关键词: 刑部司官, 人事制度, 铨选, 部权特重, 重用科甲

Abstract: The Board of Punishments preferred to employ the Administrative Associates (including the Directors, Vice Directors, Secretaries) who had long experience in the Board and officials who had passed the recruitment examinations and qualified for government office to meet the demands of important legal affairs. The Board of Personnel preferred unified management of official selection, while the Board of Punishments wanted to enhance its own power to promote staff. During the Jiaqing reign,the Board was crowded with an increasing number of staff who had obtained their positions via paid donation. With the standards for staff members in constant flux, the Board of Punishments gained more independence in official selection and set the requirements for proficiency in the legal affairs. Abundant legal knowledge and adequate judicial experience were the key factors in the power distribution within the Board of Punishments. These criteria ensured the quality of the personnel who handled cases and contributed to the operation of the judicial system.

Key words: Board of Punishments staff members, personnel system, official selection, the Board's authority among the Three Judicial Departments, the preference to employ the Scholars