Research on Capital Branck Office of Local Government in Ancient China

LIU Liang （Beijing Administrative College）

 

Abstract:Capital Branch Office of Local Governments are special political institutions which associate central and local governments under the highly centralized system.Its existence and development has a profound historical origin.Capital Branch Office of Local Governments were initiated between Zhou and Qin dynasties,fashioned in Han dynasties as the form of Jun and Di,continued in preliminary Sui and Tang dynasties and evolved into Memorials Offices as a mature form after Mid-Tang dynasty with the development of local authorities.They were transformed into Chief Memorials Offices in Song dynasty and were suspended in Yuan dynasty.In Ming and Qing dynasty,Provincial Guild,held by non-governmental power,assumed part of duties of Capital Branch Office of Local Governments.From mid-late period of Ming dynasty to late Qing dynasty,capital Titang offices played important roles as deviant forms of Capital Branch Office of Local Governments in history.Capital Branch Office of Local Governments and the related system compose a superficial construction and impacts in turn the relation of central and local governments.This superficial construction was an important system form jointing and communicating central government and local authorities within the super administration space under the highly centralized system.

Key words:local government; Capital Branch Office of Local Governments; relation between central and local governments; Memorials Offices; Provincial Guild; capital Titang offices