Three Lords and Nine Ministers

The Three Lords and Nine Ministers system (Chinese: 三公九卿) was a central administrative system adopted in ancient China that was officially instituted in Qin Dynasty (221 BC - 206 BC) and was replaced by the Three Departments and Six Ministries system (Chinese: 三省六部) since Sui Dynasty (589-618 AD).

Three Lords referred to three highest rank officials in the imperial government, namely,

• the Chancellor (Chengxiang),
• the Imperial Secretary (Yushidaifu),
• the Grand Commandant (Taiwei).

Nine Ministers comprised all the ministers of importance in the central government. They were:

• the Minister of Ceremonies (Taichang),
• the Supervisor of Attendants (Guangluxun),
• the Commandant of Guards (Weiwei),
• the Minister of Coachman (Taipu),
• the Commandant of Justice (Tingwei),
• the Grand Herald (Dahonglu),
• the Director of the Imperial Clan (Zongzheng),
• the Grand Minister of Agriculture (Dashinong),
• the Small Treasurer (Shaofu).

See also

• Government of the Han Dynasty

References

• Li, Konghuai (2007) (in Chinese). History of Administrative Systems in Ancient China. Joint Publishing (H.K.) Co., Ltd.. ISBN 978-962-04-2654-4. 

• Lu, Simian (2008) (in Chinese). The General History of China. New World Publishing. ISBN 978-7-80228-569-9. 

• Wang, Yü-Ch'üan (June 1949). "An Outline of The Central Government of The Former Han Dynasty". Harvard Journal of Asiatic Studies (Harvard Journal of Asiatic Studies, Vol. 12, No. 1/2) 12 (1/2): 134–187. doi:10.2307/2718206. JSTOR 2718206.