Brief History of the Official System in China

A detailed academic examination into ancient China's numerous systems of bureaucracy, administration and governance. China has a rich history of administrative systems with each major dynasty developing their own civil and state mechanisms, together with the officials needed to staff the system. This fascinating book reveals all. Author Xie Baocheng breaks the authoritative coverage down into eight distinct sections: Introducing the Official System in Ancient China; Pre-Qin Royal Power and Post-Qin Imperial Power; The Central Decision-making System; The Central Government System; Territorial Administration; The Surveillance System; The Military System; Personnel Administration.

This major work, which is being made available outside of China for the very first time, will appeal to people studying China’s social and economic development. China’s economic transformation in the past 30 years has been so swift and dramatic that fully comprehending China’s constantly changing society can be difficult. By offering a broad and historical view of the subject this books helps to give an insight into the historical roots of modern China. The relationship between government and society is one of the key dynamics of growth and development in modern China. Understanding the official system in China is relevant to appreciating China today. This work encapsulates a broad sweep of Chinese history in an accessible single volume.