រាជវង្សហាន: Central government

Central government

In Han government, the emperor was the supreme judge and lawgiver, the commander-in-chief of the armed forces and sole designator of official nominees appointed to the top posts in central and local administrations; those who earned a 600-dan salary-rank or higher.de Crespigny (2007), 1216; Wang (1949), 141–143. Theoretically, there were no limits to his power. However, state organs with competing interests and institutions such as the court conference (tingyi 廷議)—where ministers were convened to reach majority consensus on an issue—pressured the emperor to accept the advice of his ministers on policy decisions.Bielenstein (1980), 144; Wang (1949), 173–177. If the emperor rejected a court conference decision, he risked alienating his high ministers. Nevertheless, emperors sometimes did reject the majority opinion reached at court conferences.Ch'ü (1972), 70–71.

Below the emperor were his cabinet members known as the Three Councillors of State. These were the Chancellor/Minister over the Masses, Imperial Counselor/Excellency of Works, and Grand Commandant/Grand Marshal.de Crespigny (2007), 1221; Bielenstein (1980), 7–17.

The Chancellor, whose title was changed to 'Minister over the Masses' in 8 BC, was chiefly responsible for drafting the government budget. The Chancellor's other duties included managing provincial registers for land and population, leading court conferences, acting as judge in lawsuits and recommending nominees for high office. He could appoint officials below the salary-rank of 600-shi.Wang (1949), 143–144, 145–146, 177; Bielenstein (1980), 7–8, 14.

The Imperial Counselor's chief duty was to conduct disciplinary procedures for officials. He shared similar duties with the Chancellor, such as receiving annual provincial reports. However, when his title was changed to Minster of Works in 8 BC, his chief duty became oversight of public works projects.Wang (1949), 147–148; Bielenstein (1980), 8–9, 15–16.

The Grand Commandant, whose title was changed to Grand Marshal in 119 BC before reverting to Grand Commandant in 51 AD, was the irregularly posted commander of the military and then regent during the Western Han period. In the Eastern Han era he was chiefly a civil official who shared many of the same censorial powers as the other two Councillors of State.Wang (1949), 150; Bielenstein (1980), 10–13.

thumb|left|A scene of historic paragons of filial piety conversing with one another, Chinese painted artwork on a lacquered basketwork box, excavated from an Eastern-Han tomb of what was the Chinese Lelang Commandery in modern North Korea

Ranked below the Three Councillors of State were the Nine Ministers, who each headed a specialized ministry. The Minister of Ceremonies was the chief official in charge of religious rites, rituals, prayers and the maintenance of ancestral temples and altars.de Crespigny (2007), 1222; Wang (1949), 151; Bielenstein (1980), 17–23. The Minister of the Household was in charge of the emperor's security within the palace grounds, external imperial parks and wherever the emperor made an outing by chariot.de Crespigny (2007), 1222; Bielenstein (1980), 23–24. The Minister of the Guards was responsible for securing and patrolling the walls, towers, and gates of the imperial palaces.de Crespigny (2007), 1223; Bielenstein (1980), 31. The Minister Coachman was responsible for the maintenance of imperial stables, horses, carriages and coach-houses for the emperor and his palace attendants, as well as the supply of horses for the armed forces.de Crespigny (2007), 1223; Bielenstein (1980), 34–35. The Minister of Justice was the chief official in charge of upholding, administering, and interpreting the law.Bielenstein (1980), 38; Wang (1949), 154. The Minister Herald was the chief official in charge of receiving honored guests at the imperial court, such as nobles and foreign ambassadors.de Crespigny (2007), 1223–1224; Bielenstein (1980), 39–40. The Minister of the Imperial Clan oversaw the imperial court's interactions with the empire's nobility and extended imperial family, such as granting fiefs and titles.Wang (1949), 155; Bielenstein (1980), 41. The Minister of Finance was the treasurer for the official bureaucracy and the armed forces who handled tax revenues and set standards for units of measurement.de Crespigny (2007), 1224; Bielenstein (1980), 43. The Minister Steward served the emperor exclusively, providing him with entertainment and amusements, proper food and clothing, medicine and physical care, valuables and equipment.de Crespigny (2007), 1224; Bielenstein (1980), 47.