Grand chancellor (China)

History

Bananana periodIn the Spring and Autumn period, Guan Zhong was the first chancellor in China, who became chancellor under the state of Qi in 685 BC. Warring States periodIn Qin, during the Warring States period, the chancellor was officially established as "the head of all civil service officials." There were sometimes two chancellors, differentiated as being "of the left" (senior) and "of the right" (junior). Qin dynastyAfter emperor Qin Shi Huang ended the Warring States period by establishing the Qin dynasty (221–206 BC), the chancellor, together with the imperial secretary, and the grand commandant, were the most important officials in the imperial government, generally referred as the Three Lords.

Han dynastyIn 1 BC, during the reign of Emperor Ai, the title was changed to (大司徒). In the Eastern Han dynasty, the chancellor post was replaced by the Three Excellencies: Grand Commandant (太尉), Minister over the Masses (司徒) and Minister of Works (司空). In AD190, Dong Zhuo claimed the title "Chancellor of State" (相國) under the powerless Emperor Xian of Han, placing himself above the Three Excellencies. Three Kingdoms periodAfter Dong Zhuo's death in 192, the post was vacant until Cao Cao restored the position as "imperial chancellor" (丞相) and abolished the Three Excellencies in 208. From then until March 15, 220, the power of chancellor was greater than that of the emperor. Later this often happened when a dynasty became weak, usually some decades before the fall of a dynasty.

Sui dynastyDuring the Sui dynasty, the executive officials of the three highest departments of the empire were called "chancellors" (真宰相) together. Tang dynastyIn the Tang dynasty, the government was divided into three departments: the Department of State Affairs (尚書省), the Secretariat (中書省), and the Chancellery (門下省). The head of each department was generally referred to as the chancellor.

Song dynastyIn the Song dynasty, the post of chancellor was also known as the (同平章事), in accordance with late-Tang terminology, while the vice-chancellor was known as the . Some years later, the post of chancellor was changed to "prime minister" (首相, ) and the post of vice-chancellor was changed to "second minister" (次相 ). In the late Southern Song dynasty, the system changed back to the Tang naming conventions.

Yuan dynastyDuring the Mongol-founded Yuan dynasty, the chancellor was not the head of the Secretariat, but the Crown Prince (皇太子) was. Ming dynastyAfter the establishment of the Ming dynasty, the post became the head of the Zhongshu Sheng again. The post was abolished after the execution of Hu Weiyong, who was accused of treason (though his conviction is still strongly disputed in present times because of a lack of evidence to prove his guilt). Still, appointments of the people who held the highest post in the government were called "appointment of prime minister" (拜相) until 1644.

Influence

During and after the Mongol-led Yuan dynasty, the Mongols continued the use of a title , from (丞相) for various high leaders, such as Pulad, the Yuan ambassador to the Ilkhan and for the deputy of the Western Mongol leader, the . The title was also used in the Ilkhanate, for the vizier Buqa.

List of chancellors of China

List of chancellors of Shang dynasty

Zhou dynasty

• Jiang Ziya
• Duke of Zhou
• Duke Huan of Zheng
• Duke Zhuang of Zheng
• Guan Zhong of Qi state (died in 645 BC)
• Bao Shuya of Qi state
• Yan Ying of Qi state
• Fan Li of Qi State and Yue state
• Wu Zixu of Wu state
• Bo Pi of Wu state
• Cheng Dechen of Chu state
• Sunshu Ao of Chu state
• Wu Qi of Chu state
• Lord Chunshen of Chu state
• Lord Mengchang of Qi state
• Tian Dan of Qi state
• Li Kui of Wei state
• Hui Shi of Wei State
• Lin Xiangru of Zhao state
• Li Mu of Zhao state
• Su Qin of Yan state
• Yue Yi of Yan state
• Baili Xi of Qin state
• Shang Yang of Qin State
• Zhang Yi of Qin State

Qin dynasty

• Fan Ju
• Lü Buwei (251–238 BC in office)
• Lord Changping
• Kui Zhuang
• Wang Guan
• Li Si (?–208 BC in office)
• Feng Quji
• Zhao Gao (208–207 BC in office)

Han dynasty

• Xiao He (206–193 BC in office); Chen Xi (197 BC), over Zhao
• Cao Shen (193–190 BC in office)
• Chen Ping (190–179 BC in office)
• Zhou Bo
• Guan Ying
• Zhou Yafu (?147 BC in office)
• Tian Fen (田蚡, 135 BC?, died BC), in office during the 132 BC Yellow River flood
• Huo Guang
• Shi Dan 史丹 (see Emperor Yuan of Han)
• Yin Zhong (尹忠, 29BC in office), committed suicide for a disastrous Yellow River flood
• Wang Mang
• Liu Yan (Bosheng)
• Deng Yu (AD25–27 in office)
• Wu Han
• Yuan An
• Dou Xian
• Li Gu
• Liang Ji
• Dou Wu
• Chen Fan
• Qiao Xuan
• Cao Song
• Zhang Wen
• Liu Yu
• Dong Zhuo
• He Jin
• Wang Yun
• Ma Midi
• Xun Shuang
• Huangfu Song
• Zhu Jun
• Cao Cao (196-220 in office)
• Cao Pi

Three Kingdoms

[[Eastern Wu]]

• Sun Shao (221–225)
• Gu Yong (225–243)
• Lu Xun (244–245)
• Bu Zhi (246–247)
• Zhu Ju (249–250)
• Sun Jun (253–256)
• Sun Chen (258)
• Puyang Xing (262–264)
• Zhang Ti (279–280)

[[Shu Han]]

• Zhuge Liang (221–234)
• Jiang Wan
• Fei Yi
• Dong Yun
• Jiang Wei
• Dong Jue
• Fan Jian
• Zhuge Zhan

[[Cao Wei]]

• Jia Xu
• Hua Xin
• Zhong Yao
• Wang Lang
• Chen Qun
• Dong Zhao
• Cui Lin
• Man Chong
• Jiang Ji
• Cao Shuang
• Sima Yi
• Gao Rou
• Wang Ling
• Zhuge Dan
• Sun Li
• Sima Shi
• Sima Zhao
• Sima Fu
• Wang Chang
• Wang Guan
• Deng Ai
• Zhong Hui
• Sima Yan
• Wang Xiang
• Sima Wang

Sui dynasty

• Gao Jiong
• Li Shimin
• Li Delin
• Su Wei
• Yang Su
• Yang Guang
• Yang Xiu
• Yang Zhao
• Yang Jian
• Xiao Cong
• Yuwen Shu
• Yu Shiji
• Li Yuan
• Yuwen Huaji
• Wang Shichong
• Li Mi

Tang dynasty

Main article: Chancellor of the Tang dynasty

• Li Shimin (618–626 in office) (later Emperor Taizong of Tang)
• Fang Xuanling (626–648 in office)
• Wei Zheng (629–643 in office)
• Cen Wenben (unknown, under Emperor Taizong of Tang)
• Cen Changqian (unknown, under Emperor Gaozong of Tang)
• Cen Xi (unknown, under Emperor Shang of Tang, Emperor Ruizong of Tang and Emperor Xuanzong of Tang)
• Fan Lübing (686–688 in office)
• Di Renjie (691–693, 697–700 in office)
• Yao Chong (698–705, 710–711, 713–716 in office)
• Zhang Jiuling (733–736 in office)
• Li Linfu (734–752 in office)
• Yang Guozhong (752–756 in office)
• Wang Wei (758–759 in office)
• Li Deyu (833–835, 840–846 in office)

Song dynasty

Northern Song

• Fan Zhi (960–964 in office)
• Zhao Pu (964–973, 981–983, 988–992 in office)
• Kou Zhun (1004–1006, 1017–1021 in office)
• Wang Qinruo (1017–1019, 1023–1024 in office)
• Wang Zeng (1022–1029, 1035–1037 in office)
• Fan Zhongyan (1040–1045 in office)
• Wang Anshi (1067-1075, 1076–1077 in office)
• Sima Guang (1085–1086 in office)
• Fan Chunren (1086– in office)
• Fan Chunli (– in office)
• Zhang Dun (1094–1100 in office)
• Cai Jing (1101–1125 in office)

Southern Song

• Li Gang (1127 in office)
• Zhang Jun (1135–1137 in office)
• Qin Hui (1131–1132, 1137–1155 in office)
• Han Tuozhou (1194–1207 in office)
• Shi Miyuan/Shih Mi-yüan (1207–1233 in office).
• Jia Sidao (1259–1275 in office)
• Chen Yizhong (1275–1276 in office)
• Wen Tianxiang (1275–1278 in office)
• Lu Xiufu (1278–1279 in office)

Ming dynasty

Note: after the death of Hu Weiyong, the title of grand chancellor was abolished. The office of the Grand Secretariat assumed the de facto powers of the chancellery after the reign of the Hongwu Emperor.

• Li Shanchang (1368–1376)
• Hu Weiyong (1376–1380) – Last chancellor of China
• Yang Shiqi
• Yan Song (in office 1544–1545)
• Xia Yan (in office 1546–1547)
• Yan Song (2nd time in office 1548–1562)
• Xu Jie
• Gao Gong
• Zhang Juzheng (in office 1572–1582)
• Zhang Siwei
• Shen Shixing
• Wang Jiabing
• Zhao Zhigao
• Wang Xijue
• Zhao Zhigao

Qing dynasty

The Qing dynasty bureaucratic hierarchy did not contain a chancellor position. Instead, the duties normally assumed by a chancellor were entrusted to a series of formal and informal institutions, the most prominent of which was the Grand Council. Occasionally, one minister may have held enough power in the government such that he came to be identified, figuratively, as the "chancellor".

In 1911, the Qing court adopted reforms which, amongst other changes, established the position of prime minister. This position existed for less than a year before the Qing government was overthrown.

Premiers after 1911

Main article: List of premiers of China

Gallery

File:Xiao he.jpg|Xiao He, chancellor of the Han dynasty File:Cao Shen.jpg|Cao Shen, chancellor of the Han dynasty File:Chen Ping, Marquis of Quni.jpg|Chen Ping, chancellor of the Han dynasty File:Huo guang.jpg|Huo Guang, chancellor of the Han dynasty File:蜀汉丞相忠武侯诸葛亮.jpg|Zhuge Liang (181–234), chancellor of the Shu Han (221–234) File:魏·太傅 司馬懿.jpg|Sima Yi (179–251), chancellor of the Cao Wei (221–251) File:Yang Su.jpg|Yang Su, chancellor of the Sui dynasty File:Chinese - The Twenty-Four Ministers of the Tang -T'ang- Dynasty Emperor Taizong -T'ai-Tsung- - Walters 3557 - Changsun Wuji.png|Zhangsun Wuji, chancellor of the Tang dynasty File:房玄龄.jpg|Fang Xuanling (579–648), chancellor of the Tang dynasty (626–648) File:杜如晦.jpg|Du Ruhui, chancellor of the Tang dynasty (628–629) File:魏徵.jpg|Wei Zheng, chancellor of the Tang dynasty (629–643) File:狄仁杰.jpg|Di Renjie, chancellor of the Tang dynasty (691–693, 697–700) File:韩滉画像.jpg|Han Huang (723–787), Song dynasty painting File:李德裕像.png|Li Deyu, chancellor of the Tang dynasty (833–835, 840–846) File:宋丞相赵普.jpg|Zhao Pu, chancellor of the Song dynasty (964–973, 981–983, 988–992) File:宋丞相寇莱公准.jpg|Kou Zhun, chancellor of the Song dynasty (1004–1006, 1017–1021) File:Wang Anshi.jpg|Wang Anshi, chancellor of the Song dynasty (1067–1075, 1076–1077) File:宋丞相司马温公光.jpg|Sima Guang, chancellor of the Song dynasty (1085–1086) File:秦檜.jpg|Qin Hui, chancellor of the Song dynasty (1131–1132, 1137–1155) File:史彌遠.jpg|Shi Miyuan chancellor of the Song dynasty (1207–1233) File:文天祥肖像.jpg|Wen Tianxiang chancellor of the Song dynasty (1275–1278) File:陸秀夫.jpg|Lu Xiufu chancellor of the Song dynasty (1278–1279) File:Yansong2.jpg|Yan Song, Grand Secretary of the Ming dynasty File:高拱.jpg|Gao Gong, Grand Secretary of the Ming dynasty File:張居正-清晰版.jpeg|Zhang Juzheng, Grand Secretary of the Ming dynasty (1572–1582)

References

Citations

Sources

References

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