The earliest record of summarizing the ancient female official system in China began in Zhou Li. Celestial officer "After the Emperor of the Zhou Dynasty, there were six palaces, three concubines, nine concubines, twenty-seven concubines and eighty-one emperors ... Among them, nine wives, women, women's wishes and women's history were palaces, and there were women workers, silk workers and women workers outside; There are uniforms for the queen, clothes for the queen, and things for dyeing people, chasing teachers and clothes outside. They are all unified in Tianguan Zhazai. " There was a female official system in Qin and Han dynasties, but the historical records are unknown and are generally left behind. Considering the ceremony, the female official system is naturally inherited. When Emperor Xiaowen was in the Northern Wei Dynasty, the order of female officials was opposite to that of foreign officials. In the highest internal affairs, there are more officials than secretaries. When Emperor Wendi was in the Sui Dynasty, Shangliu, Liu Si and Liu Dian were in charge of state affairs. After Yang-ti was elected, he was changed to the Sixth Bureau of Commerce, in charge of the 24th Division. From the Tang and Song Dynasties to the late Hongwu period of Ming Dynasty, the regulations on female officials were the most perfect. Its organization is set up as "six bureaus and one department", and there are 24 departments and 25 departments in General History, with a total of about 300 female officials. They are in charge of many court affairs, such as etiquette, precepts, precious seals, books, money, badminton and food and clothing supply.
Power hierarchy of female official system
Zheng Yipin, Aunt Baosheng: equivalent to the Empress Dowager, she can assist the emperor and empress in managing all affairs in the palace and has the right to admonish everyone (including the emperor and empress) when they make mistakes. All the staff in the palace must treat them with courtesy and respect. From the first level, you can assist the queen in charge of all the affairs of the harem and have the right to admonish everyone except the emperor and queen when the imperial secretary makes mistakes. Palace staff (except the emperor and empress) must treat each other with courtesy, and everyone below the first class should be respected.
Second, check concubines: regularly check the words and deeds of harem concubines (except queens and side concubines), and report the inspection to the emperor and empress, so as to raise and lower concubines, and harem concubines must maintain their respect. Educate the aunt from the second grade: responsible for teaching the prince and princess, and timely educating and correcting their improper words and deeds. This matter is related to the future fate of the royal family, so we must not be careless, and all personnel should maintain respect for it.
Zhengsanpin, discipline aunt: responsible for teaching the newly appointed young master in the palace, let him learn the rules and etiquette in the palace, and test him, which has a considerable position in the palace. Manage aunt from the three products: manage all departments in the palace, supervise the work of his staff, and have a certain position.
Zheng Siping, the female official of Shangshu: Always pay attention to whether the will of the emperor and queen is correct. If you find any mistakes, correct them immediately and don't be careless. Female diplomat from Sipin: Responsible for conducting diplomacy with other countries, including many contents, and establishing friendly relations and marriage between the two countries.
I am good at five things to save money: I often go to other countries to study, and at the same time, I also bring the policies of other countries into China, so that China can develop rapidly and constantly improve and innovate. Female official before the fifth grade: convey the will for the emperor and queen and accept the orders of people above the fifth grade (excluding the fifth grade).
Close-fitting female officials are six products: the emperor, the queen and the side princess each have a close-fitting female official, who is in charge of all the food, clothing, housing and transportation of the emperor, the queen and the side princess, directs all the ladies in their own palace, and helps the emperor, the queen and the side princess manage state affairs and complete the assigned tasks. Sixth-class maid-in-waiting official: Except for the emperor, queen and side princess, each person of the third class and above in the palace is equipped with a maid-in-waiting official, who is fully responsible for their food, clothing, housing and transportation, and is in charge of all the maids in their own palace.
Institutional setup of female official system
From the Tang and Song Dynasties to the late Hongwu period of Ming Dynasty, the regulations on female officials were the most perfect. Its organization is set up as "six bureaus and one department", and there are 24 departments and 25 departments in General History, with a total of about 300 female officials. They are in charge of many court affairs, such as etiquette, precepts, precious seals, books, money, badminton and food and clothing supply.
Shanggong Bureau: Two people in Shanggong, with five ranks, are responsible for guiding Zhonggong. All the cashier's books of the six bureaus were distributed. If it's outside collection, they will ask for instructions, pay the supervisor to the internal official and move the supervisor outside.
Shangyi Bureau: There are two shangyi people who are in charge of etiquette and daily life. It has four divisions and roommates: the division of divisions-there are two divisions and six grades; Two classics, seven items; There are two people in the palm, which are eight products; There are ten women's histories. The secretary is in charge of several boxes of classics and pens, classics and women's history.
Fu Shang Bureau: Fu Shang will have two people and five products, and the number of stamps will be taken. It has four branches: Bao Si branch-two Bao Si and six product departments; Dianbao two people, positive seven products; Two people in charge of treasure are eight products; There are four female historians. Bao Si was in charge of the deed, Dianbao was in charge of Baozuo, and Nvshi was in charge of the documents.
Staff sergeant bureau: two people are still eating, which is five products; There are so many shameful products in your hand that you can taste them before eating them. There are four divisions under its jurisdiction: catering division-there are two catering divisions with six products; There are four people in the classic diet, which are seven products; Four people are in charge of rice, which is eight products; There are four female historians. Catering, cooking, cooking and harmony, classical food, cooking and assistance, female history, holding documents.
Sleeping bureau: There are two sleepers who are in charge of the sleeping of the emperor and the order in which the concubines enter the palace. There are four business divisions under its jurisdiction: the establishment of business divisions-the establishment of two people and six products in business divisions; There are two people in the code, which are seven products; There are two people in the palm, which are eight products; There are four female historians. The secretary put up a curtain on the bed, swept away all the things set up, set up the rules, set up an assistant in her palm, and held the documents of female history in her palm.
Shanggong Bureau: There are two Shanggong people who are good at five things and are in charge of the lessons of the ladies in the concubines. It has four business divisions: business divisions-two business divisions and six product divisions; Standard two people, seven products are positive; Two people in the palm, eight products; There are four female historians. We are responsible for making clothes, tailoring and sewing, assisting in the system of canon and palm making, and female history is responsible for documents.
Gong Zhengsi has a Gong Zheng, which is five products; The teacher is two people, six products; Canon is four people and seven products; There are four female historians. The palace is responsible for picketing the palace, guarding against guilty things and playing big things; Division is, canon is auxiliary, female history palm secretary merits and demerits.
There have been famous female officials in the history of China, such as Shangguan Waner and Song sisters in the Tang Dynasty. Both ancient monarchs and emperors regarded the female official system as one of the measures to strengthen monarchical power. The female official system has played a great role in prohibiting female pets and belittling consorts, and also has a certain deterrent effect on eunuch forces.