Volume 163 Treatises 116: Offical Posts 3

吏部戶部禮部兵部刑部工部六部監門六部架閤。

The Ministry of Personnel, Ministry of Revenue, Ministry of Rites, Ministry of War, Ministry of Justice, and Ministry of Works; the supervisory gate of the Six Ministries; and the document archive of the Six Ministries.

掌文武官吏選試、擬注、資任、遷敘、蔭補、考課之政令，封爵、策勳、賞罰殿最之法。凡文階官之等三十，武選官之等五十有六，幕職州縣官之等七，散官之等九，皆以左右高下分屬於四選。曰尚書左選，文臣京朝官以上及職任非中書首除授者悉掌之。曰尚書右選，武臣升朝官以上及職任非樞密院除授者悉掌之。自初任至幕職州縣官，侍郎左選掌之。自副尉以上至從義郎，侍郎右選掌之。若文武官雖不隸左右選，而職任係中書省、樞密院除授者，其制命誥敕，皆本部奉行。凡應注擬、升移、敘復、蔭補及酬賞、封贈者，所隸審驗格法上尚書省，法例可否不決應取裁者，亦如之。若中散大夫、左右武大夫以上合命詞者，列其遷敘資級、歲月、功過上中書省、樞密院畫旨給告，通書本部長、貳及所隸郎官。其屬有曰司封，曰司勳，曰考功。凡官十有三：尚書一人；侍郎一人；郎中、員外郎，尚書選二人，侍郎選各一人，司封、司勳、考功各一人。

It oversees regulations governing the selection, examination, proposed appointments, qualifications, promotions, hereditary appointments, and performance reviews of civil and military officials, as well as the rules for enfeoffment, recording of merit, rewards and punishments, and performance grading. Civil rank officials have thirty grades, military selection officials fifty-six, secretariat and local officials seven, and honorary officials nine; each is assigned to one of the four selection bureaus according to rank and precedence. The Left Selection of the Ministry Director handles all civil officials from metropolitan court rank upward, and all whose appointments are not chiefly issued by the Secretariat. The Right Selection of the Ministry Director handles all military officials from elevated court rank upward, and all whose appointments are not issued by the Bureau of Military Affairs. The Left Selection of the Vice Director handles everyone from first appointment through secretariat and local posts. The Right Selection of the Vice Director handles ranks from deputy commandant up through Follower of Righteousness Gentleman. When civil or military officials fall outside the Left and Right Selections but hold posts appointed by the Secretariat or Bureau of Military Affairs, this ministry still issues their commissions and patent edicts. For proposed appointments, promotions, restorations of rank, hereditary appointments, rewards, and posthumous honors, the responsible bureau verifies qualifications and forwards the case to the ministry; unclear points of law are handled the same way. For ranks from Palace Attendant and Left or Right Martial Grandee upward that require formal appointment edicts, the ministry lists promotion qualifications, dates, and merits and demerits, obtains endorsed approval from the Secretariat and Bureau of Military Affairs, issues the patent, and notifies the director, vice directors, and responsible bureau directors. Its subordinate bureaus are the Bureau of Enfeoffments, Bureau of Merits, and Bureau of Evaluation. There are thirteen posts in all: one Ministry Director; one Vice Director; Directors and assistant directors number two for the ministry director's selections, one each for each vice director's selection, and one each for the Bureaus of Enfeoffments, Merits, and Evaluation.

舊制有三司，尚書主其一，侍郎二員各主其一，分銓注擬事。其後，但存尚書銓，餘東西銓印存而事廢。淳化中，又置考課院，磨勘幕府州縣功過，引對黜陟。至道二年，以其事歸流內銓。判流內銓事二人，以御史知雜以上充。掌節度判官以下州府判司、諸縣令佐擬注對揚、磨勘功過之事。判部事二人，以帶職京朝官或無職事朝官充。凡文吏班秩品命令一出於中書，而小選院即不復置，本曹但掌京朝官敘服章、申請攝官、訃弔祠祭，及幕府州縣官格式闕簿、辭謝，拔萃舉人兼南曹甲庫之事。流外銓，掌考試附奉諸司人吏而已。南曹掌考驗選人殿最成狀，而送流內銓關試、勾黃、給曆之事。甲庫掌受制敕黃，關給簽符優牒，選人改名廢置之事。初，淳化三年，置磨勘京朝官院。四年，改。太平興國中，置差遣院，至是併入審官院。置知院二人，以御史知雜以上充。〈（舊以朝官充。）〉掌考校京朝官殿最，敘其爵秩而詔於朝，分擬內外任使而奏之。

Under the old system there were three selection bureaus: the ministry director headed one, and each vice director headed another, dividing appointment duties among them. Later only the ministry director's selection bureau remained active; the Eastern and Western bureaus kept their seals but ceased to function. During Chunhua an Evaluation Bureau was added to review local and secretariat officials' records and summon them for audience to decide promotions and dismissals. In Zhidao 2 these duties were transferred to the Flow-Within Selection. Two supervisors of Flow-Within Selection affairs were filled by officials of Associate Censor-in-Chief rank and above. It handled proposed appointments, audiences, and merit reviews for officials from military commissioners' staff judges down through prefectural aides and county magistrates and assistants. Two supervisors of ministry affairs were filled by metropolitan court officials holding titular posts or officials without substantive duties. All civil rank and appointment orders now came from the Secretariat alone. The Minor Selection Bureau was abolished, and this bureau handled only metropolitan officials' mourning insignia, acting appointments, obituaries and sacrifices, local vacancy registers and farewell audiences, outstanding candidates, and the Southern Bureau and Patent Archive. The Flow-Outside Selection handled only the examination of attached and salaried clerks in the various offices. The Southern Bureau verified candidates' performance grades and completed dossiers, and forwarded gate examinations, yellow-ledger checks, and service-record issuance to the Flow-Within Selection. The Patent Archive received imperial edicts and yellow copies, issued seal tokens and preferential certificates, and handled name changes and annulled appointments for candidates. At first, in Chunhua 3, a Bureau for Review of Metropolitan Officials was established. In the fourth year, it was renamed. During Taiping Xingguo an Assignment Bureau was set up; it was now merged into the Bureau of Official Review. Two bureau directors were appointed from the rank of Associate Censor-in-Chief upward. (Under the old system, court officials filled the posts.) It reviewed metropolitan officials' performance, ranked their titles and announced the results at court, and proposed capital and provincial assignments for submission.

元豐官制行，六曹尚書、侍郎為長貳，郎官理郡守以上資任者為郎中，通判以下資序者為員外郎。除授皆視寄祿官，高一品以上者為「行」，下一品者為「守」，下二品以下者為「試」，品同者不用行、守、試，餘職準此。元祐初，置權尚書，奉賜依守侍郎，班序在試尚書之下，雜壓在左、右常侍之下。又置權侍郎，如未歷給事中、中書舍人及待制以上者，並帶「權」字，祿賜比諫議大夫。郎官雖理知州資序，未曾實歷知州及監司、開封府推官者，止除員外郎。又詔，職事官除去「行」字一等。又以六曹職事閑劇不等，減定員數，事簡者他司兼領，司封、司勳各減郎官一員。紹聖初，詔元豐法以行、守、試制祿三等。元符元年，吏部言：「元祐法，小使臣只降宣劄，但務從簡，於理未安，請自借職而上依元豐法給告。」從之。崇寧元年，詔：「大宗正丞，大理正，諸寺監丞，太學、武學、律學博士，太學正、錄，諸宮院、諸州教授，堂除外，其吏部闕不許占差已授未赴及初到任人。」二年，詔：「十年不到部者，依長定格與降一官；二十年以上，則除其籍。」靖康元年七月，詔以吏部四選逐曹條例編集板行。八月，臣僚言：「祖宗時未有宗室參部之法，神宗時，始選擇差注一二。崇寧初，立法大優，宗室參選之日在本部名次之上，既壓年月深遠勞效顯著之人，復著名州大郡優便豐厚之處。議者頗欲懲革，不注郡守縣令，與在部人通理名次。」從之。

Under the Yuanfeng bureaucratic reforms, ministry directors and vice directors served as chiefs and deputies; bureau directors qualified for prefect and above were titled Directors, and those at vice-prefect rank and below were titled Assistant Directors. Appointments were keyed to titular salary rank: one grade above was "acting," one below was "holding," two or more below was "provisional"; equal rank used none of these; other posts followed the same rule. Early in Yuanyou acting ministry directors were created, paid like holding vice directors, seated below provisional directors in court order, and ranked below the Left and Right Regular Attendants in mixed precedence. Acting vice directors were added as well; anyone who had not yet served as Supervising Secretary, Secretariat Drafting Officer, or Awaiting Orders and above carried the title "acting," with pay equal to a Remonstrance and Policy Advisor. Even when a bureau director's qualifications on paper reached prefect rank, anyone who had never actually served as prefect, transport or intendant commissioner, or Kaifeng judicial officer could be appointed only as Assistant Director. An edict also dropped the "acting" designation by one grade for substantive posts. Because duties across the six ministries differed in urgency, staff quotas were cut; lighter bureaus were placed under concurrent leadership elsewhere; and the Bureaus of Enfeoffments and Merits each lost one bureau director. Early in Shaosheng an edict restored the Yuanfeng salary scheme of three grades for acting, holding, and provisional appointments. In Yuanfu 1 the Ministry of Personnel reported: "Under Yuanyou rules minor envoy officials received only announcement slips—a simplification that was unsound in principle. We ask that from borrowed rank upward patents be issued under the Yuanfeng system." The request was approved. In Chongning 1 an edict declared: "Apart from Hall appointments, vacancies at the Ministry of Personnel for posts such as Director of the Imperial Clan Court, Chief Justice of the Court of Judicial Review, directorate assistants, university doctors, university rectifiers and registrars, and palace and prefectural lecturers may not be preemptively filled by those already commissioned but not yet reported, or by newly arrived appointees." In the second year another edict stated: "Anyone who fails to report to the ministry for ten years shall, under the long-term regulations, be demoted one rank; those absent twenty years or more shall be removed from the rolls." In the seventh month of Jingkang 1 an edict ordered the regulations of each bureau under the Ministry of Personnel's four selection bureaus to be compiled and printed. In the eighth month officials reported: "Under the founding emperors there was no rule for imperial clansmen to join the ministry rolls; under Emperor Shenzong only one or two began to be selected for appointment. Early in Chongning the law was far too lenient: when clansmen entered the selection rolls they were ranked above others at the ministry, pushing aside officials with long service and outstanding merit and placing them in prestigious, wealthy prefectures and large commanderies. Critics wanted to reform the practice by barring appointment as prefect or county magistrate and ranking clansmen together with everyone else on the rolls." The proposal was approved.

掌文武二選之法而奉行其制命。凡序位有品，寓祿有階，列爵有等，賜勳有給，分任有職，選官有格，考其功過，計其歲月，辨其位秩，而以序進之。凡文臣自京朝官，武臣自大使臣以上，〈（舊內殿崇班以上。）〉選授、封爵、功賞、課最之事，所隸官分掌其事，兼總於尚書，驗實而後判成。以天下職事員闕具注於籍，月取其應選者揭而書之，集官注擬，考閥閱以定其可否。若有疑不能決，小事則申請，大事則稟議於尚書省，應論奏者與郎官同請對。大祭祀則奉玉幣以授左僕射，執爵以授左丞。舊，尚書為所遷官名，班左丞上。自釐正百司，吏部以金紫光祿大夫，戶、禮、兵、刑、工部以銀青光祿大夫換授，而任六曹尚書者始實領職事。左選分案八，置吏三十；右選分案六，置吏十有六。曰主事、令史，曰書令史，曰守當官。二十四司亦如之。南渡初，諸曹長、貳互置，惟吏部備官。紹興八年，依元祐制，六曹皆置權尚書，以處未應資格之人。其屬有侍郎二人，分左、右選。尚書左、右選各置郎中一人，侍郎左、右選各置郎中一人，司封、司勳、考功各一人。郎官分掌其事，而兼總於尚書。左選，掌考校京朝官以上殿最，敘其爵秩，擬內外任使而奏授之。分案十二：曰六品，曰七品，曰八品，曰九品，曰注擬，曰名籍，曰掌闕，曰催驅，曰甲庫，曰檢法，曰知雜，曰奏薦賞功司。吏額，主事一人，令史二人，書令史九人，守當官一十一人，正貼司一十六人，私名一十二人，楷書二人，法司一人。官告院六部監門隸焉。右選，掌大使臣以上差注，材武人有格二十一，及破格出闕，較量功過，奏薦諸軍賞功。分案十：曰大夫，曰副使，曰修武，曰注擬掌闕，曰奏薦賞功，曰開拆，曰名籍，曰甲庫，曰法司，曰知雜。吏額，主事一人，令史二人，書令史九人，守當官一十二人，正貼司八人，私名一十人，法司一人。紹熙三年，左司諫謝源明言：「乾道九年詔旨：『六部應承三省、密院批送勘當文字，並令本部郎官、長貳按法裁決可否，申上朝廷施行。』即不得持兩端。如或事有疑難，及生創無條例者，令長貳據所見申明將上取旨。乞明詔六曹遵守。」從之。

It administers the regulations of the civil and military selection bureaus and executes their imperial orders. Rank has grades, titular salary has steps, enfeoffment has degrees, merit awards have allotments, assignments have posts, and selection has standards; it weighs merits and demerits, counts time in office, distinguishes rank and precedence, and advances officials in due order. For civil officials from metropolitan court rank and military officials from grand envoy rank upward, (Formerly from Inner Hall Honored Company and above.) selection and appointment, enfeoffment, merit rewards, and performance evaluation are divided among subordinate bureaus, overseen by the Ministry Director, and approved only after verification. Vacant substantive posts throughout the empire are fully entered in the registers; each month eligible candidates are posted in lists; officials assemble to propose appointments, and dossiers are reviewed to decide who qualifies. When doubts remain and no decision can be made, minor matters are submitted for instruction and major ones reported to the ministry for deliberation; cases requiring memorialized discussion are presented together with the bureau directors. At grand sacrifices it presents jade and silk to the Left Grand Counselor and holds the libation cup for the Left Vice Grand Counselor. Formerly the Ministry Director bore the title of the rank to which he had been promoted and took court precedence above the Left Vice Director. After the reorganization of the hundred bureaus, the Ministry of Personnel was exchanged for Golden Purple-Gleam Grandee of Splendid Happiness and Revenue, Rites, War, Justice, and Works for Silver Purple-Gleam Grandee; only then did those serving as six-ministry directors actually hold substantive duties. The Left Selection was divided into eight desks with thirty clerks; the Right Selection into six desks with sixteen clerks. These were Chief Clerks and Record Keepers, Scribe Record Keepers, and Duty Officers. The twenty-four ministries followed the same pattern. Early after the southern crossing, chiefs and deputies of the various bureaus were rotated in and out of post, but only the Ministry of Personnel remained fully staffed. In Shaoxing 8, following the Yuanyou precedent, all six ministries created acting director posts for officials not yet qualified for the full appointment. It had two vice directors, one for the Left Selection and one for the Right. The Ministry Director's Left and Right Selections each had one director, the Vice Directors' Left and Right Selections each one director, and the Bureaus of Enfeoffments, Merits, and Evaluation one director each. Bureau directors divided the work among themselves under the overall supervision of the Ministry Director. The Left Selection reviewed the performance of metropolitan officials and above, ranked their titles, proposed capital and provincial assignments, and submitted them for appointment. It was divided into twelve desks: Sixth Grade, Seventh Grade, Eighth Grade, Ninth Grade, Proposed Appointment, Name Rolls, Vacancy Management, Expediting, Patent Archive, Statute Verification, Miscellaneous Affairs, and Memorial Recommendations for Merit Rewards. Its clerk quota was one Chief Clerk, two Record Keepers, nine Scribe Record Keepers, eleven Duty Officers, sixteen Senior Paste Clerks, twelve Private Names, two Copyists, and one Legal Clerk. The Commission Patent Bureau and the Six Ministries Gate were under its jurisdiction. The Right Selection handled assignments from grand envoy rank upward; martial candidates were governed by twenty-one criteria, including out-of-criteria vacancies; it weighed merits and demerits and memorialized rewards for military service. It had ten desks: Grandee, Vice Envoy, Cultivation of Martial, Proposed Appointment and Vacancy Management, Memorial Recommendations for Merit Rewards, Opening and Sorting, Name Rolls, Patent Archive, Legal Bureau, and Miscellaneous Affairs. Its clerk quota was one Chief Clerk, two Record Keepers, nine Scribe Record Keepers, twelve Duty Officers, eight Senior Paste Clerks, ten Private Names, and one Legal Clerk. In Shaoxi 3 Left Remonstrance Officer Xie Yuanming reported: "The Qiandao 9 edict stated: 'When the six ministries receive documents forwarded for review from the Three Departments and the Bureau of Military Affairs, each ministry's bureau directors and chiefs shall decide their legality under the statutes and report upward for implementation. They must not take both sides. If a matter is difficult or unprecedented and no rule applies, the chiefs and deputies shall state their views and submit the case for instruction. We ask that a clear edict be issued requiring the six ministries to comply." The request was approved.

分左右選：左選，掌文臣之未改官者。凡始命而未應參部者，皆試而後選。若應格，則具歲月曆任功罪及所舉官員數，同郎官引見於便殿，稟奏改官。右選，掌武臣之未升朝者。〈（舊自供奉官以上。）〉其職任自親民官至部隊將、監當官，皆掌其選授注擬之法。凡初仕而試不中等，及已入官而未應選者，皆勿注正闕。官制行，尚書、侍郎通治曹事，奏事則同班，惟吏部分領四選。大祭祀則舉玉幣置諸案，薦饌則進搏黍，進熟則執匏爵以授右丞，飲福則奉爵，視朝則執文武班簿對立，以待顧問。左選分案十五，置吏四十有三，右選分案八，置吏四十有七。〈（紹興四年，吏部侍郎葉祖洽言：「侍郎左選，準元豐朝旨，類姓置簿。左右選理宜一體，右選亦乞置簿拘轄功過。」從之。）〉建炎四年五月，詔六曹復置權侍郎，如元祐故事，滿二年為真。〈（補外者除待制，未滿，除修撰。）〉左選，掌承直郎以下擬注州府判司、諸縣令佐、監當及磨勘功過之事，分案十三。乾道裁減吏額，共置三十五人。右選，掌校副尉以上較試、擬官、行賞、換官，考其殿最，分案十五。乾道裁減吏額，共置四十八人。舊制，吏部除侍郎二員，分典左、右選，總稱吏部侍郎。間命官兼攝，惟稱左選侍郎或右選而已。紹熙三年，謝深甫、張叔椿兼攝，始有侍左侍郎、侍右侍郎之稱。既而林大中、沈揆擢貳尚書，則「侍左」「侍右」逕入除目。相承不改。

It was divided into Left and Right Selection: the Left Selection handled civil officials who had not yet received a rank change. All those on first appointment who had not yet reported to the ministry had to pass an examination before selection. If they met the criteria, their dates, service records, merits and demerits, and number of recommending officials were compiled; together with the bureau directors they were presented at the side hall and reported for rank change. The Right Selection handled military officials who had not yet risen to court rank. (Formerly from Attendant-in-Attendance and above.) It governed the rules for selection and proposed appointment for posts from magistrate who serves the people down through company commandants and warehouse supervisors. Anyone who failed the entry examination, and anyone already in office who had not yet been selected, could not be assigned to regular vacancies. When the bureaucratic reforms took effect, directors and vice directors jointly managed bureau affairs and memorialized together at court; only the Ministry of Personnel separately oversaw the four selection bureaus. At grand sacrifices it raised jade and silk and placed them on the altar; at the food offering it presented millet cakes; at the cooked offering it held the gourd cup for the Right Vice Director; at the blessing it presented the cup; at court audience it stood opposite holding the civil and military attendance rolls, awaiting consultation. The Left Selection was divided into fifteen desks with forty-three clerks; the Right Selection into eight desks with forty-seven clerks. (In Shaoxing 4 Vice Director of the Ministry of Personnel Ye Zuohe reported: "The Vice Director's Left Selection, following Yuanfeng court instructions, keeps registers by surname. The Left and Right Selections should be treated alike; the Right Selection also asks to keep registers tracking merits and demerits." The request was approved.) In the fifth month of Jianyan 4 an edict restored acting vice directors in all six ministries, following the Yuanyou precedent, with confirmation after two years. (Those assigned outside the capital were appointed Awaiting Orders; if the term was not yet complete, they were appointed Compiler.) The Left Selection handled proposed appointments for Attendant Gentleman and below to prefectural and circuit judicial aides, county magistrates and assistants, and warehouse supervisors, as well as review of merits and demerits, in thirteen desks. During Qiandao the clerk quota was cut, leaving thirty-five posts in all. The Right Selection handled guard-series vice commandants and above in comparative examinations, proposed appointments, merit awards, and rank exchanges, grading their performance in fifteen desks. During Qiandao the clerk quota was cut, leaving forty-eight posts in all. Under the old system the Ministry of Personnel appointed two vice directors, each in charge of Left or Right Selection, together known as Vice Directors of the Ministry of Personnel. When appointees served concurrently, they were called only Vice Director of Left Selection or Vice Director of Right Selection. In Shaoxi 3 Xie Shenfu and Zhang Shuchun held concurrent posts, and the titles Assistant Left Vice Director and Assistant Right Vice Director first appeared. Later, when Lin Dazhong and Shen Kuai were promoted deputy ministry directors, "Assistant Left" and "Assistant Right" went straight into appointment edicts. This practice continued unchanged.

郎中員外郎尚左尚右侍左侍右

Director of Section and Assistant Director of Section; Ministry Director's Left and Right Selections; Vice Director's Left and Right Selections.

舊主判二人，以朝官充。元豐官制行，置吏部郎中，主管尚書左、右選及侍郎左、右選各一員，參掌選事而分治之。凡郎官，並用知府資序以上人充，未及者為員外郎。建炎四年，詔權攝、添差郎官並罷。初進擬，第云吏部郎官；及擬告身細御，始直書尚書吏部郎中或員外郎，主管尚書某選，主管侍郎某選。紹興八年，呂希常以監六部門兼權侍右郎官。紹興三十一年，李端明正除尚右郎官，既而何輔、楊倓、費行之除吏部郎官，皆有侍左、侍右、尚左、尚右之稱。自此相承不改。淳熙十六年，光宗即位，詔四選通差，用尚書顏師魯之請也。先是，乾道元年詔：「今後非曾任監司、守臣，不除郎官，著為令。」自是館學、寺監臣，拘礙資格，遷除不行。郎曹闕員，但得兼攝，旋即外補；間有不次擢用者，則自二著躐升二史，以至從列。其自外召至為郎，則資級已高，曾不數月，必序進卿、少，而郎有正員者益少矣。

Formerly two chief administrators were appointed, filled by court officials. When the Yuanfeng reforms took effect, Ministry of Personnel directors of section were established—one each for the Ministry Director's Left and Right Selections and the Vice Director's Left and Right Selections—to share selection duties under divided administration. All section directors were filled by officials qualified at prefect rank or above; those not yet qualified served as assistant directors of section. In Jianyan 4 an edict abolished all acting and supernumerary section directors. At first, proposed appointments listed only "Ministry of Personnel section director"; only when drafting the detailed patent edict did it specify "Director of Section" or "Assistant Director of Section" of the Ministry Director's Ministry of Personnel bureau, "oversees the Ministry Director's [Left/Right] Selection," or "oversees the Vice Director's [Left/Right] Selection." In Shaoxing 8 Lü Xichang supervised the Six Ministries Gate while concurrently serving as acting Vice Director's Right section director. In Shaoxing 31 Li Duanming was formally appointed Ministry Director's Right section director; thereafter appointments of He Fu, Yang Tan, and Fei Xing as Ministry of Personnel section directors all used the titles Assistant Left, Assistant Right, Ministry Director's Left, and Ministry Director's Right. From then on this practice continued unchanged. In Chunxi 16, when Emperor Guangzong took the throne, an edict ordered rotation across all four selection bureaus, adopting Ministry Director Yan Shilu's proposal. Earlier, in Qiandao 1 an edict stated: "Henceforth no one who has not previously served as circuit intendant or prefect may be appointed section director; this shall be made a standing regulation." Thereafter academicians and directorate officials, blocked by qualification requirements, could not obtain transfers and appointments. Vacancies in the section director posts could be filled only by concurrent appointment, soon followed by outside assignment; occasionally someone was promoted out of turn, leaping from Compiler second grade to Historiographer second grade and on into the follower columns. Those summoned from outside to serve as section directors already had high qualifications; within a few months they were invariably promoted in order to Junior Chief or Vice Minister, while regular full incumbents in section director posts grew ever fewer.

司封郎中員外郎

Director of Section and Assistant Director of Section, Bureau of Enfeoffments.

掌官封、敘贈、承襲之事。凡三師、三公以下至升朝官褒贈祖考、母妻，親王、郡王、內外命婦以下保任宗屬、封爵諸親，皆因其位敘而為之等。凡宗室當賜名訓，具抄擬官。凡庶姓孔氏、柴氏、折氏之後應承襲者，辨其嫡庶。列爵九等：曰王，曰郡王，曰國公，曰郡公，曰縣公，曰侯，曰伯，曰子，曰男。分國三等：大國二十七，次國二十，小國二百二十。內命婦之品五：曰貴妃、淑妃、德妃、賢妃，曰大儀、貴儀、淑儀、淑容、順儀、順容、婉儀、婉容、昭儀、昭容、昭媛、修儀、修容、修媛、充儀、充容、充媛，曰婕妤，曰美人，曰才人、貴人。外內命婦之號十有四：曰大長公主，曰長公主，曰公主，曰郡主，曰縣主，曰國夫人，曰郡夫人，曰淑人，曰碩人，曰令人，曰恭人，曰宜人，曰安人，曰孺人。敘贈之制：三公、宰臣、執政、節度使三代，金紫、銀青光祿大夫二代，餘官一代，皆辨其位序以進之。加食邑實封，則視其品之高下，以為戶數多寡之節。凡事之可否，與司勳通決於長貳。分案三，設吏六。元祐元年，中書後省言：「臣僚封贈父母，仍舊制命詞，太中大夫觀察使以上用專詞，餘用海詞。」二年，詔：「父及嫡母存，不得請所生母封贈。所生母未封，亦不許先及其妻。」紹聖元年，詔：「宗室換授文官身亡者，通直郎以上贈三官。」〈（元符元年，以元祐間封贈紊前制，詔並依元豐法。）〉二年，詔：「寺監官雜壓在通直郎之上者，雖係宣教郎，遇大禮封贈。」政和二年，詔：「封母則隨所封五等，〈（謂如封南陽縣開國男，則隨其爵稱南陽縣男令人，封魏國公，則稱魏國公夫人之類。）〉應婦人不因夫、子得封號，〈（謂命官非升朝而母年九十以上，或士庶人婦女年百歲，并特旨若回授者。）〉或因子孫得封贈，其夫至升朝或非升朝應封贈者，並孺人。」宣和二年，臣僚言：「近年有京官任校書郎、正字者得封贈，今則監丞未升朝者亦乞依例，蓋緣監丞雜壓在校書郎之上，故引以為請，甚無謂也。不獨此爾，又有小使臣偶因薄勞或磨勘轉官，遂乞回授封贈父母，實為太濫。望降旨，今後封贈並依舊法，敢有擅更陳乞紊亂典章者，置之典刑，庶幾僥倖者息而名分正矣。」從之。建炎以後並同。

It handled official enfeoffment, posthumous honors, and hereditary succession. From the Three Preceptors and Three Grandees down to elevated court officials, honors for forebears, mothers, and wives; from imperial and commandery princes down to inner and outer titled ladies, recommendations of clansmen and enfeoffment of relatives—all were graded according to rank. For imperial clansmen due to receive granted names and instruction, draft appointment documents were prepared. For descendants of the Kong, Chai, and She clans of commoner status who were to inherit titles, legitimate and secondary lines were distinguished. There were nine grades of nobility: King, Commandery King, State Duke, Commandery Duke, County Duke, Marquis, Earl, Viscount, and Baron. States were divided into three grades: twenty-seven great states, twenty secondary states, and two hundred twenty minor states. Inner titled ladies had five grades: the four consorts Noble, Virtuous, Moral, and Worthy; the ladies of ceremony, grace, and beauty in the Grand, Noble, Virtuous, Compliant, Graceful, Bright, Cultivated, and Fulfilling series; Lady of Handsome Fairness; Lady of Beauty; and Lady of Talent and Lady of Nobility. There were fourteen titles for inner and outer titled ladies: Grand Eldest Princess, Eldest Princess, Princess, Commandery Mistress, County Mistress, State Lady, Commandery Lady, Virtuous Lady, Accomplished Lady, Lady of Excellence, Respectful Lady, Suitable Lady, Tranquil Lady, and Lady Ruren. Under the posthumous honors system, Three Grandees, chief ministers, chief councilors, and military commissioners could honor three generations; Golden Purple-Gleam and Silver Purple-Gleam Grandees of Splendid Happiness, two generations; other officials, one generation—all according to rank. When adding nominal fief households and actual enfeoffment, the official's grade determined how many households were allotted. Whether any matter could proceed was jointly decided with the Bureau of Merits by the ministry chiefs and deputies. It was divided into three desks with six clerks. In Yuanyou 1 the Secretariat Rear Office reported: "When officials request enfeoffment honors for parents, appointment edicts follow the old system: Grandee for Promoting Harmony and military commissioners and above receive dedicated edicts; the rest receive general edicts." In the second year an edict stated: "If one's father and principal mother are living, one may not request enfeoffment honors for one's birth mother. If the birth mother had not yet received enfeoffment, one could not honor one's wife first." In Shaosheng 1 an edict stated: "Imperial clansmen who had exchanged to civil office and died received three posthumous ranks from Attendant Gentleman for Direct Communication upward." (In Yuanfu 1, because enfeoffment honors during Yuanyou had disrupted earlier regulations, an edict ordered that all follow the Yuanfeng system.) In the second year an edict stated: "Directorate officials whose mixed-rank precedence ranked above Attendant Gentleman for Direct Communication, though nominally Spreader of the Way Gentleman, could receive enfeoffment honors at grand ceremonies." In Zhenghe 2 an edict stated: "When enfeoffing a mother, follow the five degrees of enfeoffment, (For example, if enfeoffed as Baron of Nanyang County, State Founder, the title follows the rank as Lady of Excellence of Baron of Nanyang County; if enfeoffed as Duke of Wei State, then Lady of the Duke of Wei State, and the like.) for women who received titles not through husband or son, (meaning appointed officials not yet of elevated court rank whose mothers were ninety or older, or commoner women aged one hundred, as well as special edicts or returned honors.) or who received posthumous honors through children, and whose husbands whether of elevated court rank or not were eligible for enfeoffment—all received the title Lady Ruren." In Xuanhe 2 officials reported: "In recent years capital officials serving as Proofreader or Compiler received enfeoffment honors; now even directorate assistants not yet of elevated court rank also request the same precedent, merely because directorate assistants' mixed-rank precedence ranks above Proofreader—citing this as grounds is quite absurd. This was not the only case; minor envoys who received slight merit or promotion through performance review also requested returned honors for parents—this was truly excessive. We ask that an edict order all enfeoffment honors to follow the old law hereafter; anyone who dares petition to change regulations arbitrarily shall be punished under statute, so opportunists cease and titles are set right." The request was approved. After Jianyan the same rules applied.

司勳郎中員外郎

Director of Section and Assistant Director of Section, Bureau of Merits.

參掌勳賞之事。凡勳級十有二：曰上柱國，正二品；曰柱國，從二品；曰上護軍，正三品；曰護軍，從三品；曰上輕車都尉，正四品；曰輕車都尉，從四品；曰上騎都尉，正五品；曰騎都尉，從五品；曰驍騎尉，正六品；曰飛騎尉，從六品；曰雲騎尉，正七品；曰武騎尉，從七品。率三歲一遷，必因其除授以加之。凡賞有格。若事應賞，從其所隸之司考實以報，則必審覈其狀，以格覆之，謂之「有法酬賞」；非格所載，參酌輕重擬定，以上尚書省，謂之「無法酬賞」。若功賞未醉而賞格改易者，輕從舊格，重從新格。錄用前代帝系及勳臣之後，則考其族系而奉行其制命。分案四，置吏十有九。

It shared responsibility for merit awards. There were twelve merit ranks: Upper Pillar of the State, second rank positive; Pillar of the State, second rank negative; Upper Guardian General, third rank positive; Guardian General, third rank negative; Upper Commandant of Light Chariots, fourth rank positive; Commandant of Light Chariots, fourth rank negative; Upper Commandant of Cavalry, fifth rank positive; Commandant of Cavalry, fifth rank negative; Commandant of Valiant Cavalry, sixth rank positive; Commandant of Flying Cavalry, sixth rank negative; Commandant of Cloud Cavalry, seventh rank positive; Commandant of Martial Cavalry, seventh rank negative. As a rule, advancement came every three years and was conferred with each new appointment. Rewards were governed by fixed standards. If a matter warranted reward, the supervising bureau verified the facts and reported; the circumstances were then examined against the standards—this was called "statutory reward"; what the standards did not cover was weighed for severity, drafted, and submitted to the Secretariat—this was called "non-statutory reward." If merit rewards had not yet been paid when the reward scale changed, lighter cases followed the old scale and heavier cases the new scale. When enrolling descendants of former dynasties' imperial lines and merit officials, their lineage was examined and imperial orders were carried out. It was divided into four desks with nineteen clerks.

元祐元年，吏部言：「諸色人援引徼求，入流太冗。應工匠伎藝之屬無法入官者，雖有勞績，並止比類支賜，未經酬獎者亦如之。」紹聖二年，戶部言：「元豐官制，司勳覆有法式酬賞，無法式者定之。元祐中，有法式者止令所屬勘驗，自後應干錢穀，本部指定關司勳，則是戶部兼司勳之職，請依舊制。」從之。四年，應川峽人任本路差遣者，酬獎減半。政和四年，詔：「司勳行下所屬，將一司一路條制，參照酬獎格法，類集參用。」又詔以詳定國朝勳德臣僚職位姓名送吏部。用工部尚書鄭允中所編傳也。隆興元年省併，以司封郎官兼領。淳熙元年，復以司農寺丞范仲芭兼司勳，未幾改除，復省。裁減吏額，主事一人，令史一人，書令史四人，守當官三人，正貼司四人，私名三人。

In Yuanyou 1 the Ministry of Personnel reported: "People of all kinds cite precedents to seek favors; entry into the official ranks has become excessive. Craftsmen, artisans, and the like who had no lawful path to office, though they had merit, were to receive only comparable stipends; those not yet rewarded were treated the same." In Shaosheng 2 the Ministry of Revenue reported: "Under the Yuanfeng system, the Bureau of Merits reviewed statutory rewards and determined non-statutory cases. During Yuanyou statutory cases were sent only to subordinate bureaus for verification; thereafter all fiscal matters were routed through the Bureau of Merits—so the Ministry of Revenue was performing Bureau of Merits duties; we ask that the old system be restored." The request was approved. In the fourth year, natives of Sichuan and the Three Gorges serving assignments in their home circuit received half the usual rewards. In Zhenghe 4 an edict ordered the Bureau of Merits to issue to subordinates the regulations of each bureau and circuit, cross-reference reward standards, compile them by category, and apply them." Another edict ordered the verified roster of the dynasty's meritorious officials—their posts and names—sent to the Ministry of Personnel. It used the compilation by Ministry of Works Director Zheng Yunzhong. In Longxing 1 the bureau was consolidated; a Bureau of Enfeoffments section director concurrently headed it. In Chunxi 1 Fan Zhongba, Assistant Director of the Directorate of Agriculture, again concurrently headed the Bureau of Merits; soon after he was transferred and the bureau was consolidated again. The clerk quota was cut to one Chief Clerk, one Record Keeper, four Scribe Record Keepers, three Duty Officers, four Senior Paste Clerks, and three Private Names.

考功郎中員外郎

Director of Section and Assistant Director of Section, Bureau of Evaluation.

掌文武官選敘、磨勘、資任、考課之政令。凡命官，隨所隸遷，以其職事具注於曆，給之於其屬州若司，歲書其功過。應陞遷授者，驗曆按法而敘進之；有負殿，則正其罪罰。以七事考監司：一曰舉官當否，二曰勸課農桑、增墾田疇，三曰戶口增損，四曰興利除害，五曰事失案察，六曰較正刑獄，七曰盜賊多寡。以四善、三最考守令：德義有聞、清謹明著、公平可稱、恪勤匪懈為四善；獄訟無冤、催科不擾為治事之最，農桑墾殖水利興修為勸課之最，屏除姦盜、人獲安處、振恤困窮、不致流移為撫養之最。通善、最分三等：五事為上，二事為中，餘為下。若能否尤著，則別為優劣，以詔黜陟。凡內外官，計在官之日，滿一歲為一考，三考為一任。

It handled regulations on selection and ranking, performance review, qualifications for office, and evaluation of civil and military officials. For all appointed officials, following their assignment, their duties were fully recorded in service records, issued to their subordinate prefecture or bureau, and merits and demerits were recorded each year. Those due for promotion had their records verified and were advanced according to law; if they ranked at the bottom, their crimes and punishments were corrected. Circuit intendants were evaluated on seven matters: whether recommended officials were suitable; promoting agriculture and sericulture and expanding cultivated fields; increase or decrease in household registers; creating benefits and removing harms; failures in investigation and oversight; correcting judicial errors; and the number of bandits and thieves. Prefects and magistrates were evaluated by four virtues and three excellences: moral conduct widely known, purity and prudence clearly evident, fairness worthy of praise, and diligent effort without slackness were the four virtues; no wrongful convictions in lawsuits and tax collection without harassment were the excellence in governance; agriculture, sericulture, reclamation, and waterworks were the excellence in promoting production; eliminating bandits and thieves, people dwelling in peace, relief for the destitute, and preventing displacement were the excellence in nurturing the people. Combining virtues and excellences yielded three grades: five achievements ranked upper, two middle, the rest lower. If ability and performance were especially notable, they were separately graded superior or inferior to decree promotion or demotion. For all capital and provincial officials, days in office were counted so that a full year constituted one evaluation and three evaluations one term.

磨勘之法，文選官之等四：銀青光祿大夫至朝議大夫，進士理八年，非進士理十年；通直郎至太中大夫充諫議大夫、待制以上職任者，理三年；朝散大夫至承務郎，理四年。武選官之等六：遙郡團練使、刺史、合門舍人轉左武、右武郎，理十年；武功大夫以下，理七年；橫行武德大夫以下至校尉，理五年；合門祗候初補從義郎以下至承節郎、承信郎充隨行指使，理四年；承信郎以功補授及宗室觀察使以下祗應校尉，理三年；宗室承宣使以下祗應校尉，理二年。幕職州縣官之等三：進士第一、第二、第三名及第者，一任回改京官；自留守、府判官至縣令，理六考；自軍巡判官至縣尉，理七考。率以法計其曆任歲月、功過而序遷之。凡改服色者以年勞計之。執政官、節度使、銀青光祿大夫以上應縊者，覆太常所定行狀，報尚書省官集議以聞。〈（紹聖四年，河東提刑司徐君平奏：「乞凡將集議，前期三日，持考功狀遍示當議之官，使先紬繹而後集於都堂以詢之，庶幾有所見者得以自申，以稱朝廷博謀盡下之意。」從之。）〉凡立碑碣名額之事，掌之。舊制，考課院其定殿最皆有考辭。元豐官制行，悉罷。分案十有七，置吏六十有八。

Under the performance review rules, civil selection officials fell into four grades: from Silver-Green Glory Grandee through Court Discussion Grandee required eight years for jinshi and ten for non-jinshi; from Communication Remonstrance Gentleman through Grandee of Grand Brightness serving as Remonstrance Counselor or Palace Draft Attendant and above, three years; from Court Dispersal Grandee through Attendant Gentleman, four years. Military selection officials fell into six grades: Distant Prefecture Regimentation Commissioner, prefect, and Palace Gate Gentlemen converted to Left and Right Martial Gentlemen required ten years; below Martial Achievement Grandee, seven years; from Horizontal Track Martial Virtue Grandee and below through Commandant, five years; Palace Attendants first appointed from Follow Righteousness Gentleman and below through Uphold Integrity and Uphold Trust Gentlemen serving as attendant envoys, four years; Uphold Trust Gentlemen appointed by merit and attendant commandants of imperial clansmen observation commissioners and below, three years; attendant commandants of imperial clansmen appointment commissioners and below, two years. Secretariat and prefectural/county officials fell into three grades: jinshi who placed first, second, or third were converted to capital officials after one term; from garrison commanders and prefectural vice-prefects through county magistrates, six evaluations; from military patrol vice-prefects through county assistant magistrates, seven evaluations. In general, by law their cumulative months of service and merits and demerits were calculated to determine sequential advancement. All changes of robe color were reckoned by years of service. For chief councillors, military commissioners, and Silver-Green Glory Grandees and above due posthumous titles, the bureau reviewed the biographical summary fixed by the Court of Imperial Sacrifices and reported to the Ministry Directorate for collective deliberation and memorialization. (In Shaosheng 4 Xu Junping of the Hedong Circuit Judicial Intendant Office memorialized: "Whenever a collective deliberation is to be held, I ask that three days beforehand the Bureau of Evaluation summary be circulated to all officials who are to deliberate, so they may study it first and then assemble in the chief hall for inquiry, allowing those with views to speak for themselves and fulfilling the court's intent to consult widely and exhaust opinions below." The request was approved.) It managed all matters of erecting stelae, inscribed tablets, and name plaques. Under the old system, the Evaluation Department's grading of performance included evaluation statements for every case. When the Yuanfeng bureaucratic system took effect, all of this was abolished. There were seventeen case divisions and sixty-eight clerks on staff.

元祐三年，詔：「知州考課法，吏部上其事於尚書省，送中書省取旨賞罰。劣等應罰而已沖降者，仍從沖降法。縣令以下，本部專行。」六年，樞密院言：「元豐末，堂除知州軍三年為任，武任依此。元祐初，以成資為任，武臣未曾立法。」詔武臣任六等差遣，川廣成資餘並三十個月為任。建炎以後並同。應文武臣磨勘、關升、資任、較考，定其殿最，別其優劣，以詔黜陟予奪；沒則諡，審覆而參定之。凡特恩賜諡，命詞給告，餘給敕。分案十一：曰六品，曰七品，曰八品，曰曹掾，曰令丞，曰從義，曰成忠，曰資任，曰檢法，曰知雜，曰開拆。裁減吏額，主事二人，令史四人，書令史八人，守當官十三人，正貼司三人，私名一十人。〈（淳熙十三年，再共減三人。）〉

In Yuanyou 3 an edict ordered: "For the prefect evaluation method, the Ministry of Personnel shall submit the matter to the Ministry Directorate and forward it to the Secretariat for imperial decision on rewards and punishments. Those in the inferior grade who should be punished but had already been offset and demoted were still handled under the offset-demoted procedure. For county magistrates and below, the responsible ministry implemented directly." In the sixth year the Bureau of Military Affairs reported: "At the end of Yuanfeng, Secretariat-appointed prefectures and military commands had three years as one term; military terms followed this. At the start of Yuanyou, mature qualifications became the term, but no law had been enacted for military officials." An edict ordered that for military officials assigned to six-grade posts, in Sichuan and Guang circuits the term was mature qualification, elsewhere thirty months. After Jianyan all were treated the same. For civil and military officials' performance review, gate-promotion, qualifications, and comparative evaluation, it determined performance grades, distinguished superior from inferior, and decreed promotion, demotion, reward, and deprivation; Upon death, posthumous titles were reviewed and jointly determined. For all specially bestowed posthumous titles, appointment text granted a patent; the rest received patent edicts. There were eleven case divisions: Sixth Rank, Seventh Rank, Eighth Rank, Bureau Assistants, Magistrate and Assistant, Follow Righteousness, Accomplish Loyalty, Qualifications, Inspection Law, General Affairs, and Document Opening. The clerk quota was cut to two Chief Clerks, four Record Keepers, eight Scribe Record Keepers, thirteen Duty Officers, three Senior Paste Clerks, and ten Private Names. (In Chunxi 13 three more were cut.)

官告院

Patent Office

主管官一員，以京朝官充。〈（舊制，提舉一人，以知制誥充；判院一人，以帶職京朝官充。）〉掌吏、兵、勳、封官告，以給妃嬪、王公、文武品官、內外命婦及封贈者，各以本司告身印印之。文臣用吏部，武臣用兵部，王公及命婦用司封，加勳用司勳。官制行，四選皆用吏部印，惟蕃官則用兵部印記。凡綾紙幅數、褾軸名色，皆視其品之高下，應奏鈔畫聞者給之。令史十五人。

One supervising official, filled by a metropolitan court official. (Under the old system, one director was appointed, filled by a drafter of edicts; one bureau chief, filled by a metropolitan court official with titular post.) It managed personnel, military, merit, and enfeoffment patents for consorts, princes, civil and military rank officials, inside and outside titled women, and those receiving posthumous grants, each stamped with the patent seal of the responsible bureau. Civil officials used the Ministry of Personnel, military officials the Ministry of War, princes and titled women the Bureau of Enfeoffments, and added merit the Bureau of Merits. When the bureaucratic system took effect, all four selections used the Ministry of Personnel seal; only frontier officials used the Ministry of War seal. Silk paper sheet counts, mounting scrolls, and named styles all followed rank; those requiring memorialized copies for imperial notification were issued accordingly. Fifteen Record Keepers.

元豐五年，官制所復位制授敕授奏授告身式，從之。紹聖元年，吏部言：「元豐法，凡入品者給告身，無品者給黃牒。元祐中，以內外差遣并職事官本等內改易或再任者，並給黃牒，乃與無品人等。」詔：「今後帥臣監司待制以上知州，並給告，餘依舊。」三年，詔：「職事官監察御史以上因事罷，並給告。」元符元年，吏部言：「元祐法，小使臣只降宣劄，乞自承信郎而上依舊給告。」宣和元年，詔：「官告院立條，凡製造告身法物，應用綾錦，私輒放效織造及貿販服用者，立賞許告。」

In the fifth year of Yuanfeng the Bureau of the Bureaucratic Reform restored the formats for rank appointment, patent appointment, and memorial appointment patents; the proposal was approved. In Shaosheng 1 the Ministry of Personnel reported: "Under Yuanfeng law, all who entered rank received patents; those without rank received yellow certificates. During Yuanyou, inside and outside assignments and functional officials who changed within their grade or served again all received yellow certificates, thus grouped with the rankless." An edict ordered: "Henceforth circuit marshals, intendant commissioners, and palace draft attendants and above serving as prefects all received patents; the rest followed the old rule." In the third year an edict ordered: "Functional officials from Assistant Censor and above dismissed for cause all received patents." In Yuanfu 1 the Ministry of Personnel reported: "Under Yuanyou law, minor envoys received only appointment letters; we ask that from Uphold Trust Gentleman and above patents be issued as before." In Xuanhe 1 an edict ordered the Patent Office to establish regulations: for all manufacture of patent regalia requiring damask and brocade, private imitation weaving and trade or wearing would be subject to bounty rewards for informants."

大抵官告之制，自乾德四年，詔定告身綾紙褾軸，其制闕略。咸平、景德中，兩加潤澤，至皇祐始備。神宗即位，循用皇祐舊格，逮元豐改制，名號雖異，品秩則同，故亦未遑別定。徽宗大觀初，乃著為新格，凡褾帶綱軸等飾，始加詳矣。

In general, the patent system began in Qiande 4, when an edict fixed patent silk paper and mounting scrolls, though the system was still incomplete. During Xianping and Jingde it was refined twice; by Huangyou it was complete. When Shenzong ascended, the Huangyou standards were followed; by the Yuanfeng reforms titles differed but ranks were the same, so no separate standard was yet made. At the start of Huizong's Daguan era new standard was enacted, and mounting straps, cord scrolls, and other adornments became notably detailed.

凡文武官綾紙五種，分十二等：

Civil and military officials had five types of silk paper, divided into twelve grades:

色背銷金花綾紙二等。〈（一等一十八張，滴粉縷金花大犀軸，八荅暈錦褾韜，色帶。三公、三少、侍中、中書令用之。一等一十七張，滴粉縷金花中犀軸，天下樂錦褾犀軸，色帶。左右僕射、使相、王用之。）〉

Colored-back brocaded gold-flower silk paper, two grades. (First grade: eighteen sheets, dripped-powder gold-flower large rhinoceros scroll, eight-answer halo brocade mounting cover and belt. Used by the Three Dukes, Three Minor Guardians, Palace Attendant, and Director of the Secretariat. First grade: seventeen sheets, dripped-powder gold-flower medium rhinoceros scroll, Under-Heaven Bliss brocade mounting with rhinoceros scroll, and colored belt. Used by Left and Right Vice Premiers, commissioners with concurrent metropolitan posts, and princes.)

白背五色綾紙二等。〈（一等一十七張，滴粉縷金花，翠毛獅子錦褾韜，玳瑁軸，色帶。知樞密院，兩省侍郎，尚書左右丞，同知、簽書樞密院事，嗣王，郡王，特進，觀文殿大學士，太尉，東宮三少，冀、袞、青、徐、揚、荊、豫、梁、雍州牧，御史大夫，宗室節度使至率府副率之帶皇字者用之。一等一十七張，暈錦褾韜，玳瑁軸，色帶。觀文殿學士，資政殿大學士，六尚書，金紫光祿、銀青光祿、光祿大夫，左、右金吾衛，左、右衛上將軍，節度、承宣、觀察，並用之。）〉

White-back five-color silk paper, two grades. (First grade: seventeen sheets, dripped-powder gold-flower, emerald-feather lion brocade mounting cover, tortoiseshell scroll, and colored belt. Used by the Director of the Bureau of Military Affairs, vice ministers of the two secretariats, Left and Right Vice Directors of the Ministry Directorate, Associate Directors and Endorsing Secretaries of the Bureau of Military Affairs, heir princes, commandery princes, Special Advancement, Grand Academician of the Hall for Viewing Culture, Grand Marshal, the Three Minor Guardians of the Eastern Palace, prefects of Ji, Yan, Qing, Xu, Yang, Jing, Yu, Liang, and Yong, the Censor-in-Chief, and imperial clansmen military commissioners through deputy commandants of the Heir Apparent's guard offices bearing the character "Imperial." First grade: seventeen sheets, halo brocade mounting cover, tortoiseshell scroll, and colored belt. Used by Academicians of the Hall for Viewing Culture, Grand Academicians of the Hall for Supporting Governance, the Six Ministry Directors, Gold-Purple Glory, Silver-Green Glory, and Glory Grandees, Left and Right Golden Tally Guards, Left and Right Guard Senior Generals, and military, appointment, and observation commissioners.)

大綾紙四等。〈（一等一十五張，暈錦褾，兩面撥花穗草大牙軸，色帶。宣奉、正奉大夫，翰林學士，資政、端明殿學士，龍圖、天章、寶文、顯謨、徽猷閣學士，左、右散騎常侍，御史中丞，開封尹，六曹侍郎，樞密直學士，龍圖天章、寶文、顯謨、徽猷閣直學士，正議、通奉大夫，諸衛上將軍，太子賓客，詹事，侯，用之。一等十二張，法錦褾，兩面撥花細牙軸，色帶。給事中，中書舍人，通議大夫，司成，左、右諫議大夫，龍圖、天章、寶文、顯謨、徽猷閣待制，太中大夫，秘書、殿中監，伯，用之。一等一十張，法錦褾，撥花常使大牙軸，色帶。中大夫，七寺卿，京畿、三路轉運使，發運使，中奉、中散大夫，通侍大夫，樞密都承旨，祭酒，太常、宗正少卿，秘書、殿中少監，正侍、中侍大夫，入內內侍省內侍省、都知，諸州刺史，中亮、中衛大夫，防禦、團練使，太子左、右庶子，諸衛大將軍，附馬都尉，典樂，子，用之。一等八張，盤毬錦褾，大牙軸，色帶。七寺少卿，朝議、奉直大夫，左、右司郎中，司業，開封少尹，少府、將作、軍器監，都水使者，拱衛大夫，太子詹事，左、右諭德，左武、右武大夫，入內內侍省、內侍省副都知，樞密承旨、副都承旨，諸房副承旨，起居郎、舍人，侍御史，左、右司員外郎，六曹郎中，朝請、朝散、朝奉大夫，京畿、三路轉運副使，諸路轉運使、副使，知上州，提舉三路保甲，入內內侍省、內侍省押班，武功至武翼大夫，開封左、右司錄事，蕃官使臣，殿中侍御史，左右司諫、正言，監察御史，和安大夫至翰林良醫，男，用之。內殿中侍御史、監察御史用九張，蕃官使臣用大錦褾，背帶，此其小異者也。）〉

Large silk paper, four grades. (First grade: fifteen sheets, halo brocade mounting, double-sided carved grass large tusk scroll, and colored belt. Used by Proclaim Respect and Upright Respect Grandees, Hanlin Academicians, Academicians of the Halls for Supporting Governance and Clear Brightness, Academicians of the Dragon Diagram, Heavenly Chapter, Treasure Culture, Manifest Counsel, and Splendid Strategy Pavilions, Left and Right Regular Attendant Cavaliers, the Vice Censor-in-Chief, the Prefect of Kaifeng, Six Ministry Vice Directors, the Direct Academician of the Bureau of Military Affairs, Direct Academicians of those pavilions, Court Discussion and Communication Respect Grandees, Guard Senior Generals, the Heir Apparent Host and Household Administrator, and marquises. First grade: twelve sheets, statutory brocade mounting, double-sided carved fine tusk scroll, and colored belt. Used by Supervising Secretaries, Secretariat Drafters, Communication Discussion Grandee, the Director of Education, Left and Right Remonstrance Counselors, Palace Draft Attendants of those pavilions, Grandee of Grand Brightness, Directors of the Secretariat and Palace Archives, and earls. First grade: ten sheets, statutory brocade mounting, carved regular envoy large tusk scroll, and colored belt. Used by Grandee of the Palace, the Seven Directorate Directors, capital and Three-Circuit transport commissioners, grain transport commissioners, Court Respect and Court Dispersal Grandees, Communication Attendant Grandee, the Chief Commissioner of the Bureau of Military Affairs, the Director of the Directorate of Education, vice directors of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices and Imperial Clan, assistant directors of the Secretariat and Palace Archives, Upright Attendant and Attendant Grandees, chief eunuchs of the Inner and Outer Eunuch Directorates, prefects, Bright Guard and Central Guard Grandees, defense and regimentation commissioners, Left and Right Heir Apparent Subordinates, Guard Grand Generals, the Commandant Escort of the Heir Apparent's Consort, the Director of Music, and viscounts. First grade: eight sheets, ball-game brocade mounting, large tusk scroll, and colored belt. Used by the Seven Directorate Vice Directors, Court Discussion and Upright Direct Grandees, Left and Right Bureau Directors, the Vice Director of Education, the Vice Prefect of Kaifeng, directors of the Treasury, Construction, and Armaments Directorates, the Commissioner of Waterways, Arch Guard Grandee, the Heir Apparent Household Administrator, Left and Right Instructors, Left and Right Martial Grandees, deputy chief eunuchs of the Inner and Outer Eunuch Directorates, commissioners and deputy chief commissioners of the Bureau of Military Affairs, deputy commissioners of its sections, diarists and attendants, attendant censors, Left and Right Bureau assistant directors, Six Ministry bureau directors, Court Request, Court Dispersal, and Court Respect Grandees, capital and Three-Circuit transport vice commissioners, circuit transport commissioners and vice commissioners, upper-grade prefects, Three-Circuit militia commissioners, escort eunuchs of the Inner and Outer Eunuch Directorates, Martial Achievement through Martial Wing Grandees, Left and Right Record Clerks of Kaifeng, frontier envoy commissioners, palace attendant censors, Left and Right remonstrance and rectification officers, supervising censors, Harmonious Peace Grandee through Hanlin Fine Physician, and barons. Inner Palace Attendant Censors and Supervising Censors used nine sheets; frontier envoy commissioners used large brocade mounting with back belt—these were the minor differences.)

中綾紙二等。〈（一等七張，中錦褾，中牙軸，青帶。諸司員外郎，朝請朝散、朝奉郎，少府、將作、軍器少監，諸衛將軍，太子侍讀、侍講，中亮、中衛，左武、右武郎中，知下州，諸路提點刑獄，發運判官，提點鑄錢，承議郎，武功至武翼郎，太子中允、舍人，親王府翊善、贊讀、侍讀，符寶郎，太常、中正、秘書、殿中丞，六尚奉御，大理正，著作郎，通事舍人，太子諸率府率，直龍圖閣，開封府諸曹事，大晟府樂令，直秘合，崇政殿說書，和安郎至翰林醫正，用之。一等六張，中錦褾，中牙軸，青帶。奉議郎，七寺丞，秘書郎，太常博士，著作佐郎，國子、少府、將作、軍器、都水監承，國子博士，大理司直評事，修武、敦武郎，通直郎，內常侍，轉運判官，提舉學士，諸州通判，御史臺檢法官、主簿，九寺主簿，親王記室，閤門祗候，樞密院逐房副承旨，從義、秉義郎，太學、武學博士，開封諸曹掾，陵臺令，兩赤縣令，忠訓、忠翊郎，節度、防禦、團練副使，行軍司馬，太醫正，太史局令、正、丞、五官正，翰林醫官，辟應博士，太子諸率府副率，用之。）〉

Medium silk paper, two grades. (First grade: seven sheets, medium brocade mounting, medium tusk scroll, and blue belt. Used by bureau assistant directors, Court Request, Court Dispersal, and Court Respect Gentlemen, assistant directors of the Treasury, Construction, and Armaments Directorates, guard generals, Heir Apparent readers and lecturers, Bright Guard and Central Guard officers, Left and Right Martial bureau directors, lower-grade prefects, circuit judicial intendants, grain transport vice commissioners, coinage commissioners, Accept Discussion Gentlemen, Martial Achievement through Martial Wing Gentlemen, Heir Apparent acceptors and attendants, prince's household rectifiers, readers, and lecturers, Talisman Treasures Gentlemen, assistant directors of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, Imperial Clan, Secretariat, and Palace Archives, Six Services attendants, the chief justice of the Court of Judicial Review, the director of compilation, communication attendants, Heir Apparent guard commandants, Direct Dragon Diagram Pavilion Attendant, Kaifeng bureau affairs officers, Great Splendor Music Director, Direct Secret Repository Attendant, Chongzheng Hall Lecturer, and Harmonious Peace Gentleman through Hanlin Chief Physician. First grade: six sheets, medium brocade mounting, medium tusk scroll, and blue belt. Used by Uphold Discussion Gentlemen, Seven Directorate assistants, secretariat gentlemen, Court of Imperial Sacrifices erudites, compilation assistant gentlemen, assistant directors of the Directorate of Education, Treasury, Construction, Armaments, and Waterways Directorates, Directorate of Education erudites, Court of Judicial Review investigators, Cultivate Martial and Honest Martial Gentlemen, Communication Remonstrance Gentlemen, inner attendant eunuchs, transport vice commissioners, academic commissioners, prefectural vice-prefects, Censorate legal inspectors and recorders, Nine Directorate recorders, prince's secretaries, Palace Attendants, deputy commissioners of Bureau of Military Affairs sections, Follow Righteousness and Uphold Righteousness Gentlemen, Grand Academy and Military Academy erudites, Kaifeng bureau assistants, tomb platform magistrates, two red-county magistrates, Loyal Instruction and Loyal Support Gentlemen, military, defense, and regimentation vice commissioners, campaign marshals, the Chief Imperial Physician, the director, rectifier, assistant director, and Five-Offices Rectifier of the Astronomical Bureau, Hanlin medical officers, Response Erudites, and deputy commandants of the Heir Apparent's guard offices.)

小綾紙二等。〈（一等五張，黃花錦褾，角軸，青帶。校書郎，正字，宣教郎，太常寺協律、奉禮郎，太祝，郊社、太官令，律學博士，國子、少府、將作、軍器、都水監主簿，宣幾郎，保義、成忠郎，太學正、錄，律學，承事、承奉、承務、承信、承、節郎，門下、中書省錄事，尚書省都事，三省、樞密院主事，辟應正、錄，用之。一等五張，黃花錦褾，次等角軸，青帶。幕職、州縣官，三省樞密院令史、書史，流外官，諸州別駕、長史、司馬、文學、司士、助教，技術官，用之。）〉凡宮掖至外命婦羅紙七種，分十等：

Small silk paper, two grades. (First grade: five sheets, yellow-flower brocade mounting, horn scroll, and blue belt. Used by proofreaders, rectifiers, Proclaim Instruction Gentlemen, Court of Imperial Sacrifices pitch regulators and ceremonial gentlemen, grand sacrificers, directors of suburban and imperial granary, Law Academy erudites, recorders of the Directorate of Education, Treasury, Construction, Armaments, and Waterways Directorates, Proclaim Several Gentlemen, Preserve Righteousness and Accomplish Loyalty Gentlemen, Grand Academy rectifiers and recorders, Law Academy officers, Attendant, Attendant Respect, Attendant Service, Uphold Trust, Uphold, and Uphold Integrity Gentlemen, record clerks of the Gate and Secretariat, Ministry Directorate chief clerks, chief clerks of the Three Secretariats and Bureau of Military Affairs, and Response rectifiers and recorders. First grade: five sheets, yellow-flower brocade mounting, subordinate horn scroll, and blue belt. Used by secretariat staff, prefectural and county officials, record and scribe clerks of the Three Secretariats and Bureau of Military Affairs, outside-stream officials, prefectural vice-prefects, chief administrators, marshals, literary instructors, legal officers, assistant instructors, and technical officers.) For all from palace women to outside titled women, there were seven types of gauze paper, divided into ten grades:

遍地銷金龍五色羅紙二等。〈（一等一十八張，韜帶，兩面銷金雲鳳褾，紅絲綱子，金樣鈒花塗?錔，滴粉縷金花鳳大犀軸。大長公主、長公主、公主用之。一等一十七張，韜帶，兩面銷金雲鳳褾，紅絲網子，金樣鈒花塗?錔，滴粉縷金花鳳子中犀軸。貴儀、淑儀、淑容、順儀、順容、婉儀、婉容、內宰用之。）〉

Full-ground brocaded gold dragon five-color gauze paper, two grades. (First grade: eighteen sheets, cover belt, double-sided brocaded gold cloud-phoenix mounting, red silk cord net, gold-patterned chased-flower gilded mounts, and dripped-powder gold-flower phoenix large rhinoceros scroll. Used by the Grand Senior Princess, Senior Princess, and Princess. First grade: seventeen sheets, cover belt, double-sided brocaded gold cloud-phoenix mounting, red silk net, gold-patterned chased-flower gilded mounts, and dripped-powder gold-flower phoenix medium rhinoceros scroll. Used by the Noble Lady of Ceremony, Virtuous Lady of Ceremony, Virtuous Lady of Grace, Compliant Lady of Ceremony, Compliant Lady of Grace, Graceful Lady of Ceremony, Graceful Lady of Grace, and the Inner Chief Steward.)

遍地銷金鳳子五色羅紙二等。〈（一等一十五張，韜帶，銷金鳳子褾，紅絲綱子，金塗銀?錔，滴粉縷金雲鳳玳瑁軸。昭儀、昭容、昭媛、修儀、修容、修媛、充儀、充容、充媛、副宰用之。一等一十二張，韜帶，銷金盤鳳標，紅絲網子，金塗銀?錔，滴粉金雲鳳玳瑁軸。婕妤、才人、貴人、美人用之。）〉

Full-ground brocaded gold phoenix-pattern five-color gauze paper, two grades. (First grade: fifteen sheets, cover belt, brocaded gold phoenix-pattern mounting, red silk cord net, gilded silver mounts, and dripped-powder gold cloud-phoenix tortoiseshell scroll. Used by the Bright Lady of Ceremony, Bright Lady of Grace, Bright Lady of Beauty, Cultivated Lady of Ceremony, Cultivated Lady of Grace, Cultivated Lady of Beauty, Fulfilling Lady of Ceremony, Fulfilling Lady of Grace, Fulfilling Lady of Beauty, and the Deputy Chief Steward. First grade: twelve sheets, cover belt, brocaded gold coiled-phoenix badge, red silk net, gilded silver mounts, and dripped-powder gold cloud-phoenix tortoiseshell scroll. Used by the Lady of Handsome Fairness, Lady of Talent, Lady of Nobility, and Lady of Beauty.)

銷金團窠花五色羅紙二等。〈（一等一十張，八荅暈錦逯韜，色帶，紫絲網子，銀?錔，滴粉縷金葵花玳瑁褾軸。尚儀，尚服，尚食，尚寢，尚功，宮正，內史，宰相曾祖母、祖母、母、妻，親王妻，用之。一等八張，翠色獅子錦標韜，色帶，紫絲網子，銀?錔，滴粉縷金梔子花玳瑁軸。郡主，縣主，國夫人，內命婦，郡夫人，執政官祖母、母、妻，用之。）〉

Brocaded gold medallion-flower five-color gauze paper, two grades. (First grade: ten sheets, eight-brocade halo-pattern cover, colored belt, purple silk net, silver mounts, and dripped-powder gold sunflower tortoiseshell mounting scroll. Used by the Masters of Ceremonies, Wardrobe, Food, Quarters, and Works, the Palace Rectifier, the Inner Scribe, chief councillors' great-grandmothers, grandmothers, mothers, and wives, and imperial princes' wives. First grade: eight sheets, emerald lion-brocade badge cover, colored belt, purple silk net, silver mounts, and dripped-powder gold gardenia tortoiseshell scroll. Used by the Commandery Mistress, County Mistress, State Lady, inner titled ladies, Commandery Lady, and chief councillors' grandmothers, mothers, and wives.)

銷金大花五色羅紙一等。〈（七張，雲鴈錦褾韜，色帶，紫絲網子，銀?錔，滴粉縷金瑁軸。寶林御女，采女，二十四司典掌，尚書省掌籍、掌樂，主管仙韶，用之。）〉

Brocaded gold large-flower five-color gauze paper, one grade. (Seven sheets, cloud-goose brocade mounting cover, colored belt, purple silk net, silver mounts, and dripped-powder gold tortoiseshell scroll. Used by Baolin Palace Women, Selected Women, directors of the Twenty-Four Offices, the Secretariat's registrars and directors of music, and supervisors of the Immortal Splendor Bureau.)

金花五色羅紙一等。〈（七張，法錦褾韜，色帶，紫絲網子，銀?錔，縷金玳瑁軸。郡夫人，郡君，宗室妻，朝奉大夫、遙郡刺史以上母妻，升朝官母，諸班直都虞候、指揮使、禁軍都虞候、軍都虞候、御前忠佐母，蕃官母妻，諸神廟夫人，用之。）〉

Gold-flower five-color gauze paper, one grade. (Seven sheets, patterned brocade mounting cover, colored belt, purple silk net, silver mounts, and gold-thread tortoiseshell scroll. Used by the Commandery Lady, Commandery Mistress, imperial clanswomen's wives, mothers and wives of Court Respect Grandees and distant-prefecture commissioners and above, mothers of elevated court officials, mothers of all battalion supervisors, commanders, Palace guard battalion supervisors, army battalion supervisors, and Imperial Front Loyal Retainer officials, frontier officials' mothers and wives, and ladies of spirit shrines.)

五色素羅紙一等。〈（七張，錦褾韜，色帶，紫絲綱子，銀?錔，大牙軸。宗室女，升朝官妻，諸班直都虞候、指揮使、禁軍都虞候、軍都指揮使、忠佐妻，用之。）〉

Five-color plain gauze paper, one grade. (Seven sheets, brocade mounting cover, colored belt, purple silk cord net, silver mounts, and large tusk scroll. Used by imperial clanswomen, wives of elevated court officials, and wives of all battalion supervisors, commanders, Palace guard battalion supervisors, army commanders, and Loyal Retainer officials.)

凡內外軍校封贈綾紙三種，分四等：

For all inner and outer military officers' enfeoffment silk paper, there were three types divided into four grades:

大綾紙二等。〈（一等七張，法錦褾，大牙軸，青帶。遙郡刺史以上用之。一等七張，大錦褾，大牙軸，青帶。藩方指揮使、御前忠佐馬步軍都副都軍頭、馬步軍都軍頭、藩方馬步軍都指揮使用之。內帶遙郡者，法錦褾，色帶。）〉

Large silk paper, two grades. (First grade: seven sheets, patterned brocade mounting, large tusk scroll, and blue belt. Used by distant-prefecture commissioners and above. First grade: seven sheets, grand brocade mounting, large tusk scroll, and blue belt. Used by frontier commanders, Imperial Front Loyal Retainer cavalry and infantry deputy chief and chief army heads, and frontier cavalry and infantry chief commanders. Those who also held distant-prefecture rank used patterned brocade mounting and colored belt.)

中陵紙一等。〈（五張，中錦褾，中牙軸，青帶。都虞候以上諸班指揮使，御前忠佐馬步軍副都軍頭，藩方馬步軍副都指揮使、都虞候，用之。內加至爵邑者，用大綾紙，大牙軸，大錦褾。）〉

Medium silk paper, one grade. (Five sheets, medium brocade mounting, medium tusk scroll, and blue belt. Used by battalion supervisors and above among battalion commanders, Imperial Front Loyal Retainer cavalry and infantry deputy army heads, and frontier cavalry and infantry deputy commanders and battalion supervisors. Those who also received enfeoffment rank and fief used large silk paper, large tusk scroll, and grand brocade mounting.)

小綾紙一等。〈（五張，黃花錦褾，次等角軸，青帶。諸軍指揮使以下用之。如加至爵邑者，同上。）〉凡封蠻夷酋長及蕃長綾紙兩種，各一等：

Small silk paper, one grade. (Five sheets, yellow-flower brocade mounting, subordinate horn scroll, and blue belt. Used by army commanders and below. If enfeoffment rank and fief were also added, the same as above.) For enfeoffing barbarian chieftains and frontier chiefs, there were two types of silk paper, each one grade:

五色銷金花綾紙一等。〈（一十八張，翠色獅子錦褾，法錦韜，紫絲網子，銀?錔，滴粉縷金牡丹花玳瑁軸，色帶。南平、占城、真臘、闍婆國王用之。）〉

Five-color brocaded gold-flower silk paper, one grade. (Eighteen sheets, emerald lion brocade mounting, patterned brocade cover, purple silk net, silver mounts, dripped-powder gold peony tortoiseshell scroll, and colored belt. Used by the kings of Nanping, Champa, Zhenla, and Java.)

中綾紙一等。〈（七張，法錦褾，中牙軸，青帶。藩蠻官承襲、轉官用之。）〉

Medium silk paper, one grade. (Seven sheets, patterned brocade mounting, medium tusk scroll, and blue belt. Used by frontier barbarian officials succeeding to or transferring office.)

大觀并歸尚書省，政和仍歸吏部。〈（差主管官。）〉建炎元年，詔：「文臣太中大夫、武臣正任觀察使及宗室南班官以上給告，以下並給敕。」三年，詔逐等依舊給告。紹興二年，詔：「四品以下官及職事官監察御史以上，官告並用錦褾外，其餘官并封贈權用纈羅代充。」十四年，始盡用錦。其後，又詔內外命婦、郡夫人以上，乃得用網袋及銷金，其餘則否。至二十六年，詔內外文武臣僚告敕並依大觀格式製造。裁減吏額，共置二十九人。〈（淳熙十三年又減五人。）〉

In the Daguan era it was merged into the Ministry Directorate; in the Zhenghe era it returned to the Ministry of Personnel. (A supervising official was dispatched.) In Jianyan 1 an edict declared: "Civil officials of Grandee of Palace Counselor rank and above, military officials holding regular appointments as military commissioners, and Southern Court imperial clansmen and above shall receive patent edicts; those below shall all receive commission edicts." In the third year, an edict ordered that grants revert to the old practice of patent edicts by grade. In Shaoxing 2 an edict declared: "For officials of fourth rank and below and for functional officials of Supervising Censor rank and above, patent edicts shall use brocade mounting; for all other officials and enfeoffments, variegated gauze may provisionally be substituted." In the fourteenth year, brocade was used throughout. Thereafter another edict declared that only inner and outer titled ladies of Commandery Lady rank and above might use net bags and brocaded gold; the rest might not. By the twenty-sixth year, an edict ordered that patent edicts and commissions for inner and outer civil and military officials all be manufactured according to the Daguan regulations. The clerk quota was reduced, with twenty-nine persons in all appointed. (In Chunxi 13 five more were cut.)

部國初，以天下財計歸之三司，本部無職掌，止置判部事一人，以兩制以上充，以受天下上貢，元會陳於庭。元豐正官名，始並歸戶部。掌天下人戶、土地、錢穀之政令，貢賦、征役之事。以版籍考戶口之登耗，以稅賦持軍國之歲計，以土貢辨郡縣之物宜，以徵榷抑兼併而佐調度，以孝義婚姻繼嗣之道和人心，以田務券責之理直民訟，凡此歸於左曹。以常平之法平豐凶、時斂散，以免役之法通貧富、均財力，以伍保之法聯比閭、察資賊，以義倉振濟之法救饑饉、恤艱扼，以農田水利之政治荒廢、務稼穡，以坊場河渡之課酬勤勞、省科率，凡此歸於右曹。尚書置都拘轄司，總領內外財賦之數，凡錢穀帳籍，長貳選吏鉤考。其屬三：曰度支，曰金部，曰倉部。

At the dynasty's founding, national finances were assigned to the Three Commissions; the ministry had no defined jurisdiction, and only one supervisor of department affairs was appointed, filled by a holder of two-thronged rank or above, to receive tribute from across the realm and present it at the Great Congregation. Under the Yuanfeng official titles, it was first fully merged into the Ministry of Revenue. It oversaw regulations on households, land, and grain across the realm, and matters of tribute, taxes, and corvée labor. By household registers it examined population increase and decline; by tax levies it sustained the annual plan for state and army; by local tribute it distinguished what goods suited each prefecture and county; by excise monopolies it restrained monopolistic combination to assist fiscal adjustment; by the paths of filial piety, marriage, and succession it harmonized hearts; by the rules of land offices for deeds and debts it settled popular lawsuits—all this belonged to the Left Bureau. By the Ever-Normal method it balanced abundance and famine and timed collection and dispersal; by the Exemption-from-Corvée method it linked rich and poor and equalized financial strength; by the Five-Household method it linked neighbors and scrutinized assets and bandits; by the Charity-Granary relief method it relieved famine and succored hardship; by the policies of farmland and waterworks it governed wasteland and attended to cultivation; by the duties on market sites and ferry crossings it rewarded labor and reduced extra levies—all this belonged to the Right Bureau. The Ministry Director established the Office of Overall Restraint to oversee the totals of inner and outer fiscal revenues; all money-and-grain account books were audited by long-term appointees selecting clerks. Its subordinates were three: the Bureau of Revenue, the Bureau of Currency, and the Bureau of Granaries.

熙寧中，以知樞密院陳升之、參知政事王安石製置條例，建官設屬，取三司條例看詳，具所行事付之。三年，罷歸中書，以常平、免役、農田、水利新法歸司農，以胄案歸軍器監，修造歸將作監，推勘公事歸大理寺，帳司、理欠司歸比部，衙司歸都官，坑冶歸虞部，而三司之權始分矣。元豐官制行，罷三司歸戶部左、右曹，而三司之名始泯矣。凡官十有三：尚書一人，侍郎二人，郎中、員外郎，左右曹各二人，度支、金部、倉部各二人。

During Xi Ning, Chen Sheng Zhi as Commissioner of the Bureau of Military Affairs and Wang An Shi as Associate Grand Councillor drew up regulations, established offices and subordinates, took the Three Commissions regulations for review, and entrusted them with the matters to be undertaken. In the third year it was abolished and returned to the Secretariat; the New Policies of Ever-Normal, Exemption-from-Corvée, Farmland, and Waterworks went to the Directorate of Agriculture; the armor desk to the Armaments Directorate; construction to the Construction Directorate; investigative cases to the Court of Judicial Review; the accounts office and arrears office to the Bureau of Verification; the escort office to the Bureau of Capital Affairs; and mining and smelting to the Bureau of Fisheries and Forests—thus the authority of the Three Commissions was first divided. When the Yuanfeng bureaucratic system was implemented, the Three Commissions were abolished and merged into the Left and Right Bureaus of the Ministry of Revenue, and the name of the Three Commissions finally disappeared. In all there were thirteen offices: one Ministry Director, two Vice Directors, directors and assistant directors—two each for the Left and Right Bureaus, and two each for the Bureau of Revenue, Bureau of Currency, and Bureau of Granaries.

元佑初，門下侍郎司馬光言：「天下錢穀之數，五曹各得支用，戶部不知出納見在，無以量入為出。乞令尚書兼領左、右曹，錢穀財用事有散在五曹、寺監者，並歸戶部，使尚書周知其數，則利權歸一；若選用得人，則天下之財庶幾可理。」詔尚書省立法。三年，三省言：「大理寺右治獄並罷，依三司舊例，戶部置推勘檢法官，治在京官司凡錢穀事，增置幹當公事二員。」紹聖元年，罷戶部幹當公事，置提舉、管幹官，復行免役、義倉，釐正左、右曹職，依元定官制。三年，右曹令侍郎專領，尚書不與。建中靖國元年，復幹當公事官二員。政和二年五月，詔依神宗官制，委右曹侍郎專主行常平，自今許本部直達奏裁。又詔依熙、豐舊制，本部置都拘轄司，總領戶、度、金、倉四部財賦。宣和六年，詔戶部辟官依元豐法。

At the start of Yuanyou, Vice Director of the Gate Sima Guang said: "The empire's money and grain totals may be disbursed by each of the five bureaus, while the Ministry of Revenue does not know receipts, disbursements, and balances on hand, and thus cannot measure income against expenditure. I request that the Ministry Director concurrently oversee the Left and Right Bureaus, and that money-and-grain and fiscal matters now scattered among the five bureaus and directorates be all returned to the Ministry of Revenue, so that the Ministry Director may fully know the totals—then fiscal authority will be unified; If the right persons are selected, the empire's finances may perhaps be put in order." An edict ordered the Ministry Directorate to draw up regulations. In the third year the Three Secretariats said: "The Court of Judicial Review's right-side jurisdiction over prisons is abolished; following the old Three Commissions practice, the Ministry of Revenue shall appoint investigative and legal officers to handle all money-and-grain matters of the capital offices, and two additional commissioners for routine business shall be added." In Shaosheng 1 the Ministry of Revenue commissioners for routine business were abolished, supervising and managing officers were appointed, the Exemption-from-Corvée and Charity-Granary policies were restored, Left and Right Bureau duties were corrected, and the originally fixed bureaucratic system was followed. In the third year the Right Bureau was ordered to be exclusively led by the Vice Director; the Ministry Director was not involved. In Jianzhong Jingguo 1 the two commissioners for routine business were restored. In Zhenghe 2, fifth month, an edict ordered that following Emperor Shenzong's bureaucratic system, the Vice Director of the Right Bureau be entrusted exclusively to administer the Ever-Normal policy; from then on the ministry could directly memorialize for imperial decision. Another edict ordered that following the old Xi Ning and Yuanfeng system, the ministry establish the Office of Overall Restraint to oversee the fiscal revenues of the Ministry of Revenue, Bureau of Revenue, Bureau of Currency, and Bureau of Granaries. In Xuanhe 6 an edict ordered that Ministry of Revenue recruitment follow the Yuanfeng law.

尚書侍郎

Ministry Director, Vice Director.

掌軍國用度，以周知其出入盈虛之數。凡州縣廢置，戶口登耗，則稽其版籍；若貢賦徵稅，斂散移用，則會其數而頒其政令焉。凡四司所治之事，侍郎為之貳，郎中、員外郎參領之，獨右曹事專隸所掌侍郎。若事屬本曹，郡縣監司不能直者，受其訟焉。大饗祀薦饌，則尚書奉俎，飲福則徹之。朝會則奏貢物。左曹分案五，置吏四十；右曹分案五，置吏五十有六。建炎兵興，嘗以知樞密院張愨提領措置戶部財用，後遷中書侍郎，仍兼之。五年，復以參知政事孟庾提領措置。後罷，專委戶部長貳。左曹分案三：曰戶口，掌凡諸路州縣戶口升降，民間立戶分財，科差人丁，典賣屋業，陳告戶絕，索取妻男之訟。曰農田，掌農田及田訟務限，奏豐稔，驗水旱蟲蝗，勸課農桑，請佃地土，令佐任滿賞罰，繳奏諸州雨雪，檢按災傷逃絕人戶。曰檢法，掌凡本部檢法之事，設科有三：曰二稅，掌受納、驅磨、隱匿、支移、折變。曰房地，掌諸州樓店務房廊課利，僧道免丁錢及土貢獻物。曰課利，掌諸軍酒課，比較增虧，知、通等職位姓名，人戶買撲鹽場酒務租額酒息，賣田投納牙契。外有開拆、知雜司。右曹分案六：曰常平，掌常平、農田水利及義倉振濟，戶絕田產，居養鰥、寡、孤、獨之事。曰免役，曰坊場，曰平準，各隨其名而任其事。曰檢法，曰知雜。裁減吏額，左曹四十人，右曹三十人。淳熙十年，詔左藏南庫撥隸戶部。舊制，戶部侍郎二人，中興初，止除長貳、各一員，或止除尚書若侍郎一員。紹興四年七月，詔戶部侍郎二員，通治左、右曹，自此相承不改。

It oversaw state and army expenditures to fully know the numbers of receipts, disbursements, surplus, and deficit. For prefectural and county abolitions and establishments and population increase and decline, it examined the household registers; for tribute levies and taxes, collection, dispersal, and transfer of use, it tallied the numbers and promulgated the regulations. For all matters handled by the four bureaus, the Vice Director served as deputy; directors and assistant directors jointly oversaw them—only Right Bureau affairs were exclusively subordinated to the Vice Director in charge. If a matter belonged to this bureau and prefectures, counties, and supervisory officials could not settle it, the bureau received the lawsuit. At the Great Offering when offerings were presented, the Ministry Director presented the meat tray; when drinking the blessing, he withdrew it. At court assemblies he presented the tribute goods. The Left Bureau was divided into five desks, with forty clerks appointed; the Right Bureau was divided into five desks, with fifty-six clerks appointed. When warfare arose in Jianyan, Zhang Min, Commissioner of the Bureau of Military Affairs, was once appointed to oversee and manage Ministry of Revenue finances; later he was transferred to Vice Director of the Secretariat but still held the post concurrently. In the fifth year Meng Yu, Associate Grand Councillor, was again appointed to oversee and manage. Later this was abolished and authority was entrusted exclusively to the ministry chiefs and deputies. The Left Bureau was divided into three desks: Household Registers, which handled all matters across circuits of prefectures and counties concerning population increase and decline, popular establishment of separate households and division of property, labor corvée assessment of adult males, mortgage and sale of houses and land, petitions reporting extinct households, and lawsuits to recover wives and sons. Farmland, which handled farmland and statutory time limits for field lawsuits, reported bumper harvests, verified drought, flood, locusts, and pests, encouraged farming and sericulture, petitioned for tenant cultivation of land, rewarded and punished magistrates and assistants upon completing their terms, submitted reports on rain and snow from the circuits, and investigated disaster damage and extinct or fleeing households. Legal Affairs, which handled all investigative and legal matters of this bureau; it had three sections: Two-Taxes, which handled receipt and payment, audit grinding, concealment, transfer of tax burdens, and conversion of tax forms. Real Estate, which handled the profit levies on tower shops, lodges, and corridor shops in the circuits, exemption payments for monks and Daoists, and local tribute offerings. Profit Levies, which handled army wine levies, compared increases and losses, registered the names and posts of prefects, transport commissioners, and the like, tracked household lease purchases of salt fields and wine offices, lease quotas, and wine interest, and recorded land sales and submitted title deeds. Outside these were the Dispatch and Miscellaneous Affairs desks. The Right Bureau was divided into six desks: Ever-Normal, which handled Ever-Normal policy, farmland and waterworks, and charity-granary relief, extinct-household property, and care for widowers, widows, orphans, and the childless. Exemption-from-Corvée, Market Offices, and Equitable Standards—each according to its name discharged its duties. Legal Affairs and Miscellaneous Affairs. Clerk quotas were cut: the Left Bureau forty persons, the Right Bureau thirty persons. In Chunxi 10 an edict transferred the Southern Treasury of the Left Storehouse to be subordinated to the Ministry of Revenue. Under the old system there were two Vice Directors of the Ministry of Revenue; at the beginning of the Restoration, only one chief and one deputy were appointed each, or sometimes only one Ministry Director or Vice Director was appointed. In the seventh month of Shaoxing 4 an edict ordered two Vice Directors of the Ministry of Revenue to jointly administer the Left and Right Bureaus; thereafter this practice continued unchanged.

郎中左曹右曹員外郎

Director, Left Bureau, Right Bureau, Assistant Director.

掌分曹治事。建炎三年，詔省併郎曹，惟戶部五司以職事煩劇不併，仍各置一員。紹興中，專置提舉帳司，總天下帳狀，以戶部左曹郎官兼之。右曹歲具常平錢物總數，每秋季具冊以聞。初置主管左、右曹，總稱戶部郎官。紹興七年，閻彥昭乙太府寺丞兼左曹郎官。紹興三十二年，徐康正除左曹郎官，自是相承不改。是年，又詔：「戶部事有可疑難裁決者，許長貳與眾郎官聚議，文字皆令連書，有定議，然後付本曹行遣。」

They oversaw the division of bureaus and administration of affairs. In Jianyan 3 an edict ordered consolidation of director bureaus; only the Ministry of Revenue's five bureaus, because their duties were especially complex, were not merged, and one officer each was still appointed. During the Shaoxing era the Office of Supervising Account Books was specially established to oversee all account records nationwide, held concurrently by a director of the Ministry of Revenue's Left Bureau. The Right Bureau each year compiled totals of Ever-Normal money and goods; each autumn it submitted a register to report upward. At first supervisors of the Left and Right Bureaus were appointed, collectively called Ministry of Revenue bureau directors. In Shaoxing 7 Yan Yanzhao assumed the post of Left Bureau director concurrently while serving as assistant director of the Court of the Imperial Treasury. In Shaoxing 32 Xu Kangzheng was appointed Left Bureau director; thereafter this practice continued unchanged. That same year another edict ordered: "For Ministry of Revenue matters that are difficult to decide, the chiefs and deputies and all bureau directors are permitted to assemble for consultation; all documents shall be jointly signed; only after a decision is settled may they be sent to the responsible bureau for execution."

度支郎中員外郎

Director and Assistant Director of the Bureau of Revenue.

參掌計度軍國之用，量貢賦稅租之入以為出。凡軍須邊備，會其盈虛而通其有無。若中外祿賜及大禮賞給，皆前期以辨。歲終，則會諸路財用出入之數奏於上，而以其副申尚書省。凡小事則擬畫，大事諮其長貳；應申請更改舉行勘審者，則先檢詳供具。分案六，置吏五十有一。凡上供有額，封樁有數，科買有期，皆掌之。有所漕運，則計程而給其直。凡內外支供及奉給驛券，賞賜衣物錢帛，先期擬度，時而予之。分案五：曰度支，曰發運，曰支供，曰賞賜，曰知雜。乾道四年，置會稽都籍，度支掌之。裁減吏額，置五十人。淳熙十三年，又減四人。

They jointly oversaw calculating state and army expenditures, measuring tribute, levies, and tax-rent receipts against disbursements. For all army supplies and frontier provisions, it reconciled surplus and deficit and balanced availability and shortage. For inner and outer salary grants and great-ritual rewards and gifts, all were prepared in advance. At year's end it tallied the receipts and disbursements of fiscal resources from all circuits and memorialized upward, submitting a copy to the Secretariat. For minor matters it drafted plans; for major matters it consulted its chiefs and deputies; For matters requiring petitions, changes, implementation, or investigation and review, it first examined details and prepared the requisite documents. It was divided into six desks, with fifty-one clerks appointed. For all tribute quotas to the capital, sealed-reserve amounts, and scheduled procurement levies, it oversaw them all. When there was canal transport, it calculated the distance and paid the freight. For all inner and outer disbursements and provision of post certificates, and rewards of clothing, money, and silk, it planned in advance and granted them at the proper time. It was divided into five desks: Bureau of Revenue, Transport Dispatch, Disbursement Provision, Rewards and Gifts, and Miscellaneous Affairs. In Qiandao 4 the Kuaiji General Register was established, administered by the Bureau of Revenue. Clerk quotas were cut; fifty persons were appointed. In Chunxi 13 four more were cut.

金部郎中員外郎

Director and Assistant Director of the Bureau of Currency.

參掌天下給納之泉幣，計其歲之所輸，歸於受藏之府，以待邦國之用。勾考平準、市舶、榷易、商稅、香、茶、鹽、礬之數，以周知其登耗，視歲額增虧而為之賞罰。凡綱運不濡滯及負折者，計程帳催理。凡造度、量、權、衡，則頒其法式。合同取索及奉給、時賜，審覆而供給之。分案六：曰左藏，日右藏，曰錢帛，曰榷易，曰請給，曰知雜。裁減吏額，共置六十人。淳熙十三年，又減四人。

They jointly oversaw the currency received and paid throughout the realm, calculating what was delivered each year and returning it to the receiving treasuries to await use by the state. It audited and verified the numbers for equitable standards, maritime trade, monopoly exchange, commercial taxes, spices, tea, salt, and alum, so as to fully know their increases and losses, and rewarded or punished according to whether annual quotas rose or fell. For all convoy transport that did not arrive on schedule and for shortages and damages, it calculated the route and pursued settlement in the accounts. For all manufacture of measures, capacity standards, weights, and balances, it promulgated the statutes and forms. For contract collections and provision of stipends and seasonal gifts, it reviewed and supplied them. It was divided into six desks: Left Storehouse, Right Storehouse, Money and Silk, Monopoly Exchange, Request and Provision, and Miscellaneous Affairs. Clerk quotas were cut; sixty persons were appointed in all. In Chunxi 13 four more were cut.

倉部郎中員外郎

Director and Assistant Director of the Bureau of Granaries.

參掌國之倉庾儲積及其給受之事。凡諸路收糴折納，以時舉行；漕運上供封樁，以時催理；應供輸中都而有登耗，則比較以聞。歲以應用芻粟前期報度支，均定支移、折變之數。其在河北、陝西、河東路者，書其所支歲月，季一會之。若內外倉場帳籍供申愆期，則以法究治。分案六，置吏二十有四。元祐元年四月，省郎官一員，十月復置。分案六：曰倉場，曰上供，曰糶糴，曰給納，曰知雜，曰開拆。建炎三年，罷司農寺歸倉部。紹興四年復舊。裁減吏額，共置二十五人，續又減二人。

They jointly oversaw the state's granary storage and its receiving and disbursing affairs. For all circuits' grain purchases and commutations, it carried them out on schedule; canal transport, tribute to the capital, and sealed reserves were pursued on schedule; when what should be delivered to the capital showed gain or loss, it compared and reported upward. Each year it reported to the Bureau of Revenue in advance the fodder and grain needed, and fixed the numbers for transfer of tax burdens and conversion of tax forms. In Hebei, Shaanxi, and Hedong circuits, it recorded the months and years of disbursements and met quarterly. If inner and outer granary account books and submissions were overdue, it investigated and punished according to law. It was divided into six desks, with twenty-four clerks appointed. In the fourth month of Yuanyou 1 one bureau director was cut; in the tenth month the post was restored. It was divided into six desks: Granary Fields, Tribute to the Capital, Grain Sales and Purchases, Receipt and Payment, Miscellaneous Affairs, and Dispatch. In Jianyan 3 the Court of the Imperial Farm was abolished and its functions returned to the Bureau of Granaries. In Shaoxing 4 the former arrangement was restored. Clerk quotas were cut; twenty-five persons were appointed in all, and two more were later cut.

掌國之禮樂、祭祀、朝會、宴饗、學校、貢舉之政令。祭之名有三：天神曰祀，地祇曰祭，宗廟曰饗。又有大祀、中祀、小祀之別。幣玉、牲牢、器服，各從其等。凡雅樂，以六律、六同合陰陽之聲為樂律，金、石、絲、竹、匏、土、革、木為樂器，宮架八佾，特架六佾，分武文先後之序為樂舞，其所歌為樂章。若有事於南北效、明堂，籍田、禘祫太廟，薦享景靈宮，酌獻陵園，及行朝貢、慶賀、宴樂之禮，前期飭有司辨具，閱所定儀注，以舊章參考其當否，上尚書省，冊寶及封冊命禮亦如之。凡禮樂制度有所損益，小事則同太常寺，大事則集侍從官、秘書省長貳或百官，議定以聞。凡天下選士，具注於籍，三歲貢舉，與夫學校試補三舍生。掌后妃、親王以下推恩，公主下嫁，宗室冠、婚、喪、葬之制，及賜旌節、章服、冠帔、門戟，旌表孝行之法。若印記、圖書、表疏之事皆掌焉。大祥瑞，則朝參官以上詣閤門表賀，餘於歲終條奏。

It oversaw the state's regulations on rites and music, sacrifices, court assemblies, banquets and offerings, schools, and examinations. Sacrifices had three names: offerings to celestial deities were called si, those to earthly spirits jiao, and those to the ancestral temple xiang. There were further distinctions of major, medium, and minor sacrifices. Jade silks, sacrificial victims, vessels, and robes—each followed its grade. For all court music, the six pitch pipes and six matching tones combined yin and yang sounds into musical pitch standards; metal, stone, silk, bamboo, gourd, clay, leather, and wood served as musical instruments; the palace frame had eight rows of dancers, the special frame six rows; martial and civil precedence was divided into the order of music dances, and what was sung became the musical chapters. When there were rites at the Southern and Northern Suburban Altars, Bright Hall, plowing-ceremony fields, di and he in the Grand Ancestral Temple, offerings at Jingling Palace, libations at imperial tombs, and the rites of tribute audiences, celebrations, and banquet music, it ordered the responsible offices to prepare in advance, reviewed the established ritual protocols, referenced the old statutes to judge their correctness, and submitted to the Secretariat; investiture of seals and jewels and sealed investiture commands were likewise handled. For all additions or reductions in ritual and music institutions, minor matters were handled jointly with the Court of Imperial Sacrifices; major matters gathered attendant officials, the chiefs and deputies of the Secretariat Archive, or all officials, and after deliberation were reported upward. For all selected scholars throughout the realm, their records were fully entered in registers; triennial tribute examinations and school examinations to supplement Three-Hall students were likewise overseen. It oversaw the extension of imperial grace to empresses and consorts, imperial princes, and those below; princesses' marriages; regulations on capping, marriage, mourning, and burial for the imperial clan; and the methods for granting insignia of authority, ceremonial robes, court caps and sashes, gate halberds, and honoring filial conduct. Matters of seals, books, and memorials were all overseen by it. For great auspicious portents, court officials of Attendance Participant rank and above went to the Gatehouse to submit congratulatory memorials; the rest were itemized and memorialized at year's end.

舊屬禮儀院，判院一人，以樞密院使、參知政事充；知院，以諸司三品以上充。主吏無定數，擇三司京朝百司胥史充。禮部止設判部一人，掌科舉，補奏太廟郊社齋郎、室長、掌坐，都省集議，百官謝賀章表，諸州申祥瑞，出入內外牌印之事。兼領貢院，掌受諸州解發進士諸科名籍及其家保狀、文卷，考驗戶籍、舉數、年齒而藏之。若朝廷遣官知舉，則主判官罷，事畢，以知舉官卑者一員主判。元豐官制行，悉歸禮部。其屬三：曰祠部，曰主客，曰膳部。設官十：尚書、侍郎各一人，郎中、員外郎四司各一人。元祐初，省祠部郎官一員，以主客兼膳部。紹聖改元，主客、膳部互置郎官兼領。建炎以後並同。

Formerly it belonged to the Court of Ritual Protocol; one presiding director was appointed, filled by the Commissioner of the Bureau of Military Affairs or an Associate Grand Councillor; The administrative director was filled by officials of third rank and above in the various offices. Head clerks had no fixed number; clerks were selected from the Three Commissions, metropolitan court officials, and clerks of the hundred offices. The Ministry of Rites only appointed one supervising ministry director, who handled civil examinations; nominations and reports of Fast-offering Gentlemen, chamber chiefs, and seat attendants for the Grand Ancestral Temple and suburban altars; Secretariat assemblies for deliberation; congratulatory memorials from all officials; auspicious-portent reports from the circuits; and matters of entry, exit, inner and outer passes, and seals. He also headed the Examination Compound, receiving from the circuits the registers of presented Metropolitan Graduates and candidates of the various subjects and their household guaranty statements and examination papers, verifying household registers, number of examinations, and age, and preserving them. If the court dispatched an official to preside over the examination, the supervising director stepped down; when affairs were concluded, the lower-ranking presiding examiner served as supervising director. When the Yuanfeng bureaucratic system was implemented, everything was returned to the Ministry of Rites. Its subordinates were three: the Bureau of Sacrificial Affairs, Bureau of Receptions, and Bureau of Provisions. Ten posts were established: one Ministry Director and one Vice Director each, and one director and assistant director for each of the four bureaus. At the beginning of Yuanyou one Bureau of Sacrificial Affairs director was cut; the Bureau of Receptions concurrently held the Bureau of Provisions. When the era name was changed to Shaosheng, the Bureaus of Receptions and Provisions each appointed directors to hold the other's posts concurrently. After Jianyan this remained the same.

掌禮樂、祭祀、朝會、宴享、學校，貢舉之政令，侍郎為之貳，郎中、員外郎參領之。凡講議制度，損益儀物，則審覆有司所定之式，以次諮決，而質於尚書省。大祭祀則省牲，鼎鑊視滌濯，薦腥則奉籩豆、簠簋，及飲福徹之，稞則奉瓚臨鬯。凡天地、宗廟、陵園之祀，后妃、親王、將相封冊之命，皇子加封，公主降嫁，稽其彝章以詔上下而舉行之。朝廷慶會宴樂，宗室冠、婚、喪、祭，蕃使去來宴賜，與夫經筵、史館、賜書、修書之禮，例皆同奉常講求參酌，而定其儀節。三歲貢舉，學校試補諸生，皆總其政。旌節章服之頒，祥瑞表奏之進，凡關於禮樂者，皆掌之。建炎三年，詔鴻臚、光祿寺併歸於禮部，太常、國子監亦隸焉。分案五：曰禮樂，曰貢舉，曰宗正奉使帳，曰封冊表奏，曰檢法。各隨其名而治其事。裁減吏額，四十五人。續又減四人。

It oversaw regulations on rites and music, sacrifices, court assemblies, banquets, schools, and examinations; the Vice Director served as deputy, and directors and assistant directors jointly oversaw them. For deliberating on institutions and increasing or reducing ritual implements, it reviewed and verified the forms established by the responsible offices, consulted and decided in order, and submitted for ratification to the Secretariat. At great sacrifices it inspected the victims; at the cauldrons it watched the washing; when presenting raw flesh it held the offering trays and vessels; at drinking the blessing it withdrew them; at the blessing offering it held the libation cup and assisted with the fragrant wine. For all sacrifices to Heaven and Earth, the ancestral temple, and imperial tombs; sealed investiture commands for empresses, imperial princes, and chancellors and generals; additional enfeoffments for imperial sons; princesses' marriages—it examined the canonical regulations to inform higher and lower ranks and carried them out. For court celebrations, banquets, and music; capping, marriage, mourning, and sacrifice within the imperial clan; feasts and gifts at the coming and going of foreign envoys; and rites of the Classics Lecture, Historical Archives, book grants, and book compilation—all followed the Court of Imperial Sacrifices in research, consultation, and deliberation to fix the ritual protocols. Triennial tribute examinations and school examinations to supplement students were all administered under its authority. The issuance of insignia of authority and ceremonial robes, the submission of auspicious-portent memorials—all matters pertaining to rites and music were overseen by it. In Jianyan 3 an edict ordered the Court of Imperial Entertainments and Court of Imperial Banquets merged into the Ministry of Rites; the Court of Imperial Sacrifices and Directorate of Education were also subordinated to it. It was divided into five desks: Rites and Music, Examinations, Imperial Clan Envoy Accounts, Sealed Investitures and Memorials, and Legal Affairs. Each according to its name administered its affairs. Clerk quotas were cut to forty-five persons. Four more were later cut.

郎中員外郎

Director and Assistant Director.

祠部郎中員外郎

Director and Assistant Director of the Bureau of Sacrificial Affairs.

掌天下祀典、道釋、祠廟、醫藥之政令。月奏祠祭、國忌、休暇之日。每歲大祀忌日，大忌前一日，皆不坐。元日、冬至、寒食假各七日。天慶、先天、降聖節各五日。誕聖節、正七月望、夏至、臘各三日。天祺、天貺節、人日、中和、二社、上巳、端午、三伏、七夕、授衣、重九、四立、春秋分及每旬假各一日。若神祠封進爵號，則覆太常所定以上尚書省。凡宮觀、寺院道釋，籍其名額，應給度牒，若空名者毋越常數。初補醫生，令有司試藝業，歲終校全失而賞罰之。分案五，置吏二十有一。

It oversaw regulations throughout the realm on sacrificial codes, Daoists and Buddhists, temples and shrines, and medicine. Each month it memorialized the days of sacrificial offerings, national mourning anniversaries, and rest days. Each year on great-sacrifice mourning days, and on the day before major mourning anniversaries, the court did not hold sessions. New Year's Day, Winter Solstice, and Cold Food Festival each granted seven days' leave. The Tianqing, Xiantian, and Jiangsheng Festivals each granted five days. The Birth-Auspice Festival, the full moons of the first and seventh months, Summer Solstice, and the la sacrifice each granted three days. Tianqi, Tiankuang, Human Day, Zhonghe, the two she festivals, Shangsi, Dragon Boat, the three fu periods, Qixi, garment-bestowal day, Double Ninth, the four establishment days, the spring and autumn equinoxes, and each decadal rest day each granted one day. When spirit shrines were ennobled with submitted titles, it reviewed what the Court of Imperial Sacrifices had determined and submitted upward to the Secretariat. For all palace abbeys, temples, and Daoist and Buddhist clergy, it registered their name quotas, granted ordination certificates where due, and did not exceed the regular quota for vacant name slots. For newly appointed physicians, it ordered the responsible offices to test their professional skill; at year's end it compared completeness and losses and rewarded or punished accordingly. It was divided into five desks, with twenty-one clerks appointed.

主客郎中員外郎

Director and Assistant Director of the Bureau of Receptions.

掌以賓禮待四夷之朝貢。凡郊勞、授館、宴設、賜予，辨其等而以式頒之。至則圖其衣冠，書其山川風俗。有封爵禮命，則承詔頒付。掌嵩、慶、懿陵祭享，崇義公承襲之事。分案四，置吏七。〈（元祐六年七月，兵部言：「兵部格，掌蕃夷官授官；主客令，蕃國進奉人陳乞轉授官職者取裁。即舊應除轉官者，報所屬看詳。舊來無例，創有陳乞，曹部職掌未一，久遠互失參驗，自今不以曾未貢及例有無，應緣進奉人陳乞，授官加恩，令主客關報兵部。」從之。）〉

It oversaw receiving the tribute missions of the four directions with guest rites. For all suburban welcomes, lodging assignment, banquet provision, and gifts, it distinguished their grades and distributed them according to the prescribed forms. Upon arrival it depicted their clothing and headgear and recorded their mountains, rivers, and customs. When there were enfeoffment rite commands, it received the edict and issued them. It oversaw sacrifices at the Song, Qing, and Yi tombs and matters of succession for the Duke of Chongyi. It was divided into four desks, with seven clerks appointed. (In the seventh month of Yuanyou 6 the Ministry of War reported: "According to Ministry of War regulations, the Bureau of Barbarian Affairs handles granting office to frontier officials; the Bureau of Receptions regulations state that when tribute envoys from foreign states petition for transferred appointment, discretion is to be taken. Those who should receive transferred appointment under old rules are reported to the responsible bureau for review. Previously there was no precedent; when new petitions arose, the bureaus' duties were not unified and over time mutual verification was lost. From now on, regardless of whether tribute had previously been offered or precedent existed, for all petitions by tribute envoys for office and grace, the Bureau of Receptions shall notify the Ministry of War." The request was approved.)

膳部郎中員外郎

Director and Assistant Director of the Bureau of Provisions.

掌牲牢、酒醴、膳羞之事。凡所用物，前期計度，以關度支。若祭祀、朝會、宴享，則同光祿寺官視其善否，酒成則嘗而後進。季冬命藏冰，春分啟之，以待供賜。分案七，置吏九。

It oversaw sacrificial victims, wines, and provision delicacies. For all materials used, it calculated in advance and notified the Bureau of Revenue. For sacrifices, court assemblies, and banquets, it joined Court of Imperial Banquets officials in inspecting quality; when wine was finished it was tasted before being presented. In late winter it ordered ice stored; at spring equinox it was opened to await provision and bestowal. It was divided into seven desks, with nine clerks appointed.

掌兵衛、儀仗、鹵簿、武舉、民兵、廂軍、土軍、蕃軍，四夷官封承襲之事，輿馬、器械之政，天下地土之圖。凡儀衛，大朝會用黃麾大仗；文德殿視朝及冊命王公大臣，用黃麾半仗；紫宸殿受外國使朝，用黃麾角仗；文德殿發冊，用黃麾細仗。鹵簿有大駕、法駕、小駕，皆掌其數及行列先後之儀，為圖以授有司。凡武選之制，仿貢舉之法。凡聯其什伍而教之以戰為民兵，材不中禁衛而足以執役為廂軍，就其鄉井募以御盜為土軍，以老疾而裁其功力之半為剩員。團結以御戎為洞丁，為義軍、弩手；屬羌分隸邊將為蕃兵。籍其名數而頒其禁令。大將出征，奏捷則告於廟，破賊則露布以聞。凡招置廂、禁軍及州郡屯營，三衙遷補，守戍軍吏轉補，文武官白直、宣借，皆掌之。其屬三：曰職方，曰駕部，曰庫部。舊判部事一人，以兩制充。掌三駕儀仗、鹵簿圖、春秋釋奠武成王廟及武舉，歲終以義軍、弓箭手戶數上於朝。國初，掌千牛備身，殿中省進馬籍。元豐設官十，尚書、侍郎各一，四司郎中、員外郎各一。元祐初，省駕部郎中一員，以職方兼庫部。紹興改元，詔職方、庫部互置郎官一員兼。

It oversaw military guard, ceremonial regalia, honor guard arrays, military examinations, militia, garrison troops, local troops, and frontier troops; enfeoffment and succession for officials of the four directions; regulations on chariots, horses, and weapons; and maps of the realm's territories. For ceremonial guards, great court assemblies used the yellow-banner full guard; for audience at Wende Hall and investiture of princes and great ministers, the yellow-banner half guard was used; for receiving foreign envoys at Zichen Hall, the yellow-banner corner guard was used; for issuing investiture documents at Wende Hall, the yellow-banner detailed guard was used. Honor guard arrays had grand, legal, and minor escorts; it oversaw their numbers and the order of ranks and columns, making diagrams to confer on the responsible offices. For military selection, the system followed the civil examination method. Those linked in tens and fives and trained for battle were militia; those not qualifying for the capital guard but able to perform service were garrison troops; those recruited from their home districts to repel bandits were local troops; those old or ill with labor capacity cut in half were surplus personnel. Those organized to resist barbarians were cave militia, volunteer armies, and crossbowmen; subordinate Qiang distributed among frontier generals were frontier troops. It registered their numbers and promulgated prohibitions. When great generals campaigned, upon victory memorials it reported to the temple; when enemies were defeated it announced via bulletin. All recruitment of garrison and capital guard troops and prefectural garrisons, Three Commissions transfers and supplements, frontier officer promotions, and civil and military officials' daily attendance and borrowed staff were overseen by it. Its subordinates were three: the Bureau of Appointments, Bureau of Transport, and Bureau of Stores. Formerly one supervising ministry director was appointed, filled by a drafted metropolitan official. It oversaw the three escort arrays, honor guard diagrams, spring and autumn offerings at the Martial King temple and military examinations; at year's end it reported the household counts of volunteer armies and archers to court. At the founding it managed Thousand-Ox Personal Guards; the Palace Directorate submitted horse registers. Under Yuanfeng ten posts were established: one Ministry Director and one Vice Director each, and one director and assistant director for each of the four bureaus. At the beginning of Yuanyou one Bureau of Transport director was cut; the Bureau of Appointments concurrently held the Bureau of Stores. When the era name changed at Shaoxing, an edict ordered the Bureaus of Appointments and Stores each to appoint one director to hold the other's post concurrently.

掌兵衛、武選、車輦、甲械、廄牧之政令。以天下郡縣之圖而周知其地域。凡陳鹵簿，設仗衛，飭官吏整肅，蕃夷除授，奉行其制命。凡軍兵以名籍統隸者，閱習按試，選募遷捕，及武舉、校試之事，皆總之。侍郎為之貳，郎中、員外郎參掌之。大禮，則尚書充鹵簿使；大祀，奉魚牲及俎；視朝，則侍郎執班簿對立；小祀，則郎中、員外郎薦俎并徹。分案九，置吏四十有七。凡蕃夷屬戶授官、封襲之事皆掌之。建炎三年，併衛尉寺隸焉。分案十：曰賞功，曰民兵衛，曰廂兵，曰人從看詳，曰帳籍告身，曰武舉，曰蕃官，曰開拆，曰知雜，曰檢法。乾道裁減吏額，共置三十人。續詔：「將下班祗應並進義校尉、守闕進義副尉、進武校尉、守闕進武副尉並隸兵部，許於殿前司抽差下班祗應，文字人吏六名，赴部行遣。」

It oversaw regulations on military guard, military selection, chariots, armor and weapons, and stable herds. By maps of prefectures and counties throughout the realm, it fully knew their territorial extent. For all honor guard arrays displayed, guard units deployed, officials ordered to maintain discipline, and frontier appointments and removals, it carried out their regulatory commands. For all troops under nominal registers, drill and examination, recruitment, transfer, pursuit, military examinations, and trial examinations were all administered under it. The Vice Director served as deputy; directors and assistant directors jointly oversaw. At great rites, the Ministry Director served as honor guard commissioner; at great sacrifices, presented fish victims and offering trays; at court audience, the Vice Director held the roster and stood opposite; at minor sacrifices, the director and assistant director presented offering trays and withdrew them. It was divided into nine desks, with forty-seven clerks appointed. All matters of granting office and enfeoffment succession for frontier dependent households were overseen by it. In Jianyan 3 the Court of Imperial Supplications was merged and subordinated to it. It was divided into ten desks: Merit Rewards, Militia Guard, Garrison Troops, Personal Attendant Review, Register Commissions, Military Examination, Frontier Officials, Dispatch, Miscellaneous Affairs, and Legal Affairs. In Qiandao clerk quotas were cut; thirty persons were appointed in all. A subsequent edict ordered: "Retired shift attendants of the generals, together with Advance Righteousness Captains, Pending Advance Righteousness Vice Captains, Advance Martial Captains, and Pending Advance Martial Vice Captains are all subordinated to the Ministry of War; they may be seconded from the Palatial Front Service as retired shift attendants, with six document clerks, to report to the ministry for execution."

侍郎掌貳尚書之事。南渡，長貳互置，續置侍郎二員，紹興常置一員。

The Vice Director assisted the Ministry Director. After the southern crossing, chiefs and deputies were appointed alternately; later two Vice Directors were established; during the Shaoxing era one was regularly appointed.

郎中員外郎

Director and Assistant Director.

參掌本部長貳之事。建炎三年，詔兵部兼職方，駕部兼庫部。隆興元年，詔駕部、兵部郎官共一員兼領，自是四司合為一矣。厥後間或並置，若從軍或將命於外，則假以為寵焉。

They jointly assisted the chiefs and deputies of this bureau. In Jianyan 3 an edict ordered the Ministry of War to concurrently hold the Bureau of Appointments, and the Bureau of Transport to concurrently hold the Bureau of Stores. In Longxing 1 an edict ordered the Bureaus of Transport and Ministry of War to share one director concurrently; thereafter the four bureaus were merged into one. Afterward they were occasionally established separately; if one followed the army or carried orders abroad, the post was granted as an honor.

職方郎中員外郎

Director and Assistant Director of the Bureau of Appointments.

掌天下圖籍，以周知方域之廣袤，及郡邑、鎮砦道裡之遠近。凡土地所產，風俗所尚，具古今興廢之因，州為之籍，遇閏歲造圖以進。四夷歸附，則分隸諸州，度田屋錢糧之數以給之。分案三，置吏五。舊判司事一人，以無職事朝官充，掌受閏年圖經。國初，令天下每閏年造圖納儀鸞司。淳化四年，令再閏一造；咸平四年，令上職方。轉運畫本路諸州圖，十年一上。紹熙三年，職方、駕部吏額通入兵部、庫部，並作四十二人。

It oversaw maps and registers throughout the realm, so as to fully know the breadth of territories and the distances of prefectures, counties, forts, and routes. For all local products and prevailing customs, it recorded the causes of rise and fall through past and present; each circuit kept a register; in intercalary years maps were made and submitted. When the four directions submitted, they were distributed among prefectures; the numbers of fields, houses, money, and grain were calculated for provision. It was divided into three desks, with five clerks appointed. Formerly one supervising bureau director was appointed, filled by a metropolitan official without substantive duties, who received intercalary-year gazetteers. At the founding the empire was ordered each intercalary year to compile maps submitted to the Court of Imperial Insignia. In Chunhua 4 it was ordered that maps be made every second intercalary year; In Xianping 4 it was ordered that they be submitted to the Bureau of Appointments. Transport commissioners drew maps of prefectures within their circuit; these were submitted every ten years. In Shaoxi 3 clerk quotas of the Bureaus of Appointments and Transport were absorbed into the Ministry of War and Bureau of Stores, totaling forty-two persons.

駕部郎中員外郎

Director and Assistant Director of the Bureau of Transport.

掌輿輦、車馬、驛置、廄牧之事。大禮，戒有司具五輅。凡奉使之官赴闕，視其職治給馬如格。官文書則量其遲速以附步馬急遞。總內外監牧，籍其租入多寡、孳產登耗。凡市馬於四夷者，溢歲額則賞之。分案六，置吏十有三。建炎三年，並太僕寺隸焉。

It oversaw imperial carriages, horses, courier stations, and stable herds. At great rites it warned the responsible offices to prepare the five chariots. For all envoys arriving at court on missions, horses were granted according to rank and duties as prescribed. For official documents it gauged speed and attached them to foot, horse, or express relay. It oversaw all inner and outer supervised pastures, registering rent receipts and increase and loss of offspring. For all horse purchases from the four directions, when annual quotas were exceeded rewards were given. It was divided into six desks, with thirteen clerks appointed. In Jianyan 3 the Court of the Imperial Stud was merged and subordinated to it.

庫部郎中員外郎

Director and Assistant Director of the Bureau of Stores.

掌鹵簿、儀仗、戎器、供帳之事，國之武庫隸焉。凡內外甲仗器械，造作繕修，皆有法式。若御大慶、文德殿，應用鹵簿名數，前期以戒有司。祭祀、喪葬，則給以等差。總衛尉寺金吾仗司兵匠之數，考其功罪、歲月而以法升降之。分案四，置吏九。

It oversaw honor guards, ceremonial regalia, weapons, and provision tents; the state arsenal was subordinate to it. For all inner and outer armor, weapons, and equipment, manufacture and repair all followed statutory forms. For imperial celebrations at the Hall of Great Celebrations or Wende Hall, when honor guard numbers were required, the responsible offices were warned in advance. For sacrifices and funerals, provision was made according to grade. It totaled the numbers of military artisans in the Court of Imperial Supplications and Golden Crow Guard Array Office, evaluating merit and fault and time in service to promote or demote by law. It was divided into four desks, with nine clerks appointed.

掌刑法、獄訟、奏讞、赦宥、敘復之事。凡斷獄本於律，律所不該，以敕、令、格式定之。凡律之名十有二：曰名例，曰禁衛，曰職制，曰戶婚，曰廄庫，曰擅興，曰盜賊，曰鬥訟，曰詐偽，曰雜律，曰捕亡，曰斷獄。禁於未然之謂令，施於已然之謂敕，設於此而使彼至之之謂格，設於此而使彼效之之謂式。其一司一路海行所不該者，折而為專法。若情可矜憫而法不中情者讞之，皆閱其案狀，傳例擬進。應詔獄及案劾命官，追命姦盜，以程督之。審覆京都辟囚，在外已論決者，摘案檢察。凡大理、開封、殿前馬步司獄，糾正其當否；有辯訴，以情法與奪、赦宥、降放、敘雪。若命官牽復，則以期數定之。其屬三：曰都官，曰比部，曰司門。設官十有三：尚書一人，侍郎二人：郎中、員外郎，刑部各二人，都官、比部、司門各一人。

It oversaw criminal law, lawsuits, memorialized judgments, amnesties, and rehabilitation. All case adjudication was based on the code; where the code did not cover, edicts, commands, precedents, and forms determined it. The code had twelve titles: General Principles, Forbidden Guard, Official System, Household and Marriage, Stables and Storehouses, Unauthorized Campaigns, Theft and Banditry, Assault and Litigation, Fraud and Forgery, Miscellaneous Codes, Capture of Fugitives, and Case Adjudication. What restrains before the fact is called a command; what is applied after the fact is called an edict; what is set here so that may arrive is called a precedent; what is set here so that may be emulated is called a form. What a single bureau or circuit did not cover in general application was broken out as specialized law. When circumstances warranted pity but the law did not fit, judgments were memorialized; all case documents were reviewed, precedents cited, and submissions drafted. For imperial prison cases and impeachments of appointed officials, and for pursuing and summoning persons charged with adultery and theft, deadlines were imposed for supervision. It reviewed capital prisoners in the capital; for cases already adjudicated in the provinces, it extracted the files for inspection. For all prisons under the Court of Judicial Review, Kaifeng prefecture, and the Palace Front Horse-and-Foot Command, it corrected errors in adjudication. When appeals were filed, it adjusted sentences according to circumstances and law, granting amnesty, pardon, reduced punishment and release, or rehabilitation and clearance of one's name. When appointed officials were reinstated, term limits were fixed accordingly. Its subordinate bureaus were three: the Bureau of Capital Affairs, the Bureau of Review, and the Bureau of Gates. Thirteen posts were established: one Minister and two Vice Ministers; Directors and Assistant Directors—two each for the main Ministry of Justice section, and one each for the Bureaus of Capital Affairs, Review, and Gates.

國初，以刑部覆大辟案。淳化二年，增置審刑院，知院事一人，以郎官以上至兩省充，詳議官以京朝官充，掌詳讞大理所斷案牘而奏之。凡獄具上，先經大理，斷讞既定，報審刑，然後知院與詳議官定成文草，奏記上中書，中書以奏天子論決。大中祥符二年，置糾察刑獄司，糾察官二人，以兩制以上充。凡在京刑禁，徒以上即時以報；若理有未盡或置淹恤，追覆其案，詳正而駁奏之。凡大辟，皆錄問。熙寧三年，詔：「詳議、詳斷、詳覆官，初入以三年為任，次以三十月為任，欲出者聽前任滿半年指闕注官，滿三任者堂除。」八年，罷詳議、詳斷官親書節案，止令節略付吏，仍減議官一、斷官二。元豐二年，知院安燾言：「天下奏案，益多於往時。自熙寧八年減議官、斷官，力既不足，故事多疏謬。」增詳議官一，刑部增詳斷官一。三年八月，詔：「省審刑院歸刑部。以知院官判刑部，掌詳議、詳覆司事。刑部主判官為同判刑部，掌詳斷司事，審刑議官為刑部詳議官。」官制行，悉罷歸刑部。

At the founding of the dynasty, the Ministry of Justice reviewed capital punishment cases. In Chunhua 2 the Court for the Review of Punishments was added, with one director of the court, drawn from Court Gentleman rank and above up to officials of the two secretariats; review deliberators were drawn from metropolitan officials. It reviewed in detail the case documents adjudicated by the Court of Judicial Review and memorialized them. When case documents were submitted, they first passed through the Court of Judicial Review; once judgment was fixed, they were reported to the Court for the Review of Punishments; then the director and review deliberators finalized the draft memorial, which was submitted to the Secretariat, and the Secretariat presented it to the emperor for final decision. In Dazhong Xiangfu 2 the Office for Inspecting Criminal Prisons was established, with two inspecting officials drawn from officials of both secretariat drafting grades and above. For all criminal detention in the capital, cases of penal servitude and above were reported immediately. If the reasoning was incomplete or cases were unduly delayed, the case was reopened, reexamined and corrected, and a memorial submitted for reversal. For all capital cases, interrogations were recorded. In Xining 3 an edict declared: "For review deliberators, review adjudicators, and review confirmers, the first term was three years and subsequent terms thirty months. Those wishing to leave could, after serving half a year of a prior term, designate a vacancy for reassignment; after three terms they received Secretariat appointment." In the eighth year review deliberators and review adjudicators were no longer required to write abbreviated case summaries in their own hand; only brief summaries were handed to clerks, and one deliberator and two adjudicators were cut from the staff. In the second year of Yuanfeng the court director An Yan said: "Cases memorialized from across the realm have grown more numerous than in former times. Since the Xining 8 reduction of deliberators and adjudicators, the staff has been insufficient, and precedents are often neglected and in error." One review deliberator was added, and the Ministry of Justice gained one review adjudicator. In the eighth month of year 3 an edict declared: "The Court for the Review of Punishments is to be abolished and returned to the Ministry of Justice. The court director was to preside over the Ministry of Justice and oversee review deliberation and review confirmation affairs. The Ministry of Justice chief presiding official became co-presiding over the ministry and oversaw review adjudication affairs; the court's review deliberators became Ministry of Justice review deliberators." When the new official system took effect, all posts were abolished and the functions returned to the Ministry of Justice.

掌天下刑獄之政令。凡麗於法者，審其輕重，平其枉直，而侍郎為之貳。應定奪、審覆、除雪、敘復、移放，則尚書專領之；制勘、體量、奏讞、糾察、錄問，則長貳治之；而郎中、員外郎分掌其事。有司更定條法，則覆議其當否。凡聽訟獄或輕重失中，有能駁正，詔其賞罰。若頒赦宥，則糾官吏之稽違者；大祀，則尚書蒞誓，薦熟則奉牲。大禮肆赦，則侍郎授赦書付有司宣讀，承旨釋囚。分案十二，置吏五十有二。紹興後，分案十三：曰制勘，掌凡根勘諸路公事；曰體量，掌凡體究之事；曰定奪，掌訴雪除落過名；曰舉敘，掌命官敘復；曰糾察，掌審問大辟；曰檢法，掌供檢條法；曰頒降，掌頒條法降赦；曰追毀，掌斷罰追毀宣敕；曰會問，掌批會過犯；曰詳覆，掌諸路大辟帳狀；曰捕盜；曰帳籍，掌行在庫務、理欠帳籍；曰進擬，掌進斷案刑名文書。裁減吏額，置三十五人。

It oversaw policies and commands for criminal punishment throughout the realm. For all who fell under the law, it examined the severity of offenses and balanced wrong against right, with the Vice Minister as deputy. Adjudication, review confirmation, removal and clearance of records, rehabilitation and restoration, and transfer and release were led exclusively by the Minister. Mandated investigation, full inquiry, memorialized judgment, inspection, and recorded interrogation were managed by the chief and deputy. Directors and Assistant Directors divided and managed these affairs. When responsible offices revised statutes, it reviewed and debated their appropriateness. When lawsuits were heard or sentences missed the mark in severity, those who successfully corrected errors by reversal received decreed rewards or punishments. When amnesties were promulgated, it investigated officials who delayed or violated the terms. At great sacrifices the Minister attended the oath ceremony; at the offering of cooked food he presented the sacrificial animals. At the general amnesty of a great rite, the Vice Minister handed the amnesty document to the responsible office for proclamation and, upon receiving the imperial decree, released prisoners. It was divided into twelve desks, with fifty-two clerks appointed. After Shaoxing it was divided into thirteen desks: Mandated Investigation, which oversaw all root investigations of circuit public affairs; Full Inquiry, which oversaw all thorough investigation affairs; Adjudication, which oversaw petition clearance and removal of disciplinary records; Recommended Rehabilitation, which oversaw rehabilitation of appointed officials; Inspection, which oversaw interrogation of capital cases; Statute Examination, which supplied and examined statutes; Promulgation and Issuance, which oversaw promulgation of statutes and issuance of amnesties; Pursuit and Destruction, which oversaw pursuit and destruction of edicts on punishments; Joint Inquiry, which collated and reviewed offenses; Detailed Review, which oversaw capital case account documents from the circuits; Bandit Capture; Account Registers, which oversaw temporary capital treasury affairs and debt account registers; and Advance Drafting, which oversaw advance submission of case adjudication and criminal law documents. The clerk quota was reduced, and thirty-five were appointed.

舊制，應定奪、審覆、除雪、敘復、移放，尚書專領之。若制勘、體量、奏讞、糾察、錄問，長貳通治之。南渡，長貳互置。隆興常置一員。淳熙十六年，依崇寧專法，奏獄及法令事，請大理寺官赴部共議之，用侍郎吳博古之說也。

Under the old system, adjudication, review confirmation, removal and clearance of records, rehabilitation, and transfer and release were led exclusively by the Minister. Mandated investigation, full inquiry, memorialized judgment, inspection, and recorded interrogation were jointly managed by the chief and deputy. After the court moved south, the chief and deputy were placed in rotation. Under Longxing one post was regularly maintained. In Chunxi 16, following Chongning specialized law, for memorialized prison cases and matters of statute, Court of Judicial Review officials were invited to the ministry for joint deliberation—adopting the proposal of Vice Minister Wu Bogu.

郎中員外郎

Director and Assistant Director.

各二人，分左右廳，掌詳覆、敘雪之事。建炎三年，刑部郎官以二員為額，關掌職事，初無分異。紹興二十六年，詔依元豐舊法，分廳治事。先是，右司汪應辰言：「刑部郎官分為左右，左以詳覆，右以敘雪，同僚異事，祖宗有深意。倘初無分異，則有不當於理者，孰為追改？乞遵用舊制，要使官各有守，人各有見，參而用之，以稱欽恤之意。」從之，仍令今後仿此。

Two each, divided into left and right halls, they oversaw detailed review and petition clearance affairs. In Jianyan 3 the Ministry of Justice director posts were fixed at two, jointly managing duties with no initial division of labor. In Shaoxing 26 an edict ordered affairs managed by divided halls according to the Yuanfeng old law. Previously Right Secretariat Wang Yingchen said: "Ministry of Justice directors were divided into left and right—the left for detailed review, the right for petition clearance. Colleagues with different duties: the forefathers had a deep purpose in this. If there were no division from the start, when something was not right in principle, who would pursue correction? I request that the old system be followed, so that each post has its charge and each person has a distinct view, and that they be applied by consultation, in keeping with the intent of merciful care." The request was approved, and it was ordered that the practice be followed hereafter.

都官郎中員外郎

Director and Assistant Director of the Bureau of Capital Affairs.

掌徒流，配隸。凡天下役人與在京百司吏職皆有籍，以攷其役放及增損廢置之數。若定差副尉，〈（舊為軍大將。）〉則計其所歷，而以役之輕重均其勞逸，給印紙書其功過，展減磨勘歲月。元祐八年，以綱運差使關歸吏部，省副尉員三百。紹聖間，復其額，及元豐押綱法，歸都官。崇寧二年二月，復配隸案。先是，元豐中，都官有吏籍、配隸案，元祐中，罷之。因刑部有請，乃詔如舊。六月，侍郎劉賡奏：「副尉差遣有立定優重等第，都官條雖特旨亦許執奏，乞申嚴其禁。」從之。分案四，置吏十有八。建炎三年，詔比部兼司門。隆興元年，詔都官、比部共置一員。自此都官兼比部司門之事。分案五：曰差次，曰磨勘，曰吏籍，曰配隸，曰知雜，各因其名而治其事。裁減吏額，置十二人。〈（淳熙十三年，減三人。）〉

It oversaw penal servitude, exile, and assigned labor. All corvee laborers throughout the realm and clerk posts in the capital's hundred offices were registered, to track releases from service and changes in numbers through addition, reduction, abolition, or establishment. When assigning deputy wardens, (Formerly the post was Military Grand General.) Their service record was calculated, labor and rest balanced according to the severity of assignments, sealed documents issued recording merits and faults, and merit-review months extended or reduced accordingly. In Yuanyou 8 transport commission assignment matters were returned to the Ministry of Personnel, and three hundred deputy warden posts were cut. During Shaosheng the quota was restored, and under the Yuanfeng escort commission law the matter returned to the Bureau of Capital Affairs. In the second month of Chongning 2 the Assigned Labor desk was restored. Previously, during Yuanfeng the Bureau of Capital Affairs had clerk registers and an Assigned Labor desk; during Yuanyou these were abolished. Because the Ministry of Justice petitioned, an edict ordered a return to the old arrangement. In the sixth month Vice Minister Liu Geng memorialized: "Deputy warden assignments have established preferential grades and ranks. Although Capital Affairs regulations allow memorial objection even against special edicts, I request that this prohibition be strictly enforced." The request was approved. It was divided into four desks, with eighteen clerks appointed. In Jianyan 3 an edict ordered the Bureau of Review also to hold the Bureau of Gates. In Longxing 1 an edict ordered Capital Affairs and Review to share one jointly established post. From then on the Bureau of Capital Affairs also held the affairs of the Bureaus of Review and Gates. There were five desks: Assignment Sequencing, Merit Review, Clerk Registers, Assigned Labor, and Miscellaneous—each managing affairs according to its name. The clerk quota was reduced, and twelve were appointed. (In Chunxi 13, three were cut.)

比部郎中員外郎

Director and Assistant Director of the Bureau of Review.

掌勾覆中外帳籍。凡場務、倉庫出納在官之物，皆月計、季考、歲會，從所隸監司檢察以上比部，至則審覆其多寡登耗之數，有陷失，則理納。鉤考百司經費，有隱昧，則會問同否而理其侵負。舊帳案隸三司，自治平中至熙寧初，凡四年帳未鉤考者已踰十有二萬，錢帛、芻粟積虧不可勝計。五年十一月，曾布奏以四方財賦當有簿書文籍，以鉤考其給納登耗多寡。遂置提舉帳司，選人吏二百人，驅磨天下帳籍，並選官吏審覆。七年二月，詔帳司每歲具天下財用日出入數以聞。元豐初年，詔：「諸路財賦出入，自今三年一供，著為令。」官制行，釐其事歸比部。元祐元年七月，用司馬光奏，悉總於戶部。三年，釐正倉部，勾覆、理欠、憑由案及印發鈔引事歸比部。政和六年，詔：「寺監先期檢舉，如庫務監官所造文帳委無未備，方許批書，違者御史臺奏劾。」用郎官梅執禮之請也。分案五，置吏百有一。建炎以後，或以都官兼比部、司門之事。

It oversaw audit and review of account registers inside and outside the capital. For all market agencies and warehouses, disbursements and receipts of government goods were tallied monthly, reviewed quarterly, and summarized annually; supervisory commissioners under their jurisdiction inspected them and submitted reports to the Bureau of Review, which upon receipt reviewed and confirmed increases and decreases; any shortfall was pursued for payment. It audited the expenses of the hundred offices; where concealment was found, joint inquiry determined the facts and encroachments and deficits were pursued. Old account cases had been subordinate to the Three Departments; from mid-Zhiping to early Xining, un-audited accounts over four years already exceeded 120,000, and accumulated deficits in money, silk, fodder, and grain were beyond reckoning. In the eleventh month of year 5 Zeng Bu memorialized that revenues and expenditures from the four directions should be kept in ledgers and documents, so that disbursements, receipts, and increases and decreases could be audited. Thereupon a Commissioner for Accounts Office was established; two hundred clerks were selected to audit account registers throughout the realm, and officials were also selected to review them. In the second month of year 7 an edict ordered the Accounts Office each year to compile daily income and expenditure figures for the realm's finances and report them. In early Yuanfeng an edict declared: "Circuit revenues and expenditures shall hereafter be submitted once every three years, and this shall be established as a command." When the new official system took effect, these affairs were sorted out and returned to the Bureau of Review. In the seventh month of Yuanyou 1, adopting Sima Guang's memorial, all affairs were consolidated under the Ministry of Revenue. In year 3 the Granary Department was reorganized, and audit review, debt pursuit, the voucher desk, and seal issuance of notes were returned to the Bureau of Review. In Zhenghe 6 an edict declared: "Directorates and commissions shall inspect in advance; only when document accounts created by warehouse supervisory officials are truly complete and without omission may endorsement be given; violators shall be impeached by the Censorate." This followed the request of Director Mei Zhili. It was divided into five desks, with one hundred one clerks appointed. After Jianyan the Bureau of Capital Affairs sometimes also held the affairs of the Bureaus of Review and Gates.

司門郎中員外郎

Director and Assistant Director of the Bureau of Gates.

掌門關、津梁、道路之禁令，及其廢置移復之事。應官吏、軍民、輦道商販，譏察其冒偽違縱者。凡諸門啟閉之節及關梁餘禁，以時舉行。分案二，置吏五。

They oversaw prohibitions on gate passes, bridges, and roads, and matters of abolishing, establishing, relocating, and restoring them. For officials, soldiers, civilians, imperial carriage routes, and merchants, they inspected and investigated those who falsely impersonated, forged documents, violated regulations, or allowed unauthorized passage. All schedules for opening and closing gates and remaining prohibitions at passes and bridges were carried out according to season. It was divided into two desks, with five clerks appointed.

掌天下城郭、宮室、舟車、器械、符印、錢幣，山澤、苑囿、河渠之政。凡營繕，歲計所用財物，關度支和市；其工料，則飭少府、將作監檢計其所用多寡之數。凡百工，其役有程，而善否則有賞罰。兵匠有關，則隨以緩急招募。籍坑冶歲入之數，若改用錢寶，先具模制進御請書。造度、量、權、衡則關金部。印記則關禮部。凡道路、津梁，以時修治。舊制，判部事一人，以兩制以上充。元豐並歸工部。其屬三：曰屯田，曰虞部，曰水部。設官十。尚書、侍郎各一人，工部、屯田、虞部、水部郎中、員外郎各一人。元祐元年，省水部郎官一員。紹聖元年，詔屯田、虞部互置郎官一員兼領。

They oversaw the administration of city walls, palaces, boats and chariots, tools and weapons, seals and stamps, currency, mountains and marshes, parks and preserves, and canals and dikes throughout the realm. For all construction and repair, the annual calculation of goods and materials used was referred to the Bureau of Revenue and the Market Bureau; As for labor and materials, the Treasury and Construction Directorates were ordered to inspect and tally the amounts used. For all craftsmen, labor had fixed deadlines, and quality was rewarded or punished. When vacancies arose among military craftsmen, recruits were enlisted according to urgency. They registered the annual yield of mining and smelting; if currency was to be changed, molds and specifications were first prepared and submitted to the throne for written approval. The manufacture of standards, measures, weights, and balances was referred to the Bureau of Currency. Seals and stamps were referred to the Ministry of Rites. Roads and bridges were repaired and maintained according to season. Under the old system, one supervisor of department affairs was appointed, filled by a holder of two-thronged rank or above. In Yuanfeng all were consolidated under the Ministry of Works. Its subordinate bureaus were three: the Bureau of Garrison Lands, the Bureau of Fisheries and Forests, and the Bureau of Waterways. Ten posts were established. There were one Minister and one Vice Minister; one director and assistant director each for the main Ministry of Works section and the Bureaus of Garrison Lands, Fisheries and Forests, and Waterways. In Yuanyou 1 one Waterways Bureau director post was cut. In Shaosheng 1 an edict ordered that the Bureaus of Garrison Lands and Fisheries and Forests each establish one director post in alternation with concurrent appointment.

掌百工水土之政令，稽其功緒以詔賞罰。總四司之事，侍郎為之貳。若製作、營繕、計置、採伐所用財物，按其程式以授有司，郎中、員外郎參掌之。應官吏、兵民緣本曹事有功賞罪罰，則審實以上尚書省。大祭祀，則尚書薦俎與徹。若諸監鼓鑄錢寶，按年額而課其數，因其登耗以詔賞罰。凡車輦、飭器、印記之造，則少府監、文思院隸焉。甲兵器械之制，則軍器所隸焉。有合支物料工價，則申於朝，以屬戶部。建炎並將作、少府、軍器監並歸工部。是時營繕未遑，惟戎器方急。紹興二年，詔於行在別置作院造器甲，令工部長貳提點，郎官逐旬點檢。少府監既歸工部，文思院上下界監官並從本部辟差。又詔御前軍器所隸工部，自是營造稍廣。宰臣議：「戶部以給財為務，工部以辦事為能，誠非一體。」欲令戶、工部兼領其事，卒未能合。隆興以後，宮室、器甲之造浸稀，且各分職掌，部務益簡，特提其綱要焉。分案六：曰工作，曰營造，曰材料，曰兵匠。曰檢法，曰知雜。又專立一案，以御前軍器案為名。裁減吏額，共置四十二人。

They oversaw governmental orders for all craftsmen and waterworks, examined achievements and failures, and decreed rewards and punishments. They summarized the affairs of the four bureaus; the Vice Minister served as deputy. For goods and materials used in manufacture, construction, procurement, and logging, they delivered them to the responsible offices according to regulations; directors and assistant directors assisted in overseeing this. When officials, soldiers, or civilians merited reward or punishment for matters under this bureau, the facts were verified and reported upward to the Secretariat. At grand sacrifices, the Minister presented the sacrificial meat and performed the withdrawal. For all directorates that cast currency, output was assessed against annual quotas, and rewards and punishments were decreed based on surplus or deficit. Manufacture of imperial carriages, ceremonial vessels, and seals fell under the Treasury Directorate and the Wensiyuan Institute. The manufacture of armor, weapons, and military equipment fell under the Armaments Office. When disbursements of materials and labor costs were required, they reported to the court and referred the matter to the Ministry of Revenue. During Jianyan the Construction, Treasury, and Armaments Directorates were all consolidated under the Ministry of Works. At that time construction could not be attended to; only military equipment was urgently needed. In Shaoxing 2 an edict ordered a separate workshop established at the temporary capital to manufacture armor and weapons, with the Ministry of Works Minister and Vice Minister supervising and directors inspecting every ten days. Once the Treasury Directorate had returned to the Ministry of Works, supervisory officials for the upper and lower precincts of the Wensiyuan were all recruited and assigned from the ministry. Another edict ordered the Imperial Armaments Office subordinated to the Ministry of Works; from then construction expanded somewhat. The chief councillors deliberated: "The Ministry of Revenue takes supplying funds as its task, and the Ministry of Works takes executing affairs as its capacity—they are truly not one body." They wished to have the Ministries of Revenue and Works concurrently oversee the matter, but in the end could not unite them. After Longxing, manufacture of palaces and armor gradually grew rare; with each bureau holding separate duties, ministry affairs grew simpler, and only the main outlines were emphasized. It was divided into six desks: Crafts Work, Construction, Materials, and Military Craftsmen. Statute Verification and Miscellaneous Affairs. A separate desk was also established, named the Imperial Armaments Desk. Clerk quotas were cut, with forty-two persons appointed in all.

侍郎掌貳尚書之事。南渡初，長、貳互置，隆興詔各置一員。

The Vice Minister assisted in the Minister's affairs. At the start of the southward crossing, the chief and deputy posts were alternately filled; in Longxing an edict ordered one post each.

郎中員外郎

Director and Assistant Director.

舊制，凡製作、營繕、計置、採伐材物，按程式以授有司，則參掌之。建炎三年，詔：「工部郎官兼虞部，屯田郎官兼水部。」隆興元年，詔工部、屯田共一員兼領，自此四司合為一矣。淳熙九年，以趙公暠為屯田員外郎，自是不復省。

Under the old system, for goods used in manufacture, construction, procurement, and logging, they delivered them to the responsible offices according to regulations and assisted in overseeing this. In Jianyan 3 an edict stated: "The Ministry of Works director shall also hold the Bureau of Fisheries and Forests; the Garrison Lands director shall also hold the Bureau of Waterways." In Longxing 1 an edict ordered the main Ministry of Works section and Garrison Lands to share one concurrent post; from then the four bureaus were merged into one. In Chunxi 9 Zhao Gonggao was appointed Assistant Director of Garrison Lands; from then the post was no longer cut.

屯田郎中員外郎

Director and Assistant Director of the Bureau of Garrison Lands.

掌屯田、營田、職田、學田、官莊之政令，及其租入、種刈、興修、給納之事。凡塘濼以時增減，堤堰以時修葺，并有司修葺種植之事，以賞罰詔其長貳而行之。分案三，置吏八。

They oversaw governmental orders regarding garrison lands, military colony fields, salary lands, school fields, and official estates, and matters of rent collection, planting and harvesting, construction and repair, and delivery and payment. Ponds and marshes were increased or reduced according to season; dikes and weirs were repaired according to season; and for planting and repair affairs of responsible offices, rewards and punishments were decreed to their chiefs and deputies to carry out. It was divided into three desks, with eight clerks appointed.

虞部郎中員外郎

Director and Assistant Director of the Bureau of Fisheries and Forests.

掌山澤、苑囿、場冶之事，辨其地產而為之厲禁。凡金、銀、銅、鐵、鉛、錫、鹽、礬，皆計其所入登耗以詔賞罰。分案四，置吏七。

They oversaw mountains and marshes, parks and preserves, and field smelting; distinguished local products and established strict prohibitions. For all gold, silver, copper, iron, lead, tin, salt, and alum, receipts, surplus, and deficit were tallied to decree rewards and punishments. It was divided into four desks, with seven clerks appointed.

水部郎中員外郎

Director and Assistant Director of the Bureau of Waterways.

掌溝洫、津梁、舟楫、漕連之事。凡堤防決溢，疏導壅底，以時約束而計度其歲用之物。修治不如法者，罰之；規畫措置為民利者，賞之。分案六，置吏十有三。紹興累減吏額，四司通置三十三人。

They oversaw canals and irrigation, bridges, boats, and grain transport links. For dike breaches and overflows, clearing blockages and dredging silt, seasonal restrictions were imposed and annual expenditures calculated. Those who repaired and maintained contrary to regulations were punished; those who planned and arranged matters for the people's benefit were rewarded. It was divided into six desks, with thirteen clerks appointed. During Shaoxing clerk quotas were repeatedly cut; the four bureaus together were staffed with thirty-three persons.

軍器所〈（隸工部。）〉提點官二員，〈（紹興三十二年，詔於邊臣內差。）〉提轄、監造官各二員，幹辦、受給、監門官各一員。掌鳩工聚材、製造戎器之政令。舊就軍器監置，別差提舉官，以內侍領之。紹興中，改隸工部，罷提舉官，日輪工部郎官、軍器監官前去本所點驗監視；後復以中人典領。工部侍郎黃中以為言，請復隸屬。從之。孝宗即位，有旨增置提點官，以內省都知李綽為之，改稱提舉，免隸工部。後以御史張震力爭，復隸工部。後改隸步軍司，尋復舊。紹熙元年，減省員額，如上制。

Armaments Office. (Subordinate to the Ministry of Works.) Two supervisory officials, (In Shaoxing 32 an edict ordered selection from among frontier officials.) Two supervisory and manufacturing officials each; one handling, receiving, and gatekeeping official each. They oversaw governmental orders for gathering craftsmen and materials and manufacturing military equipment. Formerly established under the Armaments Directorate, a separately appointed supervisory official was dispatched, led by an inner attendant. During Shaoxing it was transferred to the Ministry of Works; the supervisory official was abolished, and Ministry of Works directors and Armaments Directorate officials were sent in rotation daily to inspect and oversee the office; Later eunuchs again took charge. Vice Minister of Works Huang Zhong spoke on the matter and requested restoration of subordination. The request was approved. When Emperor Xiaozong took the throne, an edict added supervisory posts; Inner Department Director of Knowledge Li Chuo was appointed, the title was changed to Superintendent, and the office was exempt from subordination to the Ministry of Works. Later Censor Zhang Zhen argued forcefully, and subordination to the Ministry of Works was restored. Later it was transferred to the Infantry Command, but soon restored to the former arrangement. In Shaoxi 1 the quota of posts was reduced, as above.

文思院〈（隸工部。）〉

Wensiyuan Institute. (Subordinate to the Ministry of Works.)

100

提轄官一員，監官三員，〈（內置一員文臣，京朝官充。）〉監門官一員。掌金銀、犀玉工巧及采繪、裝鈿之飾。凡儀物、器仗、權量、輿服所以供上方、給百司者，於是出焉。沿革附見榷貨務都茶場提轄官。

One supervisory official and three overseer officials, (One civil official within, filled by a metropolitan court official.) One gatekeeping official. They oversaw craftsmanship in gold, silver, rhinoceros horn, and jade, and decorations of painting and inlay. All ceremonial objects, implements and banners, weights and measures, and carriage and apparel used to supply the court and provide the hundred offices issued from here. For historical evolution see the supervisory official of the Monopoly Bureau and the Tea Market Directorate.

101

六部監門

Six Ministries Supervisory Gate.

102

六部監門官一員，掌司門鑰。紹興二年置。選升朝文臣有才力人充，仍令六部踏逐奏差。序位、請給依寺、監丞，郎官有闕得兼之。初從吏部尚書沈與求之請也。

One Six Ministries supervisory gate official oversaw the gate keys. Established in Shaoxing 2. Selected from promoted court civil officials of ability; the Six Ministries were to seek out candidates and submit names for appointment. Order of precedence and stipends followed directorate assistant directors; when director posts were vacant they could concurrently hold them. This initially followed the request of Ministry of Personnel Director Shen Yuqiu.

103

主管架閤庫

Director of the Document Archive.

104

掌儲藏帳籍文案以備用。擇選人有時望者為之。舊有管幹架閤庫官，宣和罷之，紹興十五年復置，吏、戶部各差一員，禮、兵部共差一員，刑、工部共差一員，以主管尚書某部架閤庫為名，從大理寺丞周楙請也。喜定八年，又置三省、樞密院架閤官。

They oversaw stored ledgers and documents for use as needed. Selected from degree-holders of established reputation. There had formerly been officials in charge of the Six Ministries document-archive storehouses; they were abolished in Xuanhe and restored in Shaoxing 15. The Ministries of Personnel and Revenue each posted one officer, Rites and War shared one, and Justice and Works shared one, under the title "Director of the [named] Ministry Document Archive," at the request of Zhou Mao of the Court of Judicial Review. In Jiading 8 document-archive officers were also established for the Three Departments and the Bureau of Military Affairs.

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