Censorate

The Censorate (Chinese: 御史台; pinyin: yùshǐtái, later 都察院 dūcháyuàn) was a high-level supervisory agency in ancient China, first established during the Qin dynasty (221–207 BCE).

The Censorate was a highly effective agency during the Mongol Yuan dynasty (1271-1368). During the Ming dynasty (1368–1644), the Censorate was a branch of the centralized bureaucracy, paralleling the Six Ministries and the five Chief Military Commissions, and was directly responsible to the emperor. The investigating censors were "the eyes and ears" of the emperor and checked administrators at each level to prevent corruption and malfeasance, a common feature of that period. Popular stories told of righteous censors revealing corruption as well as censors who accepted bribes. Generally speaking, they were feared and disliked, and had to move around constantly to perform their duties.

Internal structure

The Censorate was divided into three branches (院).

• The Palace Branch (殿院) was responsible for monitoring the behaviour of officials during audiences; it was staffed by In-palace equerry censors (殿中侍御史).
• The Admonish Branch (台院) was responsible for monitoring the behaviour of the emperor, to ensure that he did not make mistakes and remind him of his duties; it was staffed by equerry censors (侍御史).
• The Detection Branch (察院) was responsible for monitoring the behaviour of local officials; monitor censors (監察御史) would tour the country in circuits to ensure the proper discharge of the functions of government and good performance of local officials.

See also

• Three Departments and Six Ministries (Imperial China)
  • Department of Chancellery
  • Ministry of Personnel
  • Ministry of Justice
• Control Yuan (Republic of China)
• Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (Communist Party of China)
• Ministry of Supervision (People's Republic of China)

References

Sources

• Hucker, Charles O. (December 1958). "Governmental Organization of The Ming Dynasty". Harvard Journal of Asiatic Studies. 21. Harvard-Yenching Institute: 1–66. doi:10.2307/2718619. JSTOR 2718619.
• Li, Konghuai (2007). History of Administrative Systems in Ancient China (in Chinese). Joint Publishing (H.K.) Co., Ltd. ISBN 978-962-04-2654-4.
• Lu, Simian (2008). The General History of China (in Chinese). 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. 12 (1/2). Harvard-Yenching Institute: 134–187. doi:10.2307/2718206. JSTOR 2718206.