The Official System of the Tang Dynasty

Answer 1

There were many types of official positions in the Tang Dynasty, such as official positions, scattered officials, meritorious officials, knighthood, etc. According to the difference between the main, the subordinate, the upper, and the lower, there were nine grades and thirty levels:

** 1, Genuine First Grade **
- ** Official positions **: Grand Preceptor, Grand Tutor, Grand Protector, Grand Marshal, Situ, Sikong, General of Heaven's Strategy (the official positions before Emperor Taizong Li Shimin proclaimed himself emperor, but not after).
- ** Jue **: Prince, Princess.

** 2. From Rank-1 **
- ** Official positions **: Crown Prince Grand Preceptor, Crown Prince Grand Tutor, Crown Prince Grand Protector.
- ** Wen San Guan **: Opening ceremony with three divisions.
- ** Wu San Guan **: General of the Flying Cavalry.
- ** Rank **: Successor King, Prince, Duke.

** Third, Second Grade **
- ** Official position **: Shangshu Ling (because Li Shimin used to hold this position, this position has been vacant since then), Dahang Tai Shangshu Ling.
- ** Wen San Guan **: Special entry.
- ** Wu San Guan **: General of the auxiliary country.
- [Rank: Founding County Duke]
- ** Honor **: Upper Pillar State.

** 4, Secondary Rank-2 **
- ** Official positions **: Shangshu Zuo Fu She, Prince Shao Shi, Prince Shao Fu, Prince Shao Bao, Jingzhao/Henan/Taiyuan Fu Mu, Grand Governor, Grand Protector.
- ** Wen San Guan **: Doctor Guanglu.
- ** Wu San Guan **: General of the Army.
- ** Jue **: Founding County Duke.
- ** Honor **: Pillar Country.

** 5, Rank 3 **
- ** Official positions **: Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Minister of Foreign Affairs (promoted to the second rank during the Dali period of Emperor Daizong), Minister of Foreign Affairs, General of the Sixteen Guards, Prince Guest, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Prince Zhan Shi, Middle Governor, and Upper Governor.
- ** Wen San Guan **: Doctor Jin Ziguang Lu.
- ** Wu San Guan **: Champion General, Huaihua General.
- ** Honor **: Upper Guard Army.

** 6, Rank-3 **
- ** Official positions **: Imperial Censor, Secretary Supervisor, Guanglu/Wei Wei/Zong Zheng/Taipu/Dali/Honglu/Si Nong/Taifu Qing, Left and Right Sanqi Changshi, Guozi Jijiu, Dian Zhong Supervisor, Shao Fu Supervisor, General Craftsman, Zhu Wei Yu Lin Qianniu General, Lower Governor, Shangzhou Provincial Governor, Grand Governor's Office Chief Shi, Grand Governor's Office Deputy Governor.
- ** Wen San Guan **: Doctor Yinqing Guanglu.
- ** Wu San Guan **: Yunhui General, Guide General.
- [Rank: Founding Marquis]
- ** Honor **: Protect the army.

** 7, Rank-4 +**
- ** Official positions **: Huangmen Assistant Minister, Zhongshu Assistant Minister, Shangshu Zuocheng, Six Assistant Ministers, Taichang Shaoqing, Zhongzhou Provincial Governor, Military Equipment Supervisor, Shangdu Deputy Governor, Shangfu Zhuechong Duwei.
- ** Wen San Guan **: Zhengyi doctor.
- ** Military Officer **: General Zhongwu.
- * *
- ** Honor **: Captain of the Light Car.

** 8, Lower Rank-4 **
- ** Official positions **: Shangshu Youcheng, Shangshu Divisions Assistant Minister, Left and Right Qianniu Guard/Left and Right Prison Guard Zhonglang General, Qinxun Yi Wei Yu Lin Zhonglang General, Xiazhou Cishi.
- ** Wen San Guan **: General Advisor.
- ** Military Officer **: General Zhuang Wu.

** Nine, from Rank-4 and above **
- ** Official positions **: Guanglu, Wei Wei, Zong Zheng, Taipu, Dali, Honglu, Si Nong, Taifu Shaoqing, Secretary Junior Supervisor, Palace Junior Supervisor, Internal Servant, Chief Secretary of the Protectorate/Prince's Mansion.
- ** Wen San Guan **: Tai Zhong doctor.
- ** Wu San Guan **: Xuanwei General.
- ** Honor **: Light Car Commandant.

** 10. From Rank-4 and below **
- ** Official positions **: Secretary of State, Shao Fu Shao Jian, Jiang Zuo Shao Jiang, Jingzhao/Henan/Taiyuan Prefecture Shao Yin, Shangzhou Biejia, Grand Dudu Fu/Grand Duhu Fu/Prince Fu Sima, Zhongfu Zechong Duwei.
- ** Wen San Guan **: Middle doctor.
- ** Wu San Guan **: General.

** Eleven, Upper Fifth Grade **
- ** Official positions **: Jianyi doctor, censor Zhongcheng, Guozi doctor, to the matter, Zhongshu Sheren, Dushui envoy, Wannian/Chang 'an/Henan/Luoyang/Taiyuan/Jinyang/Fengxian County Magistrate, pro-Xun Yi Wei Yu Lin Lang General, Zhongdu Du/Shangdu Du Fu Chang Shi, Prince Fu Dian Jun.
- ** Wen San Guan **: Zhong San Da Fu.
- ** Wu San Guan **: General Ding Yuan.
- ** Jue **: Founding Son.
- ** Honor **: Captain of the Cavalry.

** 12, Lower Fifth Grade **
- ** Official positions **: Crown Prince's Scheeren, Internal Attendant, Middle Governor/Shangdu Fu Sima, Zhongzhou Biejia, Xiafu Zechong Duwei.
- ** Civil Affairs Officer **: Official of the Imperial Court.
- ** Wu San Guan **: General Ning Yuan.
- ** Shizheng Fifth Grade **: Sa Bao.

** 13, from Rank-5 and above **
- ** Official positions **: Doctor of the left and right departments of Shangshu, Secretary Cheng, Author Lang, Prince Xi Ma, Palace Cheng, Prince Mansion Deputy General, Lower Dudu Fu/Upper Governor Shi, Lower State Biejia, Palace Province Sixth Bureau Fengyu.
- ** Wen San Guan **: Invite the doctor to the court.
- ** Wu San Guan **: Wandering Cavalry General.
- ** Jue **: Founding man.

In the local area, the main officials of the county were the county magistrate (seventh grade), the county magistrate (eighth grade), the main book (ninth grade), and the county lieutenant (ninth grade). The county was divided into seven categories: Chi, Ji, Wang, Jin, Shang, Zhong, and Middle. Chi referred to the capital Chang 'an, the eastern capital Luoyang, and Taiyuan, where the Tang Dynasty was founded. The officials in Chang' an were one grade higher than the local officials. There were provincial governors, chief historians, and Sima at the prefecture level. Sometimes, there would be other drivers. The prefectures were divided into three kinds of prefectures according to their population and resources. The grades of officials in different prefectures were different. The provincial governors of the upper prefectures were from the third grade, the provincial governors of the middle prefectures were from the fourth grade, and the provincial governors of the lower prefectures were from the fourth grade.

The central government implemented a system of three provinces and six departments. The three provinces were the Ministry of Central Affairs (drafting government decrees), the Ministry of Central Affairs (reviewing government decrees), and the Ministry of Shangshu (specific implementation). The governors of the three provinces were the Ministry of Central Affairs, the Ministry of Central Affairs, and the Ministry of Shangshu (later, Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty held the post, and the Ministry of Central Affairs was mostly made up of Shangshu Zuo and Youpushe). The Ministry of Shangshu had six departments, namely, officials, households, etiquette, soldiers, punishment, and labor, and the chief was the minister. The left and right Jinwu Guards were two of the sixteen guards of the Tang Dynasty. They were in charge of patrolling the palace and the capital day and night. The highest officer was the Great General (the third grade), and the Zhonglang General was the fourth grade.

While waiting for the TV series, you can also click on the link below to read the classic original work of "Dafeng Nightwatchman"!