A Study On The Secretary In The Tang And Song Dynasty

The main feature of the administrative center during the Tang and Song Dynasties is that Zhongshu Department weight gradually and become the core of policy decision. Secretary's responsibility as the secretary of both Zhongshu Department chief executive and the central government does not change significantly during this period. However, the scope of its mandate and focus has changed significantly. Secretary's prominent status in Tang Dynasty is as the magistrate of prime minister, and Secretary's authority in Song Dynasty become more independence, its powers can be interpreted as general right to real power in the process. Behind the changes, the mix of changes in the monarchical power, prime minister power and the changes in the administrative system as a whole are closely linked.On the basis of absorbing the former research findings in academia, these dissertation analyses of the study on the Secretary during the Tang and Song Dynasty in three chapters.Chapter I is"the responsibilities of Secretary during Tang and Song dynasties."By examining the development track of Secretary in the history of ancient China, the official component of Secretary in Tang and Song Dynasties, the origin of drafting position, and the institutions the Secretary served and kept watch, this chapter outlines the portfolio of Secretary's authority scope and characteristics in Tang and Song Dynasties. I try to explore in depth to the actual situation, the development and changes of Secretary responsibilities by the systemic studies of document types, the types Secretary drafted, the main document system of the Tang and Song dynasties and the format of the system. Secretary mainly completes drafting the document independent. The avoidance system of Secretary drafting has been established in the early years of Shaoxing. From Tang to Song dynasty, Secretary present an upward trend and Hanlin Bachelor present a declining trend in the terms of reference. Secretary take charge in drafting the outside document, dealing with affairs in Zhongshu Department, reading out the document, investigating innocent, controlling the imperial examination, writing laws and history books, participation in several areas of political activities during the Tang and Song Dynasties, play a vital role.Chapter II is"Secretary and operation of administrative center in Tang and Song Dynasties."This chapter clarifies the central system of the Tang and Song Dynasties. Prominent feature of the Three Department in Early Tang is well developed the power of Menxia Department, and specifically to the internal department, specific performance is the powers of Jishizhong and Secretary constantly expanding. Zhongshu menxia is the dominant department in the latter Tang Dynasty, though Zhongshu Department and Menxia Department still retain administrative functions. Zhongshu menxia in the Tang Dynasty is the basis of Zhongshu menxia in the Northern Song Dynasty. Evolution of Song administrative centre is that the system of Zhongshu menxia has been changed by the reform of official system, form the system of unified decision-making and administration to the system of the Three department, namely the decree is get by Zhongshu Department, censored by Menxia Department and executed by Shangshu Department. Nevertheless the trend of integrative administrative centre in the actual process of development can not be reversed. The authority of Secretary is document-draft and making comments on archives in the early Tang Dynasty. In the Song Dynasty, the main representation of the Secretary's authority is document-draft and sealing and returning the order. After the reform of official system, the secretary has recovered the authority of making comments on archives. During Tang and Song dynasties, the power of Secretary has been continuously increased, which from document-draft to making comments on archives,sealing and returning the order,sealing and returning the resolution,then the Secretary in charge of confidential affair except writing affair, and the authority of secretary reach a crest until Southern Song Dynasty. The Secretary takes part in every portion of the operation of administrative, even in the decision making. During Tang and Song dynasties, the authority of Secretary generally represents a kind of increasing trend. Being the affiliated official of the Prime Minister, the relationship between the Prime Minister and Secretary performance for both dependent and confrontation.Chapter III is"Management of Secretary."This chapter has teased the system requirements of Secretary, which include person number,grade,dress,station,income etc., and reviewed the change of Secretary during Tang and Song dynasties. The change of Secretary's position ,appointment,deposition,promotion or demotion, must obey the rule. The quality and ability of person is the most important factor to the Secretary choosing. The person, be appointed Secretary, always moves, and the major is promoted. And the position of Secretary is one of the main approaches to be promoted and become Prime Minister.Postscript is"Imperial Examination origin of Secretary and its regionally family."The quality of person is the most fundamental of Secretary's selection, so the success or failure in the Imperial Examination is the basic condition of being Secretary. During Tang and Song dynasties, the composition of Secretary is mainly to the northerners in Tang Dynasty, southerners mainly in Song Dynasty. The official family, account for a large proportion among the persons who ever are appointed Secretary, and the proportion in Tang Dynasty is higher than in Song Dynasty. This also indicates that in the Imperial Examination system, the justice of entering political stratum is greatly improved, the source of Secretary have become increasingly widespread, and it play a certain role in promoting political stability and the development of culture.