Tang Six

Author: Li Linfu et al. (Tang Dynasty), edited and annotated by Chen Zhongfu
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2005-04-01
Features: The title of the book is originally titled "Imperial Composition by Emperor Xuanzong of Tang, annotated by Li Linfu." The "Zhizhai Shulu Jieshao" cites Wei Shu's "Jixian Ji" annotation: "In the tenth year of the Kaiyuan era, Lu Jian was ordered by the emperor to compile this book. The emperor personally wrote six white hemp paper slips saying 'Reason, Education, Rites, Governance, Punishment, Affairs,' instructing him to categorize and compile them for submission. Zhang Yue assigned this task to Xu Jian, but after a year of deliberation, it remained undecided. Later, Mu Qing, Xu Qin, and Wei Shu were commissioned, and it was finally incorporated into the six ministries according to the regulations. The evolution of the institutions was also included in the annotations. Later, Zhang Jiuling was commissioned by Yuan Xian, and in the twenty-sixth year, he submitted the draft." Liu Su of the Tang Dynasty in "Dadai Xinyu" and "Tang Huizhao" also recorded similar accounts. Based on these historical records, it is known that this book was compiled by officials under the order of Emperor Xuanzong, and it took over a decade from the imperial decree to the completion of the book, with multiple changes in compilers. Finally, it was submitted to the emperor by Li Linfu. "The Six Canons of the Tang" is an administrative legal code about the Tang Dynasty's official system, stipulating the institutions, staffing, responsibilities, ranks, treatment, and other aspects of central and local state organs. The annotations also describe the historical evolution of the official system. In accordance with Emperor Xuanzong's intention, the book should have been divided into six parts—Reason Canon, Education Canon, Rites Canon, Governance Canon, Punishment Canon, and Affairs Canon—following the "Zhou Guan," hence the title "The Six Canons of the Tang." However, as the Tang Dynasty's official system was vastly different from that of the Zhou Dynasty, "The Six Canons of the Tang" was actually compiled according to the Tang Dynasty's state organ system. The book is divided into thirty volumes, with the following titles: Three Masters, Three Dukes, (Chancellery Department); Ministry of Personnel; Ministry of Revenue; Ministry of Rites; Ministry of War; Ministry of Justice; Ministry of Works; (Chancellery Department); (Chancellery Department); Secretariat; Hall of Audience; Palace Attendants; Censorate; Court of Imperial Sacrifices; Imperial Kitchen; Ministry of War; Imperial Clan Court; Ministry of Justice; Ministry of Rituals; Ministry of Agriculture; Imperial Treasury; Imperial College; (Ministry of Ceramics and Crafts); (Ministry of Military Equipment); (Ministry of Coinage); (Ministry of Construction); (Ministry of Waterworks); Left and Right Guards; Left and Right Flying Guard; Left and Right Military Guard; Left and Right Imperial Guards; Left and Right Golden and Jade Guards; Left and Right Gate Guards; Left and Right Bodyguards; Left and Right Forest Guard; (Three Masters of the Heir Apparent); (Three Lesser Masters of the Heir Apparent); (Chancellery of the Heir Apparent); Left and Right Spring and Autumn Courts; Palace Attendants of the Heir Apparent; Household Commissioner of the Heir Apparent; Bureau of Timekeeping; Guards of the Heir Apparent; (Palace Attendants of the Heir Apparent); (Household Commissioner of the Heir Apparent); (Bureau of Timekeeping); Guards of the Heir Apparent; Guards of the Heir Apparent; (Guards of the Heir Apparent); (Offices of Princes and Principalities); Offices of Commanderies and Military Governors.
Whether the "Six Canons of the Tang" was ever officially promulgated and implemented has been a subject of debate among scholars. Wei Shu, who participated in compiling the book, stated that it was "submitted in the twenty-sixth year of the Kaiyuan era and is still kept in the Zhiyuan, but it has not been put into practice" ("Zhizhai Shulu Jieshao"). In the early years of Emperor Xianzong of Tang (806–820), Lü Wen, replacing Zheng Xianggong (□), requested the deletion and implementation of the Six Canons and the Kaiyuan Rites, stating that the Six Canons "have not been clearly decreed for implementation in the six cycles of the stars" ("Lü Wen Collection"). Fan Zuyu of the Song Dynasty also believed that "although the Six Canons of the Tang were completed, they were never implemented for a single day" ("Fan Tai Shi Ji"). However, in the second year of Emperor Dezong's Jianzhong era (781), Lu Qi quoted the Six Canons in his reports. In the early years of Emperor Xianzong of Tang, Liu Su wrote "Dadai Xinyu," claiming that the Six Canons "are still in use." The "Siku Quanshu Zongmu Tieshuo" of the Qing Dynasty adopted a moderate view, acknowledging that "what the Tang people said should not be incorrect" and admitting that the claims of Wei Shu and Lü Wen that the Six Canons were not promulgated were correct, while also stating that "it is suspected that during the discussion of regulations and institutions, they were also cited, but the official and private regulations were not strictly followed in every case," believing that the Six Canons were not entirely unused. Cen Zhongmian of modern times believed that it is undeniable that the Six Canons were not officially promulgated and implemented by the court, but the Six Canons were compiled by arranging the current regulations and systems, which originally had legal effect and were followed, but some parts had already changed when the book was compiled or later, hence they could not be strictly followed in every case.