The Study On Kao Gong Lang Zhong In The Tang Dynasty

Kao Gong Lang Zhong is the vice officer of the fifth official rank and in charge of the assessment of civil officers and military officers,who plays an important role in the Tang Dynasty’s political.In previous studies,researchers either considered this officer as part of the entire merit system or as one of the offices of Shangshusheng,expounded and proved by unearthed relics.But this position’s the evolution and political influence did not get due attention.This research concentrated on Kao Gong Lang Zhong’s establishment,responsibilities,appointment,promotion and demotion.In the early Tang Dynasty,Kao Gong Lang Zhong host imperial examinations.After the reign of Emperor Tang Taizong,Kao Gong Lang Zhong is mostly in charge of assessing the official rank of officers in capital and checking their achievement in official’s career.Since mid-Tang dynasty,Kao Gong Lang Zhong acts as Shi Guan Xiu Zhuan,Zhi Zhi Gao and Hanlin Academician etc,which expanded their power and responsibility.Due to merit system is related to the promotion,demotion and salary of officials,those candidates who serve as Kao Gong Lang Zhong should be loyalty,integrity,and no fear of dignitaries.There are three steps of nomination of Kao Gong Lang Zhong.In the first,a candidate need to be recommended by a prime minister,then approved by the emperor,and finally confirmed by Zhong Shu Men Xia(Secretariat-Chancellery).The content focuses on investigating and analyzing the ways of the promotion of Kao Gong Lang Zhong in Tang Dynasty.Based on incomplete statistics,there were 47 of 115 Kao Gong Lang Zhong were promoted and 49 were demoted according to records.The immigration officials are generally provincial governors from Shangshusheng and Ci Shi.The emigration officers are mainly Zhong Shu She Ren from Zhongshusheng,Ji Shi Zhong and Jian Yi Da Fu from Menxiasheng.If officers moved out as local officials,it was difficult for them to serve as the capital official again which reflected the strict transfer order of Kao Gong Lang Zhong in the official sequence.Compared with the early period of the TangDynasty,Kao Gong Lang Zhong in the later period of the Tang Dynasty had a shorter time in office and a faster transfer speed.