The official system in the Tang Dynasty basically followed the Sui system. Guan Baizhi, a Book of the New Tang Dynasty, said: "Although the name and rank of the official system in the Tang Dynasty increased and decreased with time, it generally followed the Sui Dynasty."
The feudal state system headed by the emperor was established relatively completely in Tang Gaozu's militaristic period. The emperor holds the supreme power of the country and has the right to kill and seize all his subjects. Laws and decrees are promulgated in the name of the emperor, who has the right to amend them and is not bound by them. Under the emperor, there are three provinces, six departments, nine temples and five prisons. In the central organs, the order-making organs, the blockade deliberation organs and the administrative affairs organs divide their work and cooperate. The responsibilities of government agencies and administrative agencies are very clear, and the supervision agencies are also very complete. In addition, there is a relatively complete system of hierarchical lords. The New Tang Book BaiGuanZhi said:
When it comes to competing for position, it means that you have quality, honor, honor and rank, and you can rise and fall according to the assessment at that time. Therefore, when Tang Fang was in its heyday, it was made like this.
With the development of social contradictions and the change of political situation, the official system in the Tang Dynasty also changed. The "envoy dispatch" gradually eroded the power of the original officials, and some new envoys made the original bureaucratic system out of order. They occupy most of the central and local power. The situation at that time, as Li Zhao's "Tang Shi Supplement" said, "Make it important, and be light for the official." This phenomenon also had a certain impact on the official system in Song Dynasty. The central official system in the Tang Dynasty generally has the following systems:
First, the same book door flat chapter government affairs and government affairs office.
In the early years of the Tang Dynasty, the prime minister discussed state affairs with the governor Zhong Shuling, the governor under the door and the governor Shang Shuling under the book. The prime minister is an official who assists the emperor in leading major world policies. "The Official History of the New Tang Dynasty" says: "It is a great responsibility to assist the emperor in managing everything." Later, because Emperor Taizong had served as a minister before he ascended the throne, his generals avoided it, so he took his servant as the governor of Shangshu Province and called him prime minister with ministers and ministers. According to Yuan Guixu, the Prime Minister, since the Sui Dynasty, there have been "officials in charge of the machine, officials in charge of state affairs, supplemented by Bi". In the Tang dynasty, because the taste of the prime minister was respected, the master refused to give it to others easily, so he was often regarded as the prime minister and called an official in the name of others. For example, during the reign of Emperor Taizong of Tang Dynasty, Du Yan participated in the state affairs with the official ministers, and Wei Zhi participated in the state affairs with the secretary as the supervisor. Later, it was also called "participation in gains and losses" or "participation in politics", and so on. They were all prime ministers with different names. Li Jing Biography of Old Tang Dynasty was written in the eighth year of Zhenguan (AD 634), and Li Jing, an official in the book, said that he begged for bones because of his foot disease. His words were very sincere, and Emperor Taizong was moved by them, saying: Since ancient times, wealth has never been seen, and those who can be satisfied are few. Even if you are gifted and suffering from illness, you dare not live in strength. It is commendable that the public can understand the general situation. Therefore, in addition to the imperial edict, Emperor Taizong ordered him to rest at home and recover from a minor illness. On the first day of two or three days, he went to Zhongshumen to take care of the funeral. In the seventeenth year of Zhenguan (A.D. 633), Emperor Taizong thought that Prince Zhan (the first of the 100 officials in the East Palace) was an official position, and added the title of "three books with the same title" to make him participate in the Prime Minister's office in an official position and official position. Since then, there has been the title of "Ping" and "Tong Sanpin", even higher-ranking officials are no exception. Otherwise, they will not be able to exercise their functions and powers as prime ministers. Orders from only three branches and secretariats will not be added. In the first year of Yongchun (AD 682), Guo Shiju, assistant minister of Huangmen, and Cen Changqian, assistant minister of Ministry of War, etc. Was awarded the title of Ping Zhangshi. After kaiyuan, the servants and shooters did not have "common rules and regulations", so they could not participate in the maintenance of the prime minister and were squeezed out of the ranks of the prime minister.
After the Anshi Rebellion, the name of the Prime Minister changed again. In the 12th year of Daizong Dali (A.D. 777), the title of "China's calligraphy is inferior to the other three" was abolished. At the same time, the officials in charge of the secretariat and the servants under the door are basically governors, so it is difficult to set them as prime ministers alone. Therefore, the titles of prime ministers in the late Tang Dynasty are basically "the same thing."
In the early years of the Tang Dynasty, the governors of the three provinces discussed in the province. This meeting place is called the government hall. "Literature Examiner IV" said: "The imperial edict was issued in the Chinese book, and the door was closed to refute it. There are arguments every day, so the two provinces agreed in front of the yamen, and then they heard it. " Later, Emperor Pei Yan moved to Zhongshu and then moved to Zhongshu Province. In the eleventh year of Xuanzong Kaiyuan (AD 723), it was said that it was the order of the secretariat, and the government affairs hall was changed to "under the secretariat door", followed by five rooms, namely the official room, the maintenance room, the military room, the household room and the punishment room. "Cao is in charge of all affairs." At this point, the government affairs hall has changed from a "discussion" place to an office of the Prime Minister. The reason for this change is that before Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty, the prime ministers were all governors of three provinces (because the governors of three provinces still established provinces). They discussed in the government hall in the morning and returned to work in the province in the afternoon. Therefore, there is no need to set up another office for the Prime Minister. After Xuanzong kaiyuan, the number of prime ministers decreased, and their official positions were more respected, and they were basically full-time (although Yang held more than 40 positions, he was mainly in charge of state affairs), so it was necessary to set up a fixed prime minister's office with five rooms in parallel, which was responsible for daily administrative affairs.
The Council is the decision-making organ that assists the emperor to rule the whole country. Military affairs shall be decided by the government meeting, and the emperor shall be invited to make a final ruling; Confidential events and the promotion, dismissal and appointment of officials above five categories are only discussed in the government affairs hall, and other officials are not allowed to know in advance. One of the prime ministers who deliberated in the government affairs hall (or under the door of Zhongshu) is the chief prime minister, known as the "ruling pen". Li and Yang were good friends when Emperor Xuanzong was in the Tang Dynasty. An important reason why they can monopolize affairs is that they have lived in the position of "ruling affairs pen" for a long time. After the Anshi Rebellion, Su Zong, in view of the centralization of power, caused the malpractice of personal arbitrariness, that is, "making the prime minister divide political affairs into straight lines and carry out orders, making him more vigilant for ten days." It was not until the tenth year of Zhenyuan in Tang Dezong (AD 794) that the Prime Minister began to write in turn every day. Its intention is obviously to prevent the dictatorship of the Prime Minister. However, after that, this system did not continue, such as Li Zaihe and Li Deyu in Wuzong. The power of the prime minister depends on the attitude of the emperor (and eunuchs in the middle and late Tang Dynasty).
Two, three provinces and six departments
During the Tang and Sui Dynasties, Zhongshu Province, Menxia Province and Shangshu Province were also the highest government agencies in the country, responsible for the decision-making, deliberation and implementation of state affairs, and at the same time, Cao Cao of Shangshu Province was officially designated as an official, a household, a ritual, a soldier, a criminal and a worker. There are departments under the Ministry, the head of which is called Shangshu, the deputy director is called Assistant Minister, and the deputy directors of each department are called Langzhong and Yuanwailang.
The establishment of the six-part system in Sui and Tang Dynasties is the result of the constant change of the central official system in feudal countries since Qin and Han Dynasties. Its organization is relatively complete and the division of labor is clear, which is the symbol of the development of feudal society to a mature stage. These remained until the Qing Dynasty. However, one thing is different from Ming and Qing Dynasties. In the Tang Dynasty, Shangshu Province had a general organization called "Capital Province". In most provinces, Zuoyoucheng, Zuoyousi Langzhong and Yuanwailang are in charge of the three departments of officials, households and ceremonies, and the three departments of soldiers, criminals and workers respectively. Zuoyou Cheng is in the position of administrative supervision, and Zuoyou Division has the nature of general management.
In the Tang Dynasty, among Zhongshu Province (taboo in Sui Dynasty), Menxia Province and Shangshu Province, Zhongshu Province and Menxia Province had the closest relationship, which were collectively called two provinces or northern provinces (Shangshu Province was called southern province). The Chief Executive is Zhong Shuling and Shi Zhong, both of whom were positive three products at the beginning of the century. Zhongshu province and Menxia province are responsible for the state affairs of the army, Zhongshu province is responsible for decision-making, and Menxia province is responsible for refutation and deliberation. All the important policies of the army are decided in advance by Zhongshu Province, drafted into letters, submitted to Xiamen Province for deliberation and ensemble, and then handed over to Shangshu Province for promulgation and implementation. If the province under the door has any objection to the imperial edict drafted by Zhongshu Province, it can be sealed and redrafted. The memorials submitted by central ministries, temples, prisons and local departments must be reviewed and approved by Shangshu Province and Xiamen Province, and then sent to Zhongshu Province for review or drafting approval. If Xiamen Province thinks that the reply is inappropriate, it can also reject the amendment. Emperor Taizong attached great importance to the role of Zhongshu and Menxia provinces in the central government institutions, and repeatedly called Zhongshumenxia the "confidential department". History as a Mirror (192) records that in December of the first year of Zhenguan, he said to his ministers:
If there is something wrong with the imperial edict in the book, it will definitely be refuted under the door. People see things differently. If it is difficult to communicate with each other, we should do it properly. If you give up yourself and follow others, you will get hurt! Compared with protecting yourself, it has become a gap of resentment, or avoiding personal grievances, distinguishing right from wrong, and obeying one's feelings are the deep troubles of the people. This is also a policy of national subjugation.
It can be seen that Emperor Taizong attached great importance to the collective wisdom in order to prevent individual arbitrariness from causing "the deep suffering of the people". Assisting the emperor to decide major plans and policies is an effective measure to prevent individuals from acting arbitrarily.
There are two orders for Chinese books in the province of Chinese books, which are second-class (the first three). In the first year of Longshuo (AD 66 1), Zhongshu Province was changed to Xitai, and Zhongshu Order was called Right Phase. In the first year of Guangzhai (AD 684), Zhongshu Province was changed to Fengge, and Zhongshu Order was called literature and history. In the first year of Kaiyuan (AD 7 13), Zhongshu Province was changed to Wei Zi Province, and Zhongshu Mausoleum was called Ziweiling. After the restoration of the old name. As the head of a province, The Book of the New Tang Dynasty, Official Records, says, "Chinese books … are in charge of the major policies of the emperor, but they always save trouble". There are also two assistant ministers, which are the three products. They are the representatives of the book order in China. They participated in the important affairs of the court and were ordered to write books. If four foreigners come to North Korea, they will be played by North Korea. There are also six people in charge of Zhongshu, who are the backbone officials of Zhongshu Province. They are responsible for attending performances, participating in table discussion, drafting imperial edicts, making laws and ordering books. Because everything in his hand is very important for maintenance, four prohibitions are stipulated, namely, no leakage, no procrastination, no violation and no forgetting. They can express their preliminary opinions on the military and newspaper performances discussed in the province and sign their own names, which is called "Five Flowers Judge Affairs". The opinions of the provinces are collected by the official department and the assistant minister, and then delivered to the official department, and then the official script is made according to the emperor's intention. This official script is called "Know the patent", and the other official scripts should be signed separately. Choose the oldest among the shed people, called "Ge Lao", who is responsible for handling the chores in this province. Six scheerens went to the six provinces of Shangshu to assist the Prime Minister in judging cases. There is a door in the Prime Minister's yamen that leads to the general office of Mr. Sheren Zhongshu. The prime minister often passes through this door and asks the Chinese scholar for political advice. According to "Biography of Long Stick in Old Tang Dynasty", it has been passed down for generations, and the long stick is the prime minister, so this door is blocked, "to show respect and not to communicate with each other". During Su Zong's reign, he often used other officials' knowledge of other people's affairs in Chinese books. "New Tang Book Guan Baizhi" said that at that time, because of "striving for prosperity and coveting the convenience of power, he went to the cabinet and decided to be the prime minister. Naturally, I gave up the performance of Liu Cao. " It was not until the last years of Wuzong Huichang that Prime Minister Li Deyu suggested: "Taigeli, please go to war with the counties and give up others." However, this system did not seem to be seriously implemented at that time. In the Tang Dynasty, calligraphers in China were all important positions respected by literati. The so-called "Chinese people in the imperial court have the highest status" is an important springboard for Governor Taiwan Province to become prime minister. In addition, two subordinate officials of Zhongshu Province also live in their own homes. The Book of the New Tang Dynasty Guan Baizhi says from six aspects: "Words and records are recorded in the palm of your hand, like the system of taking notes, and national history is awarded at the end of the season." Ordinary waiter 16. From six angles, the palm is directed to the audience and played in the hall. Nearly all the ministers entered the service, and the civil and military officials listed them. General attendants guide them to advance and retreat, praising their worship and etiquette. The barbarian tribute from all directions was also accepted and given by the general manager. The sergeant went to war, was ordered to work, and sent condolences to his family every month. There are also four main books, from seven categories. There are four people in charge, starting from 8th grade. There are 2 routine nurses on the right and 4 doctors on the right to provide advice. Stories and anecdotes are dedicated to satire and exhortation, major issues and minor issues.
Under the door of the province, the second servant is the governor, which is the second product (the first three products of the generation). In the second year of Longshuo in Tang Gaozong (AD 662), it was changed to Dongtai, which was called Jacky. In the first year of Guangzhai in Wuhou (AD 684), it was called Yan Na, and in the first year of Hanggong (AD 685), it was changed to Luantai. In the first year of Kaiyuan (AD 7 13), it was renamed Huangmen Province, and in the first year of Tianbao (AD 742), it was renamed Jacky. "New Tang Book Guan Baizhi" said: "A servant ... is responsible for the cashier's order to show courtesy. In all state affairs, he will participate in general affairs with China's secretariat, but he will save trouble by judgment. " There are two assistant ministers under the door, both of them are three products, both of them are assistant ministers. In the second year of Longshuo, it was renamed Dongtai Assistant Minister. In the first year of Wuhou's hanging arch, he was called Assistant Minister Luantai and Assistant Minister Tianbao. "Guan Bai Biao" says: "The assistant minister under the door ... takes the position of the second assistant. The big sacrifice is from; Give a towel after washing, which is not only awkward, but also a towel; I am honored to receive your praise. On January 21, the winter solstice, it is a sign of auspiciousness in the world. If you are a lieutenant colonel, you will present coupons and posts. " The subordinate officers of the province under the door are two people who are often served by Zuo Sanqi, and they are below the third grade. Palm rule ironic fault, waiter consultant. On the left are four doctors, all of whom are under four marks. They are responsible for admonishing gains and losses, and the attendants praise them. In 686 AD, a man named Yu Baozong wrote a letter suggesting that a bronze coffin be built to accept books from all directions. Wu Zetian accepted this suggestion and cast four bronze plaques, painted in square colors and arranged in the court: the Oriental green plaque, named "Yan En", was cast by those who told people to persuade farmers; The southern red scorpion, named "remonstrance", was voted by those who discussed the gains and losses of current politics; The western Bai Yi, called "rehabilitation", was voted by those whose speeches were suppressed; The northern black scorpion, known as "Xuan Tong", was forged by anyone who told astronomy or secretly plotted. The imperial court sent 1 person to advise the doctor, fill the vacancy and pick up the remains respectively, and to manage the bronze coffins in the square as messengers; He also appointed 65,438+0 in the suggestion history and 65,438+0 in the assistant suggestion history as managers. In the ninth year of Tianbao (AD 750), Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty approached "ghost" with the sound of "Yi", so he changed his name to Yi Lee as a sacrificial envoy. In the first year of Su Zong to Germany (AD 756), the old name was restored. In the second year of Dezong Jianzhong (AD 78 1), 1, he suggested a doctor and was called an ambassador. There are four people in the matter, above the five products, who are in charge of things, save trouble and supervise the editing and proofreading of Hong Wen Pavilion. Every hundred teachers play and copy, and the attendants finish the exam, then they refute and lose. Anyone who has inconvenient imperial edicts is called "Tugui". Bai Juyi said in "Qin Zheng can give things a slap in the face" that the obligation to give things is "whoever gives inconvenience, you have to seal it; If there is something unreasonable in the prison, you can refute it; People who have no complaints in the world must correct them with suggestions; If there is an improper choice of the company, it may be dismissed together with the assistant. " Fan Lichuan in Old Tang Dynasty records that during the Zhenyuan period of Tang Dezong (AD 785-805), Li Fan was appointed as an official, and "it was necessary to manage it, so Huang Yi approved it later". At that time, someone told him that it was the imperial edict of the emperor and asked him to write his opinion on another piece of paper. How can you just draft it on the imperial edict? Li Fan said that if it is written on another piece of paper, it is a document. Can you call it quasi-writing? The reason why Fan Li dares to be so outspoken is because the system stipulates that he has the right to "smear and play back" the imperial edict that he thinks is inappropriate. Bai Juyi's so-called "unreasonable prison can be refuted" has the same meaning as "every country's prison, three parts must be decided in detail, if the criminal name is improper, heavy or lost, it must be supplemented and the punishment must be dismissed" in the Six Codes of the Great Tang Dynasty. Guan Baizhi, a book of the New Tang Dynasty, says that the giver can "listen to the grievances of the world with the giver", which means that he can form a "three divisions", go beyond law enforcement agencies, accept the unjust, false and wrong cases in the world and listen to their lawsuits. This system is called "three divisions accept cases" or "three divisions make detailed decisions". Bai Juyi's so-called "teachers who are not properly selected will be dismissed", which means that "the school is the best, the art is the best, and it is even more embarrassing if it is not the person." This system is called "over-official". There are also two living lang, from the six products to remember the testimonies of the son of heaven. When the emperor was in the main hall, he lived on the left and on the right. If the son of heaven has an imperial edict, he will listen to it and return it to history at the end of each season. In the early years of Zhenguan, he gave advice to doctors, knowing both how to remember and how to live. Now, when Xu and Li Yifu are together, it is said that in order to prevent leaks, it is necessary to reduce the number of people who know the secrets in advance. So after Lang and Scheeren stayed, they were ordered to go out with the official and were not allowed to talk about maintenance. It was not until the ninth year of Emperor Wenzong Daiwa (AD 835) that Dai Yulang and Sheren were ordered to stand under Guo's head with pens and paper on the day they entered the cabinet, so as to restore the system during the Zhenguan period.
In addition, there are 4 provincial officials from seven categories; 4 persons in charge, from Bapin; Leave 6 people to fill the vacancy, from Qipin; Left picked up six people, from eight products; There are two ceremonies, starting from the ninth grade. The order of clapping and singing and the position in the temple. There are four people at the gate of the city, who are responsible for opening and closing the gates of the capital, the imperial city and the palace from the beginning of Liupin. Four people, Fu Baolang, are in charge of the Eight Treasures of the Son of Heaven and the National Jeff. In the grand court, they were honored to be on the throne. When the son of heaven is lucky, they will be honored to follow. Every life will, can afford, all.