The Shang-shu-sheng (尚書省) in the Early Northern Wei Period

Abstract

Thanks to the scholarly efforts of Yan K'eng-wang (厳耕望), the general outline of the shang-shu-sheng system in the Northern Wei Period is now available. In my opinion, however, there are several debatable points in Professor Yan's analysis, the points which I will deal with in this paper. The discussion will consist of three sections, each briefly stating Professor Yan's view, followed by my comments. (1)After its creation during the reign of the First Emperor, Tao-wu-ti (道武帝), the shang-shu-sheng alternated between periods of abolishment and restoration. In the second year of T'ien-hsing (天興) (399 A.D.) the shang-shu-sheng was abolished only to be revived immediately, perhaps at the end of the following year. After that, it was never completely abolished. The annals of the second year of T'ien-tz'u (天賜) (405 A.D.) record that "(the work of) the shang-shu's 36 ts'ao (曹) is discontinued." But that did not mean the end of the entire sheng system. (2)During the reign of the next emperor, Ming-yuan-ti (明元帝), the system was totally abolished. We can infer that the shang-shu-sheng existed in the reign of Ming-yuan-ti. One important piece of evidence is the fact that the Eight ta-jen-kuan (大人官), which Professor Yan believes were established in order to serve as substitutes for the shang-shu, never performed those kind of duties. Another piece of evidence is the fact that there were at least five appointees to the shang-shu during Ming-yuan-ti's reign, in spite of Professor Yan's statement that he was unable to discover any appointees for this period. The number of appointees was not lower at this time than at the reign of Tao-wu-ti. And, of course, the shang-shu was in existence from the outset of the reign of T'ai-wu-ti (太武帝), the Third Emperor. (3)Between the time of T'ai-wu-ti and the first half of the reign of the Sixth Emperor, Hsiao-wen-ti (孝文帝), the shang-shu-lang (尚書郎) was abolished in its entirety and replaced by the offices of ta-fu (大夫), ling (令), and chang (長). Since there was the "shuang-kuei (双軌) system" in the Northern Wei Period, one can imagine that ta-fu, ling, chang, and shang-shu-lang existed side by side. It is not possible, I believe, to deny this claim only with the evidences presented by Professor Yan. This paper also touches on the ta-jen-kuan of the Northern Wei Period, the topic closely related to the arguments mentioned above.