Chief Councilor

The grand chancellor (, 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" ().

"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 BCE. 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'' (). In the Eastern Han dynasty, the chancellor post was replaced by the Three Excellencies: Grand Commandant (), Minister over the Masses () and Minister of Works (). In 190, Dong Zhuo claimed the title "Chancellor of State" () 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" () 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" () together. In the Tang dynasty, the government was divided into three departments: the Department of State Affairs (), the Secretariat (), and the Chancellery (). 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" (), 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" ( ''shou xiang'') and the post of vice-chancellor was changed to "second minister" ( ''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 () 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" () until 1644.

Influence

During and after the Mongol-led Yuan dynasty, the Mongols continued the use of a title ''Chingsang'', from ''Chengxiang'' () 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

List of chancellors of Shang dynasty

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