品,初授懷遠將軍,升授定遠將軍,加授安遠將軍。 正四品,初授明威將軍,升授宣威將軍,加授廣威將軍。 從四品,初授宣武將軍,升授顯武將軍,加授信武將軍。 正五品,初授武德將軍,升授武節將軍。 從五品,初授武略將軍,升授武毅將軍。 正六品,初授昭信校尉,升授承信校尉。 從六品,初授忠顯校尉,升授忠武校尉。 歲凡六選。 有世官,有流官。 世官九等,指揮使,指揮同知,指揮僉事,衛鎮撫,正千戶,副千戶,百戶,試百戶,所鎮撫。 皆有襲職,有替職。 其幼也,有優給。 其不得世也,有減革,有通革。 流官八等,左右都督,都督同知,都督僉事,都指揮使,都指揮同知。 都指揮僉事,正留守,副留守。 以世官升授,或由武舉用之,皆不得世。 即有世者,出特恩。 非真授者曰署職,署職,遞加本職一級作半級,不支俸,非軍功,毋得實授。 曰試職,試職作一級,支半俸,不給誥。 曰納職,納職帶俸,不蒞事。 戰功二等:奇功為上,頭功次之。 首功四等:迤北為大,遼東次之,西番、苗蠻又次之,內地反寇又次之。 凡比試,有舊官,洪武三十一年以前為舊。 有新官,成祖以後為新。 軍政,五年一考選,先期撫、按官上功過狀,覆核而去留之。 五府、錦衣衛堂上各總兵官,皆自陳,取上裁。 推舉上二人,都指揮以下上一人。 凡土司之官九級,自從三品至從七品,皆無歲祿。 其子弟、族屬、妻女、若婿及甥之襲替,胥從其俗。 附塞之官,自都督至鎮撫,凡十四等,皆以誥敕辨其偽冒。 贈官死於王事,加二等; 死於戰陣,加三等。 凡除授出自中旨者,必覆奏然後行之。 以貼黃徵圖狀,以初績徵誥敕,以效功課將領,以比試練卒徒,以優養恩故絕,以褒恤勵死戰,以寄祿馭恩幸,以殺降、失陷、避敵、激叛之法肅軍機,以典刑、敗倫、行劫、退陣之科斷世祿。
Military Selection handled selection, promotion, transfer, succession, and merit rewards for guards, posts, and native officials. For all military officials of six grades, there were twelve grades of merit peerage. Principal first rank: Left and Right Pillar of State. Auxiliary first rank: Pillar of State. Principal second rank: Upper Guardian General. Auxiliary second rank: Guardian General. Principal third rank: Upper Commandant of Light Chariots. Auxiliary third rank: Commandant of Light Chariots. Principal fourth rank: Upper Commandant of Cavalry. Auxiliary fourth rank: Commandant of Cavalry. Principal fifth rank: Commandant of Valiant Cavalry. Auxiliary fifth rank: Commandant of Flying Cavalry. Principal sixth rank: Commandant of Cloud Cavalry. Auxiliary sixth rank: Commandant of Martial Cavalry. The military honorary ladder had thirty steps. Principal first rank began as Grand Mentor for Splendid Fortune with Special Advancement and rose to Grand Mentor for Imperial Splendor with Special Advancement. Auxiliary first rank began as Grand Mentor for Splendid Fortune and rose to Grand Mentor for Imperial Splendor. Principal second rank: General of Fast Cavalry, then General of the Golden Guard, with an additional step as Dragon-Tiger General. Auxiliary second rank: General Who Stabilizes the State, then General Who Pacifies the State, with an additional step as General Who Serves the State. Principal third rank: General of Manifest Valor, then General of Manifest Resolve, with an additional step as General of Manifest Martialism. Auxiliary third rank: General Who Cherishes the Distant, then General Who Pacifies the Distant, with an additional step as General Who Secures the Distant. Principal fourth rank: General of Illustrious Might, then General Who Proclaims Might, with an additional step as General of Broad Might. Auxiliary fourth rank: General Who Proclaims Martialism, then General of Manifest Martialism, with an additional step as General of Trusted Martialism. Principal fifth rank: General of Martial Virtue, then General of Martial Integrity. Auxiliary fifth rank: General of Martial Strategy, then General of Martial Resolve. Principal sixth rank: Captain of Manifest Trust, then Captain of Sustained Trust. Auxiliary sixth rank: Captain of Loyal Manifestation, then Captain of Loyal Martialism. Selections were held six times a year. Some posts were hereditary; others were appointive. Hereditary ranks ran nine steps: commander, vice commander, assistant commander, guard pacification commissioner, chief centurion, deputy centurion, decurion, probationary decurion, and post pacification commissioner. Some lines inherited the post outright; others inherited by substitution. Minors received preferential support. When succession failed, ranks could be reduced or abolished—or abolished outright across the line. Appointive ranks had eight steps: left and right chief military commissioners, vice commissioners, assistant commissioners, regional commanders, and vice regional commanders. Assistant regional commanders, principal garrison commissioners, and vice garrison commissioners. Promoted from hereditary ranks or drawn from the military examination—none of these could pass by inheritance. Any hereditary exception came only by special grace. Non-substantive posts were provisional: each step counted as half a grade above the substantive rank, drew no salary, and could not become substantive without military merit. Trial posts counted as a full grade, paid half salary, and received no patent. Purchased posts drew salary but did not perform duties. Battle merit had two tiers: exceptional merit ranked first, leading merit second. Leading merit had four levels: the northern frontier ranked highest, then Liaodong, then western and Miao frontiers, then internal rebellion. In comparative examinations, “old” officials were those appointed before Hongwu 31 (1398). “New” officials were those appointed after Yongle. Every five years the military roster was reviewed: beforehand grand coordinators and surveillance commissioners filed merit-and-fault reports, which were checked again to decide who stayed or went. Commanders at the Five Commissions, Embroidered-Uniform Guard, and field headquarters reported in person; the throne ruled. Two candidates were nominated from senior ranks; one from below regional commander. Native chieftain posts ran nine grades, from auxiliary third to auxiliary seventh rank, none drawing annual salary. Succession for sons, kin, wives, daughters, sons-in-law, and nephews followed local custom. Border-affiliated posts from chief military commissioner down to pacification commissioner—fourteen grades in all—were authenticated by patent and edict against forgery. Posthumous honors: death in royal service added two grades; death in battle added three grades. Palace rescripts for appointment or removal had to be memorialized and confirmed before taking effect. Slips summoned map registers; early merit brought patents; merit reviews graded commanders; trials drilled troops; preferential support closed grace cases; honors encouraged death in battle; retained salary curbed favoritism; laws on killing surrenderers, lost posts, shirking the enemy, and inciting mutiny kept discipline; statutes on capital crimes, moral breach, robbery, and fleeing battle severed hereditary stipends.
40
職方,掌輿圖、軍制、城隍、鎮戍、簡練、徵討之事。 凡天下地裏險易遠近,邊腹疆界,俱有圖本,三歲一報,與官軍車騎之數偕上。 凡軍制內外相維,武官不得輒下符徵發。 自都督府,都指揮司,留守司,內外衛守禦、屯田、羣牧千戶所,儀衛司,土司,諸番都司衛所,各統其官軍及其部落,以聽徵調、守衛、朝貢、保塞之令。 以時修浚其城池而閱視之。 凡鎮戍將校五等:曰鎮守,曰協守,曰分守,曰守備,曰備倭。 皆因事增置,視地險要,設兵屯戍之。 凡京營操練,統以文武大臣,皆科道官巡視之。 若將軍營練,將軍四衛營練,及勇士、幼官、舍人等營練,則討其軍實,稽其什伍,察其存逸閑否,以教其坐作、進退、疾徐、疏數之節,金鼓、麾旗之號。 徵討請命將出師,懸賞罰,調兵食,紀功過,以黜陟之。 以堡塞障邊徼,以烽火傳聲息,以關津詰奸細,以緝捕弭盜賊,以快壯簡鄉民,以勾解、收充、抽選、並豁、疏放、存恤之法整軍伍。
Appointments and Operations handled maps, force structure, fortifications, garrisons, training, and campaigns. Every region’s terrain, distance, and frontier boundaries were mapped; registers were filed every three years with troop, chariot, and cavalry counts. Force structure linked capital and provinces; military officers could not issue mobilization warrants on their own. From the chief and regional military commissions through garrisons, guards, defense commands, agricultural colonies, herd offices, guard units, ceremonial guards, native offices, and frontier commands, each body commanded its troops and tribes for mobilization, garrison, tribute, audiences, and frontier defense. They repaired and inspected walls and moats on schedule. Frontier commanders came in five grades: grand defender, co-defender, divisional defender, garrison commander, and anti-pirate commander. Posts were added as needed at strategic points to station garrison troops. Capital-camp training fell to civil and military grandees, with supervising secretaries and censors inspecting. Generals drilling their own camps, the four guard camps, or the warrior, junior-officer, and attendant camps checked troop rolls and squads, noted who was present or absent, and taught formations, pace, spacing, and drum, bell, and banner signals. Campaigns required imperial orders to deploy generals; rewards, punishments, supplies, and merit records governed promotion and demotion. Fortresses screened the frontier; beacons carried intelligence; passes checked spies; pursuit suppressed banditry; the able-bodied were tapped for militia; and summons, apprehension, enrollment, conscription, selection, merger, exemption, release, and relief kept the rolls straight.
41
車駕,掌鹵簿、儀仗、禁衛、驛傳、廄牧之事。 凡鹵簿大駕,大典禮、大朝會設之; 丹陛駕,常朝設之; 武陳駕,世宗南巡時設之。 皆辨其物數,以授所司。 慈宮、中宮之鹵簿,東宮、宗籓之儀仗,亦如之。 凡侍衛,禦殿全直,常朝番直,守衛、親軍衛,畫前、後、左、右四門為四行,而日夜巡警之。 守衛皇城,前午門為一行,後玄武門為一行,左東華門為一行,右西華門為一行。 凡郵傳,在京師曰會同館,在外曰驛,曰遞運所,皆以符驗關券行之。 凡馬政,其專理者,太僕、苑馬二寺,稽其簿籍,以時程其登耗,惟內廄不會。
Chariots and Travels handled imperial regalia, ceremonial escorts, palace guards, courier relay, and stud farms. The great entourage regalia served major ceremonies and great court assemblies; the hall ascent entourage served regular audiences; the martial array entourage was created for the Jiajing emperor’s southern tour. Each inventory was tallied and issued to the responsible offices. Regalia for the empress dowager and empress, and guards for the heir apparent and enfeoffed princes, followed the same rules. Palace guards stood full duty at the audience hall and rotating duty at regular audiences; guard and personal-guard units split the four gates into four lines and patrolled day and night. The imperial city had four guard lines: Meridian Gate in front, Gate of Divine Prowess behind, East Flowery Gate to the left, West Flowery Gate to the right. Courier relay used the Joint Reception Office in the capital and post stations and transport depots outside, all run on tally and pass verification. Horse administration fell to the Court of the Imperial Stud and Stud Farm Directorate, which tracked registers and turnover—except the inner stables, kept separate.
42
武庫,掌戎器、符勘、尺籍、武學、薪隸之事。 凡內外官軍有徵行,移工部給器仗,籍紀其數,制敕下各邊徵發。 及使人出關,必驗勘合。 軍伍缺,下諸省府州縣勾之。 以跟捕、紀錄、開戶、給除、停勾之法,核其召募、垛集、罪謫、改調營丁尺籍之數。 凡武職幼官,及子弟未嗣官者,於武學習業,以主事一人監督之。 考稽學官之賢否、肄習之勤怠以聞。 諸司官署供應有柴薪,直衙有皁隸,視官品為差。
Military Storehouses managed weapons, tallies, rosters, the military academy, and fuel and menial staff. Campaigns drew arms from the Ministry of Works, logged in registers, then levied to frontiers by imperial order. Envoys crossing the frontier had to present verified tallies. Shortfalls in army rolls were filled by orders to provinces, prefectures, and counties. Pursuit, record-keeping, household registration, discharge, and suspended summons verified recruitment, mustering, penal transfer, reassignment, and roster counts. Junior officers and heirs not yet holding office studied at the military academy under a supervising section chief. They reported on instructors’ quality and students’ diligence. Offices received fuelwood by regulation; yamens had runners scaled to rank.
43
初,洪武元年置兵部。 六年,增尚書一人,侍郎一人。 置總部、駕部並職方三部,設郎中、員外郎、主事,如吏部之數。 十三年,升部秩,設尚書、侍郎各一人,又增置庫部為四屬部,部設郎中、員外郎、主事各一人。 十四年,增試侍郎一人。 二十二年改總部為司馬部。 二十九年,定改四部為武選、職方、車駕、武庫四清吏司。 惟職方仍舊名。 景泰中,增設尚書一人,協理部事,天順初罷。 隆慶四年添注侍郎二人,尋罷。 萬曆末年復置。
Initially, Hongwu 1 (1368) established the Ministry of War. In Hongwu 6 one minister and one vice minister were added. Three departments were set up—General Headquarters, Chariot Headquarters, and Appointments and Operations—with directors, vice directors, and section chiefs matching the Ministry of Personnel. In Hongwu 13 the ministry’s rank rose; one minister and one vice minister were appointed, and a Storehouse Department became a fourth subordinate, each with one director, vice director, and section chief. In Hongwu 14 a trial vice minister was added. In Hongwu 22 the General Headquarters became the Sima Department. In Hongwu 29 the four departments became the four Clear Officials Bureaus: Military Selection, Appointments and Operations, Chariots and Travels, and Military Storehouses. Only Appointments and Operations kept its old name. Under Jingtai an extra minister assisted ministry business; Tianshun abolished the post. Longqing 4 added two vice ministers by notation, then abolished them. Late Wanli restored them.
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協理京營戎政一人,或尚書,或侍郎,或右都御史。 掌京營操練之事。 永樂初,設三大營,總於武將。 景泰元年始設提督團營,命兵部尚書于謙兼領之,後罷。 成化三年復設,率以本部尚書或都御史兼之。 嘉靖二十年,始命尚書劉天和輟部務,另給關防,專理戎政。 二十九年,以「總督京營戎政。」 之印畀仇鸞,而改設本部侍郎協理戎政,不給關防。 萬曆九年裁革,十一年復設。 天啟初,增設協理一人,尋革。 崇禎二年復增一人,以庶起士劉之綸為兵部侍郎充之。
One coordinator oversaw capital-camp military affairs—a minister, vice minister, or right censor-in-chief. He supervised capital-camp training. Early Yongle created three great camps under military generals. Jingtai 1 created the corps-camp supervisor; Minister Yu Qian held it concurrently, then the post was abolished. Chenghua 3 restored it, usually held concurrently by the minister or a censor-in-chief. Jiajing 20 Liu Tianhe was first told to set aside ministry work, given a separate seal, and charged solely with military affairs. In Jiajing 29 the seal for “General Supervisor of Capital Camp Military Affairs” went to Qiu Luan; a ministry vice minister again coordinated military affairs, without a separate seal. Wanli 9 abolished it; Wanli 11 restored it. Early Tianqi added a second coordinator, then abolished it. Chongzhen 2 added another; Liu Zhilun, raised from commoner status, served as vice minister of war.
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刑部。 尚書一人,正二品左、右侍郎各一人。 正三品其屬,司務廳,司務二人。 從九品浙江、江西、湖廣、陝西、廣東、山東、福建、河南、山西、四川、廣西、貴州、雲南十三清吏司,各郎中一人,正五品員外郎一人,從五品主事二人。 正六品。 正統六年,十三司俱增設主事一人。 成化元年增設四川、廣西二司主事各一人,後革。 萬曆中,又革湖廣、陝西、山東、福建四司主事各一人。 照磨所,照磨,正八品檢校,正九品各一人。 司獄司,司獄六人,從九品。
Ministry of Punishments. One minister, principal second rank; one left and one right vice minister each. Vice ministers were principal third rank. Subordinates: the Registry Office with two registrars. Thirteen provincial Clear Officials Bureaus—Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Huguang, Shaanxi, Guangdong, Shandong, Fujian, Henan, Shanxi, Sichuan, Guangxi, Guizhou, and Yunnan—each had one director at fifth rank, one vice director at auxiliary fifth rank, and two section chiefs. Section chiefs were principal sixth rank. Zhengtong 6 each of the thirteen bureaus gained an additional section chief. Chenghua 1 Sichuan and Guangxi each gained an extra section chief; later abolished. Under Wanli, Huguang, Shaanxi, Shandong, and Fujian each lost a section chief again. Document Revision Office: one reviser at eighth rank and one inspector at ninth rank. Prison Office: six prison masters at auxiliary ninth rank.
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尚書,掌天下刑名及徒隸、勾覆、關禁之政令。 侍郎佐之。
The minister held authority over penal law empire-wide—convict labor, case review, and custody. Vice ministers assisted him.
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十三司,各掌其分省及兼領所分京府、直隸之刑名。 浙江司帶管崇府、中軍都督府、刑科、內官、御用、司設等監,在京金吾前、騰驤左、瀋陽右、留守中、神策、和陽、武功右、廣洋八衛,蕃牧千戶所,及兩浙鹽運司,直隸和州,涿鹿左、涿鹿中二衛。 江西司帶管淮、益、弋陽、建安、樂安五府,前軍都督府,御馬監,火藥、酒醋、面觔等局,在京府軍前、燕山左、留守前、龍驤、寬河、忠義前、忠義後、永清右、龍江左、龍江右十衛,及直隸廬州府,廬州、六安、九江、武清、宣府前、龍門各衛。 湖廣司帶管楚、岷、吉、榮、遼五府,右軍都督府,司禮、尚賓、尚膳、神宮等監,天財庫,在京留守右、虎賁右、忠義右、武功左、茂陵、永陵、江淮、濟川、水軍右九衛,及興都留守司,直隸甯國、池州二府,宣州、神武中、定州、茂山、保安左、保安右各衛,渤海千戶所。 福建司帶管戶部、太僕寺、戶科、寶鈔提舉司、印綬、都知等監,甲字第十庫,在京金吾後、應天、會州、武成中、武功中、孝陵、獻陵、景陵、裕陵、泰陵十衛,牧馬千戶所,及福建鹽運司,直隸常州府、廣德州,中都留守左、留守中、定邊、開平中屯各衛,美峪千戶所。 山東司帶管魯、德、衡、涇四府,左軍都督府,宗人府,兵部,尚寶司,兵科,典牧所,會同館,供用庫,戈戟司,司苑局,在京羽林右、瀋陽左、長陵三衛,奠靖千戶所,及山東鹽運司,中都留守司,遼東都司,遼東行太僕寺,直隸鳳陽府,滁州、鳳陽、皇陵、長淮、泗州、壽州、滁州、沂州、德州、德州左、保定後各衛,安東中護衛,潮河、龍門、寧靖各千戶所。 山西司帶管晉、代、沈、懷仁、慶成五府,翰林院,欽天監,上林苑監,南、北二城兵馬司,混堂司,甜食房,在京旗手、金吾右、驍騎右、龍虎、大寧中、義勇前、義勇後、英武八衛,及直隸鎮江府、徐州,鎮江、徐州、瀋陽中屯各衛,瀋陽中護衛,倒馬關、平定各千戶所。 河南司帶管周、唐、趙、鄭、徽、伊、汝七府,禮部,太常寺,光祿寺,鴻臚寺,詹事府,國子監,禮科,中書舍人,神樂觀,犧牲所,兵仗局,靈臺、鐘鼓等司,東城兵馬司,教坊司,在京羽林左、府軍右、武德、留守後、神武左、彭城六衛,及兩淮鹽運司,直隸淮安、揚州二府,淮安、大河、邳州、揚州、高郵、儀真、宿州、武平、歸德、寧山、神武右各衛,海州、鹽城、通州、汝寧各千戶所。 陝西司帶管秦、韓、慶、肅四府,後軍都督府,大理寺,行人司,尚衣監,針工局,西城兵馬司,在京府軍後、騰驤右、豹韜、鷹揚、興武、義勇右、康陵、昭陵、龍虎左、橫海、江陰十一衛,及河東鹽運司,陝西行太僕寺,甘肅行太僕寺,直隸太平府,建陽、保定左、保定右、保定中、保定前各衛,平涼中護衛。 四川司帶管蜀府,工部,工科,巾帽、織染二局,僧道錄司,在京府軍、金吾左、濟川、武驤右、大寧前、蔚州左、永清左、廣武八衛,及直隸松江、大名二府,金山、懷安、懷來各衛,神木千戶所。 廣東司帶管應天府,在京錦衣、府軍左、虎賁左、濟陽、留守左、水軍左、飛熊七衛,及直隸延慶州,懷來千戶所。 廣西司帶管靖江府,通政司,五軍斷事司,中城兵馬司,寶鈔、銀作二局,在京羽林前、燕山右、燕山前、大興左、通州、武驤左、鎮南、富峪八衛,及直隸安慶、徽州二府,安慶、新安、通州左、通州右、延慶、延慶左、延慶右各衛。 雲南司帶管順天府,太醫院,儀衛、惜薪等司,承運庫,及直隸永平、廣平二府,鎮海、真定、永平、山海、盧龍、東勝左、東勝右、撫寧、密雲中、密雲後、大同中屯、潼關、營州五屯、萬全左、萬全右各衛,寬河、武定、蒲州各千戶所。 貴州司帶管吏部,吏科,司菜局,及長蘆鹽運司,大寧都司,萬全都司,直隸蘇州、保定、河間、真定、順德五府,蘇州、太倉、薊州、遵化、鎮朔、興州五屯,忠義中、涿鹿、河間、天津、天津左、天津右、德州、宣府左、宣府右、開平、保安、蔚州、永甯各衛,樑城、興和、廣昌各千戶所。
Each of the thirteen bureaus handled penal matters for its province and for the capital prefectures and direct-administration units assigned to it. Zhejiang oversaw Chong Estate, the Central Military Commission, penal supervising office, palace directorates, eight capital guards, Foreign Pasturage Battalion, Liang-Zhe salt transport, Hezhou, and Zhuolu guards. Jiangxi oversaw five princely estates, the Front Military Commission, Imperial Horse Directorate, supply bureaus, ten capital guards, Luzhou Prefecture, and affiliated guards. Huguang oversaw five princely estates, the Right Military Commission, palace directorates, Heavenly Treasury, nine capital guards, Xingdu command, two prefectures, six guards, and Bohai Battalion. Fujian oversaw Revenue, Imperial Stud, revenue supervising office, currency and palace agencies, a storehouse, ten capital guards, horse pasture battalion, Fujian salt transport, two prefectures, four guards, and Meiyu Battalion. Shandong oversaw four princely estates, Left Military Commission, imperial clan court, War Ministry, seals and military offices, supply agencies, three capital guards, Dianjing Battalion, Shandong salt transport, Liaodong command and traveling stud, Fengyang, and numerous guards and battalions. Shanxi oversaw five princely estates, Hanlin, astronomy, imperial park, cavalry commands, palace workshops, eight capital guards, two prefectures, garrison guards, Shenyang guard, and two battalions. Henan oversaw seven princely estates, Rites Ministry and related courts, heir apparent's household, academy, rites supervising office, drafters, music and victims offices, arms and signal offices, east city cavalry, music office, six capital guards, Two Huai salt transport, two prefectures, twelve guards, and four battalions. Shaanxi oversaw four princely estates, Rear Military Commission, judicial review, messengers, apparel and needlework offices, west city cavalry, eleven capital guards, Hedong salt transport, two traveling studs, Taiping Prefecture, five Baoding guards, Pingliang guard. Sichuan oversaw Shu Estate, Works Ministry and supervising office, headwear and dyeing bureaus, Buddhist-Daoist registry, eight capital guards, two prefectures, three guards, and Shenmu Battalion. Guangdong oversaw Yingtian Prefecture, seven capital guards, Yanqing, and Huailai Battalion. Guangxi oversaw Jingjiang Estate, transmission office, Five Armies adjudication, central city cavalry, currency and silver bureaus, eight capital guards, two prefectures, and seven affiliated guards. Yunnan oversaw Shuntian Prefecture, medical institute, ceremonial and fuel offices, transport treasury, two prefectures, sixteen guards, and three battalions. Guizhou oversaw Personnel Ministry and supervising office, Vegetable Office, Changlu salt transport, Daning and Wanquan commands, five prefectures, five garrisons, fourteen guards, and three battalions.
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照磨、檢校,照刷文卷,計錄贓贖。 司獄,率獄吏,典囚徒。 凡軍民、官吏及宗室、勳戚麗於法者,詰其辭,察其情偽,傅律例而比議其罪之輕重以請。 詔獄必據爰書,不得逢迎上意。 凡有殊旨、別敕、詔例、榜例,非經請議著為令甲者,不得引比。 凡死刑,即決及秋後決,並三覆奏。 兩京、十三布政司,死罪囚歲讞平之。 五歲請敕遣官,審錄冤滯。 霜降錄重囚,會五府、九卿、科道官共錄之。 矜疑者戍邊,有詞者調所司再問,比律者監候。 夏月熱審,免笞刑,減徒、流,出輕系。 遇歲旱,特旨錄囚亦如之。 凡大祭止刑。 凡贖罪,視罪輕重,斬、絞、雜犯、徒末減者,聽收贖。 詞訴必自下而上,有事重而迫者,許擊登聞鼓。 四方有大獄,則受命往鞫之。 四方決囚,遣司官二人往蒞。 凡斷獄,歲疏其名數以聞,曰歲報; 月上其拘釋存亡之數,曰月報。 獄成,移大理寺覆審,必期平允。 凡提牢,月更主事一人,修葺囹圄,嚴固扃鑰,省其酷濫,給其衣糧。 囚病,許家人入視,脫械鎖醫藥之。 簿錄俘囚,配沒官私奴婢,鹹籍知之。 官吏有過,並紀錄之。 歲終請湔滌之。 以名例攝科條,以八字括辭議,以、準、皆、各、其、及、即、若,以五服參情法,以墨涅識盜賊。 籍產不入瑩墓,籍財不入度支,宗人不即市,宮人不即獄,悼耄疲癃不即訊。 詳《刑法志》。
Revisers and inspectors audited case files and recorded fines and ransoms. Prison masters commanded jailers and oversaw prisoners. When soldiers, civilians, officials, or imperial clansmen and meritorious kin ran afoul of the law, the ministry interrogated them, tested their accounts, matched conduct to the code, weighed culpability, and memorialized for decision. Imperial-command prisons had to follow the written record, not the emperor's mood. Special edicts, separate commands, regulatory precedents, and posted examples could not be cited unless they had been deliberated and promulgated as binding law. Every death sentence, whether carried out at once or after autumn review, required three memorial reviews. Each year the ministry reconciled capital-case rolls for the two capitals and thirteen provinces. Every five years the throne sent officers to clear backlogged injustice. At Frost's Descent the ministry joined the Five Offices, Nine Ministers, and censorate supervising secretaries to review serious prisoners. Doubtful cases went to border service; disputed cases went back for reinvestigation; clear convictions awaited execution. Summer hot-weather review waived flogging, reduced servitude and exile, and freed minor detainees. In drought years the emperor likewise ordered special prisoner reviews. Executions halted during major state sacrifices. Where the code allowed commutation, fines could redeem offenses from strangulation and decapitation down through miscellaneous crimes and the lightest penal servitude. Litigants had to appeal up the hierarchy; only grave, urgent cases might strike the Petition Drum. Major provincial cases brought orders to send investigators. Two bureau officers supervised executions in the provinces. Each year the ministry memorialized the names and counts of concluded cases—the annual report; each month it reported detainees held, freed, living, and dead—the monthly report. Finished cases went to the Court of Judicial Review for re-examination within a set term for fair judgment. Prison duty rotated monthly among section chiefs, who maintained cells, locks, discipline, clothing, and rations. Sick prisoners could receive family visits, have shackles removed, and be given medicine. The ministry registered captives and inventoried slaves confiscated from officials and private households. Official misconduct was logged as well. At year's end officials petitioned to clear their records. The code used general principles to subsume articles, eight connective terms to frame argument, mourning grades to weigh circumstance, and ink branding to mark thieves. Forfeitures did not touch burial grounds or the treasury; clansmen and palace women were spared instant market execution or prison; the aged and infirm were spared immediate interrogation. See the Treatise on Penal Law.
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洪武元年置刑部。 六年,增尚書、侍郎各一人。 設總部、比部、都官部、司門部,部設郎中、員外郎各二人,惟都官各一人。 總部、比部主事各六人,都官、司門主事各四人。 八年,以部事浩繁,增設四科,科設尚書、侍郎、郎中各一人,員外郎二人,主事五人。 十三年,升部秩,設尚書一人,侍郎一人,仍分四屬部,部設郎中、員外郎各一人,總部、比部主事各四人,都官、司門主事各二人,尋增侍郎一人。 始分左、右侍郎。 二十二年,改總部為憲部。 二十三年,分四部為河南、北平、山東、山西、陝西、浙江、江西、湖廣、廣東、廣西、四川、福建十二部,浙江部兼領雲南。 部各設官,如戶部之制。 二十九年,改為十二清吏司。 永樂元年以北平為北京。 十八年,革北京司,增置雲南、貴州、交阯三司。 宣德十年,革交阯司,遂定為十三清吏司。
Hongwu 1 established the Ministry of Punishments. Year 6 added one minister and one vice minister. It set up General, Comparison, Capital Crimes, and Gatekeeping departments, each with two directors and vice directors except Capital Crimes with one each. General and Comparison had six section chiefs apiece; Capital Crimes and Gatekeeping had four. Year 8, overwhelmed by casework, added four sections, each with its own minister, vice ministers, directors, and five section chiefs. Year 13 elevated the ministry: one minister, one vice minister, four sub-departments with one director and vice director each, four section chiefs in General and Comparison and two in the others; another vice minister followed. Left and right vice ministers were first distinguished. Year 22 renamed the General Department the Statutory Department. Year 23 split the four departments into twelve provincial bureaus; Zhejiang also covered Yunnan. Each bureau was staffed on the Revenue model. Year 29 renamed them the twelve Clear Officials Bureaus. Yongle 1 made Beiping Beijing. Year 18 abolished the Beijing bureau and added Yunnan, Guizhou, and Jiaozhi. Xuande 10 abolished Jiaozhi, fixing thirteen Clear Officials Bureaus.
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工部附提督易州山廠
Ministry of Works (appended: Superintendent of the Yizhou Mountain Works)
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工部。 尚書一人,正二品左、右侍郎各一人。 正三品其屬,司務廳,司務二人。 從九品營繕、虞衡、都水、屯田四清吏司,各郎中一人,正五品,後增設都水司郎中四人。 員外郎一人,從五品,後增設營膳司員外郎二人,虞衡司員外郎一人。 主事二人。 正六品,後增設都水司主事五人,營膳司主事三人,虞衡司主事二人,屯田司主事一人。 所轄,營繕所,所正一人,正七品所副二人,正八品所丞二人。 正九品文思院,大使一人,正九品副使二人。 從九品皮作局,大使一人,正九品副使二人。 從九品,後革。 鞍轡局,大使一人,正九品副使一人。 從九品。 隆慶元年,大使、副使俱革。 寶源局,大使一人,正九品副使一人。 從九品,嘉靖間革。 顏料局,大使一人,正九品,後革。 軍器局,大使一人,正九品副使二人,後革一人。 節慎庫,大使一人,從九品。 嘉靖八年設。 織染所、雜造局,大使一人,正九品副使一人。 從九品廣積、通積、盧溝橋、通州、白河各抽分竹木局,大使各一人,副使各一人。 大通關提舉司,提舉一人,正八品,萬曆二年革。 副提舉二人,正九品典史一人。 後副提舉、典史俱革。 柴炭司,大使一人,從九品副使一人。
Ministry of Works. One minister at principal second rank; one left and one right vice minister each. Vice ministers were principal third rank. Subordinates: the Registry Office with two registrars. Four bureaus—Construction, Forestry and Crafts, Hydraulics, and Garrison Lands—each had a fifth-rank director; Hydraulics later gained four more. Each bureau had one auxiliary fifth-rank vice director; Construction Provisions later gained two, Forestry and Crafts one. Two section chiefs each. Section chiefs were sixth rank; Hydraulics later gained five, Construction Provisions three, Forestry and Crafts two, Garrison Lands one. It oversaw the Construction Office: one seventh-rank director, two eighth-rank deputies, and two assistants. Literary Crafts Institute: one ninth-rank commissioner and two vice commissioners. Leather Workshop: one ninth-rank commissioner and two auxiliary ninth-rank vice commissioners. Auxiliary ninth rank; later abolished. Saddle and Bridle Bureau: one ninth-rank commissioner and one vice commissioner. Vice commissioner was auxiliary ninth rank. Longqing 1 abolished both commissioner posts. Treasure Source Bureau: one ninth-rank commissioner and one vice commissioner. Auxiliary ninth rank; abolished under Jiajing. Pigment Bureau: one ninth-rank commissioner; later abolished. Armaments Bureau: one ninth-rank commissioner and two vice commissioners; one vice post was later cut. Frugal Care Storehouse: one auxiliary ninth-rank commissioner. Established Jiajing 8. Weaving and Dyeing Office and Miscellaneous Manufactures Bureau each had one ninth-rank commissioner and one vice commissioner. Five bamboo-and-timber levy bureaus—Guangji, Tongji, Lugou Bridge, Tongzhou, and Baihe—each had one commissioner and one vice commissioner at ninth and auxiliary ninth rank. Datong Pass Transit Directorate: one eighth-rank director; abolished Wanli 2. Two ninth-rank vice directors and one registry clerk. Later the vice directors and registry clerk were all abolished. Charcoal Bureau: one auxiliary ninth-rank commissioner and one vice commissioner.
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尚書,掌天下百官、山澤之政令。 侍郎佐之。
The minister held authority over registered artisans and mountain and marsh resources. Vice ministers assisted him.
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營繕,典經營興作之事。 凡宮殿、陵寢、城郭、壇場、祠廟、倉庫、廨宇、營房、王府邸第之役,鳩工會材,以時程督之。 凡鹵簿、儀仗、樂器,移內府及所司,各以其職治之,而以時省其堅潔,而董其窳濫。 凡置獄具,必如律。 凡工匠二等:曰輪班,三歲一役,役不過三月,皆復其家; 曰住坐,月役一旬,有稍食。 工役二等,以處罪人輸作者,曰正工,曰雜工。 雜工三日當正工一日,皆視役大小而撥節之。 凡物料儲偫,曰神木廠,曰大木廠,以蓄材木,曰黑窯廠,曰琉璃廠,以陶瓦器,曰臺基廠,以貯薪葦,皆籍其數以供修作之用。
The Construction Bureau managed planning and construction. It scheduled labor and materials for palaces, tombs, walls, altars, temples, storehouses, offices, barracks, and princely residences. Regalia, guards, and instruments went to the inner palace and competent agencies; the bureau inspected condition and cracked down on shoddy work. Execution gear had to meet code specifications. Craftsmen fell into two classes: rotating corvée, called up every three years for up to three months, then sent home; and resident service, working ten days a month with rations. Convict labor had regular and miscellaneous grades. Three days of miscellaneous labor equaled one regular day, apportioned by the size of the project. Material yards—the Divine Timber and Great Timber yards for lumber, Black Kiln and Glazed Tile yards for pottery, Platform Foundation yard for fuel—were inventoried for building needs.
54
虞衡,典山澤採捕、陶冶之事。 凡鳥獸之肉、皮革、骨角、羽毛,可以供祭祀、賓客、膳羞之需,禮器、軍實之用,歲下諸司採捕。 水課禽十八、獸十二,陸課獸十八、禽十二,皆以其時。 冬春之交,罝罛不施川澤; 春夏之交,毒藥不施原野。 苗盛禁蹂躪,穀登禁焚燎。 若害獸,聽為陷阱獲之,賞有差。 凡諸陵山麓,不得入斧斤、開窯冶、置墓墳。 凡帝王、聖賢、忠義、名山、嶽鎮、陵墓、祠廟有功德於民者,禁樵牧。 凡山場、園林之利,聽民取而薄徵之。 凡軍裝、兵械,下所司造,同兵部省之,必程其堅致。 凡陶甄之事,有歲供,有暫供,有停減,籍其數,會其入,毋輕毀以費民。 凡諸冶,飭其材,審其模範,付有司。 錢必準銖兩,進於內府而頒之。 牌符、火器,鑄於內府,禁其以法式泄於外。 凡顏料,非其土產不以徵。
Forestry and Crafts managed mountain and marsh harvesting, hunting, and ceramic and smelting work. Each year the ministry ordered subordinate offices to hunt and gather the meat, hides, horns, bones, and feathers of birds and beasts needed for sacrifice, hospitality, royal banquets, ritual implements, and military stores. Water duties covered eighteen species of bird and twelve of beast; land duties covered eighteen beasts and twelve birds—all taken only in season. Between winter and spring, nets and snares were forbidden on rivers and marshes; between spring and summer, poison was forbidden on the open plain. While crops were young, trampling was banned; at harvest, slash-and-burn was banned. Vermin could be taken in traps, with graded rewards. No one might cut timber, open furnaces, or bury the dead on the lower slopes of imperial tomb hills. Logging and grazing were barred at sites honoring emperors, sages, loyal martyrs, sacred peaks, guardian mountains, tombs, and temples that had served the public good. Commoners might enjoy the produce of mountain lots and orchards, subject only to light dues. Military kit and arms were ordered from competent workshops, reviewed jointly with the Ministry of War, and had to meet standards of strength and finish. Ceramic quotas might be annual, temporary, or suspended or cut; registers tracked every delivery, and nothing was to be smashed needlessly at the people's expense. For every foundry, materials were readied, molds inspected, and work passed to the proper agencies. Coinage had to meet exact weight standards, pass into the inner treasury, and then be issued. Pass tokens and firearms were cast in the inner workshops, and their designs must not leave the palace. Pigments were levied only where they were native products.
55
都水,典川澤、陂池、橋道、舟車、織造、券契、量衡之事。 水利曰轉漕,曰灌田。 歲儲其金石、竹木、卷埽,以時修其閘壩、洪淺、堰圩、堤防,謹蓄泄以備旱潦,無使壞田廬、墳隧、禾稼。 舟楫、磑碾者不得與灌田爭利,灌田者不得與轉漕爭利。 凡諸水要會,遣京朝官專理,以督有司。 役民必以農隙,不能至農隙,則僝功成之。 凡道路、津樑,時其葺治。 有巡幸及大喪、大禮,則修除而較比之。 凡舟車之制,曰黃船,以供御用,曰遮洋船,以轉漕於海,曰淺船,以轉漕於河,曰馬船、曰風快船,以供送官物,曰備倭船、曰戰船,以禦寇賊,曰大車,曰獨轅車,曰戰車,皆會其財用,酌其多寡、久近、勞逸而均劑之。 凡織造冕服、誥敕、制帛、祭服、淨衣諸幣布,移內府、南京、浙江諸處,周知其數而慎節之。 凡公、侯、伯鐵券,差其高廣。 制式詳《禮志》。 凡祭器、冊寶、乘輿、符牌、雜器皆會則於內府。 凡度量、權衡,謹其校勘而頒之,懸式於市,而罪其不中度者。
The Hydraulics Bureau managed rivers, marshes, ponds, bridges, roads, shipping, weaving for state use, documents of obligation, and weights and measures. Its hydraulic duties were grain transport and field irrigation. It stockpiled metal, timber, bamboo, and fascines, repaired gates, channels, polders, and levees on schedule, and regulated storage and release against drought and flood so that fields, homes, tombs, and crops were not harmed. Shipping and milling must not compete with irrigation for water, nor irrigation with grain transport. At every major water junction it posted a capital official to oversee local agencies. Corvée had to fall in the agricultural off-season; when it could not, hired labor finished the job. Roads and ferry bridges were kept in repair on a fixed schedule. Before imperial tours, state funerals, or major rites, routes were cleared, repaired, and inspected to standard. Vessel and cart types included Yellow Boats for the imperial household; ocean-going and river grain transports; dispatch and fast courier boats for official freight; anti-pirate and war vessels; and large carts, single-axle carts, and war chariots—each budget reconciled for volume, distance, duration, and labor. Weaving of coronation robes, patents, regulated silks, sacrificial garb, ritual vestments, and offering cloth was assigned to the inner palace, Nanjing, Zhejiang, and other sites, with full tallies and strict economy. Iron tallies for dukes, marquises, and earls were sized by rank. Specifications appear in the 《Treatise on Rites》. Sacrificial vessels, registers and seals, imperial carriages, tallies, and other gear were all regulated through the inner palace. Measures and weights were carefully calibrated, issued, and displayed in the markets; offenders who failed the standard were punished.
56
屯田,典屯種、抽分、薪炭、伕役、墳塋之事。 凡軍馬守鎮之處,其有轉運不給,則設屯以益軍儲。 其規辦營造、木植、城磚、軍營、官屋及戰衣、器械、耕牛、農具之屬。 凡抽分徵諸商,視其財物各有差。 凡薪炭,南取洲汀,北取山麓,或徵諸民,有本、折色,酌其多寡而撙節之。 伕役伐薪、轉薪,皆僱役。 凡墳塋及堂碑、碣獸之制,第宗室、勳戚、文武官之等而定其差。 墳塋制度,詳《禮志》。
The Garrison Lands Bureau managed military colonies, merchant tolls, fuel charcoal, porter labor, and tombs. Where troops garrisoned a post but supply lines failed, military farms were opened to swell army granaries. It arranged construction, timber, city bricks, barracks, official housing, uniforms, weapons, draft oxen, and farm tools. Transit duties on merchants varied by the goods they carried. Fuel charcoal came from southern shallows or northern hillsides, or was levied on households in kind or cash, with quotas scaled to need. Cutting and hauling fuel were done entirely by hired labor. Tomb layouts and the rules for hall steles, tomb tablets, and stone tomb beasts were graded by status within the imperial clan, ennobled kin, and the civil and military ranks. Tomb regulations appear in the 《Treatise on Rites》.
57
洪武初,置工部及官屬,以將作司隸焉。 吳元年置將作司,卿,正三品,少卿,正四品,丞,正五品。 左、右提舉司提舉,正六品,同提舉,從六品,司程、典簿、副提舉,正七品。 軍需庫大使,從八品,副使,正九品。 洪武元年,以將作司隸工部。 六年,增尚書、侍郎各一人,設總部、虞部、水部並屯田為四屬部。 總部設郎中、員外郎各二人,餘各一人。 總部主事八人,餘各四人。 又置營造提舉司。 洪武六年,改將作司為正六品,所屬提舉司,改正七品。 尋更置營造提舉司及營造提舉分司,每司設正提舉一人,副提舉二人,隸將作司。 八年,增立四科,科設尚書、侍郎、郎中各一人,員外郎二人,主事五人,照磨二人。 十年,罷將作司。 十三年定官制,設尚書一人,侍郎一人,四屬部,以屯田部為屯部,各郎中、員外郎一人,主事二人。 十五年增侍郎一人。 二十二年,改總部為營部。 二十五年,置營繕所。 改將作司為營繕所,秩正七品,設所正、所副、所丞各二人,以諸匠之精藝者為之。 二十九年,又改四屬部為營繕、虞衡、都水、屯田四清吏司。 嘉靖後添設尚書一人,專督大工。
Early in the Hongwu reign the Ministry of Works and its staff were established, with the Directorate of Imperial Works placed under it. In Wu 1 the Directorate of Imperial Works was created: a director of upper third rank, a vice director of upper fourth rank, and assistants of upper fifth rank. Its Left and Right Commissariats had commissars of upper sixth rank, associate commissars of lower sixth rank, and clerks, registrars, and deputy commissars of upper seventh rank. The Military Supply Depot had a chief of lower eighth rank and a deputy of upper ninth rank. In Hongwu 1 the directorate was placed under the Ministry of Works. In year 6 an additional minister and vice minister were appointed, and four sub-departments were set up: General Affairs, Forestry, Water, and Garrison Lands. The General Department had two directors and two vice directors; the other departments had one of each. The General Department had eight section chiefs; the others had four apiece. A Construction Commissariat was also added. In Hongwu year 6 the directorate was reduced to upper sixth rank and its commissariats to upper seventh rank. Soon the Construction Commissariat and its branch offices were re-established, each with one chief commissar and two deputies, all under the directorate. In year 8 four sections were added, each with a minister, vice minister, director, two vice directors, five section chiefs, and two auditors. In year 10 the directorate was abolished. In year 13 the establishment was fixed at one minister, one vice minister, and four sub-departments (Garrison Lands shortened to Lands), each with one director, one vice director, and two section chiefs. In year 15 a second vice minister was added. In year 22 the General Department was renamed the Construction Department. In year 25 the Construction Office was established. The directorate became the Construction Office at upper seventh rank, with two chiefs, two deputies, and two assistants apiece, chosen from the most skilled artisans. In year 29 the four sub-departments became the Pure Officials bureaus of Construction, Forestry and Crafts, Hydraulics, and Garrison Lands. After the Jiajing reign an additional minister was appointed solely to oversee major projects.
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提督易州山廠一人,掌督御用柴炭之事。 明初,於沿江蘆洲並龍江、瓦屑二場,取用柴炭。 永樂間,遷都於北,則於白羊口、黃花鎮、紅螺山等處採辦。 宣德四年始設易州山廠,專官總理。 景泰間,移於平山,又移於滿城,相繼以本部尚書或侍郎督廠事。 天順元年仍移於易州。 嘉靖八年罷革,改設主事管理。
A superintendent of the Yizhou Mountain Depot oversaw imperial fuel charcoal. Early in the dynasty fuel came from riverside reed flats and from the Longjiang and Waxie depots. After the Yongle move of the capital northward, supplies were procured at Baiyangkou, Huanghuazhen, Hongluo Mountain, and other sites. In Xuande year 4 the Yizhou Mountain Depot was established under a dedicated superintendent. Under Jingtai it shifted first to Pingshan, then to Mancheng, with successive oversight by the ministry's minister or vice minister. In Tianshun 1 it returned to Yizhou. In Jiajing year 8 the post was abolished and a section chief took over management.