All Topics  
Chancellor of China

 

 
   Email Print
   Bookmark   Link
 

 

Chancellor of China
 
 
  Topics Chancellor of China Topic Home

The Chancellor , variously translated as Prime Minister, Premier or Chief Councillor, was a generic name given to the highest-ranking official in the imperial government in ancient China
China

China is a Culture of China, an ancient civilization, and, depending on perspective, a national or multinational entity extending over a large area in East Asia....
. The Chancellor can also refer to a specific post in the imperial government, which was first officially instituted in Qin Dynasty
Qin Dynasty

The Qin Dynasty was preceded by the feudal Zhou Dynasty and followed by the Han Dynasty in China. The unification of China in 221 BCE under the Qin Shi Huang marked the beginning of Imperial China, a period which lasted until the fall of the Qing Dynasty in 1912 CE....
 (221 BC-206 BC) as the "head of all civil service officials". The term was known by many different names throughout Chinese history, and the exact extent of the powers associated with the position fluctuated greatly even during a particular dynasty.

History
In the Spring and Autumn Period
Spring and Autumn Period

The Spring and Autumn Period was a period in Chinese history, which roughly corresponds to the first half of the Eastern Zhou dynasty . Its name comes from the Spring and Autumn Annals, a chronicle of the state of Lu between 722 BC and 481 BC, which tradition associates with Confucius....
, Guan Zhong
Guan Zhong

Guan Zhong was a China politician in the Spring and Autumn Period. His given name was Y?w? . Zhong was his courtesy name. Recommended by Bao Shuya, he was appointed Prime Minister by Duke Huan of Qi in 685 BC....
 was the first Chancellor in China, who became chancellor under the state of Qi in 685 BC.






Discussion
Ask a question about 'Chancellor of China'
Start a new discussion about 'Chancellor of China'
Answer questions from other users
Full Discussion Forum



Encyclopedia


The Chancellor , variously translated as Prime Minister, Premier or Chief Councillor, was a generic name given to the highest-ranking official in the imperial government in ancient China
China

China is a Culture of China, an ancient civilization, and, depending on perspective, a national or multinational entity extending over a large area in East Asia....
. The Chancellor can also refer to a specific post in the imperial government, which was first officially instituted in Qin Dynasty
Qin Dynasty

The Qin Dynasty was preceded by the feudal Zhou Dynasty and followed by the Han Dynasty in China. The unification of China in 221 BCE under the Qin Shi Huang marked the beginning of Imperial China, a period which lasted until the fall of the Qing Dynasty in 1912 CE....
 (221 BC-206 BC) as the "head of all civil service officials". The term was known by many different names throughout Chinese history, and the exact extent of the powers associated with the position fluctuated greatly even during a particular dynasty.

History


In the Spring and Autumn Period
Spring and Autumn Period

The Spring and Autumn Period was a period in Chinese history, which roughly corresponds to the first half of the Eastern Zhou dynasty . Its name comes from the Spring and Autumn Annals, a chronicle of the state of Lu between 722 BC and 481 BC, which tradition associates with Confucius....
, Guan Zhong
Guan Zhong

Guan Zhong was a China politician in the Spring and Autumn Period. His given name was Y?w? . Zhong was his courtesy name. Recommended by Bao Shuya, he was appointed Prime Minister by Duke Huan of Qi in 685 BC....
 was the first Chancellor in China, who became chancellor under the state of Qi in 685 BC. In Qin
Qin (state)

Q?n or Ch'in , was a state during the Spring and Autumn Period and Warring States Periods of China. It eventually grew to dominate the country and unite it in 221 BC, after which it is referred to as the Qin Dynasty....
 during the Warring States Period
Warring States Period

The Warring States Period , also known as the Era of Warring States, covers the period from 476 BCE to the unification of China by the Qin Dynasty in 221 BCE....
, 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). After emperor Qin Shi Huang
Qin Shi Huang

Qin Shi Huang , personal name Ying Zheng , was king of the Chinese Qin from 246 BCE to 221 BCE during the Warring States Period. He became the first emperor of a unified China in 221 BCE....
 ended the Warring States Period by establishing the Qin Dynasty
Qin Dynasty

The Qin Dynasty was preceded by the feudal Zhou Dynasty and followed by the Han Dynasty in China. The unification of China in 221 BCE under the Qin Shi Huang marked the beginning of Imperial China, a period which lasted until the fall of the Qing Dynasty in 1912 CE....
 (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.

In 1 BC during the emperor Ai
Emperor Ai of Han

Emperor Ai of Han was an emperor of China of the Chinese Han Dynasty. He ascended the throne when he was 20, having been made heir by his uncle Emperor Cheng of Han, who was childless, and he reigned from 7 BC to 1 BC....
, the title was changed to da si tu. In the Eastern Han Dynasty, the Chancellor post was replaced by the Three Excellencies
Three Excellencies

The Three Excellencies or the Three Lords was the collective name for the three highest officials in ancient China. Starting in the Zhou Dynasty, the top three were: Senior Grand Tutor , Grand Tutor , and Grand Protector ....
: Grand Commandant, Minister over the Masses
Minister over the Masses

Minister over the Masses was one of the three most important official posts during the Han Dynasty, called the Three Excellencies. The nominal salary attached was 20,000 d?n of grain....
 and Minister of Works. In 190
190

Events...
, Dong Zhuo
Dong Zhuo

Dong Zhuo was a powerful warlord during the late Eastern Han Dynasty and Three Kingdoms era of China. He seized control of Luoyang in 189 after the capital fell into chaos following the death of Emperor Ling of Han China and a bloody clash between the powerful eunuch faction and the court officials....
 claimed the title "Chancellor of State" under the powerless Emperor Xian of Han
Emperor Xian of Han

Emperor Xian of Han was the last emperor of China of the Chinese Han Dynasty. He was forced to abdicate in favor of Cao Pi and was given the title of Duke of Shanyang ....
, placing himself above the Three Excellencies. After Dong Zhuo's death in 192
192

Events...
, the post was vacant until Cao Cao
Cao Cao

C?o Cao was a warlord and the penultimate Chancellor of China of the Eastern Han Dynasty who rose to great power during its final years in ancient China....
 restored the position as "Imperial Chancellor" and abolished the Three Excellencies in 208
208

Events...
. From then until March 15, 220
220

EventsBy PlaceRoman Empire* The Goths invade Asia Minor and the Balkans.* An Indian delegation visits Roman emperor Elagabalus....
, 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.

During the Sui Dynasty
Sui Dynasty

The Sui Dynasty followed the Southern and Northern Dynasties and preceded the Tang Dynasty in China. It ended nearly four centuries of division between rival regimes....
, the executive officials of the three highest departments of the empire were called "Chancellors" together. In the Tang Dynasty
Tang Dynasty

The Tang Dynasty was an Dynasties in Chinese history preceded by the Sui Dynasty and followed by the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period. It was founded by the Li family, who seized power during the decline and collapse of the Sui Empire....
, the government was divided into three departments
Three Departments and Six Ministries

The Three Departments and Six Ministries system was the main central administrative system adopted in ancient China. The system first took shape after the Western Han Dynasty , was officially instituted in Sui Dynasty , and matured during Tang Dynasty ....
: the Department of State Affairs, the Chancellery and the Secretariat(???) and the head of each department was generally referred to as the Chancellor.

In the Song Dynasty
Song Dynasty

The Song Dynasty was a ruling Chinese dynasty in China between 960–1279 AD; it succeeded the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period, and was followed by the Yuan Dynasty....
, the post of Chancellor was also known as the "Tongpingzhangshi", in accordance with late-Tang terminology, while the vice-chancellor was known as the "Jijunsi". Some years later, the post of Chancellor was changed to "Prime Minister
Prime minister

A prime minister is the most senior minister of Cabinet in the Executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. The position is usually held by, but need not always be held by, a politician....
" (?? shou xiang) and the post of vice-Chancellor was changed to "Second Minister" (?? ci xiang). In the late Southern Song Dynasty, the system changed back to the Tang naming conventions.

During the Mongol-founded Yuan Dynasty
Yuan Dynasty

The Yuan Dynasty , or Great Yuan Empire was both the continuation of the Mongol Empire and the Mongol founded historical state in Mongolia and China, lasting officially from 1271 to 1368....
, the Chancellor was not the head of the Secretariat, but the Crown Prince
Crown Prince

A Crown Prince or Crown Princess is the heir apparent to the throne in a royal or imperial monarchy. The wife of a crown prince is also titled crown princess....
 was. After the establishment of the Ming Dynasty
Ming Dynasty

The Ming Dynasty , or Empire of the Great Ming , was the ruling Dynasties in Chinese history of China from 1368 to 1644, following the collapse of the Mongol-led Yuan Dynasty....
, the post became the head of the Secretariat again. The post was abandoned after the execution of the Chancellor of China, 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" until 1644.

List of Chancellors of China
China

China is a Culture of China, an ancient civilization, and, depending on perspective, a national or multinational entity extending over a large area in East Asia....


List of Chancellors of Qin Dynasty since 251 BC


List of other famous Chancellors and Prime Ministers

  • Guan Zhong
    Guan Zhong

    Guan Zhong was a China politician in the Spring and Autumn Period. His given name was Y?w? . Zhong was his courtesy name. Recommended by Bao Shuya, he was appointed Prime Minister by Duke Huan of Qi in 685 BC....
     (died in 645 BC)
  • Xiao He
    Xiao He

    Xiao He was a key figure in Liu Bang's rise to power after the fall of the Qin Dynasty.He remained loyal to Liu Bang throughout his life and later became prime minister of the Han Dynasty....
     (206 BC-193 BC in office)
  • Dong Zhuo
    Dong Zhuo

    Dong Zhuo was a powerful warlord during the late Eastern Han Dynasty and Three Kingdoms era of China. He seized control of Luoyang in 189 after the capital fell into chaos following the death of Emperor Ling of Han China and a bloody clash between the powerful eunuch faction and the court officials....
     (189
    189

    Events...
    -192
    192

    Events...
     in office)
  • Cao Cao
    Cao Cao

    C?o Cao was a warlord and the penultimate Chancellor of China of the Eastern Han Dynasty who rose to great power during its final years in ancient China....
     (July 9, 208
    208

    Events...
    -March 15, 220
    220

    EventsBy PlaceRoman Empire* The Goths invade Asia Minor and the Balkans.* An Indian delegation visits Roman emperor Elagabalus....
     in office)
  • Zhuge Liang
    Zhuge Liang

    Zhuge Liang was Chancellor of China of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms period of China. He is often recognised as the greatest and most accomplished strategist of his era....
     (221
    221

    Events...
    -234
    234

    Events...
     of Shu Han
    Shu Han

    Shu Han , sometimes known as the Kingdom of Shu was one of the Three Kingdoms competing for control of China after the fall of the Han Dynasty, based on areas around Sichuan which was then known as Shu ....
    )
  • Lu Xun
    Lu Xun (Three Kingdoms)

    Lu Xun was an officer of Eastern Wu during the Three Kingdoms era of China. He was instrumental in causing Guan Yu's downfall, but is most famous for defeating Liu Bei in the celebrated Battle of Yiling....
     (244
    244

    Events...
    -245
    245

    Events...
     of Eastern Wu
    Eastern Wu

    Eastern Wu , also known as Sun Wu , was one of the Three Kingdoms competing for control of China after the fall of the Han Dynasty in the Jiangnan region of China....
    )
  • Di Renjie
    Di Renjie

    D? R?nji? , courtesy name Huaiying , formally Duke Wenhui of Liang , was an official of the History of China dynasty Tang Dynasty and Wu Zetian's Zhou Dynasty, twice serving as chancellor of Tang Dynasty during her reign....
     (691
    691

    See 691...
    -693
    693

    Events...
    , 697
    697

    Events...
    -700
    700

    Sorry, no overview for this topic
     in office)
  • Zhang Jiuling
    Zhang Jiuling

    Zhang Jiuling , courtesy name Zishou , nickname Bowu , formally Count Wenxian of Shixing , was a prominent minister, noted List of Chinese language poets and scholar of the Tang Dynasty, serving as chancellor of Tang Dynasty during the reign of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang....
     (733
    733

    Events...
    -736
    736

    Events...
     in office)
  • Yang Guozhong
    Yang Guozhong

    Yang Guozhong , n? Yang Zhao , was an official of the History of China dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving as a chancellor of Tang Dynasty late in the reign of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang....
     (752
    752

    Events...
    -756
    756

    Events...
     in office)
  • Wang Wei
    Wang Wei

    Wang Wei , sometimes titled the Poet Buddha, was a Tang Dynasty List of Chinese language poets, musician, Painting and statesman.From a high family, he passed the Imperial examination in 721 and had a successful civil service career, rising to become Chancellor of China in 758....
     (758
    758

    Events...
    -759
    759

    Events...
     in office)
  • Fan Zhongyan
    Fan Zhongyan

    Fan Zhongyan , born in Wuxian ??, Suzhou , was a prominent politician and literary figure in Song dynasty China. He was also a strategist and educator....
     (1040-1045 in office)
  • Wang Anshi
    Wang Anshi

    Wang Anshi was a China economist, statesman, Chancellor of China and poet of the Song Dynasty who attempted controversial, major socioeconomics social reforms....
     (1070-1075, 1076-1085 in office)
  • Sima Guang
    Sima Guang

    Sima Guang was a China historian, scholar, and high chancellor of the Song Dynasty....
     (1085-1086 in office)
  • Zhang Dun (1094-1100 in office)
  • Wen Tianxiang
    Wen Tianxiang

    Wen Tianxiang , Duke of Xinguo, was a scholar-general in the last years of the Song Dynasty. For his resistance to Kublai Khan's invasion of Song, and for his refusal to yield to the Yuan Dynasty despite being captured and tortured, he is a popular symbol of patriotism and righteousness in China....
     (1236-1283)


Premiers after 1644/1911

  • List of Premiers after 1911
    List of premiers of China

    This article is a list of the Premiers of China since 1911. According to Chinese historical records, the first premier of China was appointed in about 1130 BC, by First King of Shang Dynasty....


See also

  • List of Chinese people
    List of Chinese people

    The following is a list of famous Chinese language people.Note in Chinese names, the Chinese family name is typically placed first . For westernized names, the family name is placed last ....
  • Chancellor of Tang Dynasty
  • List of famous Premiers of China
  • Imperial examination
    Imperial examination

    The Imperial examinations in Imperial China determined who among the population would be permitted to enter the state's bureaucracy. The Imperial Examination System in China lasted for 1300 years, from its founding during the Sui Dynasty in 605 to its abolition near the end of the Qing Dynasty in 1905....
  • Chinese Law
    Chinese law

    Chinese law is one of the oldest legal traditions in the world. In the 20th and 21st century, law in China has been a complex mix of Traditional Chinese law and Western law....