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Volume 170 Treatises 123: Offical Posts 10

Chapter 170 of 宋史 · History of Song
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Chapter 170
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1
使 使 使
Under the former regulations, chancellors of the Secretariat, Hanlin Academicians, and Vice Censors-in-Chief alike were preceded by two scarlet-clad attendants, and heralds still called out before them. (During Kaibao, Academicians were limited to a single attendant leading the way, and the practice of calling out was discontinued as well; only on the first day when they presented thanks for imperial favor did they again receive double escort and heralds calling out.) Commissioners bearing nominal premiership, Vice Premiers, and officials of fifth rank and above in the two central secretariats were led by a single attendant. (A Commissioner of the Bureau of Military Affairs who also held the premiership had two attendants and no herald announcing his passage. In the fifth year of Dazhongxiangfu, announcements were confined to their own bureau halls. Those without the premiership and deputy commissioners were led only by a purple-robed attendant from their own bureau, who announced their passage.)
2
使使
In the fourth year of Chunhua, the Three Minor Mentors of the Eastern Palace, Ministers, Vice Ministers, and Drafters were required, when entering court, to be preceded by scarlet-clad attendants, and officials were to shout for pedestrians to stand aside. Officials of second rank and above used attendants assigned from the court assembly; the rest used attendants from their own offices; chief ministers and imperial princes still had a single purple-robed attendant lead their horses.
3
殿殿
The Secretariat, Bureau of Military Affairs, Bureau of Palace Attendants, Censorate, Kaifeng Prefecture, and Imperial Guards each maintained standing retinues. In the third year of Jingde, an edict declared: "Acting Ministers, Academicians of the Hall of Civil Glory, and Grand Academicians of the Hall for Cherishing Virtue receive seven attendants; Academicians, Vice Ministers, and Drafters, six; Drafting Attendants, Remonstrance Officials, and Secretariat Drafters, five; Third-rank officials in the various bureaus, four. Attendants were seconded from Kaifeng Prefecture and the Imperial Guards and rotated each quarter." The Secretariat had previously drawn its attendants from the Imperial Guards; henceforth it was also to employ miscellaneous attendants from Kaifeng Prefecture. Chief ministers, Participation Administrators, Vice Premiers, the Censor-in-Chief, Vice Censor-in-Chief, and supervisory censors all had officials call out for pedestrians to stand aside. (In the fourth year of Chunhua, the Three Minor Mentors of the Eastern Palace, Vice Ministers, and Drafters were all to have officials call for passersby to stand aside.)
4
使使 殿殿 使 西 使 使使 使 使使 使使使 簿
In the fifth year of Dazhongxiangfu, because the escorts of various officials did not conform to rank regulations, Hanlin Academic Li Zong'e and Dragon Diagram Direct Academic Chen Pengnian were ordered, together with ritual officials, to draft detailed rules. Li and his colleagues proposed that, apart from the Secretariat, Bureau of Military Affairs, Bureau of Palace Attendants, Censor-in-Chief, supervisory censors, and Imperial Guards—who, when acting in office, still cleared the way with shouted escort as under the old regulations—Vice Premiers and above, Commissioners of the Three Departments, and the Director of Kaifeng be limited to four escort sections; Ministers, Academicians of the Hall of Civil Glory, and Grand Academicians of the Hall for Cherishing Virtue, three sections; Vice Ministers, Drafters, and above, and deputy commissioners of the Three Departments, two sections; Senior Secretariat officials, ministers, and supervisors, one section; Junior Secretariat censors, bureau chiefs, vice bureau chiefs, fourth-rank officials in the various bureaus, and judicial commissioners of the Three Departments and Kaifeng were to have two men leading ahead, no farther than five paces before them. Where attendants were to be borrowed from the Imperial Guards, surplus personnel from the various armies were to serve instead. For prefects and military inspectors of frontier circuit commands serving outside the capital, seventy soldiers as escort; vice prefects, fifteen; prefects and military inspectors of defense, training, and garrison commands, fifty; vice prefects, ten; (In Hebei, Hedong, and Shaanxi, where troops were stationed, circuit prefects and military inspectors received one hundred men; prefects and military inspectors of defense, training, and garrison commands received seventy.) transport commissioners, thirty; (In the second year of Xianping, an edict ruled that for military governors, observation commissioners, and defense, training, and garrison commissioners—whether serving in their home circuit or another—their allotted attendants were to be supplied only by their home commissioner. In the sixth year of Jingde, prefects who took prefectural troops as escorts were limited to one year.) deputy commissioners, twenty-five; judicial intendant officials also received soldiers; deputy regional commissioners, circuit campaign deputies, and judicial commissioners of regional commissioners received fifteen miscellaneous attendants; minor prefects, secretaries, branch commissioners, defense and training deputies, and judicial commissioners of the two main circuits, ten; judicial commissioners of the two Zhe circuits, defense, training, and garrison judicial commissioners, and military supervisors, seven; recorders of the various departments received chenfu clerks; magistrates, registrars, constables, clerks, and archers—when relieved and returning home—received escorts in varying numbers.
5
殿
Bestowal of the six privileges—sword and shoes in the hall, edicts omitting one's personal name, laudatory bows without naming one, exemption from hurrying in court—and of purple-gold and scarlet fish bags
6
At right: privileges granted to officials above the court-attendance threshold. After twenty years in green robes, a scarlet fish bag was bestowed; after twenty years in scarlet, a purple-gold fish bag was bestowed. (Special edicts were temporary directives. fief income households)
7
Bestowal of fief income households
8
10,000, 8,000, 7,000, 6,000, 5,000, 4,000, 3,000, 2,000, 1,000, 700, 500, 400, 300, and 200 households.
9
使使使 使殿使 使
At right: chief ministers, imperial princes, and Commissioners of the Bureau of Military Affairs received 1,000 additional households on periodic ennoblement; members of the Two Departments, commissioners with nominal premiership, and military governors received 700. Commissioners of the Bureau of Palace Attendants and the Three Departments, Grand Academicians of the Hall for Viewing Literature down to Direct Academicians, civil Vice Ministers, military observation commissioners, imperial clansmen of regular appointment and above, imperial sons holding senior generalships, and imperial sons-in-law received 500 additional households. Imperial clansmen of great general rank and above received 400 additional households. Drafters of imperial edicts, academicians-in-waiting, civil junior ministers and supervisors, military deputy commissioners, imperial clansmen of deputy commandant rank and above, and drafters, palace guards, and military staff received 300 additional households on first ennoblement; drafters, palace guards, and military staff received 200 additional households on a second ennoblement. Although increments were prescribed above 2,000 households, no fixed rule applied; imperial princes and leading ministers were sometimes granted as many as 10,000 households by special favor.
10
Actual fief households: 1,000, 800, 500, 400, 300, 200, and 100 households.
11
使 使使使 殿
At right: chief ministers, imperial princes, and Commissioners of the Bureau of Military Affairs received 400 additional actual households on periodic ennoblement. Members of the Two Departments, commissioners with nominal premiership, military governors, Commissioners of the Bureau of Palace Attendants, imperial sons as senior generals, and imperial clansmen and sons-in-law serving as observation commissioners or above received 300 additional households. Academicians of the Hall for Viewing Literature, imperial clansmen of regular appointment and above, and Commandants of Cavalry received 200 additional households. Military palace guards and imperial clansmen of deputy commandant rank and above received 100 additional households. Although increments were prescribed above 500 households, no fixed rule applied. Imperial princes and leading ministers were sometimes granted several thousand households by special favor.
12
殿 殿 使使使 使 使 使 簿
The Records of the Three Reigns states: Under the system of acting, concurrent, and probationary offices, acting appointments covered the Three Preceptors, Three Excellencies, Vice Premiers, Ministers, Regular Attendants, Guests of the Heir Apparent, Libationers, ministers, supervisors, and various bureau chiefs and vice chiefs; concurrent appointments covered the Censor-in-Chief, Vice Censor-in-Chief, and Attending, Palace, and Investigating Censors; probationary ranks covered Direct Clerks and Reviewers of the Court of Judicial Review and Proofreaders of the Secretariat. In general, military officials, inner-palace appointees, army officers, and prefects and above all held acting and concurrent offices. Inner Hall Palace Guards were first appointed Acting Libationer and concurrent Censor-in-Chief. Three-Rank personnel, clerical officials, tribal officials, and deputy commanders of the various armies, upon receiving ennoblement, were first appointed Acting Guest of the Heir Apparent and concurrent Investigating Censor, with further increments added thereafter. Commanders-in-Chief of the Garrison Army were capped at Minister of Education; Army Commanders-in-Chief and Loyal Assistants Cavalry and Infantry Commanders at Minister of Works; Commandants of the Imperial Army and Loyal Assistants Deputy Commanders and above at Vice Premier; and commanders of the various armies at Minister of Personnel. Once they reached these caps, further favor might add rank steps, noble titles, or merit subjects instead. Staff appointees were first given probationary Proofreader; on a second appointment reaching judicial commissioner of the two main circuits, they received probationary Reviewer of the Court of Judicial Review. Secretaries, branch commissioners, and defense and training judicial commissioners and above received probationary Direct Clerk or Reviewer; with further increments they might also hold the concurrent Investigating Censor, and some rose to Acting Vice Bureau Chief or higher. Campaign deputies all held Acting Vice Bureau Chief or higher. Court officials of high rank or merit, when ennobled, might also receive acting offices—bureau chiefs up to minister, supervisor, or junior supervisor; vice bureau chiefs up to bureau chief; Masters of Ceremonies of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices and below up to vice bureau chief—but none received concurrent offices. Those entering service as Reviewer, Proofreader, Regular Scribe, chief clerk of a temple or supervisorate, or Assistant Instructor were called probationary titles. They were listed in selection assemblies on the same footing as regular entrants.
13
簿使 使 使 使使使 使使 簿 使使 使 使 使使使使使使 使 使 使 使 使 使 使 使
Concurrent appointments: When the emperor personally sacrificed at the Southern Suburb, five commissioners were appointed—for Great Rites, Ritual, Insignia, Halberd Escort, and Bridge-Road Relay Stations; the plowing ceremony, Feng and Shan at Mount Tai, sacrifices at Fenyin, presentation of the precious register, and Southern Suburb thanksgiving followed the same pattern. For lesser rites, only Great Rites and Ritual commissioners might be appointed. (At the Jianlong Southern Suburb sacrifice, Chief and Deputy Chiefs of Insignia Deployment were established.) When inaugurating major rites, Planning and Establishment commissioners and their deputies were appointed. On imperial tours, a Chief Deployment of the Traveling Palace was appointed; the traveling palace staff included Commissioners of the Three Departments, deputy commissioners, judicial commissioners, Traveling Palace commissioners, and chief supervisors. Formerly the Southern Suburb had only an Imperial Camp commissioner; in the Xianping era Traveling Palace commissioners were added. There were also commissioners for the fore and rear of the imperial carriage, the four sides of the traveling palace, collecting the rear before the barrier, suburban altar inspection and barrier patrol, insignia management, and arranging the halberd escort. All government offices received traveling-court designations. (On former tours, all offices were styled as accompanying the imperial carriage. At the beginning of Dazhongxiangfu, all were renamed with traveling-court designations.) When the emperor left the capital in residence, Chief Deployment of the Inner Palace, Chief Inspector of the Imperial City, inspectors, and additional new and old inspectors were appointed. (They were also appointed for great military reviews.) On campaign, there were Pacification commissioners and Reconciliation commissioners, (sometimes styled Bandit-Capture, Reconciliation, or Pacification commissioners.) array commissioners and chief supervisors, and titles such as vanguard, advance guard, main array, field headquarters, moat fort, lead chariots, covered wagons, recruitment deployment, command oversight, chief supervisors, and responsive support. (There were also hooked-horse units and units without place names, each led separately by selected capable military officers. When the emperor campaigned in person, the prefix "Before the Carriage" was added. To investigate the people's hardships, there were Touring Pacification chief ambassadors and deputy chief ambassadors, Pacification commissioners, deputies, and chief supervisors, and Investigation commissioners and deputies. Lower-ranking officials were styled only Touring Pacification and Pacification, without the word "commissioner.") When extending ceremonial courtesy to foreign states, there were State Credence, Reception, and Escort commissioners and deputies; condolence missions followed the same pattern for chief envoys; there were also commissioners for translating scriptures and polishing texts, (the chief minister served as commissioner, with a Hanlin Academic as text-polishing officer.) to convey grievances of injustice, there were Investigation commissioners. to encourage farming and sericulture, there were Agriculture-Encouragement commissioners. to discuss and reform horse administration, there were Herd-Administration Planning commissioners. finally, for the Bright Hall joint-offering feast, five commissioners were appointed, as at the Southern Suburb. Offices established temporarily on special appointment are each recorded in separate monographs. Some were created ad hoc for immediate needs and abolished once the affair ended. The numerous detailed titles at court and in the provinces are still not fully listed here.
14
簿 使使 殿 使 使 使使
Under the method of rank advancement, Honorary Three Excellencies with Palace Attendance down to Aspirant Gentleman formed the civil honorary ranks, and Commandant-in-Chief of Cavalry down to Vice Defender of the Army formed the military honorary ranks. (In the first year of Taipingxingguo, Righteous Discussion Grandee was renamed Regular Supporter, Universal Discussion Grandee Court Supporter, Court Discussion Gentleman Court Supporter, Continuing Discussion Gentleman Continuing Direct, Supporting Discussion Gentleman Supporting Direct, and Proclaiming Righteousness Gentleman Universal Direct.) Capital court officials and staff appointees from Aspirant Gentleman through Court Supporter Gentleman advanced five steps at a time; from Court Dispersal Grandee upward, one step was added at a time. Court Dispersal and Silver-Green ranks required that one had already worn scarlet or purple robes. those entering magistrate registers and judicial, clerical, and constable posts advanced one step at a time; staff appointees whose performance reviews entitled them to scarlet or purple all memorialized for added Court Dispersal and Silver-Green steps. Commissioners of the various bureaus and above, if their commission carried a high quota, received added Gold-Purple steps. Inner Hall Palace Guards received Silver-Green steps on first appointment. (Three-Rank army posts and commissioner posts, when ennobled with acting or concurrent offices, all received Silver-Green steps.) Those in mourning were recalled to service; commissioners with nominal premiership received General of the Cloud-Banner Regiment, (commissioners with nominal premiership also received Senior General of the Imperial Guards, equal to a regular military governor; great generals equaled regular acting regional commissioners; below that, none.) clerks in charge of affairs who rose to scarlet robes received General of the Mobile Regiment; Imperial Guard attendants received Vice Defender of the Army or higher.
15
沿 使
Merit subjects and merit ranks were re-bestowed, from Pillar of the State down to Martial Cavalry Commandant. Since the Five Dynasties, the first conferral of merit rank had been Pillar of the State. In the Chunhua era, an edict stated: "Henceforth capital officials, staff, and prefectural and county officials begin with Martial Cavalry Commandant; court officials begin with Commandant of Cavalry; Three-Rank personnel, military staff, and clerical officials on ennoblement all receive Martial Cavalry Commandant." Another edict stated: "Ancient merit titles all carried salary, hereditary privilege, and redemption rights; what is now granted with honorary offices and the like may not be used to privilege merit ranks." Under Tang regulations on ennobled titles: kings received 5,000 fief households; princes of commanderies and state dukes, 3,000 households; Founding Dukes of a Commandery, 2,000 households; county dukes, 1,500 households; county marquises, 1,000 households; earls, 700 households; viscounts, 500 households; barons, 300 households. There were also actual fief households, with silk cloth issued per household; each new ennoblement advanced one grade. In late Tang and the Five Dynasties, special additional fief households were introduced, grants of actual fiefs were abolished, the title county duke was dropped, and marquises were ennobled by commandery. Early Song followed this system: civil junior supervisors and junior ministers and above, military deputy commandants and above, and inner-palace guards and above received ennobled titles; vice ministers, drafters, academicians, prefects, great generals, and bureau commissioners and above received actual fiefs. Only the increase in household numbers marked the difference, without regard to noble rank. When the fief exceeded one's title, the title was advanced as well, up to Duke of a Commandery. Each addition to fief income ran from 1,000 down to 200 households; actual fiefs from 600 down to 100 households. Imperial princes and leading ministers might receive special increases, some exceeding 1,000 households. (Dukes of commanderies' fief income could cumulatively exceed 10,000 households; actual fiefs could reach several thousand.) Imperial clansmen specially ennobled as dukes of commanderies or county dukes, or posthumously granted marquis, bore no "Founding" in the title. (Marquis also ranked above Founding Duke of a Commandery.) The Qin practice was also adopted to bestow the title Gentleman of the State. (In the second year of Duangong, 127 elderly persons in various prefectures were granted Gentleman of the State; in Jingde, Fujian commoners who captured bandits were to receive garrison general, but because frontier custom disfavored it, all were granted Gentleman of the State instead, and thereafter this became precedent.)
16
使
Merit subjects: in Tang Kaiyuan they received the title Kaiyuan Merit Subject; under Daizong, Baoying Merit Subject; under Dezong, Merit Subject, Original Follower Who Pacified Heaven and Quelled Crisis; under Xizong, generals and ministers often added elaborate merit-subject epithets; the Five Dynasties gradually expanded the system. Early Song followed this practice; those proclaimed and appointed by edict were usually granted merit subjects. Participation Administrators, Deputy Bureau chiefs, prefects and above in rank, and those of high merit also received them. The Secretariat and Bureau of Military Affairs received Loyal in Advancement and Cooperating in Planning; imperial princes Honoring Benevolence and Assisting the Mandate; other officials Sincere in Advancement, Preserving Virtue, and Supporting the Throne; commanders Loyal and Fruitful, Heroic and Brave, and Proclaiming Strength; frontier officials Purely Sincere and Following Transformation. Chief ministers on first appointment received six-character titles; the rest four characters; cumulative additions two characters; titles granted by the Secretariat and Bureau of Military Affairs were changed if the holder was dismissed or sent out to command a circuit. Rank-and-file generals and soldiers of the imperial guard received titles such as Arch-Guard and Flank-Guard; on repeated favor only the epithet changed, never exceeding two characters.
17
祿 使使使 使使 使祿 仿 便
Under Song regulations, sacrificial-salary offices were established to provide for retired elders and honor the worthy. Formerly the number of posts was very small; after the Xining reforms they were greatly increased. For capital palace abbeys, the old system appointed chief ministers and administrators as commissioners, vice ministers, drafters, and academicians and above as deputy commissioners, officials of the two secretariats or fifth rank and above as judicial commissioners, and eunuchs or bureau commissioners and deputies (In Zhenghe the military official system was revised, with commissioners becoming grandees and deputy commissioners gentlemen.) as chief supervisors; there were also overseers, inspectors, and managers. Imperial affines, close kin, and former chief ministers who remained in the capital were often given palace abbey posts as a mark of special favor. At the time the court was reorganizing administration and wished to dismiss all feeble and aged officials who could no longer perform their duties. They were therefore assigned to palace abbeys so they could continue to receive their salaries. Wang Anshi also wished to place dissenters in such posts, and thus an edict declared: "Palace abbeys are not limited in quota. All appointees must be of prefectural commissioner qualification. The term is set at thirty months." Another edict ordered that henceforth the Cave of Heaven Abbey at Hangzhou, Bright Way Abbey at Bozhou, Cloud Terrace Abbey at Huazhou, Wuyi Abbey at Jianzhou, Honoring the Way Abbey at Taizhou, Jade Bureau Abbey at Chengdu, Immortal Capital Abbey at Jianchang Commandery, Great Peace Abbey at Jiangzhou, Jade Prosperity Abbey at Hongzhou, and the Five Sacred Peak temples—all following Mount Song Blessedness Abbey and Shuzhou Spirit Immortal Abbey—establish managing, overseeing, or inspecting officials." "Salaries: grand secretariat officials, ministers, supervisors, and functional-post qualification holders receive the salary of a small-commandery prefect; prefectural commissioner qualification holders that of a small-commandery vice prefect; military officials follow the same pattern." In the fourth year, an edict stated: "Each palace abbey and peak temple keeps one official on duty; the rest may follow branch-service and retirement precedent and reside where convenient." In the sixth year, an edict stated: "Ministers, supervisors, and functional posts and above serve as overseers; other officials as managers." Capital officials were also appointed as handlers. Another edict stated: "Only those sixty and above may be assigned, not exceeding two terms. Another edict stated: "Those also using administrator favor precedent may not exceed three terms in total."
18
殿使殿 殿殿使 殿 使 殿使 使使
In Yuanfeng, Wang Anshi, as Left Vice Premier and Grand Academic of the Hall for Viewing Literature, became commissioner of the Abbey of Gathered Blessings; Lü Gongzhu and Han Wei, as Academicians of the Hall for Cherishing Virtue and concurrent Readers, continued to oversee the Central Great Unity Palace and Abbey of Gathered Blessings. In Yuanyou, Feng Jing, as Academic of the Hall for Viewing Literature, and Liang Tao, as Academic of the Hall for Cherishing Virtue, became commissioners of the Central Great Unity Palace and Sweet Spring Abbey. Fan Zhen left retirement and, as Academic of the Bright Hall, oversaw the Central Great Unity Palace and Abbey of Gathered Blessings. In the third year, an edict stated: "Horizontal-rank commissioners and deputies without concurrent posts may hold one palace abbey concurrently." In the sixth year, an edict stated: "Horizontal-rank Di Zhe and Song Qiu, having taken charge of the Imperial City Bureau, are relieved of inspection duty at Sweet Spring Abbey." In the first year of Yuanfu, Gao Zungu, aged eighty-one, requested another palace abbey term; Gao Zunli, aged seventy-six, requested another term at the Great Purity Palace in Bozhou; both requests were granted because of favors owed to Empress Dowager Xuanren's kin. In the first year of Daguan, Zhao Tingzhi, as Grand Academic of the Hall for Viewing Literature, became commissioner of the Abbey for Assisting the Spirits. In the sixth year of Zhenghe, an edict stated: "In arranging palace abbeys such as Longevity and Sweet Spring, nearly a hundred posts exist—no further quotas are to be established." In the first year of Jingkang, an edict abolished all posts held by inner and outer officials as overseers or managers of the Divine Empyrean Jade Clarity Longevity Palace. In general, shrine posts were established to provide for retired elders and honor the worthy, with inner and outer distinctions; capital shrines appointed former chief ministers and current commissioners with nominal premiership as commissioners, and next as overseers; the rest served as inspectors or managers according to rank, in outer shrines. Selectees appointed to supervise peak temples, when not self-petitioning but specially assigned by the court, were treated like demotions.
19
調 退 使 滿
Since Shaoxing, many scholar-officials were displaced; after their hardships there were no vacancies to place them. Therefore officials of Gentleman for Service Assistance and above were permitted one provisional palace abbey assignment; later selectees in the capital with no vacancy, exceptional peak-temple appointments, and petitioners using administrator favor precedent also received posts, with monthly allowances. (Those not demoted on disciplinary grounds also drew monthly allowances, paid two grades below their qualification.) Counting such service toward qualification showed extraordinary generosity. Yet what began as a means to pacify maladjusted officials in the end fostered importunate requests and indiscriminate grants. Thereupon officials submitted memorial after memorial, seeking to abolish allowances and thereby end importunate requests, revise how qualifying service was counted to check opportunistic gain, and enforce regulations strictly to curb indiscriminate grants. The emperor approved all of these proposals. From then on, the regulations of the founding ancestors were gradually restored. There were also officials who reached seventy, were senile and unfit to govern yet refused to petition for palace abbey posts; the old law was reaffirmed and written into fixed regulation to enforce compliance. (Under the former regulation, prefectural appointees sixty and above who, upon review by their circuit chief, were found still clear-minded and fit to manage affairs were permitted one assignment; if an administrator petitioned on their behalf, one further assignment was added. In the twenty-second year of Shaoxing, officials said: "The office of prefect carries immense responsibility. Recently the court, for those reaching seventy, ordered the Ministry of Personnel to permit self-petition for palace abbeys. We ask that this directive be permanently codified." The request was approved.) For when one petitioned though unqualified, the unworthy would rush to seize comfortable stipends; and when one ought to petition but did not, one knew how to advance but not how to withdraw—a shame to the discerning. The granting and withholding of shrine posts had to be handled with such care. Therefore inner shrines were emphasized and commissioner posts reserved, to uphold the ceremonial stature of great ministers—one term by fixed rule, a second to show imperial favor, (In the Longevity Celebration amnesty of the fifth year of Shaoxi, civil and military officials whose palace abbey or peak temple terms were complete and who should not have petitioned again were, under this Longevity Celebration grace, specially permitted one further petition if eighty or older.) Capital officials served two years, selectees three; for all who awaited ordinary subordinates, generosity was tempered by an intent to restrain idleness.
20
使使 使 使使使使使 使使殿使 使使殿殿 祿
Since Jianlong, whenever favor was granted, civil and military court officials, deputy commissioners of various bureaus, and palace army and frontier cavalry and infantry commanders-in-chief and above all received posthumous offices upon their fathers' deaths. Imperial princes received three posthumous offices; those eligible for ennoblement received two, with promotion to a great state. Imperial clansmen of close kinship were treated likewise. Additional noble titles were also conferred. Those submitting mourning reports and those mourning close relatives received one posthumous office. Chief ministers and Commissioners of the Bureau of Military Affairs received two posthumous offices. Commissioners with nominal premiership, Vice Grand Councillors, Vice Commissioners of the Bureau of Military Affairs, Vice Ministers and above, Commissioners of the Three Departments, military governors, acting governors, observation commissioners, senior army commanders, and eunuchs serving as chief or deputy chief all received one posthumous office. This was the law governing posthumous offices for deceased imperial clansmen and officials. When an official's rank had not yet qualified but meritorious service or death in imperial service warranted posthumous offices with added grades even from humble rank, all such cases required temporary imperial approval. As for empress dowagers, consort clans, and officials, ennoblement of forebears was graded separately. The Grand Empress Dowager, Empress Dowager, and Empress all received posthumous ennoblement for three generations; Ladies of Handsome Fairness for two; Ladies of Excellent Worth only for their fathers. Chief ministers, the Three Preceptors, the Three Dukes, kings, the Director of the Secretariat, the Director of the Chancellery, the Palace Attendant, Vice Commissioners and Directors of the Bureau of Military Affairs, Vice Grand Councillors, the Commissioner of the Bureau of Palace Attendants, Commissioners signing for the Bureau of Military Affairs, Grand Academicians of the Hall for Viewing Literature, and military governors all received posthumous ennoblement for three generations. The Eastern Palace Three Preceptors, Vice Premiers, territorial governors, military governors, Commissioners of the Three Departments, Academicians of the Hall for Viewing Literature, and Grand Academicians of the Hall for Supporting Governance all received posthumous ennoblement for two generations. All other officials, whether in active service or retired, received posthumous ennoblement for one generation. When brothers received ennoblement together, one additional grade was granted; if the father was still living, only one grade was allowed. Civil officials with examination credentials could be ennobled up to Director of the Secretariat Library; those without, up to Chamberlain for Attendants. For military officials, ennoblement went no higher than Senior General of the Gold Bear Guard.
21
使使使殿使使 使使使使
For posthumous ennoblement reaching three generations, the sequence was: first the Eastern Palace Three Juniors, then the Eastern Palace Three Seniors, then the Three Dukes, then Director of the Chancellery, then Director of the Secretariat, then ennoblement as a minor state; from minor state one advanced to secondary state, from secondary state to great state; if already a great state, only the state name was changed. (There were also cases in which the state name was not changed.) If a father or grandfather had already held a high office, posthumous ennoblement proceeded upward from that former rank. In all posthumous ennoblement, princely rank was forbidden. Officials of the two central secretariats, academicians-in-waiting, grand ministers and supervisors, senior generals of the various guards, observation commissioners, regular defense commissioners, observation commissioners of distant commanderies, commissioners of the Hall of Blessings, and reception commissioners—if a son currently held or a father had formerly held such an office—could be ennobled only up to the Three Dukes. If neither father nor son had held such offices, civil officials could be ennobled only up to Vice Minister, military officials only up to military governor or senior guard general; but if the father had formerly served as chancellor, Bureau chief, commissioner with nominal premiership, military governor, or first-rank official, there was no ceiling. Academicians-in-waiting and above who were in mourning and received grace upon completing mourning were also permitted ennoblement.
22
使
Imperial Medical Attendants through Medical Commissioners who had formerly held civil qualifications were permitted to exchange their posthumous offices for southern circuit appointments. Posthumous ennoblement for Astronomy Bureau officials could not exceed grand minister or supervisor, and exchange for southern circuit offices was still forbidden. Those ennobled up to Regular Gentleman could exchange the conferred office for the rank of Gentleman for Dispersing Merit; grand ministers and supervisors and above could exchange for silver-green rank; ennoblement to two generations conferred Gentleman for Dispersing Merit rank, and to three generations, gold-purple rank. In the fourth year of Xianping, an edict ordered the Drafting Academy to review the regulations in detail. Edict Drafter Li Zong'e and others requested: "Posthumous ennoblement for three generations should remain as before. For Eastern Palace offices of first rank and below, even if one had formerly served as chief minister, ennoblement was limited to one's present rank. Civil and military officials whose merit was exalted and position supreme could still receive princely rank by special grace, as before. If ennoblement came through a descendant, even one serving as general or minister could not receive princely rank; ennoblement had to proceed grade by grade without skipping." The request was approved. When chief ministers were first appointed, some immediately received posthumous ennoblement for three generations. Thereafter Commissioners signing for the Bureau of Military Affairs and above all received immediate ennoblement; other offices required an imperial grace. For academicians and prefects and above, and for eunuch chiefs and deputy chiefs, the Secretariat handled the matter; all others were submitted by the relevant offices.
23
使 使使 使 使 使 使使使 使使 使 殿殿殿祿祿祿 殿殿
Under the Tang system, ennoblement depended on one's office, rank, and title. In the third year of Jianlong, an edict fixed honorific titles for the mothers and wives of civil and military officials: for the Grand Empress Dowager, Empress Dowager, and Empress, great-grandmothers, grandmothers, and mothers all received the title State Grand Lady; for all consorts, great-grandmothers, grandmothers, and mothers received Commandery Grand Lady; for Ladies of Handsome Fairness, grandmothers and mothers received Commandery Grand Mistress; for Ladies of Excellent Worth, mothers received the title County Grand Mistress. Chief ministers, commissioners with nominal premiership, the Three Preceptors, the Three Dukes, kings, the Palace Attendant, and the Director of the Chancellery— (The Director of the Secretariat was formerly included.) great-grandmothers, grandmothers, and mothers received the title State Grand Lady; wives received the title State Lady. Vice Commissioners of the Bureau of Military Affairs, Bureau directors, associate directors, Vice Grand Councillors, Commissioners of the Bureau of Palace Attendants, and military governors—great-grandmothers, grandmothers, and mothers received Commandery Grand Lady; wives received the title Commandery Lady. For Commissioners signing for the Bureau of Military Affairs, great-grandmothers, grandmothers, and mothers received Commandery Grand Mistress; wives received the title Commandery Mistress. Associate Bureau directors and above through Bureau chief and Vice Grand Councillor who received grace twice or were reappointed—great-grandmothers, grandmothers, and mothers were promoted to State Grand Lady. For Commissioners of the Three Departments, grandmothers and mothers received Commandery Grand Mistress; wives received Commandery Mistress. The Eastern Palace Three Seniors, civil and military officials of second rank, the Censor-in-Chief, the Six Vice Ministers, Vice Ministers of the two central secretariats, the Chamberlain for Ceremonials, territorial governors, military governors, senior generals of the various guards, heir apparent kings, commandery kings, state dukes, commandery dukes, and county dukes—mothers received Commandery Grand Lady; wives received Commandery Lady. Palace Attendants, Masters of Writing, Censors-in-Chief, Left and Right Vice Directors, Vice Ministers, Hanlin Academicians through Direct Academicians of the Hall of Dragon Diagrams, Supervising Secretaries, Remonstrance Grandees, Secretariat Drafters, ministers, supervisors, Rectors, Palace Supervisors, tutors to imperial princes, great generals, area commanders, middle protectors, deputy protectors, acting observation commissioners, observation commissioners, defense commissioners, and training commissioners—all received Commandery Grand Mistress for their mothers; wives received Commandery Mistress. Subordinate Directors, junior ministers and supervisors, Vice Rectors, Bureau Directors, junior magistrates of the capital prefecture, magistrates of red counties, Junior Palace Supervisors, Preceptors of Virtue, generals, prefects, lower area commanders, lower protectors, Directors of the Household, Directors of the Watch Office, and Vice Premiers—mothers received County Grand Mistress; wives received County Mistress; all other court-presenting officials and above received titles upon imperial grace. all received County Grand Mistress for their mothers; wives received County Mistress; miscellaneous fifth-rank officials received sequential ennoblement after three terms, and those whose offices qualified for ennoblement were no longer judged by rank and title. Retired officials were treated the same as those in active service. Deceased mothers and grandmothers eligible for ennoblement were treated the same. If the father was deceased and there was no principal or stepmother, the birth mother could be ennobled. Technical and artisan officials were not eligible for sequential ennoblement. From chief ministers through Commissioners signing for the Bureau of Military Affairs, sequential ennoblement followed the three-generation rule; other offices received immediate proposed ennoblement only when rank qualified, and all others waited for imperial grace. In the fourth year of Xianping, following the Drafting Academy's review, the commanderies and counties in titles conferred on officials' mothers and wives were assigned according to their original surname and ancestral seat. In the first year of Tianxi, civil and military court-presenting officials without a principal mother were permitted to ennoble their birth mother; those who had held court-presenting rank and retired were permitted sequential ennoblement. Supervising Secretaries, Remonstrance officials, and Secretariat Drafters—mothers received Commandery Grand Mistress; wives received Commandery Mistress. In the fourth year, Hanlin Academicians through Direct Academicians of the Hall of Dragon Diagrams were also granted the same titles as Supervising Secretaries and Drafters. The institution of ennoblement had former regulations of three, two, and one generations, graded according to the rank of office. For initial appointments and each major ceremony granting ennoblement for three generations: the Grand Preceptor, Grand Mentor, Grand Guardian, Left and Right Chief Councillors, Junior Preceptor, Junior Mentor, Junior Guardian, Commissioner of the Bureau of Military Affairs, Grandee of Glorious Affairs with the Same Three Departments, Bureau director, Vice Grand Councillor, Associate Bureau director, Vice Commissioner, and Commissioner signing for the Bureau of Military Affairs. On major ceremonies granting ennoblement for three generations: military governors. On initial three-generation ennoblement: the great-grandfather received Gentleman for Court Service; the grandfather, Gentleman for Dispersing Merit; the father, Gentleman for Court Audience. (Commissioners signing for the Bureau of Military Affairs were lowered one grade—for example, the father might receive Gentleman for Dispersing Merit.) When ennobling fathers and grandfathers who were military officials, the civil-military ennoblement exchange table applied. The same applied to one-generation ennoblement. On initial ennoblement: the great-grandfather received Junior Guardian of the Heir Apparent; the grandfather, Junior Mentor of the Heir Apparent; the father, Junior Preceptor of the Heir Apparent. Great-grandmothers, grandmothers, mothers, and wives received the title State Lady. (For administrators and Commissioners signing for the Bureau of Military Affairs, wives received Commandery Lady.) On major ceremonies granting ennoblement for two generations: Grand Preceptor, Grand Mentor, and Grand Guardian of the Heir Apparent; Special Advancement; Grand Academician of the Hall for Viewing Literature; Junior Preceptor, Junior Mentor, and Junior Guardian of the Heir Apparent; Censor-in-Chief; Academician of the Hall for Viewing Literature; Grand Academician of the Hall for Supporting Governance; Grand Academician of the Hall for Preserving Harmony; Grandee of Splendid Happiness with Golden Seal and Purple Ribbon; Grandee of Splendid Happiness with Silver Seal and Blue Ribbon; Grandee for Splendid Happiness; and Senior Generals of the Left and Right Gold Bear Guards and Left and Right Guard. On initial two-generation ennoblement: the grandfather received Gentleman for Direct Communication; the father, Gentleman for Discussion. On initial posthumous conferral: the grandfather received Gentleman for Court Service; the father, Gentleman for Dispersing Merit. Grandmothers, mothers, and wives received the title Commandery Lady. (For Academicians of the Hall for Viewing Literature, the Hall for Supporting Governance, and Grand Academicians of the Hall for Preserving Harmony, wives received Virtuous Lady.) On major ceremonies granting ennoblement for one generation: civil officials of Gentleman for Direct Communication and above, and military officials of Gentleman for Cultivating Martiality and above. On initial one-generation ennoblement: the father received Gentleman for Service Assistance for civil officials, and Gentleman for Loyal Instruction for military officials, inner attendants, technical officers, and commanders; mothers and wives received Mistress.
24
For all civil officials receiving posthumous office conferral
25
殿殿殿祿祿祿殿
from Gentleman for Direct Communication upward, (Directors and supervisors and above who had not yet reached court-presenting rank, with mixed precedence above Gentleman for Direct Communication, were treated the same.) Each conferral added two ranks, up to one rank of Regular Gentleman. (Those with examination pedigree were not conferred Regular Gentleman or Regular Master for Dispersing Merit.) Grand Preceptor, Grand Mentor, and Grand Guardian of the Heir Apparent; Special Advancement; Grand Academician of the Hall for Viewing Literature; Junior Preceptor, Junior Mentor, and Junior Guardian of the Heir Apparent; Censor-in-Chief; Academician of the Hall for Viewing Literature; Grand Academicians of the Halls for Supporting Governance and Preserving Harmony; Ministers of the Six Bureaus; Grandee of Splendid Happiness with Golden Seal and Purple Ribbon; Grandee of Splendid Happiness with Silver Seal and Blue Ribbon; Grandee for Splendid Happiness; Hanlin Academician-in-Chief; Hanlin Academician; Academicians of the Halls for Supporting Governance, Preserving Harmony, and Bright Hall; Academicians of the Halls of Dragon Diagram, Heavenly Chapter, Precious Literature, Manifest Counsel, Splendid Design, and Literary Dispersal; Left and Right Regular Palace Attendants; Acting Ministers of the Six Bureaus; Vice Censor-in-Chief; Prefect of Kaifeng; Vice Ministers of the Six Bureaus; Direct Academician of the Bureau of Military Affairs; and Direct Academicians of the Halls of Dragon Diagram, Heavenly Chapter, Precious Literature, Manifest Counsel, Splendid Design, and Literary Dispersal—each conferral added three ranks, up to two ranks of Regular Gentleman and one rank of Universal Discussion Grandee. (Those with examination pedigree were not conferred the two ranks of Regular Gentleman and Regular Master for Dispersing Merit.)
26
For all civil and military officials, ennoblement by exchange (For all civil and military officials ennobling by exchange, exchange followed the rank standard of the conferred office, and the higher rank was permitted.)
27
使使 使使使使祿祿使
Gentleman for Service Assistance was exchanged for Gentleman for Loyal Instruction; Gentleman for Proclaiming Righteousness for Gentlemen for Following and Upholding Righteousness; Gentleman for Teaching Righteousness for Gentlemen for Training and Cultivating Martiality; Gentleman for Direct Communication for Gentlemen for Martial Righteousness and Martial Wings; Gentleman for Discussion for Gentlemen for Martial Integrity, Martial Strategy, and Martial Classics; and Gentleman for Continuing Discussion for Gentlemen for Martial Achievement, Martial Virtue, and Martial Distinction. Gentleman for Court Service was exchanged for Grandees for Martial Righteousness and Martial Wings; Gentleman for Dispersing Merit for Grandees for Martial Integrity, Martial Strategy, and Martial Classics; and Gentleman for Court Audience for Grandees for Martial Achievement, Martial Virtue, and Martial Distinction. Court Service Grandee was exchanged for Distant Commandery Prefect; Court Dispersal Grandee for Distant Command Training Commissioner; and Court Audience Grandee for Distant Command Defense Commissioner. Regular Gentleman and Court Discussion Grandee were exchanged for Prefect; Regular Master for Dispersing Merit and Regular Supporter Grandee for Training Commissioner; Regular Grandee for Defense Commissioner; Grandee of the Palace, Universal Discussion Grandee, and Universal Supporter Grandee for Observation Commissioner; Righteous Discussion, Regular Supporter, and Proclaiming Supporter Grandees for Commissioner for Proclaiming Governance; and Grandee for Splendid Happiness, Silver-Green, and Golden-Purple Grandee for Splendid Happiness for Military Governor.
28
For all civil and military officials whose fathers had held Continuing Direct Gentleman or lower rank, posthumous office conferral
29
使 使 簿簿
For Continuing Direct Gentleman, and garrison and circuit-intendant administrators—garrison prefecture administrator and military governor administrator—the father received Gentleman for Continuing Discussion. For Forest of Scholars Gentleman, and branch, secretary, defense, and training administrators—military governor secretary, observation branch commissioner, defense administrator, and training administrator—the father received Gentleman for Discussion. For Forest of Letters Gentleman, Attendant Gentleman, and Administrative Gentleman, and initial-grade officials of the two commissioners, magistrates, and recorders—garrison investigating officer, observation investigating officer, military administrator, military investigating officer, Director of Records, Recorder of Affairs, training investigating officer, military supervisor administrator, defense administrator, and county magistrate—the father received Gentleman for Direct Communication. For Cultivating Office Gentleman, and acting magistrates and recorders—Acting Director of Records, Acting Recorder of Affairs, and county assistant magistrate—the father received Gentleman for Teaching Righteousness. For Attaining Merit Gentleman, and administrators, judicial officers, registrars, and prefects—military patrol administrator, Judicial Administrator, Legal Administrator, Household Administrator, chief clerk, and county prefect—the father received Gentleman for Proclaiming Righteousness.
30
When civil and military court officials and inner-service officers cited age or illness to resign, many received rank increases as they requested, or grace was extended to their descendants. In the first year of Qiande, Hou Yi, Grand Preceptor of the Heir Apparent in retirement, came to attend the suburban sacrifice. Taizu treated him with special favor and issued an edict: "Officials arrayed in rank follow fixed regulations; when old worthies come to court, added courtesy is fitting—to show esteem for the worthy and foster respect for age. Henceforth, first-rank retired officials who had once held the premiership should, at each court assembly, rank with the Secretariat and Chancellery section." In the second year, military governors who had held the premiership and sought retirement were treated the same way.
31
使 使 祿
During the Tiansheng and Mingdao reigns, retired officials of Assistant Director rank and above had their sons registered to serve as trial Collators of the Secretariat. Those of third- and second-rank Vice Director and above had their sons registered as Rectifiers of the Imperial Ancestral Temple. If there were no sons, one principal grandson or one younger brother or nephew was permitted to receive a lowered-grade appointment. In the third year of Jingyou, an edict stated: "Retired officials had formerly all received half salary, yet those who had never held prominent office sometimes could not support themselves—is this how the state treats the aged and nurtures integrity and shame? For retired officials of the Two Departments, chief ministers and supervisors, regular prefects, and Gate Commanders and above, salaries from now on would follow branch-service officials, with seasonal gifts of mutton, wine, rice, and flour, and local magistrates were to inquire after them regularly." Thereafter, descendants of retired officials were also permitted exemption from selection and appointment to nearby posts. In the fourth year, when an official petitioned for retirement but died before his descendants could be registered, though the order had already been issued and chief ministers all held that the law required its recall, Renzong took pity and still granted posts to his descendants. Supervising Censor and Concurrent Affairs Director Sima Chi stated: "Civil and military officials over seventy who do not themselves petition for retirement should be impeached by the Censorate and reported to the throne." During Qingli, Acting Censor-in-Chief Jia Changchao also stated: "Officials who at seventy had declining strength should all be graciously given rank change and retirement; those not yet declining at seventy, or with special merit records whom the court deliberately retained in office, were not restricted by this order. In the capital, Vice Minister of Works Yu Xianqing, Director of the Palace Domestic Service Bi Shichang, Vice Director of Grand Ceremonies Li Xiaoruo, and Bureau Director of the Chariot Office Li Shiliang; and outside the capital, Supervising Secretary Sheng Jing, Minister of Splendid Happiness Wang Pan, Vice Director of Grand Ceremonies Zhang Xiao, and Bureau Director of the Bureau of Military Affairs Zhang Yi—all senile and unfit for duty—petitioned for retirement." An edict stated: "For those in the capital, let the Secretariat assess them; for those outside, instruct the appropriate local offices to inform them."
32
祿
In Huangyou, Remonstrance Academy Director Bao Zheng and Wu Kui also stated: "We wish to have the Censorate supervise those over seventy and send documents urging those who do not promptly declare old age—for those who do not immediately declare themselves, directly remove them to retirement." The court did not implement it. Kui again stated: "The state carefully maintains ritual and law to uphold gentlemen, and clearly applies authority and punishment to guard against petty men. What gentlemen concern themselves with is ritual and law; what petty men fear is authority and punishment. From civil and military selection to become scholar-officials—all are the domain of gentlemen; if they are not treated by ritual and law, then titles and stipends are devalued and rank lightly esteemed. Retirement at seventy is what scholars know; for subordinates to cite age and declare themselves is the proper division; for the ruler to delight in worth and goodness and retain them is benevolence perfected. Since the Three Dynasties, this has been used to block greed and corruption and uplift integrity; recently Gou Xizhong, Lu Zhen, and others were all specially given branch-service posts on account of age; initially wishing to move the multitude of officials, yet scarcely any in office withdrew—my words had not taken effect. I request detailed implementation of the prior memorial." Thereupon an edict stated: "Vice ministers and supervisors and below over seventy who were unfit for administrative duties—outside appointments, circuit and prefectural commissioners were to report by document; in the capital, the Censorate and the relevant bureaus were to report. Those who had served in the Pavilion-Archive, Remonstrance and Censorate offices, or as Judicial Intendants were to be adjudicated by the Secretariat. Drafters and above who could themselves cite age were to receive graciously added honors."
33
退
Yet at this time those who memorialized all competed to impeach great ministers, and the aged all felt insecure. Renzong personally wrote: "Old ministers are those I cherish and honor—are not their advancement, withdrawal, bearing, and treatment necessarily different! All who had once participated in administration—from now on none should hastily seek withdrawal; Remonstrance and Censorate officials should not speak of it." The methods of moving and encouraging were again such as this. As for those demoted to branch service on account of affairs, or old age and illness unfit for office, or misconduct in office, or impeachment by subordinates for poor governance, removed and seeking retirement—their descendants received no further grace; even when grace was extended, their appointments were all lowered in grade; for venerable old ministers with honored bearing, rewards might extend to descendants, and salary might be fully or half granted. Seasonal inquiry and consolation all had ritual intent.
34
退 使使 退 使 使使
When a subject without guilt or wickedness retires and departs, for the ruler to treat him as when in office is ritual propriety. In recent times retirement was accompanied by rank transfer—because many were blind to profit and few knew withdrawal, added grace was intended to show encouragement. Long established, provisionally follow the old system. For officials of Regular Remonstrance rank and above in the Two Departments, third-rank envoys, grand envoys, lateral-rank, and regular commissions—all were not appointed as retired officials. Retired officials who held concurrent posts all lost their posts and then received gracious transfer of rank. Upon review there was no other principle—only retirement grace was uneven. Remonstrance Grandee could not be changed to Supervising Secretary, yet both were transferred to Vice Minister of Works—this was skipping two grades; Vice Minister of Works was all appointed Junior Guardian of the Heir Apparent—skipping six grades; if Drafting Academicians and Drafters of lower rank were appointed ministers and supervisors, it was because Drafting Academicians and Drafters were not comparable to ministers and supervisors in treatment. Now all other officials on retirement received rank transfer—this alone on retirement saw further demotion. Attendant officers and Palace Guard of eighth rank were appointed Deputy Director of the Princes' Household—rank six. Deputy Commissioners of various offices, Artisan-in-Attendance, and Honored Court of seventh rank were appointed General—rank three. As for military governors appointed Senior General, and defense, training, and prefectural commissioners all appointed Great General—because guard designations were not uniform, there were cases where prefectural commissioners received appointments higher than defense commissioners. Now if civil and military officials with concurrent posts who retired were permitted to keep their old posts and advance one rank, and civil Regular Remonstrance and military Provisional Commission and above all could be appointed retired officials, then there would be no inequality of weight.
35
If selectees of magistrate and recorder rank and above were all appointed court officials, after grace all could receive ennoblement, with privilege extending four generations, and collateral lines could redeem crimes and exempt corvée by precedent. Also capital officials on retirement advanced only one rank—if a Director of the Bureau of Splendid Happiness retired, those with examination pedigree were appointed Assistant Compiler of the Secretariat, those without pedigree Assistant Director of the Court of Judicial Review, yet magistrate and recorder officials were appointed Crown Prince Secretary or Crown Prince Attendant-in-Waiting—quite inappropriate. If purchased pedigree were appointed capital officials by precedent, some reaching court-presenting rank through accumulated grace—mostly powerful families with combined influence—all were exempt from prefectural and county labor service and ennobling parents. Such as seventh-rank capital officials, besides head village service, other labor service was also exempt—especially fortunate. Regulations were complex with no clear guide. Such as Recorder of Affairs might be appointed Assistant Director of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, Assistant Reviewer of the Court of Judicial Review, or Gentleman for Court Rites—different grace precedents could breed abuse through connections.
36
簿 簿 使
Now fixed: all civil capital and court officials and above each transfer one rank; those with concurrent posts keep their posts without rank transfer; those petitioning for relatives' grace follow old provisions. Selectees transfer according to their original rank sequence into appropriate capital court office; purchased pedigree and exile outsiders of Administrator, Judicial, Registrar, and Prefect ranks receive Assistant Commandant; magistrates and recorders receive Deputy Commandant. Capital various offices' detained officials follow registrar and prefect and above; for relatives, worthies, and veterans deserving separate grace, obtain imperial decision. If service records include embezzlement already adjudicated, one may not petition for relatives' grace, and still receives no rank transfer; retired officials except the Secretariat and Bureau of Military Affairs are all above incumbents; those retired three years or more, originally not for offenses, age not yet seventy, never previously ennobled or petitioned relatives' grace—if willing to serve again, all are permitted to submit memorials for appointment. If with recommendation, each receives appointment according to original rank sequence. Those whose ability and conduct are known to all and specially appointed by the court are not bound by this law.
37
Approved. From this chief councillors and below all retired with concurrent posts.
38
殿殿殿殿
In the fourth year, Wang Su, Bright Hall Academician and Right Vice Director, was appointed Vice Minister of Works and Bright Hall Academician in retirement; Ouyang Xiu, Viewing Literature Hall Academician and Minister of the Bureau of Military Affairs, was appointed Junior Preceptor of the Heir Apparent and Viewing Literature Hall Academician in retirement. Retirement with concurrent posts began with Su. In the fifth year, Zeng Gongliang, Defender of Situ concurrently Palace Attendant, was transferred to Defender of Grand Mentor in retirement, specially permitted to enter court and offer thanks. Because Gongliang had served three reigns, added courtesy was granted and present-rank stipends continued. In the tenth month, an edict stated that retired officials of the Two Departments and above may not use sons' court-presenting sequential ennoblement and rank transfer on major ceremonies. Previously, Wang Anshi stated that in the sequential ennoblement of Li Duanyuan and Li Dongzhi, the Secretariat had failed to check old precedent and should be corrected by law. The Emperor said: "If so, then alone they receive no grace." Anshi said: "Sequential ennoblement originally had no principle; now unable to reform hastily, how can we perpetuate error as precedent? For Three Preceptors and Three Dukes to receive appointment through sons' suburban grace ennoblement is especially improper." The Emperor assented.
39
祿祿 使 使 滿使使使 使 使殿 使 使 使 使 使使
In the third year of Yuanfeng, an edict stated: "From now on, when retired officials attend the Emperor's birthday or major ceremonies, they are permitted to take their former places in court rank." This was because Fan Zhen, Vice Minister of Rites, lived outside the capital; on the Emperor's birthday he asked to offer felicitations with the dispersed-official class, and the Emperor ordered him ranked above incumbent Hanlin Academicians—hence this edict. Another edict stated: "Retired officials who breach court decorum in audience shall not be impeached, and this shall be made statute." Another edict stated: "From now on, retired officials holding functional posts may retire while retaining their titles; those eligible for transfer receive transferred stipendiary ranks, and if holding only a stipendiary rank, they retire at that rank. For officials holding concurrent retirement posts, except the Three Preceptors, Three Dukes, and the Eastern Palace Three Preceptors and Three Juniors, all others were changed." In the sixth year, Wen Yanbo, Defender of Grand Guardian, Honorary Three Excellencies with Palace Attendance, and Administrator of Henan Prefecture, was appointed Military Commissioner of Hedong and Yongxing and Grand Preceptor in retirement. Yanbo declined both commands, and only the old Hedong command was issued by pasted edict. Yanbo also stated: "When I previously took leave at court, I memorialized that after retirement I should personally bid farewell at the imperial steps; now that permission has been granted, I wish to go to the imperial court." An edict was issued assenting. In the seventh year, an edict stated that civil officials from Regular Grandee and military officials from Commissioners of the Various Bureaus and below who retire receive no further grace. In the first year of Yuanyou, the Bureau of Military Affairs memorialized: "For all armies, if at age seventy an officer on sick leave for one hundred days is unfit for medical assignment, commanders of all barracks are made Great Generals of the Various Guards in retirement; army commanders and chief adjutants of all ranks with distant prefectures are made Generals of the Various Guards in retirement; ranks above all-ranks privates in the four armies receive Tunwei Guard, and those below Gongsheng receive Lingjunwei Guard—with meritorious service on the left, otherwise on the right." Approved. In the fourth year, an edict stated: "For those who petition retirement but do not wish rank transfer, after receiving the edict their superiors shall certify and report, and grace shall be extended. From Regular Grandee through Court Supporter Gentleman and Commissioners of the Various Bureaus, one kin within mourning obligation of the same clan receives hereditary appointment grace. Transverse ranks, deputy commissioners who already have self-appointed hereditary beneficiaries, inner-hall commissioners, honored ranks, palace gate attendants managing kin and populace, and Gentlemen for Continuing and Supporting Discussion may all petition for one kin within mourning obligation. For Regular Grandee, Regular Master for Dispersing Merit, and commissioners with distant prefectures, outside appointment follows this. For Court Supporter Gentleman and above and Commissioners of the Various Bureaus, even if the edict has not yet been issued when they die—outside the capital from the day the retirement petition reaches the Secretariat, in the capital from the day of imperial assent—they may also petition for one kin within mourning obligation." In the sixth year, Supervising Censor Xu Junping stated: "Civil officials retire at age seventy, yet military commissioners at seventy still serve as local supervisors, retiring only at eighty; I ask that their retirement age follow the civil rule and that salary be granted." Approved. The Three Departments stated: "Zhang Fangping was originally Southern Court Commissioner of the Bureau of Palace Attendants, Honorary Grand Tutor, and Junior Preceptor of the Heir Apparent in retirement. When the Yuanfeng office system was implemented, the Bureau of Palace Attendants was abolished; in the third year of Yuanyou it was restored with ritual rank and grace as under the old system, and Fangping again retired while retaining Southern Court Commissioner of the Bureau of Palace Attendants." In the third year of Shaosheng, an edict stated: "Civil and military officials eligible for transferred rank on retirement, aside from the old practice of issuing proclamations, all others retiring at their present rank receive only edicts and no longer receive proclamations. Those within retirement eligible for grace petitions need no longer submit memorial copies; the Secretariat is to notify the Three Bureaus to enter the completed roster, without awaiting seal and signature." Another edict stated: "Officials in mourning shall not petition for retirement."
40
退 }} 祿使 使使 使使
During the Jianyan period, an edict was once issued: "When civil and military officials petition retirement and the court does not assent, resulting in death, they are permitted to petition for retirement grace under the regulations; and when retirement is petitioned but roads are impassable and the edict is not received, prefectures and armies may certify and extend grace." At the time, Qiang Xingfu was learned and upright, not citing accident or illness, and resolutely requested old age; Ye Fen spoke on his behalf, and he was permitted to take office again. Wang Ciweng, not yet sixty, withdrew with serene resolve entirely; Lü Haowen spoke on his behalf; his retirement was revoked and he was specially ordered to take office again. In all such cases, the court retained them because of their talent. Zheng Nan, Direct Attendant of the Secretariat Pavilion in retirement, had long doffed his cap; advanced in years and virtue, the ministers spoke on his behalf, and an edict appointed him Compiler of the Secretariat Pavilion while still in retirement. His grace was enhanced without overturning his resolve. Lü Yihao, as Junior Guardian, petitioned to be made a stipendiary official in retirement; an edict appointed him Junior Mentor, continuing as Military Commissioner of Zhennan Army and Duke of Chengguo in retirement; Han Shizhong, as Grand Tutor, Military Commissioner of Zhennan-Wu'an-Ningguo Armies and Commissioner of the Liquan Abbey, Duke of Xian'an, petitioned to resign; an edict appointed him Grand Preceptor in retirement. Because generals and ministers knew when to stop, their return was favored. Yang Weizhong and Xing Huan both retired as military commissioners. Officials stated: "Under the ancestors, when frontier generals and officials took leave, regardless of civil or military, all surrendered their commissions and received one office." They regarded the present failure to surrender commissions for exchanged offices as wrong. An edict ordered that hereafter the ancestral precedents be followed—so that private grace would not prevail over public law. Wei Yuan, Military Commissioner of Zhaqing Army, Honorary Three Excellencies with Palace Attendance, and Commissioner of the Wanshou Abbey, petitioned to retire at his present rank; an edict exempted him from court attendance and, following the Two Departments precedent, granted full salary and attendants. Favored kin received grace and was treated differently.
41
使使
After Longxing, because officials stated that those seventy and above who did not petition retirement, aside from grace due on retirement or testamentary memorial, were not permitted suburban recommendation. Soon an edict was restored: with the suburban sacrifice near, those not yet retired were again permitted one petition for recommendation. What need not be granted was granted—showing thick grace. Chief councillors on the demotion register who petitioned retirement, though restoration was permitted, the grace due was suspended; only existing rank hereditary appointment applied. In the sixteenth year of Chunxi, Wang Youzhi, Commissioner for Propagation of Grace of Ningwu Army and Commissioner of the Youshen Abbey, again received Military Commissioner of Fengguo Army in retirement; officials debated, and he still retired at his present functional rank. What could be granted was not granted—strict public law. Between restraint and favor, one may see the intent to honor the aged and pity the worthy, and recognize the art of regulating sentiment and restraining favor—therefore it is fully recorded in this chapter.
42
Civil officials: hereditary appointment
43
From Grand Preceptor through Honorary Three Excellencies with Palace Attendance: sons, Gentleman for Service Assistance; grandsons and close kin within mourning obligation, Gentleman for Court Support; greater mourning kin and below and different-surname kin, Gentleman for Entering Office; retainers, Gentleman for Entering Office Not subject to selection term limits.)
44
Commissioner of the Bureau of Military Affairs through Associate Commissioner: sons, Gentleman for Court Support; grandsons and close kin within mourning obligation, Gentleman for Attending Affairs; greater mourning kin and below and different-surname kin, Gentleman for Entering Office; retainers, Gentleman for Entering Office, (Not subject to selection term limits.)
45
殿
From Grand Preceptor of the Heir Apparent through Grand Academician of the Hall for Preserving Harmony: sons, Gentleman for Court Support; grandsons and close kin within mourning obligation, Gentleman for Attending Affairs; greater mourning kin and below, Gentleman for Entering Office; different-surname kin, Aspirant Gentleman.
46
From Junior Preceptor of the Heir Apparent through Grandee for Universal Support: grandsons and close kin within mourning obligation, Gentleman for Attending Affairs; greater mourning kin, Gentleman for Entering Office; different-surname kin, Gentleman for Entering Office; lesser mourning kin and below, Aspirant Gentleman.
47
From Vice Censor-in-Chief through Attending Censor: sons, Gentleman for Attending Affairs; grandsons and close kin within mourning obligation, Gentleman for Entering Office; greater mourning kin, Aspirant Gentleman; lesser mourning kin and below and different-surname kin, Aspirant Gentleman,
48
From Regular Grandee through Regular Master for Dispersing Merit: sons, Gentleman for Universal Service; grandsons and close kin within mourning obligation, Gentleman for Entering Office; greater mourning kin, Aspirant Gentleman; lesser mourning kin and below, Aspirant Gentleman.
49
From Minister of Ceremonies through Regular Gentleman: sons, Gentleman for Entering Office; grandsons and close kin within mourning obligation, Aspirant Gentleman; greater and lesser mourning kin, Aspirant Gentleman. From Chancellor of the Directorate of Education through Junior Vice Prefect of Kaifeng: grandsons and lesser mourning kin and above, Aspirant Gentleman.
50
歿
Court Audience Gentleman and titled Court Supporter Gentleman and above: (Those ranked by functional bureau sequence and those retiring without retained titles are the same.) sons, Aspirant Gentleman; lesser mourning kin and above, Aspirant Gentleman; wearing-mourning kin, Literary Student of Upper Prefecture. (Note: after one acting appointment, register the regular appointment—referring to those titled Court Supporter Gentleman and above who die and should receive hereditary appointment.)
51
西使
Eastern and Western Route Vice Transport Commissioners of Guangnan: sons, Gentleman for Entering Office; grandsons and close kin within mourning obligation, Aspirant Gentleman. Intendant of the Circuit for Punishing Crime: sons, Aspirant Gentleman; grandsons and close kin within mourning obligation, Aspirant Gentleman. Military officials: hereditary appointment
52
使
Commissioner of the Bureau of Military Affairs, Honorary Three Excellencies with Palace Attendance; sons, Gentleman for Upholding Righteousness; grandsons and close kin within mourning obligation, Gentleman for Loyal Assistance; greater mourning kin and below, Gentleman for Upholding Integrity; different-surname kin, Gentleman for Upholding Trust.
53
使使
Commissioner of the Bureau of Military Affairs, Associate Commissioner, Vice Commissioner, Grand Guardian, Military Commissioner: sons, Gentleman for Loyal Instruction; grandsons and close kin within mourning obligation, Gentleman for Accomplishing Loyalty; greater mourning kin, Gentleman for Upholding Integrity; lesser mourning kin and below and different-surname kin, Gentleman for Upholding Trust.
54
使使
Senior Generals of the Various Guards, Commissioners for Proclaiming Governance, Observation Commissioners, and Grandee for Universal Attendance: sons, Gentleman for Accomplishing Loyalty; grandsons and close kin within mourning obligation, Gentleman for Protecting Righteousness; greater mourning kin and below, Gentleman for Upholding Trust; and different-surname kin, Gentleman for Upholding Trust.
55
使使使使
Director-General Secretary of the Bureau of Military Affairs, Grandees for Regular Attendance through Right Martial Service, Defense and Training Commissioners, and Commissioners of the Hall for Extended Blessings through Proclaiming Brilliance serving as Directors of the Inner Palace Attendant Service and above: sons, Gentleman for Protecting Righteousness; grandsons and close kin within mourning obligation, Gentleman for Upholding Integrity; greater mourning kin and below, (For entries listing different-surname kin separately, the same applies.) Gentleman for Upholding Trust. Prefect: sons, Gentleman for Upholding Integrity; grandsons and close kin within mourning obligation, Gentleman for Upholding Trust; greater mourning kin and below, Captain of Advancing Martiality.
56
Great Generals of the Various Guards, Grandees for Martial Achievement through Martial Wings, and the Bureau Secretary through Deputy Secretaries of the various bureaus: sons, Gentleman for Upholding Integrity; grandsons and close kin within mourning obligation, Gentleman for Upholding Trust; greater mourning kin and below, Captain of Advancing Martiality.
57
Generals of the Various Guards, Gentlemen for Regular Attendance through Right Martial Service, and Gentlemen for Martial Achievement through Martial Wings: sons, Gentleman for Upholding Trust; grandsons, Captain of Advancing Martiality; close kin within mourning obligation, Captain of Advancing Righteousness. Deputy Secretaries of the various bureaus of the Bureau of Military Affairs; sons, Gentleman for Upholding Trust. Gentlemen for Training Martiality and Cultivating Martiality and Gate Attendants: sons, Captain of Advancing Righteousness.
58
使使
Loyal Assistants bearing distant commanderies: on every second major ceremony hereditary appointment, sons received Prefect or Captain of Advancing Martiality; Training Commissioner and Defense Commissioner, Gentleman for Upholding Trust. Officials: major ceremony hereditary appointment
59
Chief ministers and administrators: one each from agnates, different-surname kin, retainers, and physicians. Eastern Palace Three Preceptors and Three Juniors through Remonstrance and Censor: (Acting Vice Ministers of the Six Bureaus and Attendant Censors are the same.) one agnate.
60
沿殿
Vice Directors of temples and directorates, Vice Director of the Secretariat, Vice Chancellor of the Directorate of Education, Attendants of the Office of Daily Records and Drafting Officers, Rectifiers of the Secretariat and Chancellery, Left and Right Department Directors of the Ministry of Personnel, Examiners of the Bureau of Military Affairs, Directors of the Six Bureaus, Attending Censors of the Palace, Left and Right Remonstrance Officers, and Junior Vice Prefect of Kaifeng: one son or grandson.
61
Retirement: hereditary appointment
62
使 使使
Former chief ministers and current Three Juniors and commissioners with nominal premiership: three persons. Former Three Juniors, commissioners with nominal premiership, administrators, and current military governors: two persons; Grandee of the Palace and former Vice Ministers of the Ministries and Grandee for Right Martial Service and above, and former Remonstrance Censors and above and Attendant Censors: one person.
63
Posthumous memorial: hereditary appointment
64
使 使 使 使
Former chief ministers and current Three Juniors and commissioners with nominal premiership: five persons. Former administrators and current military governors: four persons. Grandee of the Palace and above: one person. Senior Generals of the Various Guards and Commissioner for Proclaiming Governance: four persons. Observation Commissioner: three persons.
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