Origins
As Ouyang Xiu, the author of the New Book of Tang, asserted, Tang inherited the system from its predecessor Sui Dynasty, as Sui's founder Emperor Wen of Sui divided his government into five main bureaus:
- Shangshu Sheng (尚書省) -- executive bureau
- Menxia Sheng (門下省) -- examination bureau
- Neishǐ Sheng (內史省) -- legislative bureau (note different tone than the eunuch bureau below)
- Mishu Sheng (秘書省) -- archival bureau
- Neishì Sheng (內侍省) -- eunuch bureau (note different tone than the legislative bureau above), later changed by Emperor Wen's son Emperor Yang of Sui to Diannei Sheng (殿內省)
Under Emperor Wen, the executive bureau was regarded as the most important, and he had his most honored officials, including Gao Jiong, Yang Su, and Su Wei, head it at various points, and its heads were generally regarded as chancellors (as it always had two heads, known as the Shangshu Puye (尚書僕射)). Ouyang asserted, however, that the heads of the examination and legislative bureaus were also considered chancellors.
Read more about this topic: Chancellor Of The Tang Dynasty
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