The Zoushi System and the Operation of Central Government in Early Qing

Abstract

Abstract:

The Zoushi system was a document circulating and political information communication system that took shape during Kangxi era, while Memorial Processors (zoushiguan) played a core role in it. The Memorial Processors initially originated from the group of Imperial Guard (shiwei), and gradually became a specific group that consisted of officials from the Imperial Household Department (neiwufu). Its main duty was transferring government documents such as palace memorial (zouzhe or zouben) and lütou pai, as well as issuing imperial edict, both of which showed the center of Qing’s decision-making was turning back to the inner court. The Provincial Memorial system integrated non-grand secretary-involving channels through which imperial edicts could be issued from emperor himself during Shunzhi era, as well as innovated the inherent memorial submission and decision making mode by weakening the importance of intermediary institutions and establishing a new method of government operation in which the emperor and officials could communicate directly. The Provincial Memorial system also was the institutional foundation of the widely used palace memorial. This new type of governmental document became a crucial tool for the communication between emperor and institutions in Beijing during the mid and late Kangxi era.

摘要：

所谓奏事体制，是指康熙年间形成的以奏事官为核心的文书流转与政令传递机制。奏事官最初由侍卫群体分化产生，其后逐渐演变为以内务府包衣为主的专差，职司奏本、绿头牌以及奏折的转进、下发以及谕旨的传宣，显示出清初政务处理向内廷转移的趋势。奏事体制的产生，一方面整合了顺治年间内降谕旨的颁行渠道，突破了清初章奏进御与批答处理的固有模式，淡化中间机构，建立起君臣直接交通的政务运作模式；另一方面亦构成奏折广泛行用的制度基础，借助奏事体制，与密折迥异的京官奏折在康熙中后期成为京内衙署与皇帝沟通的重要载体。

MA Zimu. The Zoushi System and the Operation of Central Government in Early Qing[J]. Studies in Qing History.

马子木. 清初的奏事体制与政务运作[J]. 清史研究.

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