In 221 BC, after unifying the six countries, Qin Shihuang set out to establish and improve an authoritarian centralized system to consolidate his rule over the country, and completely broke the traditional aristocratic feudal system and laid the foundation for However, during the Ming and Qing dynasties, the strengthening of the system seriously hindered the development of budding capitalism, thus hindering the transformation of Chinese society.

1. Emperor system

After King Yingzheng of Qin unified the country, he believed that his virtue was higher than that of the three emperors and his merits surpassed those of the five emperors. The title of king could no longer show his supreme power and status, so The name was changed, and the titles of the Three Emperors and Five Emperors in ancient legends were combined into one, and he was called "Emperor". From then on, the emperor became the title of the supreme ruler of the feudal country. In addition, it is also stipulated that the emperor calls himself "Zhen", his order is called "Zhi", his order is called "Zhao", and his seal is called "Xi". The "posthumous law" in which sons discuss fathers and ministers discuss emperors is abolished, and emperors are arranged according to generations. The first generation is called the first emperor, and subsequent generations are counted as second and third generations, so that they can be "passed on endlessly." These regulations all indicate the emperor's sacred status and supreme power. It also enabled the emperor to consolidate the country's judicial, legislative, administrative, military and other powers into one person.

2. System of Three Officials and Nine Officials

The central organs of the Qin Dynasty implemented the system of "Three Officials and Nine Officials". The three ministers are the prime minister, the Taiwei, and the imperial censor, who are in charge of government affairs, military affairs, and supervision. The three princes are not subordinate to each other, but restrict each other. They are all directly responsible to the emperor, so that power is concentrated in the emperor. There are nine ministers under the three princes, specifically: Fengchang, in charge of the ancestral temple etiquette; Weiwei, in charge of palace security; Lang Zhongling, in charge of palace security; Taipu, in charge of palace carriages and horses; Dianke, in charge of ethnic minority affairs and diplomacy; Wei, responsible for the judiciary; Zongzheng, responsible for the internal affairs of the royal family; Shaofu, responsible for the taxation and handicraft manufacturing of the country's mountains, rivers, lakes and seas; Tingwei, responsible for the judiciary and the capital security. The appointment and dismissal of the emperor are not hereditary.

3. Prefecture and County System

In terms of local administrative institutions, Qin Shihuang completely abolished the ancient feudal system, implemented the prefecture and county system that had been implemented during the Warring States Period to the whole country, and also established A whole system of local bureaucracies at all levels. It is called the county system. For example, the county has a county governor, a county lieutenant, and a censor, who are in charge of government affairs, military affairs, and supervision respectively. A county governs several counties, and each county has a county magistrate or magistrate, as well as a county lieutenant and a county magistrate. A county is further divided into several townships, and under the townships there are pavilions, li, etc., forming a strict set of local institutions.

The above-mentioned authoritarian centralized system created by Qin Shihuang was basically inherited by subsequent feudal rulers.

Extended information:

The bud and practice of feudal absolutism and centralization

Germ: In theory, Han Feizi was the first to propose the establishment of a centralized monarch of feudal absolutism. authoritarian state.

Practice: Shang Yang's reform in Qin State stipulated the abolition of feudalism, the implementation of the county system, "burning poems and writings to make clear the laws", and the implementation of a centralized system.

1. Established in the Qin Dynasty:

Content: After the unification of Qin, in order to consolidate its rule, an authoritarian centralized system was established. Established the emperor system, implemented the system of three public officials and nine ministers at the central level, implemented the system of prefectures and counties at the local level, and promulgated Qin laws. Unify weights, measures, currency, and writing. Burning books and harassing Confucians strengthened ideological control. Take the law as your teaching and your officials as your teachers.

Characteristics: The authoritarian decision-making method was organically combined with the centralized political system. The high concentration of power became the most basic feature of the Qin Dynasty's rule.

2. Consolidation in the Western Han Dynasty:

Content: The Western Han Dynasty reformed control, formed the inner and outer dynasties, and strengthened the imperial power. Implement the governor system and strengthen control over local bureaucrats. Promulgate grace orders and beneficial laws to solve the kingdom's problems. The implementation of "deposing hundreds of schools of thought and respecting Confucianism alone" made Confucianism the ruling ideology of the Western Han Dynasty.

Features: Strengthened imperial power. The central government's direct control over local governments was re-strengthened. Transform Confucianism into a guiding ideology that adapts to the centralization needs of feudal absolutism.

3. Perfected in the Sui and Tang Dynasties:

Content: The implementation of the three provinces and six ministries system made the feudal bureaucracy form a complete and strict system, dividing the power of the prime minister into three, thereby weakening the prime minister. power, strengthening the imperial power. The imperial examination system was created and improved, the source of officials was expanded, the cultural quality of officials was improved, the centralization of power was strengthened, and the government and military system were adjusted and improved, which was conducive to strengthening the centralization of power and making it difficult for generals to use their troops with self-respect.

Features: Use decentralization to strengthen imperial power. The selection of officials was standardized and institutionalized, and test scores replaced family background. ?[8]?

4. Strengthening in the Song and Yuan Dynasties:

Northern Song Dynasty: Centralized military power. Three yamen were set up to command the imperial army and to check each other with the Privy Council; the garrison law was implemented to prevent the military generals from monopolizing power.

1. Centralize administrative power. Set up political advisors, privy envoys, and three secretaries to divide the administrative power, military power, and financial power of the prime minister; send civilian officials to be governors of the state, and set up general magistrates to check the state.

2. Centralize financial power. Set up transfer envoys on various roads to manage local finances.

3. Centralize judicial power. The central government sends civilian officials to serve as local judicial officers.

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Through the above measures, the emperor took control of military, financial, administrative and judicial power from the central to the local levels, eradicated the basis of feudal feudal separatism, and strengthened centralization of power.

Yuan Dynasty: The central official system was improved in the central government, with Zhongshu Sheng, Privy Council, and Yushitai in charge of administrative, military and supervisory matters; the Xuanzheng Yuan was set up to direct religious affairs and govern the Tibetan area. In local areas, a provincial system is implemented. ?[8]?

Characteristics: strong cadres and weak branches (Northern Song Dynasty); local decentralization based on central decentralization (Northern Song Dynasty); significant development of the local administrative system (Yuan) and; establishment of The central government's direct management system for border areas (Yuan Dynasty)

(In terms of imperial power and prime ministerial power, both the Tang Dynasty and the Northern Song Dynasty weakened the power of the prime minister through decentralization. The Tang Dynasty implemented a system of three provinces and six ministries. The power of the prime minister was divided into three parts. In the Northern Song Dynasty, the administrative, military and financial powers of the prime minister were divided by the administrative affairs council, the privy envoy, and the three ministers. In the Yuan Dynasty, the three provinces were abolished and a one-province system was implemented, that is, Zhongshu Province, with the chief minister as the prime minister. The position of the prime minister gradually became more powerful and threatened the imperial power. Therefore, after the establishment of the Ming Dynasty, it became inevitable to abolish the Zhongshu Province and abolish the prime minister. It can be seen that the contradiction between imperial power and prime minister power was particularly prominent in the Tang Dynasty, Northern Song Dynasty, and Ming Dynasty. . )

5. Strengthening in the Ming and Qing Dynasties

Ming Dynasty: In the early days, it was mainly in the central government, and the power of the prime minister was abolished and divided into six departments; the local authorities implemented three divisions of power. The Metropolitan Governor's Office was changed to the Fifth Army Governor's Office, and the power of commanding troops and the power of troop deployment were separated. The "Da Ming Law" was formulated, the factory guarded the spy agency, implemented the eight-legged approach to recruiting scholars, and strengthened ideological control. A cabinet was also established (the cabinet established in the Ming Dynasty was the product of feudal monarchy, and the British cabinet was the product of capitalist democracy)

The Qing Dynasty: The cabinet and six ministries of the Ming Dynasty were followed. The establishment of the Military Aircraft Department marks the peak of the development of my country's feudal monarchy's centralized system of authoritarianism. Literary inquisition was also established.

Characteristics: The imperial power was unprecedentedly strengthened, and the feudal authoritarian centralized system developed to its peak.

Ended in 1912 (Puyi abdicated): The Revolution of 1911 overthrew the rule of the Qing Dynasty and ended China's two thousand years of feudal autocratic monarchy.

The role of the feudal authoritarian centralized system

1. Positive role (before Ming and Qing Dynasties):

1. Conducive to the establishment and consolidation of a multi-ethnic feudal country and development, which is conducive to safeguarding the unity and territorial integrity of the motherland. ?

2. Can effectively organize human, material and financial resources to engage in large-scale production activities, economic construction and disaster relief operations, which is conducive to social and economic development.

3. In a unified environment, it is conducive to the integration of various ethnic groups and the economic and cultural exchanges in various regions.

2. Negative effects:

1. Imperial autocratic power can easily lead to tyranny and corruption, which is a factor that hinders historical development.

2. In terms of thinking, it appears to be exclusive, which suppresses thoughts and suppresses creativity.

3. It encourages bureaucracy and corruption.

4. At the end of feudal society, it hindered the budding development of emerging capitalist production relations, restricted the development of social productive forces, and hindered the progress of Chinese society.

Reference: Baidu Encyclopedia-Centralized System