A Study On Henanyin In Tang Dynasty

Henanyin is the chief executive of the Prefecture of Henan, the place wherein Luoyang City, the east capital of Tang Dynasty was located. Serving as the chief executiveof the other capital of the empire, Henanyin existed for nearly280years. It played animportant role during the process of officials’ changing. Studying Henanyin can not only letus understand the situation of administrative management in the east capital area in TangDynasty, but also help us look into the changing state between local officials and centralofficials. In Tang Dynasty, Henanyin was only inferior to caoital officials with regard to status.Thus, Henanyin always received attention by the potentates and various political forces triedto lobby it. In addition, studying Henanyin contributes to the understanding of politicalstruggles in Tang Dynasty. This paper analyzes Henanyin from four aspects: theadministrative system of Henan Prefecture; the duties of Henanyin; Henanyin’s operatingapproaches and its influences upon the political struggles in Tang Dynasty.From the aspect of the administrative system of Henan Prefecture, the paper firstlysketches the development and transition of Henan Prefecture and Henanyin ahead of TangDynasty. Then, it introduces the evolution and organization structure of the area under HenanPrefecture’s jurisdiction. Therefore, we notice that the nature of Henan Prefecture varies indifferent periods of Tang Dynasty. Before644(the18thyear of the reign of Emperor TangTaizong), the central government of Tang Dynasty set up Dudufu in Longyang area becauseof the need of military conquering. In the18thyear of the reign of Emperor Tang Taizong,Tang Taizong learned a lesson that Sui Dynasty was conquered because Emperor Sui Yangdiset up the east capital Luoyang on a large scale. As a result, Tang Taizong demoted Luoyangto the rank of common prefecture. Until657(the2rd year of Xianqing), the potentates of TangDynasty decided to recover the system of having two capitals in Han Dynasty. Hence,Luoyang was upgraded to the second capital. During Tang Dynasty, there were about20 counties in Henan Prefecture. With regard to rank, Henan County and Luoyang Countypossess the highest position; Goushi County possesses the second highest position; and thereaming counties have the least position.From the aspect of the duties of Henanyin, the paper demonstrates civil administration,approaches of purifying social morality, works of managing social and public order and thingsof assessing the subordinate and election. Besides, special duties offered by the centralgovernment are also demonstrated. Thos duties include things of managing water transportof grain to the capital, military conquering, worshiping mausoleum, and retired officials. Theruling strategies adopted before Anshi rebellion was different from the ruling strategiesperformed by Henanyin after Anshi rebellion—pre-Anshi rebellion: harsh and cruel; afterAnshi rebellion: loose and simple. Those different strategies had an effect on the duties ofHenanyin.From the aspect of Henanyin’s operating approaches, the paper mainly analyzes officialsserved before and after becoming Henanyin, the time of serving and things about becomingofficials. We can find that officials who becoming Henanyin mainly come from prefecturalgovernors, six assistant ministers, Jiedushi and Guanchashi. After retiring from Henanyin,officials mainly acted as six ministers, six assistant ministers, imperial Counsellors, nine Siqingand other central officials. Besides, at the end of Tang Dynasty, many a Henanyin acted as Jiedushi andGuangchashi after retiring from Henanyin. Therefore, Henanyin was an important transit point forcentral officials to practice and for magistrates to be promoted to the officials in centralgovernment. The fact that Henanyin can only be served by a person within two years alsoproved this.As for Henanyin’s influences upon the political struggles in Tang Dynasty, the paperdemonstrates ups and downs of Wuzhou, feudal separatist rule, and partisan quarrels and theirinfluences on Henanyin and the roles they played in these political struggles. These indicatethat Henanyin was likely to be drawn over to many political forces in various and importantpolitical conflicts in Tang Dynasty.