Grand chancellor (China) facts for kids

Statue of Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang, considered the ideal example of the loyalty, integrity and Ruist shared governance between a lord and minister in Chinese history.

Quick facts for kids

Grand chancellor

Chinese

宰相

Literal meaning

overseeing minister

Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu Pinyin	zǎixiàng
Wade–Giles	Tsai³-hsiang⁴

Alternative Chinese name

Chinese

丞相

Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu Pinyin	Chéngxiàng
Wade–Giles	Ch'eng²-hsiang⁴

Second alternative Chinese name

Traditional Chinese

相國

Simplified Chinese

相国

Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu Pinyin	Xiàngguó
Wade–Giles	Hsiang⁴-kuo²

Third alternative Chinese name

Traditional Chinese

宰輔

Simplified Chinese

宰辅

Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu Pinyin	Zǎifǔ
Wade–Giles	Tsai³-fu³

Fourth alternative Chinese name

Chinese

宰衡

Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu Pinyin	Zǎihéng
Wade–Giles	Tsai³-heng²

Fifth alternative Chinese name

Traditional Chinese

內閣總理大臣

Simplified Chinese

内阁总理大臣

Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu Pinyin	nèigé zǒnglǐ dàchén

The grand chancellor (Chinese: 宰相; pinyin: Zǎixiàng, among other titles), also translated as counselor-in-chief, chancellor, chief councillor, chief minister, imperial chancellor, lieutenant chancellor and prime minister, was the highest-ranking executive official in the imperial Chinese government. The term was known by many different names throughout Chinese history, and the exact extent of the powers associated with the position fluctuated greatly, even during a particular dynasty.

Professor Zhu Zongbin of Peking University outlined the role of "grand chancellor" as one with the power to oversee all jurisdictional matters, the right to decide and to draft edicts with other ministers, and the position of chief advisor to the emperor. This extended even to the ability to criticize the emperor's edicts and decisions. Thus, the grand chancellor served as the emperor's chief of staff and main political advisor, often exercising power second only to the emperor. In practice, the grand chancellor was often a trusted executive aide to the emperor, but during political turmoil or power struggles between the two roles the grand chancellor could also be the emperor's primary political competitor and opponent.

This balance of power means that the relation between grand chancellor (and the scholar-officials they represent) and emperor holds great significance in the Confucian thought of governance and the relation of "lord and subject" (君臣).

"Grand chancellor" can denote several positions. During the Six Dynasties period, the term denoted a number of power-holders serving as chief administrators, including zhongshun jian (Inspector General of the Secretariat), zhongshu ling (President of the Secretariat), shizhong (Palace Attendant), shangshu ling and puye (president and vice-president of the Department of State Affairs).

History

In the Spring and Autumn period, Guan Zhong was the first chancellor in China, who became chancellor under the state of Qi in 685 BC. In Qin, during the Warring States period, the chancellor was officially established as "the head of all civil service officials." There were sometimes two chancellors, differentiated as being "of the left" (senior) and "of the right" (junior). After emperor Qin Shi Huang ended the Warring States period by establishing the Qin dynasty (221–206 BC), the chancellor, together with the imperial secretary, and the grand commandant, were the most important officials in the imperial government, generally referred as the Three Lords.

In 1 BC, during the reign of Emperor Ai, the title was changed to da si tu (大司徒). In the Eastern Han dynasty, the chancellor post was replaced by the Three Excellencies: Grand Commandant (太尉), Minister over the Masses (司徒) and Minister of Works (司空). In 190, Dong Zhuo claimed the title "Chancellor of State" (相國) under the powerless Emperor Xian of Han, placing himself above the Three Excellencies. After Dong Zhuo's death in 192, the post was vacant until Cao Cao restored the position as "imperial chancellor" (丞相) and abolished the Three Excellencies in 208. From then until March 15, 220, the power of chancellor was greater than that of the emperor. Later this often happened when a dynasty became weak, usually some decades before the fall of a dynasty.

During the Sui dynasty, the executive officials of the three highest departments of the empire were called "chancellors" (真宰相) together. In the Tang dynasty, the government was divided into three departments: the Department of State Affairs (尚書省), the Secretariat (中書省), and the Chancellery (門下省). The head of each department was generally referred to as the chancellor.

In the Song dynasty, the post of chancellor was also known as the "Tongpingzhangshi" (同平章事), in accordance with late-Tang terminology, while the vice-chancellor was known as the jijunsi. Some years later, the post of chancellor was changed to "prime minister" (首相 shou xiang) and the post of vice-chancellor was changed to "second minister" (次相 ci xiang). In the late Southern Song dynasty, the system changed back to the Tang naming conventions.

During the Mongol-founded Yuan dynasty, the chancellor was not the head of the Secretariat, but the Crown Prince (皇太子) was. After the establishment of the Ming dynasty, the post became the head of the Zhongshu Sheng again. The post was abolished after the execution of Hu Weiyong, who was accused of treason (though his conviction is still strongly disputed in present times because of a lack of evidence to prove his guilt). Still, appointments of the people who held the highest post in the government were called "appointment of prime minister" (拜相) until 1644.

Influence

During and after the Mongol-led Yuan dynasty, the Mongols continued the use of a title Chingsang, from Chengxiang (丞相) for various high leaders, such as Pulad, the Yuan ambassador to the Ilkhan and for the deputy of the Western Mongol leader, the taishi. The title was also used in the Ilkhanate, for the vizier Buqa.

List of chancellors of China

Further information (in 中文): List of Chinese grand chancellors^[zh]

List of chancellors of Shang dynasty

Name
Pinyin (romanization)	Chinese characters
Yi Yin	伊尹
Zhong Hui	仲虺
Yi Zhi	伊陟
Wu Xian	巫咸
Wu Xian	巫賢
Gan Xuan	甘盤
Fu Yue	傅說
Ji Zi	箕子

Zhou dynasty

Jiang Ziya
Duke of Zhou
Duke Huan of Zheng
Duke Zhuang of Zheng
Guan Zhong of Qi state (died in 645 BC)
Bao Shuya of Qi state
Yan Ying of Qi state
Fan Li of Qi State and Yue state
Wu Zixu of Wu state
Bo Pi of Wu state
Cheng Dechen of Chu state
Sunshu Ao of Chu state
Wu Qi of Chu state
Lord Chunshen of Chu state
Lord Mengchang of Qi state
Tian Dan of Qi state
Li Kui of Wei state
Hui Shi of Wei State
Lin Xiangru of Zhao state
Li Mu of Zhao state
Su Qin of Yan state
Yue Yi of Yan state
Baili Xi of Qin state
Shang Yang of Qin State
Zhang Yi of Qin State

Qin dynasty

Fan Ju
Lü Buwei (251–238 BCE in office)
Lord Changping
Kui Zhuang
Wang Guan
Li Si (?–208 BCE in office)
Feng Quji
Zhao Gao (208–207 BCE in office)

Han dynasty

Cao Cao, who controlled the Late Han dynasty, is one of the most famous Chinese chancellors.

Xiao He (206–193 BCE in office); Chen Xi (197 BCE), over Zhao
Cao Shen (193–190 BCE in office)
Chen Ping (190–179 BCE in office)
Zhou Bo
Guan Ying
Zhou Yafu
Huo Guang
Shi Dan 史丹 (see Emperor Yuan of Han)
Wang Mang
Liu Yan (Bosheng)
Deng Yu (25–27 in office)
Wu Han
Yuan An
Dou Xian
Li Gu
Liang Ji
Dou Wu
Chen Fan
Qiao Xuan
Cao Song
Zhang Wen
Liu Yu
Dong Zhuo
He Jin
Wang Yun
Ma Midi
Xun Shuang
Huangfu Song
Zhu Jun
Cao Cao (196-220 in office)
Cao Pi

Three Kingdoms

Eastern Wu

Sun Shao (221–225)
Gu Yong (225–243)
Lu Xun (244–245)
Bu Zhi (246–247)
Zhu Ju (249–250)
Sun Jun (253–256)
Sun Chen (258)
Puyang Xing (262–264)
Zhang Ti (279–280)

Shu Han

Zhuge Liang (221–234)
Jiang Wan
Fei Yi
Dong Yun
Jiang Wei
Dong Jue
Fan Jian
Zhuge Zhan

Cao Wei

Jia Xu
Hua Xin
Zhong Yao
Wang Lang
Chen Qun
Dong Zhao
Cui Lin
Man Chong
Jiang Ji
Cao Shuang
Sima Yi
Gao Rou
Wang Ling
Zhuge Dan
Sun Li
Sima Shi
Sima Zhao
Sima Fu
Wang Chang
Wang Guan
Deng Ai
Zhong Hui
Sima Yan
Wang Xiang
Sima Wang

Sui dynasty

Gao Jiong
Li Delin
Su Wei
Yang Su
Yang Guang
Yang Xiu
Yang Zhao
Yang Jian
Xiao Cong
Yuwen Shu
Yu Shiji
Li Yuan
Yuwen Huaji
Wang Shichong
Li Mi

Tang dynasty

Li Shimin (618–626 in office) (later Emperor Taizong of Tang)
Fang Xuanling (626–648 in office)
Wei Zheng (629–643 in office)
Cen Wenben (unknown, under Emperor Taizong of Tang)
Cen Changqian (unknown, under Emperor Gaozong of Tang)
Cen Xi (unknown, under Emperor Shang of Tang, Emperor Ruizong of Tang and Emperor Xuanzong of Tang)
Fan Lübing (686–688 in office)
Di Renjie (691–693, 697–700 in office)
Yao Chong (698–705, 710–711, 713–716 in office)
Zhang Jiuling (733–736 in office)
Li Linfu (734–752 in office)
Yang Guozhong (752–756 in office)
Wang Wei (758–759 in office)
Li Deyu (833–835, 840–846 in office)

Song dynasty

Northern Song

Fan Zhi (960–964 in office)
Zhao Pu (964–973, 981–983, 988–992 in office)
Kou Zhun (1004–1006, 1017–1021 in office)
Wang Qinruo (1017–1019, 1023–1024 in office)
Wang Zeng (1022–1029, 1035–1037 in office)
Fan Zhongyan (1040–1045 in office)
Wang Anshi (1067-1075, 1076–1077 in office)
Sima Guang (1085–1086 in office)
Fan Chunren (1086– in office)
Fan Chunli (– in office)
Zhang Dun (1094–1100 in office)
Cai Jing (1101–1125 in office)

Southern Song

Li Gang (1127 in office)
Zhang Jun (1135–1137 in office)
Qin Hui (1131–1132, 1137–1155 in office)
Han Tuozhou (1194–1207 in office)
Shi Miyuan/Shih Mi-yüan (1207–1233 in office).
Jia Sidao (1259–1275 in office)
Chen Yizhong (1275–1276 in office)
Wen Tianxiang (1275–1278 in office)
Lu Xiufu (1278–1279 in office)

Ming dynasty

Note: after the death of Hu Weiyong, the title of grand chancellor was abolished. The office of the Grand Secretariat assumed the de facto powers of the chancellery after the reign of the Hongwu Emperor.

Li Shanchang (1368–1376)
Hu Weiyong (1376–1380) – The last chancellor of China
Yang Siqi
Yan Song (in office 1544–1545)
Xia Yan (in office 1546–1547)
Yan Song (2nd time in office 1548–1562)
Xu Jie
Gao Gong
Zhang Juzheng (in office 1572–1582)
Zhang Siwei
Shen Shixing
Wang Jiabing
Zhao Zhigao
Wang Xijue
Zhao Zhigao

Qing dynasty

The Qing dynasty bureaucratic hierarchy did not contain a chancellor position. Instead, the duties normally assumed by a chancellor were entrusted to a series of formal and informal institutions, the most prominent of which was the Grand Council. Occasionally, one minister may held enough power in the government that he comes to be identified, figuratively, as the "chancellor".

In 1911, the Qing court adopted reforms which, amongst other changes, established the position of prime minister. This position existed for less than a year before the Qing government was overthrown.