Qing Dynasty local government

Author: Qu Tongzu
Publisher:
Publication Date: 2003-06-01
Features: This is a systematic and in-depth study of the local government during the Qing Dynasty. No similar work has ever been published in Chinese, Japanese, or Western languages. The book systematically analyzes the functions and operations of Qing Dynasty prefectural and county officials, including: tax collection, judicial matters, the use of longsu and mùyǒu, reliance on clerks and yeyi, and the procedures within the court or yamen. Through various handbooks and notes, as well as extensive official documents, the author comprehensively examines the operation of informal human factors within the formal system of Qing Dynasty local government, particularly the participation of local elites or gentry in the government management process, and the influence of local interests on government policies. This provides us with the most complete illustration to date of the functioning of Chinese local administration.
The preface states that before the publication of this book, "the entire tradition of Chinese government, its numerous practices and designs (zhuì) for weighing interests and disadvantages, had never been analyzed in modern terms." However, the publication of this book has initially addressed this deficiency, serving as a model for analyzing the traditional Chinese government system using modern methods. The analysis here focuses on the Qing Dynasty's local government, which in reality represents the general model or microcosm of Chinese local government for over two thousand years after the Han Dynasty.
The Journal of Asian Studies (Vol. 23, 1963) in the United States described Local Government in the Qing Dynasty as "a highly important book aimed at describing, analyzing, and explaining the structure and functions of the prefectural and county local government during the Qing Dynasty." The author also hoped that the book would contribute to comparative political studies and provide materials for the study of bureaucracy and administration. His purposes and expectations were both excellently fulfilled."
The American Historical Review (Vol. 68, No. 2, 1963) also published a special review of Local Government in the Qing Dynasty. The review stated that in the field of research on Chinese government and administration, "this book represents a significant step forward. With his broad knowledge of sources and insightful understanding, he has presented a meaningful and reliable study of China's lowest-level government."
There are many instances where overseas scholars have commented on the contributions of this book or cited its findings, but it is impossible to list them all here. I have also devoted thousands of words to introducing this book. Due to my unfamiliarity with sociological research methods, I may have overlooked some of the more important achievements or contributions of Professor Qu. However, the main purpose of this preface is not to evaluate the book (as I do not consider myself qualified to do so), but rather to provide some reading references or guidance for young graduate students.
Of course, as a reader and translator, I also feel that Professor Qu's book has shortcomings. For example, the book lacks a dedicated chapter on the legal status and role of assistant officials (clerical officials) in local administration, which is undoubtedly a deficiency. A prefecture or county has several assistant officials, such as zhotong, zhipan, xiancheng, and zhubu, as well as chief officials like limu and dianshi, and miscellaneous officials such as xunjian, yiche, taokeshi dadi, cangdadi, zhaguanshi, and heposhuoshi. There may be several, even a dozen or even dozens of them, all of whom are officials appointed by the court with official ranks or specialized duties, even if they are not part of the regular civil service.
Professor Qu's arrangement of chapters in this book (only a thousand words of introduction in the chapter "General Introduction to Prefectural Government") may easily give people the impression that a large number of assistant officials are merely insignificant appendages of prefectural and county officials. Although they hold official status, their actual role and influence in local administration are not as noteworthy as the four non-officials— (mù), (pú), (shū), and (yì).
It should be said that the prefectural and county local government is composed of prefectural and county officials and their five assistants (assistant officials, mùyǒu, clerks, longsu, and yeyi). A comprehensive and systematic study of the legal status of assistant officials and their actual role models in local administration is also very important. Other shortcomings may also be found. However, these shortcomings should be inevitable for a main text of only 130,000 words. We cannot expect such a short book to comprehensively explain everything about the Qing Dynasty's local government and administration.