The Circulation of Central Power in the Han Dynasty: The Reform and Restoration from the "Three Excellencies" to the "Nine Ministers"

Introduction

The "Three Excellencies and Nine Ministers" system represents the core paradigm of ancient Chinese officialdom. However, during the middle to late Western Han period, this system underwent significant turmoil and restructuring. In the first year of the Yuanshou era (122 BCE), Emperor Wu of Han renamed the Yushi Dafu (Supervising Grand Councilor), which represented the highest position of supervision and deputy administration, to the Da Sikong (Grand Minister of Works). This change holds immense symbolic significance in the history of Han officialdom. By the first year of the Jianping era under Emperor Ai of Han (6 BCE), Zhu Bo, the Shaofu (Lesser Treasury Chief), submitted a memorial proposing the restoration of the old system, reinstating the title "Yushi Dafu." This marked a reflection and correction of the officialdom changes since the time of Emperor Wu. This process not only reflected the emperor's considerations regarding the balance between imperial authority and ministerial power but also highlighted the desire to return to the "ancestral established laws" in the political ideology of the late Western Han.

Core Concepts

1. The Political Implications of Changing Official Titles

According to the Hanshu: Table of Officials and Provincial Chiefs, during Emperor Wu's reign, the "Yushi Dafu" was renamed the "Da Sikong." Although there was no fundamental break in the scope of powers and responsibilities, the change in title often accompanied a subtle shift in the center of power. The term "Yushi" (Inspector/Supervisor) emphasized surveillance and correction, carrying a strong connotation of checking imperial or chancellorial power. In contrast, "Sikong" originated from the official title of the Zhou Dynasty, originally responsible for water and soil engineering, but evolved in the Qin and Han periods into a high-level administrative official in charge of land and budget. Renaming the position "Da Sikong" placed it alongside the Grand Minister of War (Tai Wei) and the Chancellor (Chengxiang), forming the standard "Three Excellencies" structure. This emphasized its positive administrative management function while weakening its original supervisory attributes.

2. The Background and Proposals of Zhu Bo's Reform

During the reign of Emperor Ai, the powerful waijia (maternal relatives) clan led by Empress Dowager Fu wielded enormous influence, causing political instability. In court deliberations, Zhu Bo, the Shaofu, proposed "restoring the Yushi Dafu." He argued that the official system prior to Emperor Wu was more primitive and aligned with the ritual norms of the Confucian classics. Zhu Bo advocated restoring the title "Yushi Dafu" to reshape the legitimacy of the central institutions, aiming to rectify official governance through reviving ancient customs, weaken the control of the waijia over the administrative system, and strengthen the central government's capacity to supervise officials. This proposal was adopted in the early years of Emperor Ai's reign, becoming a crucial part of the political purge and restructuring at the time.

3. The "Pendulum Effect" in Institutional Evolution

From Emperor Wu's renaming to Emperor Ai's restoration of the name, the "pendulum effect" in Han officialdom is evident, reflecting the struggle between two political logics: "adapting to the times" and "following the ancient kings." During Emperor Wu's period, the state was in a phase of expansion and transformation, necessitating strengthened administrative execution. Consequently, the supervisory deterrent aspect of "Yushi" was replaced by the administrative gravity of "Sikong." However, during the crisis of the late period, rulers increasingly missed the stability and order of the early Han system, thus seeking political security by restoring the old title.

Connection to the Contents of the Hanshu

In the Biography of Zhu Bo in the Hanshu, the content of Zhu Bo's memorial is detailed: "Bo believed that, in accordance with the Rites of Zhou, the Yushi Dafu should be restored, and five Shangshu (Secretaries) appointed, each holding one seal, to evaluate officials of the 'two thousand shi [grain] salary' grade." This text directly grounds the officialdom reform in the classic authority of the Rites of Zhou, demonstrating the efforts of scholars between the Western and Eastern Han to reshape political institutions through exegetical studies.

Simultaneously, in the Hanshu: Table of Officials and Provincial Chiefs, when tracing the changes in official positions, it specifically notes the key milestones of the reigns of Emperor Wu and Emperor Ai, forming a complete chain of institutional evolution. By comparing the record of the renaming in the Emperor Wu's Chronology with the imperial edict for the restoration in the Emperor Ai's Chronology, we can clearly see how the alternation of political forces in the late Western Han was directly projected onto the naming and structure of the state apparatus. This process of "renaming" and "restoration" was not merely a game of words, but a microcosm of the intense political turbulence of the late Western Han, providing an important historical transitional sample for understanding the final establishment of the "Three Excellencies" system in the Eastern Han.

Summary: The "reform of the Three Excellencies" in the Han Dynasty was not a simple institutional adjustment, but the result of the interaction between imperial will, Confucian exegetical concepts, and political reality. It serves as a warning to later generations that the evolution of official systems often serves contemporary power struggles and ideological demands.