The Supervisory Of Ming Dynasty And It’s Enlightenment

Ming Dynasty was a period when feudal autocratic imperial and centralization wereextremely booming. Rulers tightened the control of local governments and officials toconsolidate their imperial power. Taking example by the institution dispatching centralofficials to inspect local governments, the rulers established the supervisory system whichthen became one of the most characteristic constituent parts of the ruling regime. And thesupervisory system developed, completed, adjusted and declined with the change of the time.Researching in the supervisory system of Ming Dynasty is of historical value and also ofpractical significance. The supervisory system is the root of Chinese modern supervisorysystem and it can be take example by.The research pays attention to the evolution of the past dynasties’ supervisory systems,and combs the development of the supervisory systems before the Ming Dynasty. Based onthis, the research will be devoted to the supervisory system of the Ming Dynasty. Thesupervisory system’s developing regular pattern, historical status and its effect on localpolitics will be searched. And then the enlightenment for Chinese modern supervisory systemwill be found from the search.The research can be divided into four parts. The first part is the evolution of the pastdynasties’ supervisory system. According to reviewing the rudiment of the supervisorysystem in Pre-Qin period, its establishment in Qin and Han Dynasties, its development in SuiTang Song Dynasties, and its complete in Ming and Qing Dynasties, the research combs theclue of the development of the supervisory system before the Ming Dynasty. It provides animportant base for the following parts.The second part is the development of the supervisory system of the Ming Dynasty. Itsprouted at the beginning of the Ming Empire, and developed between the Hongwu andYongle period. And then to meet the need of consolidate regime, Zhudi established thesupervisory system during Yongle period and extended it around the country and made itregular. The system gradually completed between the Hongxi and Zhengde period andbecame stricter and stricter. During that time, investigating censors’ dispatch, their authorityand their working routine were all ruled. However, the investigating censors’ power began toexpand and was gradually out of control. So in the end, the supervisory system went tofailure. The third part describes the characteristic and the effect of the supervisory system of theMing Dynasty. The system was based on the supervisory system of Han and Tang, and itdeveloped a lot. So it was of characteristic and of great effect on the later political institution.First, investigating censors in Ming Dynasty were much more important than ever before,they were more independent and had much power. Second, the supervisory system was muchstricter than ever before, it ruled the dispatch, the term of service and the inspecting strictly,and made sure the investigating censors would take effect. Third, investigating censors whowere the representatives of central power to inspect the local governments and local officialsmade up a double-track supervisory system, which created checks and balances between thecentral and local governments. So it helped to avoid misunderstandings on local governmentscaused by the lack of communication and to restrict investigating censors’ malpractices in theinspecting caused by the long-term service. This kind of design took a remarkable effect inthe early Ming Dynasty. It helped to avoid embezzlement, stabilize the regime and promotethe legal institutions. But, with the extent of the investigating censors’ power, theinvestigating censors were gradually out of control, they became degraded. Therefore, thesystem’s positive effects were gone; instead, serious disadvantages came to the light.The forth part shows the enlightenment from the supervisory system for today. ComradeDengxiaoping once said,” A good institution can control the bad; and a bad institution willlimit the good even make them turn to the bad.” The history of the supervisory system’sdevelopment gives us a beneficial mirror. It makes us understand that our inspecting workneeds more authority, we should improve our working methods, and we should also supervisemore strictly, strengthen contingent of cadres to make sure our institution plays a positiverole.