A Study On The System Of Xuli In Prefectures And Counties In The Qing Dynasty

Since the inception of Xuli system,it has been closely related to official discourse.Although Xuli had no official rank and held an informal position in the yamen,they were indispensable in the governance of counties in the Qing dynasty.They had partial jurisdiction over local affairs,carried out official administrative laws,assisted officials in handling yamen trivial matters,and maintained local social order.Xuli,the hub of communication between officials and the people,they understood the local customs and administrative affairs.As county officials had short terms and needed to quickly understand local affairs to be competent in their management,they could not do without the Xuli.Therefore,understanding the Xuli system is essential.This thesis discusses the Xuli system from four parts: The first part introduces the definition and historical changes of petty officials,explains the development of the system of petty officials in various dynasties,and sorts out the development of the relationship between officials and officials.The second part discusses the selection and functions of petty officials in the Qing Dynasty,showcasing the static picture of them in the grassroots society of the Qing Dynasty.The third part describes the local social relationships of the Qing Dynasty’s petty officials.They constructed internal relationships linked by blood and geography,and also interacted with gentry,officials,and the people from the outside,thereby showcasing the dynamic state of the petty officials in the grassroots society of the Qing Dynasty.The fourth part evaluates the Qing Dynasty’s system of petty officials,based on the rationality of the system itself,and discusses its limitations.