The Establishment Of A Trick Officer In The Tang Dynasty

Technological official is a new type of officials which appears in the Tang Dynasty.People skilled at technology serving the country as officials has a long history,though,it never become a specific type of officials which defined in laws.Since the improved hierarchy between Han to Sui Dynasty,there are more ranks in technological bureaus.These changes make it possible to limit the promotion of technological officers within technological bureaus.Before Tang,technology never become a specific entry(出身)to the civil service.In Tang Dynasty,the establishment of technological officials associates technological positions with technological entry.Technological entries include technological-zhi service without rand(无品伎术直),technological clerical service(伎术胥吏),technological students(伎术学生)and the technological examination system(伎术举).During the reign of Gao-zong and Emperor Wu,the number of candidates is a lot more than needed.This contradiction cause the reform which associates technological positions to the candidates’technological entries.The first step of this reform is Emperor Wu’s edict of 697.This edict limits the occupation of political positions(other than technological positions)by candidates with technological entry.The second step is to delegate the power of appointing technological officials to the head of technological bureaus,rather than the previous Civil Office(吏部).Through these reform,the association between technological positions and their entries became close.Technological officials finally become a specific selection and promotion system in Tang Dynasty.