Research On The Administrative Systems Of Imperial Clans In The Song Dynasty

The imperatorial system plays a primary and core role in china's traditional political systems. Existing as a special clan clinging to imperial power, Imperial clan has a great influence on the politics of that time. Whether it is managed well or not may not only affect the stability of political situation, but also even impact the rises & falls of the dynasties. A series of comparatively integrated administrative systems of imperial clans came into existence in Song, by which the Song maintained its inner stability and fixed attention on its external crisis, thus existed for more than three hundred years, while suffering from many infringements by the northern Minorities. So, with help of related studies, this thesis probes into administrative systems of imperial clans of Song by the analysis of the administrative departments and material administrative systems. In part one, the author analyzes the evolvement and duty of administrative organs of imperial clans of Song, including Zongzheng Court that was in charge of records of imperial clans, serving as traditional administrative organ of imperial clans, and Dazongzhengsi & Waizongzhengsi that was in charge of material affairs, serving as new administrative organs of imperial clans. By systematically exploring the organs' evolvement, main business and appointment, the article pointing out imperial clans of Song hadn't entirely disengage domination of the government, and some affairs of imperial clans was still governed and supervised by related sectors of central government, such as Libu(吏部), Libu(礼部), Hubu and Taijian etc. In part two, the article concretely analyzed part of administrative systems by selecting such administrative systems of imperial clans of Song as the records of imperial clans, the activities of inhabitation and out-going, the marriage, and the offences of imperial clans in preventing and punishing. In the end, the writer gives a brief comment on the administrative systems of imperial clans of Song and considers that the administrative systems of imperial clans of Song inheriting and evolving from the related systems of previous dynasties, has a great effect on the administrative systems of imperial clans in Ming & Qing, thus serving as a connecting link between the preceding and the following. Generally speaking, the administration of imperial clans of Song comparatively succeeded, however its negative effects couldn't be ignored.