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The Chronoloǵical Tables of Lei Li An Important Source for the Study of the Ming Bureaucracy

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 December 2009

O. Berkelbach van der Sprenkel
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TheChronological Tables of Officials of ike Present Dynasty (Kuo-ch'ao Lieh-ch'ing Nien-piao), by Lei Li, is an important source for the study of the Ming administrative system. The work is rare and little known. Fortunately, the copy in the Peking National Library was among the books sent by the Chinese government during the anti-Japanese war to the United States for safe-keeping, where it was microfilmed with the rest of the collection of rare books (manuscripts and printed works antedating the beginning of the Manchu dynasty) by the Library of Congress. It is in this form now accessible to students.

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Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies , Volume 14 , Issue 2 , June 1952 , pp. 325 - 334
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Copyright © School of Oriental and African Studies 1952

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References

page 325 note 1 It is not mentioned in Professor Wolfgang Franke's excellent and comprehensive Preliminary Notes on the Important Chinese Literary Sources for the History of the Ming Dynasty, Studia Serica Monographs, Series A, No. 2 (Chengtu, 1948), though two other works by Lei Li are therein noted; nor in the Addenda and Corrigenda, Studia Serica, ix, pp. 33–41.Google Scholar

page 325 note 2 A set of these microfilms, comprising 2,800 titles in approximately 40,000 volumes (pên), was acquired by the Oriental Faculty, Cambridge. I must gratefully acknowledge the kindness of the late Professor Haloun and the Faculty of Oriental Languages in making their microfilm copy of Lei Li's work available to me for study in London. It occupies the greater part of Reel 453 (Series A).

page 325 note 3 See Chi-tsung, T'ien (compiler), Combined Indices to Eighty-nine Collections of Ming Dynasty Biographies, H.-Y. Inst. Sinological Index Series, No. 24 (3 vols., Peking, 1932), ii, 291a.Google Scholar

page 325 note 4 Ch. 64, 24b; on Reel 90 of the Library of Congress microfilms.

page 325 note 5 Yü-chang is mentioned as a place-name in the Tso Chuan (see under Duke Chao 6 (536 B.c.) and Ting, Duke4Google Scholar (506 B.c.); Legge, , Chinese Classics, vol. 5, part 2, pp. 608–10 and 751).Google Scholar It originally referred to a region lying between the Yangtse and Huai rivers. The first Han Emperor transferred the name and used it to denote a part of Chiang-nan, where he established the Yü-chang Commandery (Chün). See Herrmann, , Atlas of China, 20Google Scholar, c.3. The name of this area was changed by the Sui to Hung Chou, and this name was retained by the T'ang. In the Five Dynasties period the Southern T'ang changed Hung Chou into Nan-ch'ang Fu. The Yü-chang Shu in 122 chüan, a historical gazetteer of Kiangsi, was compiled under the Ming by Tzŭ-chang, Kuo. See Ssŭ-k'u Ch'üan Shu (SKCS, all references are to the Commercial Press edit.), vol. 2, p. 1361.Google Scholar

page 325 note 6 Revised Kiangsi Provincial Gazetteer. Five shou-chüan plus 180 chüan, in 120 vols. Printed in Kuang-hsü, 7 (1881).Google Scholar See Shih-chia, Chu, Catalog of the Chinese Local Histories in the Library of Congress (Washington, 1942), p. 113.Google Scholar

page 326 note 1 Administratively under Nan-ch'ang Fu, Kiangsi. The Hsien lies south and slightly west of the Fu city. Under the Mongol dynasty it was called Fu Chou. Its name was changed by the Ming in Hung-wu 9 xi (January–February, 1377) and it was reduced from a Chou to a Hsien. See Ming Shih, Ti-li, ch. 43, 13a (all references to the Ming Shih are to the SPPY edition). There are two local gazetteers of Fêng-ch'êng listed in Shih-chia, Chu's Catalog, pp. 114–15Google Scholar, but I have not been able to consult them.

page 326 note 2 He passed the provincial examination to become Chü-jên in Chia-ching, wu-tzŭGoogle Scholar, (7th year, 1528). See Chiang-hsi T'ung-chih, ch. 29 (Table of Ming dynasty Chü-jên), 59a. He passed the Chin-shih examination in jên-ch'ên (11th year, 1532).

page 326 note 3 In Fukien province.

page 326 note 4 This represented a considerable promotion from his post in Fukien, as an Assistant Secretaryship carried the upper 6th rank. The higher grades in the official establishment of the Boards, apart from the President and Vice-President, were: First Secretary (in charge of a department), Lang-chung, rank upper 5th; Second Secretary, Yüan-wai-lang, rank lower 5th; and Assistant Secretary, Chu-shih, rank upper 6th. Ming Shih, Chih-kuan, ch. 72.

page 326 note 5 One of the four subordinate Departments of the Board of Civil Office. It was mainly concerned with assessing the “fitness reports” periodically filed on all officials, and making recommendations for promotions and the reverse. Ming Shih, Chih-kuan, ch. 72, 5b. For a notice of this office under the Ch'ing dynasty see The Chinese Repository, vol. iv, 07, 1835, pp. 140–1.Google Scholar Also des Rotours, R., Traité des fonctionnaires (Leiden, 1947), vol. i, pp. 59–71Google Scholar, for a description of how the corresponding office worked under the T'ang.

page 326 note 6 The third highest ranking official in the Prefectural Administration. The Prefect himself (Chih-fu) held upper 4th rank; the Sub-Prefect (T'ung-chih) upper 5th rank; and the Assistant Sub-Prefect upper 6th. Ming Shih, Chih-kuan, ch. 75, 11a. Not only did Lei Li suffer a reduction in rank through being transferred; but there were also disadvantages in not being at the capital.

page 326 note 7 The present Ta-ming Hsien in Hopei. It was organized as a Fu by the Ming in Hung-wu, 1Google Scholar (1368) and controlled one Chou and ten Hsien. Ming Shih, Ti-li, ch. 40, 7a–b.

page 326 note 8 This was a post in the provincial administration under the Judicial Commissioner (An-ch'a Shih). Ming Shih, Chih-kuan, ch. 75, 6b and 7b. See also Chekiang Provincial Gazetteer (Chê-chiang T'ung-chih, Commercial Press reprint edit., 4 vols., Shanghai, 1934)Google Scholar, vol. 2, ch. 118, p. 2104b, where Lei Li is mentioned in the list of T'i-hsing An-ch'a Ssŭ Fu-shih.

page 327 note 1 The date of his appointment as Vice-President at Nanking is given in the Lieh-ch'ing Nien-piao (ch. 132) as Chia-ching, 29Google Scholar (1550). We learn from the same source (ch. 130) that he also later became Vice-President of the same Court at the capital (in Chia-ching 31, 1552), though this is not mentioned in the Yü-chang Shu's account. The rank held by the Vice-President was upper 4th. The Tables further show that in the same year he held office as Vice-President of the Court of Imperial Sacrifice (T'ai-ch'ang-ssŭ, Shao-ch'ing) in charge of the Ssŭ-i-Kuan, with upper 4th rank; and that in the following year (Chia-ching, 32Google Scholar, 1553) he became Prefect of the Northern Capital (Shun-t'ien Fu-yin), with upper 3rd rank. See Lieh-ch'ing Nien-piao, chs. 118 and 123.

page 327 note 2 The Court of the Imperial Stud was concerned with the breeding and care of horses for the use of the Palace and the Army. Ming Shih, Chih-kuan, ch. 74, 3b–4b. For a description of the same office in T'ang times, see des Rotours, , op. cit., vol. 1, pp. 390–404.Google Scholar

page 327 note 3 He first became Right (or Junior) Vice-President in Chia-ching 33 (1554), and was promoted Left (or Senior) Vice-President in 35 (1556). Lieh-ch'ing Nien-piao, ch. 43. The vice-presidential rank was upper 3rd. Ming Shih, Chih-kuan, ch. 72, 15b.

page 327 note 4 The southernmost gate and principal entrance to the Palace City ( Kung Ch'êng) or Purple Forbidden City ( Tzŭ Chin Ch'êng) in Peking was called by the Ming Ch'êng-t'ieu Mên (this is the present T'ien-an Mên). The second minor gate, immediately north of this was the Tuan Mên. The third, again to the north, was the Wu Mên or Gate of the Zenith. The Wu Mên was presumably badly damaged in the battles that marked the fall of the dynasty, and was rebuilt in Shun-chih 4 (1647). The present structure is described by Sirén as follows: “The plan of Wu Men is an open rectangle, the wings projecting towards the South and forming at both ends a kind of bastion upon which the pavilions are placed. Lower galleries connect these pavilions between themselves, and also with the large hall in the middle. This is built in two stories with nine spans, the whole façade towards the North measuring 126 metres, the full length of the side façades being about 92 metres. Three large vaulted openings penetrate the battered wall which is about 34 metres wide at the ground. The structure makes a magnificent impression of grandeur and solidity; it is the most fortress-like and the most monumental of all the buildings within the Palace City.” See Sirén, Osvald, The Imperial Palaces of Peking (3 vols., Paris and Brussels, 1926), vol. 1, pp. 7–9Google Scholar and plates 9–13.

page 327 note 5 The date of this appointment is given in the Ming Shih, Ch'i Ch'ing Nien-piao, ch. 112, as Chia-ching, 37Google Scholar ix (1558, 11th October–9th November). Presidency of a Board carried upper 2nd rank. Ming Shih, Chih-kuan, ch. 72, 15b.

page 327 note 6 The work on the Three Palaces was completed in Chia-ching 41 ix, on the day jên-wu (1562, 8th October). See Ming Shih, Shih-tsung Pên-chi 2, ch. 18, under that date. The names of the Palaces were changed at the same time from Feng-t'ieu, Hua-kai and Chin-shên to Huang-chi, Chung-chi and Chien-chi respectively.

page 327 note 7 An honorary title. There were altogether twelve of these dignities: six concerned (nominally) with the service of the Emperor, and six with the service of the Heir Apparent. Each group of six was divided into three Grand (T'ai) and three Junior (Shao) titles, each set of three comprising a Preceptor (Shih), a Tutor (Fu), and a Protector (Pao). See Mayers, W. F., The Chinese Government (rev. 3rd edit., Shanghai, 1896), p. 14.Google Scholar The title Grand Protector of the Heir Apparent carried lower 1st rank. Ming Shih, Chih-kuan, ch. 72, 2a. According to the Ch'i Ch'ing Nien-piao it was conferred upon Lei Li in Chia-ching 41 iii (1562, 4th April–2nd May).

page 327 note 8 Also lower 1st rank. The Ch'i Ch'ing Nien-piao records that Lei Li was awarded the title of Grand Tutor of the Heir Apparent (T'ai-tzŭ T'ai Fu) in Chia-ching 41 x (1562, 28th October–25th November); and that in 45 iii (1566, 21st March–19th April) he was advanced to the dignity of Junior Protector (Shao Pao). There is no mention of his ever having been Junior Tutor (Shao Fu). The Ch'i Ch'ing Nien-piao does, however, tell us that in 45 x (1566, 13th October–11th November) he became Grand Tutor (T'ai Fu, upper 1st rank), and that he received at the same time the title Pillar of the State (Chu Kuo). The latter point is supported by the Ming Shu, which includes his name in its list of Chu Kuo (Ts'ung-shu, Kuo-hsüeh Chi-pên edit., vol. 3, ch. 32, p. 544).Google Scholar On the other hand, Lei Li's name does not appear in its list of T'ai Shih, T'ai Fu, T'ai Pao (pp. 544–5)Google Scholar, but only in the list of Shao Shih, Shao Fu, Shao Pao, where it is noted (p. 547)Google Scholar that he was “Junior Protector, promoted to Junior Tutor”. The account in ch. 64 of the Huang Ming Shih Ch'ieh agrees with this.

page 328 note 1 The incident occurred in Lung-ch'ing, 2 ix (1568, 21st 09-19th October).Google Scholar According to the brief account in the Ming Chi (SPPY 4to edit., ch. 37, pp. 465b–466a) T'êng Hsiang had sent an order to the Board of Public Works for objects to be made and for certain musical instruments to be repaired for temple use. Lei Li memorialized, complaining that such requests were far too frequent and that the expense of complying with them was inordinate. He protested that the eunuchs wished to dispose of the stocks of materials held by the Board at their whim. He ends by saying that it is beyond his strength to battle with the eunuchs, and implores the Emperor to intervene to put an end to these practices. In the event the Emperor upheld the eunuch and ordered Lei Li to resign his office. This affair should, no doubt, be seen in the context of an earlier brush between the civil officials and the eunuchs, also recounted in the Ming Chi (p. 464a). In the first month of the same year a certain Li Fang had memorialized against the extravagance of three eunuchs (of whom T'êng Hsiang was one) in devising costly toys and entertainments for the distraction of the Emperor. In this instance also the Emperor had upheld the eunuchs against the demand of the officials for economy.

page 328 note 2 The phrase in the text, ch'i hai-ku, was that used by Fan Tsêng, the councillor of Hsiang Yü, when asking to be allowed to retire from the latter's service. See Ch'ien, Ssŭ-ma, Shih Chi, Hsiang Yü Pên-chiGoogle Scholar, ch. 7, under date Han 3 (204 B.c.); and Chavannes, , Mém. hist., vol. 2, p. 303.Google Scholar I am indebted to my friend Mr. Jerome Ch'ên for pointing this out to me.

page 328 note 3 Thirty-six years, reckoning from 1532, when he passed the chin-shih examination, down to 1568, the year of his resignation.

page 329 note 1 For example, by Teng Chih-ch'êng in his Chung-kuo T'ung-shih Chiang-yi: Ming-Ch'ing Shih, Lectures on the General History of China: Ming and Ch'ing History. Professor Têng quotes from Lei Li's history only a little less frequently than from the Ming Standard History.

page 330 note 1 Union list of Chinese Local Histories, Chung-kuo Ti-fang-chih Tsung-lu (3 vols., Shanghai, 1935)Google Scholar, vol. 2, Hopei, 11b. The book must be considered exceedingly rare, for only one library in China (the Peking National) is listed as possessing a copy; though there are copies in two Tokyo libraries: Naikaku Bunko and Kunaishō Toshoryō.

page 330 note 2 Ming Shih, Ti-li, ch. 40, 5b. Its name was changed to Chêng-ting Fu by the Ch'ing in Yung-chêng 1 (1723). The Fu was abolished by the Republic. Its former seat of government is the present Cheng-ting Hsien, Hopei.

page 330 note 3 The opening pages of one of these (ch. 138, Nan-ching Kuo-tzŭ Chi-chiu) is missing from the microfilm and so possibly from the Peking Library's copy. On the other hand, the Library's Catalogue of the “A” Series does not mention this fact, and the omission may therefore have occurred in the microfilming. See the Kuo-li Pei-p'ing T'u-shu-kuan Shan-pên Shu-mu (4 vols., Peking, 1933)Google Scholar, vol. 2, 232b.

page 330 note 4 A native of Hsin-chien Hsien, the government seat of Nan-ch'ang Fu, Kiangsi, and thus a fellow provincial of Lei Li. He was a Chü-jên of Chia-ching, 34Google Scholar (1555), and became a Chin-shih in 38Google Scholar (1559) when Lei Li was already President of the Board of Works. See Chiang-hsi T'ung-chih, ch. 30, 22b; ch. 26, 25a. As a younger man he modestly describes himself (in the title-page rubric) as Hou-hsüeh or Junior Scholar. He eventually rose to the position of Court Assistant ( Shih-ch'êng, upper or lower 6th rank).

page 330 note 5 A native of Hai-ning Hsien, Chekiang, and a former pupil (mên-jên) of Lei Li. He became a Chin-shih in Chia-ching, 38Google Scholar (1559). See Chê-chiang T'ung-chih (Commercial Press reprint edit., 4 vols., Shanghai, 1934)Google Scholar, vol. 3, ch. 167, 2934b.

page 331 note 1 For example, some of the chapters are wrongly numbered (e.g. ch. 3 numbered as ch. 1); the word hsü (preface) is omitted from the titles of the later prefatory essays; towards the end of the chronological lists official titles (given in full before) are abbreviated (e.g. Fu Tu for Fu Tu-yü-shih, Nan for Nan-ching, and many other instances); the page-order in some chapters is disarranged (e.g. in ch. 67, Ta-li-ssŭ Tso-yu Shao-ch'ing).

page 331 note 2 Neither of these pieces of information is provided in the tables of the Ming History; though the first is most useful in permitting quick reference to the appropriate Local Gazetteer, while the second is indispensable for estimating the length of an official's career.

page 332 note 1 The Chan-shih Fu was independently established in Hung-wu 22 (1389) as the Chan-shih Yüan. The name was changed to Fu in Hung-wu, 25 (1392).Google Scholar

page 332 note 2 From Hsüan-tê, 5 (1430).Google Scholar

page 332 note 3 From T'ien-shun, 1 (1458).Google Scholar

page 332 note 4 From the establishment of the office in Hsüan-tê 5 (1430) to its abolition in Chia-ching, 8 (1529).Google Scholar

page 332 note 5 Established in Yung-lo 1 (1403) when Pei-p'ing was constituted the Northern Capital (Pei-ching) though still remaining subordinate to the Southern Capital (Nan-ching). They were abolished when the Government itself moved to Peking.

page 333 note 1 In Hung-wu 13 (1380) the first Censorate, known as the Yü-shih T'ai, was abolished. In 15 (1382) the new Censorate (Tu-ch'a Yüan) was established with eight Censors (Chien-ch'a Tu-yü-shih) of 7a rank, and a number of Provincial Censors of 9a rank. None of these are listed by Lei Li. In 16 (1383) the rank of the Chief Censors was raised to 3a, of the Asst. Censors to 4a, and of the Censorate Secretaries to 5a. In 17 (1384) they were again raised to the ranks given above.

page 333 note 2 A sinecure post: the officials holding it were in no way concerned with the business of the office. The post was established in Ch'êng-hua 2 (1466) and abolished in Wan-li 9 (1581).

page 333 note 3 There were no Nanking Vice-Presidents. The posts of Left and Right Assistants at Nanking were abolished in Hung-chih 11 (1498). The single post of Nanking Bight Assistant was re-established in Chêng-tê 1 (1506).

page 333 note 4 From Hung-chih, 7Google Scholar (1494), when it came under the T'ai-ch'ang Ssŭ, to Chia-ching 25 (1546), from which year it was presided over by a Vice-President.

page 334 note 1 See the present writer's article “High Officials of the Ming”, BSOAS., xiv (1952), pp. 87–114, espec. Table VI.Google Scholar