Knowledge

Nine-rank system

Source 📝

194: 413:, local recruiters recommended official candidates. Social status became the most important criterion, and powerful local families secured places in government; this led to the saying: "There are no poor people in the upper ranks and no powerful families in the lower ones." Centralization during the Sui and Tang reduced the power of the local elites, and candidates started to be selected by the 309:, but conflict remained between the right of evaluation between centrally-appointed Controllers and the governors of the regions. Nonetheless, the continued instability and turmoil of the Three Kingdoms period meant that the nine-rank system was not fully or solely implemented; mentions of the old nomination system as the basis for identifying talent remain prevalent in early Cao Wei writings. 36: 302:. The system was ostensibly based on a few criteria: moral probity, administrative ability, and the contributions of the person or his family to the newly created Cao Wei regime. In practice, descent also played an important role; the service grade of a candidate's father had a bearing on their candidacy grade. 324:
and the subsequent peace, the system also became more systematized and formalized. Through the changes, the nine-rank system also became more closely aligned with the interests of the powerful official clans who had come to dominate imperial politics since the Cao Wei period. The expanded powers of
381:
The upper ranks were 1 − the highest — to 3, the middle were 4 to 6, and the lower were 7 to 9. Each rank had two classes − standard and secondary − for 18 steps. From the Northern Wei to before the Northern Song, classes from ranks 4 to 9 were further divided into upper and lower grades for 30
328:
While the nine-rank system helped powerful clans to dominate official posts in the court, it also helped stimulate private schooling within families as a means of transmitting knowledge that could increase one's standing as someone eligible for evaluation. An example of this intrafamilial
283:
Chen Qun's reform was a way of systematizing the selection of candidates for political appointments in two ways: by creating a common scale of nine ranks to evaluate a person and by appointing Controllers
366:, ranks four to nine added additional upper and lower ranks to the standard and secondary ranks, giving the nine-rank system a total of 30 ranks (6 in the top 3 ranks; 24 from ranks 4 to 9). 353:, were all famed calligraphers in their own right. The emphasis placed by the nine-rank system on moral attributes such as filial piety also led to the growth of "familial instructions" ( 325:
the appointed Controllers in turn meant that the officials who held the post, many of whom came from these clans, could use their powers to promote the interests of their own scions.
290:) in the court to grade officials on the scale. In practice, not only potential entrants but also existing officials were graded, creating two parallel systems: a "candidacy grade" 682: 226:(萬石), meaning ten thousand bushels, and were paid 350 bushels of grain per month. The lowest ranking petty subofficials were paid in pecks, worth less than 100 bushels per year. 229:
The Nine-rank system was a reorganization of the Han dynasty practice of recommending noteworthy locals for political office. Since 134 BCE, during the reign of
1093: 861: 1193: 1188: 1183: 1118: 312:
The nine-rank system would become more dominant in the later years of the Cao Wei regime under the regency of the Sima clan and into the early years of the
1113: 1067: 675: 1224: 233:, the Han court relied mainly on nomination by local magnates and officials as a way of identifying talent, by nominating them under titles such as 305:
The nine-rank system was originally intended to centralize the power of nominating and selecting appointees to office into the imperial court at
57: 44: 1017: 1002: 989: 954: 752: 668: 218:
Prior to the nine-rank system, official positions were denoted by their salary paid in number of bushels of grain. For example, during the
495: 1022: 911: 1012: 431: 178: 469: 266:, proposed it as a way of organizing the state bureaucracy. It was called the "nine-rank method for recruiting men for office" ( 1198: 1160: 1143: 894: 1178: 1108: 1052: 764: 386: 209:) on the chest. Mandarin duck was a symbol of marital fidelity and thus loyalty, a noble quality in a government official. 1098: 856: 320:, the power of Controllers was expanded to include not only evaluation but also the nomination of talent, and with the 350: 937: 745: 426: 406:
Prestige titles were also awarded, normally based on seniority, to confer status among officials of the same rank.
359:), which aimed to transmit moral teachings to children, as a genre of writing in the Jin and subsequent dynasties. 1155: 851: 889: 780: 735: 978: 49: 373:
the nine ranks reverted to the original standard of 18 ranks, with each rank containing only two classes.
193: 997: 899: 821: 785: 321: 313: 198: 1229: 414: 1062: 1047: 841: 385:
Ranks were expressed as class, rank, then grade; for example: Standard class, Rank 4, Upper grade (
334: 342: 1170: 713: 417:
system instead of by recommendations. By the Song, recruitment through examination was the norm.
1234: 1072: 1057: 1007: 816: 725: 708: 317: 230: 501: 1219: 790: 730: 700: 112: 89: 654:
The Aristocratic Families in Early Imperial China: A Case Study of the Po-Ling Ts'ui Family
1239: 1077: 202: 967: 962: 904: 836: 718: 692: 159: 151: 1213: 1042: 740: 370: 206: 182: 1123: 972: 363: 277: 171: 167: 163: 119: 1148: 932: 811: 757: 410: 346: 338: 219: 17: 660: 1103: 330: 846: 831: 35: 942: 927: 259: 258:
The nine-rank system was created after the end of the Han in 220 AD when
235: 306: 263: 155: 826: 394: 647:, Harvard University Asia Center for the Harvard-Yenching Institute 866: 192: 871: 664: 448: 446: 150:, was used to categorize and classify government officials in 29: 280:
it became the "system of Nine ranks and impartial judges."
611: 609: 607: 524: 522: 520: 518: 177:
A similar system was also used in Korea. In Japan, the
166:, and similar ranking systems were also present in the 500:(Thesis). Northwest University (China). Archived from 124: 316:
regime during which it had changed in nature. Under
27:
Ranking system in the Imperial Chinese civil service
1169: 1136: 1086: 1035: 988: 953: 920: 882: 799: 773: 699: 118: 111: 106: 88: 79: 222:, the highest-ranking officials were classed as 1094:Deliberative Council of Princes and Ministers 676: 565: 563: 354: 297: 291: 285: 271: 250: 240: 94: 8: 543: 541: 539: 537: 329:transmission of skills is the calligrapher 1083: 950: 683: 669: 661: 587: 585: 103: 1068:Grand coordinator and provincial governor 627: 615: 570:Zhang, Xuhua (1999). "试论西晋九品中正制的弊病及其作用". 528: 463: 461: 452: 60:of all important aspects of the article. 548:Wang, Xiaoyi (2007). "再论曹魏九品中正制的历史真相". 442: 181:was adopted in 603 during the reign of 76: 56:Please consider expanding the lead to 262:, a court official from the state of 7: 594:Journal of Huadong Normal University 592:Wu, Ni (1996). "论魏晋九品中正制与私学的关系关". 25: 197:Portrait of a young Qing Dynasty 432:Twelve Level Cap and Rank System 179:Twelve Level Cap and Rank System 34: 1225:Northern and Southern dynasties 572:Journal of Zhengzhou University 48:may be too short to adequately 895:Three Lords and Nine Ministers 470:"Portrait of a young official" 427:Number nine in Chinese culture 399: 390: 337:that was prominent during the 125: 95: 58:provide an accessible overview 1: 1109:Nine Gates Infantry Commander 645:Chinese History: A New Manual 656:, Cambridge University Press 643:Wilkinson, Endymion (2012), 148:nine-grade controller system 245:, Filial and Incorrupt) or 1256: 938:Bureau of Military Affairs 862:Territorial administration 746:Heirloom Seal of the Realm 255:, of Outstanding Talent). 154:. Created in the state of 1156:Embroidered Uniform Guard 355: 298: 292: 286: 272: 251: 241: 136: 102: 84: 1119:Administrative divisions 652:Ebrey, Patricia (1978), 162:, it was used until the 979:Secretariat-Chancellery 494:Huang, Liuzhu (1985). 296:and a "service grade" 210: 1053:Imperial Commissioner 998:Ministry of Personnel 900:Three Ducal Ministers 822:Imperial examinations 786:Mandarin (bureaucrat) 322:conquest of Wu by Jin 205:of the seventh rank ( 196: 1161:Qing Imperial Guards 1144:Tang Imperial Guards 415:imperial examination 409:From the Han to the 146:, also known as the 126:jiǔpǐn zhōngzhèngzhì 1063:Imperial Clan Court 1048:Remonstrance Bureau 1018:Ministry of Justice 1003:Ministry of Revenue 857:Historical capitals 842:Academies (Shuyuan) 630:, pp. 265–266. 335:Wang clan of Langya 268:Jiǔ pǐn guān rén fǎ 199:government official 455:, p. 265-266. 400:Zheng si pin shang 211: 1207: 1206: 1132: 1131: 1073:Viceroys in China 1058:Grand Secretariat 1031: 1030: 1023:Ministry of Works 1008:Ministry of Rites 955:Three Departments 912:Translated titles 817:Five Directorates 231:Emperor Wu of Han 140: 139: 132: 131: 113:Standard Mandarin 75: 74: 16:(Redirected from 1247: 1084: 951: 852:Tributary system 807:Nine-rank system 791:Scholar-official 781:Grand Chancellor 685: 678: 671: 662: 657: 648: 631: 625: 619: 613: 602: 601: 589: 580: 579: 567: 558: 557: 545: 532: 526: 513: 512: 510: 509: 491: 485: 484: 482: 480: 465: 456: 450: 401: 392: 358: 357: 301: 300: 295: 294: 289: 288: 275: 274: 254: 253: 244: 243: 144:nine-rank system 128: 127: 104: 98: 97: 80:Nine-rank system 77: 70: 67: 61: 38: 30: 21: 18:Nine rank system 1255: 1254: 1250: 1249: 1248: 1246: 1245: 1244: 1210: 1209: 1208: 1203: 1165: 1137:Imperial guards 1128: 1082: 1078:Mandarin square 1027: 1013:Ministry of War 984: 949: 921:Middle Imperial 916: 878: 795: 769: 695: 689: 651: 642: 639: 634: 626: 622: 614: 605: 591: 590: 583: 569: 568: 561: 547: 546: 535: 527: 516: 507: 505: 493: 492: 488: 478: 476: 467: 466: 459: 451: 444: 440: 423: 379: 216: 203:mandarin square 191: 71: 65: 62: 55: 43:This article's 39: 28: 23: 22: 15: 12: 11: 5: 1253: 1251: 1243: 1242: 1237: 1232: 1227: 1222: 1212: 1211: 1205: 1204: 1202: 1201: 1196: 1191: 1186: 1181: 1175: 1173: 1167: 1166: 1164: 1163: 1158: 1153: 1152: 1151: 1140: 1138: 1134: 1133: 1130: 1129: 1127: 1126: 1121: 1116: 1111: 1106: 1101: 1096: 1090: 1088: 1081: 1080: 1075: 1070: 1065: 1060: 1055: 1050: 1045: 1039: 1037: 1033: 1032: 1029: 1028: 1026: 1025: 1020: 1015: 1010: 1005: 1000: 994: 992: 990:Six Ministries 986: 985: 983: 982: 975: 970: 968:Zhongshu Sheng 965: 963:Shangshu Sheng 959: 957: 948: 947: 946: 945: 935: 930: 924: 922: 918: 917: 915: 914: 909: 908: 907: 905:Nine Ministers 902: 892: 886: 884: 883:Early Imperial 880: 879: 877: 876: 875: 874: 869: 859: 854: 849: 844: 839: 837:Hanlin Academy 834: 829: 824: 819: 814: 809: 803: 801: 797: 796: 794: 793: 788: 783: 777: 775: 771: 770: 768: 767: 762: 761: 760: 750: 749: 748: 743: 738: 728: 723: 722: 721: 711: 705: 703: 697: 696: 693:Imperial China 691:Government of 690: 688: 687: 680: 673: 665: 659: 658: 649: 638: 635: 633: 632: 628:Wilkinson 2012 620: 618:, p. 266. 616:Wilkinson 2012 603: 581: 559: 533: 531:, p. 265. 529:Wilkinson 2012 514: 486: 468:Marcin Latka. 457: 453:Wilkinson 2012 441: 439: 436: 435: 434: 429: 422: 419: 378: 375: 341:, whose sons, 276:). During the 215: 212: 190: 187: 160:Three Kingdoms 152:Imperial China 138: 137: 134: 133: 130: 129: 122: 116: 115: 109: 108: 107:Transcriptions 100: 99: 92: 86: 85: 82: 81: 73: 72: 52:the key points 42: 40: 33: 26: 24: 14: 13: 10: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 1252: 1241: 1238: 1236: 1233: 1231: 1228: 1226: 1223: 1221: 1218: 1217: 1215: 1200: 1197: 1195: 1192: 1190: 1187: 1185: 1182: 1180: 1177: 1176: 1174: 1172: 1168: 1162: 1159: 1157: 1154: 1150: 1147: 1146: 1145: 1142: 1141: 1139: 1135: 1125: 1122: 1120: 1117: 1115: 1112: 1110: 1107: 1105: 1102: 1100: 1099:Grand Council 1097: 1095: 1092: 1091: 1089: 1085: 1079: 1076: 1074: 1071: 1069: 1066: 1064: 1061: 1059: 1056: 1054: 1051: 1049: 1046: 1044: 1043:Three Bureaus 1041: 1040: 1038: 1036:Late Imperial 1034: 1024: 1021: 1019: 1016: 1014: 1011: 1009: 1006: 1004: 1001: 999: 996: 995: 993: 991: 987: 980: 976: 974: 971: 969: 966: 964: 961: 960: 958: 956: 952: 944: 941: 940: 939: 936: 934: 931: 929: 926: 925: 923: 919: 913: 910: 906: 903: 901: 898: 897: 896: 893: 891: 888: 887: 885: 881: 873: 870: 868: 865: 864: 863: 860: 858: 855: 853: 850: 848: 845: 843: 840: 838: 835: 833: 830: 828: 825: 823: 820: 818: 815: 813: 810: 808: 805: 804: 802: 798: 792: 789: 787: 784: 782: 779: 778: 776: 772: 766: 763: 759: 756: 755: 754: 751: 747: 744: 742: 741:Son of Heaven 739: 737: 734: 733: 732: 729: 727: 724: 720: 717: 716: 715: 712: 710: 707: 706: 704: 702: 698: 694: 686: 681: 679: 674: 672: 667: 666: 663: 655: 650: 646: 641: 640: 636: 629: 624: 621: 617: 612: 610: 608: 604: 599: 595: 588: 586: 582: 577: 573: 566: 564: 560: 555: 551: 544: 542: 540: 538: 534: 530: 525: 523: 521: 519: 515: 504:on 2021-04-21 503: 499: 498: 490: 487: 475: 471: 464: 462: 458: 454: 449: 447: 443: 437: 433: 430: 428: 425: 424: 420: 418: 416: 412: 407: 404: 402: 396: 388: 383: 376: 374: 372: 371:Northern Song 367: 365: 360: 352: 348: 344: 340: 336: 332: 326: 323: 319: 315: 310: 308: 303: 281: 279: 269: 265: 261: 256: 248: 238: 237: 232: 227: 225: 221: 213: 208: 207:Mandarin duck 204: 200: 195: 188: 186: 184: 183:Empress Suiko 180: 175: 173: 169: 165: 161: 157: 153: 149: 145: 135: 123: 121: 117: 114: 110: 105: 101: 93: 91: 87: 83: 78: 69: 66:February 2024 59: 53: 51: 46: 41: 37: 32: 31: 19: 1124:Zongli Yamen 973:Menxia Sheng 806: 800:Institutions 653: 644: 637:Bibliography 623: 597: 593: 578:(11): 24–30. 575: 571: 553: 549: 506:. Retrieved 502:the original 496: 489: 477:. Retrieved 473: 408: 405: 398: 384: 380: 377:Organization 368: 364:Northern Wei 361: 351:Wang Xianzhi 343:Wang Ningzhi 327: 311: 304: 282: 278:Song dynasty 267: 257: 246: 234: 228: 223: 217: 176: 172:Qing dynasty 168:Ming dynasty 164:Song dynasty 147: 143: 141: 120:Hanyu Pinyin 63: 47: 45:lead section 1230:Sui dynasty 1149:Shence Army 933:Jimi system 812:Nine Courts 758:Consort kin 600:(1): 13–20. 556:(6): 62–69. 362:During the 347:Wang Huizhi 339:Eastern Jin 220:Han dynasty 158:during the 1214:Categories 1104:Lifan Yuan 508:2020-05-24 438:References 369:After the 331:Wang Xizhi 214:Background 1171:Dynasties 847:Censorate 832:Guozijian 333:, of the 50:summarize 1235:Goguryeo 943:Shumishi 928:Jiedushi 709:Monarchy 701:Nobility 497:两汉孝廉制度考略 421:See also 318:Sima Yan 260:Chen Qun 236:Xiaolian 1220:Cao Wei 774:Offices 753:Empress 731:Emperor 714:Dynasty 479:31 July 474:artinpl 387:Chinese 382:steps. 307:Luoyang 264:Cao Wei 189:History 156:Cao Wei 90:Chinese 1240:Baekje 827:Taixue 726:Titles 397:: 395:pinyin 389:: 247:Maocai 224:wandan 1114:Ranks 867:Yamen 765:Harem 719:Cycle 273:九品官人法 201:with 96:九品中正制 1199:Qing 1194:Yuan 1189:Liao 1184:Tang 1087:Qing 890:King 872:Tusi 736:List 598:1996 554:2007 481:2019 391:正四品上 349:and 170:and 142:The 1179:Han 550:文史哲 411:Sui 403:). 314:Jin 1216:: 606:^ 596:. 584:^ 576:32 574:. 562:^ 552:. 536:^ 517:^ 472:. 460:^ 445:^ 393:; 356:家訓 345:, 299:官品 293:資品 287:中正 270:; 252:茂才 242:孝廉 185:. 174:. 981:) 977:( 684:e 677:t 670:v 511:. 483:. 284:( 249:( 239:( 68:) 64:( 54:. 20:)

Index

Nine rank system

lead section
summarize
provide an accessible overview
Chinese
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu Pinyin
Imperial China
Cao Wei
Three Kingdoms
Song dynasty
Ming dynasty
Qing dynasty
Twelve Level Cap and Rank System
Empress Suiko

government official
mandarin square
Mandarin duck
Han dynasty
Emperor Wu of Han
Xiaolian
Chen Qun
Cao Wei
Song dynasty
Luoyang
Jin
Sima Yan
conquest of Wu by Jin

Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.