| Menxia Sheng | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chinese name | |||||||||
| Traditional Chinese | 門下省 | ||||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 门下省 | ||||||||
| Literal meaning | Agency at the Gate | ||||||||
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| Vietnamese name | |||||||||
| Vietnamese alphabet | Môn Hạ Sảnh | ||||||||
| Hán-Nôm | 門下省 | ||||||||
| Korean name | |||||||||
| Hangul | 문하성 | ||||||||
| Hanja | 門下省 | ||||||||
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TheMenxia Sheng (門下省), sometimes translated as theChancellery orExamination Bureau, was one of the departments of theThree Departments and Six Ministries government structure of imperial China. It advised the emperor and theZhongshu Sheng (Central Secretariat), and reviewed edicts and commands. As the least important of the three departments, it existed in name only by theSong dynasty while its functions were delegated to the other two departments. In 1129, the Chancellery was merged with the Central Secretariat.
The Chancellery was originally the Court of Attendants in theHan dynasty (206 BC – 9 AD), which oversaw all palace attendants. It was not until theCao Wei andJin dynasty (266–420) era that the institution of Chancellery was formalized. The Chancellery was led by thePalace Attendant (Menxia shizhong 門下侍中), with assistance from a gentleman attendant at the palace gate (Huangmen shilang 黃門侍郎 orjishi Huangmen shilang 給事黃門侍郎), later called Vice Director (menxia shilang 門下侍郎). They were responsible for advising the emperor and providing consultation prior to the issuing of edicts. During theSouthern dynasties period, the Chancellery became responsible for the imperial coaches, medicine, provisions and the stables. During theSui dynasty (581-618), it also became responsible for the city gates, the imperial seals, the wardrobe and the palace administration. These new external duties were reduced in theTang dynasty (618-907) to just the city gates, the insignia, and the Institute for the Advancement of Literature. The Tang assigned several lower-ranking officials to the Chancellery to make records for the imperial diary.[1]
The Tang called the Chancellery, headed by theGrand Chancellor, a number of different names such as the Eastern Terrace (Dongtai 東臺) or the Phoenix Terrace (Luantai 鸞臺). In cases where the Vice Directors of the Chancellery or Central Secretariat were officiating as Grand Chancellor, a supervising secretary (jishizhong), took over their work in the Chancellery. The position of supervising secretary originated in the Department of State Affairs, from where they were transferred to the Chancellery in the early Tang period. They were responsible for studying the drafts of memorials and implementing corrections before they were presented to the emperor.[2]
The Chancellery began to decline in significance during the mid-Tang period as it competed in political power with the Central Secretariat. Ultimately control over the flow and content of court documents shifted over to the Central Secretariat. By the 9th century, the Chancellery was only responsible for the imperial seals, court ceremonies and the imperial altars. Some of its officials took care of lists of state examinees and household registers of state officials, while others were assigned to resubmit documents. Many of the associated titles were purely honorifics.[3]
The Chancellery continued to exist in name only during theSong dynasty (960–1279), while its functions were carried out by the Central Secretariat and the Department of State Affairs. For example, the Left Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs was concurrently Director of the Chancellery. The Chancellery was reorganized into several different sections: personnel, revenue, military, rites, justice, works, the secretary's office, the office for ministerial routine memorandums, and finally the proclamations archive. In 1129, the Chancellery was merged with the Central Secretariat and became the Secretariat-Chancellery (zhongshu menxia 中書門下, shortenedzhongshu 中書) or Administration Chamber (zhengshitang).[4]
The Chancellery was also used in theLiao dynasty and theJurchen Jin dynasty. In the Jin dynasty, it was abolished in 1156. TheMongol dominatedYuan dynasty decided not to revive the institution.[5]