| The study of bureaucracy is one of the important studies in Chinese Ancient history. As traditional Chinese official history focused on political history, particularly on the central political history, the studies of the central official system has produced an immense number of books. From Han to Tang dynasty, the greastest change in the central official system is the evolvement from the Three Dukes and Nine Chamberlain system of Qin and Han dynasty to Departments of State Affairs system of Sui and Tang dynasty. The studies of Three Dukes, Three Departments, Six Ministries have been gradually advancing detailedly, but the detailed studies about Nine Chamberlain system of Han and Tang dynasty are comparatively sparse. One reason is that the historical materials about Nine Chamberlain system are less abundant than that of the other three official systems. The other reason is that as Nine Chamberlain system itself contains so much official positions that it seems unnecessary to study one by one. In fact, as a period with great changes, The Wei, Jin and the Northern and Southern Dynasties had elements all of which were more or less influenced by the social environment, naturally including Nine Chamberlain system. As the problem involves too many government positions and requires too comprehensive knowledge, this paper prepares to investigate Chamberlain for Ceremonials chosen from Nine Chamberlain, and my analysis focuses on the evolvement and significance of Chamberlain for Ceremonials.As for Chamberlain for Ceremonials system, great changes happened when the President of a board of ceremonies has been set up in The Eastern Jin. According to Yan Gengwang's study Authority and Status of Departments of State Affairs in Tang dynasty, we know that Court of Sacrificial Worship in Tang dynasty subordinated to President of a board of ceremonies. However, we cannot find the instance that Chamberlain for Ceremonials was directly lead by President of a board of ceremonies. So the whole tendency is that the relation of correspondence and leading was gradually set up between Departments of State Affairs and Nine courts during The Wei, Jin and the Northern and Southern Dynasties. But to Chamberlain for Ceremonials system , we can merely say it subordinated to Departments of State Affairs. Though there appeared a certain relation between President of a board of ceremonies and Chamberlain for Ceremonials, their relation wasn't so consistent as in Tang dynasty due to limited sources. For the interior of Chamberlain for Ceremonials system, the traditional National university set up in Eastern and Western Han was influenced by School for the Sons of the State set up in Western Jin. With the strengthening power of noble, School for the Sons of the State became the school of children of the nobility, and National university was neglected. It is the period in which " They can achieve a high office with no necessary diligence", most children of noble were unwilling and disdainful to engage in acemic activity. As a result , " Erudite never taught ", and both the newly instituted School for the Sons of the State and the former National university were on the decline . The condition remained unchanged until Tang dynasty.Chamberlain for Ceremonials system in the Wei &Jin and South &North Dynasties was commonly stable, the administrative affairs in the routine work was the same as Han Dynasties, owing to real power out of Chamberlain for Ceremonials in those days. Chamberlain for Ceremonials in Three Kingdoms was directed the ceremonial, generally following the Han's. The official's rank and status was more higher than other officials. Those officials would assume the office of Chamberlain for Ceremonials until they retired, or have the chance to the top such as Minister of Public Works and the Prime Minister. In Kingdom of Wu, Chamberlain for Ceremonials was almost in charge with the President of a Board simultaneously, in order to assist the king of Sun's. Chamberlain for Ceremonials in Jin Dynasties turned to changes. In the inner, the School for the Sons of the State, the new educated department was founded. In the outer, the President of Memorial Temple that set up formally in Eastern Jin affected Chamberlain for Ceremonials in some sense. By the South &North Dynasties, the transformation of Chamberlain for Ceremonials had been around the function among the School for the Sons of the State, the President of Memorial Temple and Chamberlain for Ceremonials. Chamberlain for Ceremonials' staff: Grand Scribe, Director of Imperial Music, Musician-in-chief, Imperial Ancestral Temple, went back to the tradition of Han Dynasties, except for the Erudite that specialized in education. Those officials have to be competent for their job with professional knowledge of ceremonials. The staff setting of Chamberlain for Ceremonials seemed to be so redundant that managing matters was strait. That's whyso many officials would not pursue for the position.Chambrlain for Ceremonials Erudite was newly set up in Cao wei. Because it was a completely new officer in the Chamberlain for Ceremonials system, some books about officers formerly like Tang liu dian seems unable to distinguish it from Erudite of Five Classic of Han dynasty. As Chambrlain for Ceremonials Erudite, Erudite of School for the Sons of the State and Erudite of National university all had a say in the ritual discussion of etiquette, deknightion of dead, the historical records often generally treat them as "Chambrlain for Ceremonials Erudite", therefore it is difficult to accurately tell to which kind a certain doctor belongs. |
