The Official System of the Tang Dynasty

Answer 1

The official system of the Tang Dynasty was divided into nine grades and thirty levels according to the difference between the main, the subordinate, the upper, and the lower, including official positions (similar to work positions), scattered officials (similar to professional titles), titles (similar to honorary commendation), and honours.

** 1, Genuine First Grade **
- ** Official **: Grand Preceptor, Grand Tutor, Grand Protector, Grand Marshal, Situ, Sikong, General of Heaven's Strategy (the official position 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 a county were the county magistrate (seventh grade), who was in charge of the affairs of the county; the county magistrate (eighth grade), who assisted the county magistrate in managing affairs; the chief clerk (ninth grade), who supervised the officials and handled some judicial affairs; and the county lieutenant (ninth grade), who carried out various specific affairs.

Individual officials determined the status and remuneration of officials. Different individual officials had different orders, positions, colors and patterns of official uniforms, accessories, etc. For example, the official uniforms of civil and military officials above the third grade were purple with gold and jade belts; The official uniforms of the fourth and fifth grades were red with gold belts; The official uniforms of the sixth and seventh grades were green with silver belts; The official uniforms of the eighth and ninth grades were cyan with stone belts; The common people could only wear plain clothes with copper and iron belts. Moreover, the fish bags of officials above the third grade were decorated with gold (goldfish bags), and the fish bags of officials above the fifth grade were decorated with silver (silverfish bags).

In addition, in the Tang Dynasty, the methods of granting officials of different grades were different. Officials above the third grade used "book grant", officials above the fifth grade used "system grant", and officials below the sixth grade used "imperial grant".

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