Principal counsels and ceremonial departments
The Principal Counsels (列卿, rjêt-k′rjang) are the Themiclesian emperor's highest-ranking advisors apart from the chancellor and vice chancellor(s). Those occupying analogous positions towards the empress, empresses-dowager, and palatine princes are also principal counsels. As a characteristic, their departments are all based in the capital cities and receive a salary of 2,000 bushels. They are the canonical definition of the central government. Despite their high rank, the development of politics around the Inner Court, particularly the Council of Correspondence, later dominating the executive, has deprived them and the chancellor and vice chancellor(s) of policy authority during the 6th century. Today, their functions vary from being high-ranking civil servants with current duties to sinecures; their subordinate departments have either been repurposed and repositioned in the actual administrative apparatus or have atrophied into sinecures.
Etymology
The term rjêt-k′rjang is a adjectival-nominal compound term which can be semantically dissected into its components. rjêt, from Old Menghean *rêt, means "each"; *rêt is a cognate of *r̥êt, meaning "all". The glyph for k′rjang, originally "companion", depicts two individuals sharing a meal.
Emperor's counsels
Chancellor
The Chancellor (相邦, smjangh-prong) is not technically a counsel, but the nominal head of the central bureaucracy. He is always a peer. The Shinasthana name smjangh-prong means "state-overseer", similar to a head of government. The Chancellor was originally the most powerful and highest-ranking officer of the bureaucracy, though in later centuries he may be relegated to a ceremonial and procedural function, or even a title for the President of Correspondence. All reports submitted to the emperor are in the Chancellor's name, with the phrase smjangh-prong-′djangs-st′ja (相邦上書), "the chancellor submits this paper". The Chancellor's authority extends over military as much as civilian officials.
Vice Chancellor
The Vice Chancellor (丞相, djêng-smjangh) is the deputy of the Chancellor. Though most deputies in the Themiclesian administration do not have much independent authority, Vice Chancellors are an exception, as the office of Chancellor is frequently vacant. Certain monarchs have also used the Vice Chancellor to divide the authority of the Chancellor. There may be one or two Vice Chancellors; if there are two, then the more senior is called the Right Vice Chancellor (右丞相, gwrje′-djêng-smjangh), and the other the Left Vice Chancellor (左丞相, dzar′-djêng-smjangh). If the Chancellorship is vacant, then the Right Vice Chancellor takes his place, but his authority is not as complete as a Chancellor. While the Chancellor is invariably a peer, the Vice Chancellor is not always one, though this tends to be the case if he de facto discharges the Chancellor's office.
President of Tribunes
The Tribunes (御史, ngjas-srje′) are a group of officers in Themiclesia primarily concerned with the maintenance of law and order amongst the Civil Service. They possess the power to investigate independently, but the President has the additional power to request assistance from other government agencies. The President of Tribunes is also honoured as the first of the principal counsels.
- Secretary of Tribunes (御史丞, ngjas-srje′-gljêng)
- Royal Secretary of Tribunes (御史中丞, ngjas-srje′-trjung-gljêng)
- Attendant Tribune (侍御史, mlje′-ngjas-srje′): investigation of certain allegations of official misconduct
- Tribune of Security (禁防御史, krjemh-pjang-ngjas-srje′): supervision of security around the emperor
- Tribune of Seals (符節御史, bja-kjik-ngjas-srje′): supervision of issuance of credentials to mobilize militias
- Tribune of Correspondence (治書侍御史, lrje′-st′ja-mlje′-ngjas-srje′): supervision of written communication to the emperor
- Tribune of the Hall (殿中侍御史, ntenh-trjung-mlje′-ngjas-srje′): investigation of misconduct by officials in the palace
Inner Administrator
The Inner Administrator (内史, nubh-s.rje′) has a broad array of duties centering on finances, particularly of the Demesne (睘官, gwrên-kwar), the region directly administered by the government, as opposed to that under feudal titles.
- Great Exchequer (邦大內, prong-ladh-nubh): is the official responsible for overseeing the collection of agricultural revenues in the form of grains. The Inner Administrator, who controls household records, which is the basis of taxation, issues taxation quotas to local authorities and the Great Exchequer; local authorities submit the revenues to the Great Exchequer, which checks that the amount and quality matches with the dictates of the Inner Administrator. Though subordinate to him, the Great Exchequer in practice has independent access to the Emperor, to prevent collusion with other officials.
- Minor Exchequer (邦少內, prong-smjaw′-nubh): is the official responsible for overseeing the collection of revenues other than grains. The early Themiclesian state collected two principal forms of revenue, grains from farmland (termed the "male" product) but also textiles from households (the "female" product). Additionally, local bodies were responsible for submitting a number of peculiar products according to the needs of the court; these could be non-staple agricultural products, aquatic products, game and/or their products, mineral extracts, precious and base metals, or other things or a combination of them. Later, a poll tax was added, collected in the form of money (bronze coins), assessed on each person but still collected from the household as a unit. As with agricultural revenue, the Inner Administrator issued quotas for collection and instructed the Minor Exchequer to receive and scrutinize the deliveries.
- Director of the Great Granary (太倉, ladh-tsang): store of grains in the capital city collected as taxes; after collection of grain taxation was abolished in 1620, a sinecure
- Director of Grains (治粟, lrje′-sjok): anti-rot and anti-rodent measures in the Great Granary
- Director of Ceramics (甄官, krin-kwar): regulation of ceramics production in the Inner Region (due to use of firewood and risk of fire)
- Director of Dyes (平準, brjêng-tjur′)
- Director of Grain Husking (導官, lus-kwar): direction of the husking of grains for official purposes
- Director of East Market (東市, tong-dje′): commercial order in the marketplaces in East Kien-k'ang
- Director of West Market (西市, sner-dje′): commercial order in the marketplaces in West Kien-k'ang
Great Chamberlain
The Great Chamberlain (奉常, bjong′-djang) is primarily invovled in conducting ceremonies, especially for the state cult, of public importance. He also controls the subordinate Departments of Oracles, Clairvoyance, and Worship. Professions once perceived to have some sort of spiritual significance, such as the Departments of Medicine, the Outer Symphony, and Histories are also superintended by the Great Chamberlain.
It was once customary for a number of households to be moved to a newly-completed mausoleum. Rather than paying taxes, they would be charged with the mausoleum's maintenance and be exempt from other forms of service. Thus, these villages became favoured places for merchant families, who could travel more widely without interruption by service. The duties of maintaining the mausoleum were commuted to payment for those who could afford it. Maintenance work on mausolea usually lapsed after several generations, while exemption persisted; this was considered the "residual grace" of the deceased sovereign entombed there. Such "mausolea villages" were under the control of the Great Chamberlain.
- Director of Oracles (大卜, l′adh-pok): tortoise shell oracles, used to select days for state and cult ceremonies
- Director of Claivoyance (大筮, l'adh-djaih): bamboo-strip based clairvoyance
- Director of the Outer Symphony (外樂, ngwadh-ngljakw): music for state and cult ceremonies, especially in the emperor's ancestral temples
- Director of Enchantments (大祝, l′adh-tjoh): casting of spells and warding off hexes around royal premises
- Director of Sacrifices (大宰, l′adh-dze'): oversight of sacrifices offered cult shrines and the emperor's ancestral temples
- Director of History (大史, l′adh-srje): management of oracle shells and divination results of the Director of Oracles and Director of Clairvoyance, keeper of official histories and annals, publisher of the Public Gazette
- Director of Medicine (大醫, l′adh-′je): oversight of the Guild of Physicians, and arrangement of medical services to the emperor
- Director of Hruh Mausoleum (孝陵, hruh-rjeng): management of the Hruh Mausoleum
- Director of Drjang Mausoleum (長陵, drjang-rjeng): management of the Drjang Mausoleum
- Director of Tjaw Mausoleum (昭陵, tjaw-rjeng): management of the Tjaw Mausoleum
- Director of Lang Mausoleum (陽陵, ljang-rjeng): management of the Lang Mausoleum
- Director of Hwang Mausoleum (皇陵, gwang-rjeng): management of the Hwang Mausoeum
- Director of Lan Mausoleum (延陵, ljan-rjeng): management of the Lan Mausoleum
- Director of Kaw Mausoleum (高陵, kaw-rjeng): management of the Kaw Mausoeum
- Director of Mausolea (它陵, l′ai-rjeng): management of other official mausolea, such as those of empresses-consort, and other royal relatives
Court Justiciar
The Court Justiciar (廷尉, lêng-′judh) is a senior judicial official, superior to the chief justices of the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court. While the Court Justiciar once sat in the Court of Appeal, he is restricted to administrative duties around these two courts today. There remains a vestigial Justiciar Court which tries very limited types of cases committed by government officers; this court has not been active since the early 1800s, its functions subsumed by the Tribunary Court.
- Under Justiciar (監, k.ram)
- Puisne Justiciar (平, brjêng)
- Justiciar Secretary (丞, ′tjêng)
Capital Marshal
The Capital Marshal (中尉, trjung-′judh) has functions similar to a prefectural marshal, and the civil magistrate analogous to him is the Inner Administrator. Canonically, his proper jurisdiction is the Inner Region's militia, but because the Capital Marshal controls the seat of the central government (the Inner Region), like the Inner Administrator, he has gained some jurisdiction over national matters, mostly in procuring and storing weapons, and related resources, for the use of the capital city's forces, which are more numerous than what could be supported locally. The Capital Marshal is the commander-in-chief of the Capital Defence Force, Themiclesia's domestic standing army, until it was merged with other professional forces in 1921. Additionally, he also oversees the security apparatus in the Inner Region, including the Metropolitan Police, the Metropolitan Fire Brigade, and detention and correctional facilities there. A vital appointment, the Capital Marshal was always an experienced and widely-trusted civil servant.
- Director of Capital Armoury (武庫, mja-tl′ah): storage of weapons in the armouries of the capital city
- Director of Charms (淨室, tsjêngh-st′jit): herald of the emperor and caster of spells
- Director of Labour (中司空, trjung-slje-k′ong): use of labour service in the capital city's official construction projects; sinecure after 1854
- Colonel of Crossbowmen (中發弩, trjung-pjat-na′): oversight of artillery manufactories in the Inner Region
- Colonel of Chariotry (中輕車, trjung-kljêng-tl′ja): manufacture and maintenance of chariots in the Inner Region, for ceremonial reasons
- Colonel of Infantry (中材官, trjung-dze-kwar): training of infantry militias in the Inner Region
- Colonel of Cavalry (中騎, trjung-gjar): training of cavalry militias in the Inner Region
- Director of Capital Defensive Works (中壘, trjung-ri′): maintenance and operations in fortifications in the Inner Region
- Director of Capital Ships (中船, trjung-smljon): boat traffic and policing in the Inner Region
Marshal and General of Royal Guards
The Marshal of Royal Guards (衛尉, gwrjaih-′judh) usually refers to the Marshal of the Hên-lang Palace, the seat of the empreor. There are several other Marshals, who control the royal guards at other palaces, though the Marshal of the emperor's palace is regarded as the most important Marshal. In the rare event of mustering royal guard units under different marshals, usually in a desperate defence of the capital city, one of the Marshals or another important official may be appointed General of Royal Guards (衛將軍).
- Colonel-in-chief (公車司馬, klong-kl′ja-slje-mra′): reception of letters and goods at the palace gates
- Director of Hên-lang Left Guards (顯陽左衛士, hên′-ljang-dzar-gwrjaih-dzrje′): administration relating to the Left Regiment of the Hên-lang Guards
- Director of Hên-lang Right Guards (顯陽右衛士, hên′-ljang-gwrje′-gwrjaih-dzrje′): administration relating to the Right Regiment of the Hên-lang Guards
Comptroller of Embassies
The Comptroller of Embassies (典客, den′-k′rak) oversaw Themiclesia's relationships with foreign states and domestic principalities. Domestically, the Themiclesian monarch created his children princes or princesses, who were regarded with a degree of independence and parity with the crown, i.e. ritualistic foreign states. While royal authority expanded in the Rjang Dynasty (501 – 542) to suppress the substance of princely rule, this ritualistic equality was preserved, that central administration was done through separate department. Additionally, the Comptroller of Embassies also oversaw diplomatic activity with actual foreign states. Traditionally, principalities sent permanent missions to the royal capital city to deal with the central government, just as prefectures did; this was replicated for foreign missions, starting with Hallia in 1200. Prefectural missions to the capital city were regulated by the President of Tribunes, though there is no difference in practice between their treatment and that of principality missions.
- Director of Interpretation (譯, ljak)
- Director of Envoys (大行, ladh-gang): diplomatic protocol.
- Director of Left Embassies (左邸, dzar′-ti′): missions sent by domestic principalities.
- Director of Right Embassies (右邸, gwrje′-ti′): missions sent by foreign states.
Comptroller of States
The Comptroller of States (屬邦, tjo-prong) oversaw Themiclesia's relations with "related states". Most of what is eastern Themiclesia, Columbia, and southern Nukkumaa today was governed by ethnic states or other polities that pledged their support to the court in Kien-k'ang; the government rarely interfered with their domestic affairs but did maintain regular contact and exchange gifts with them to reinforce relationships. While in the Themiclesian paradigm this was not an equal one, every effort was made to conceal or disguise this feeling to avoid expensive diplomatic missteps. Dzhungestan was dealt with through the Comptroller of States rather than Comptroller of Embassies.
Many such polities were bound by treaty to provide a number of troops of various descriptions, either directly to the court or stationed in certain places for collective defence. Since most polities were either nomadic or limited in population, such units were ordinarily small; however, many were professional warriors. Themiclesia did not maintain a regular army in the east or north, until the 1600s, and thus these units formed an important defence against encroachment from those directions. When the Themiclesian army was re-organized in 1921, the Comptroller of States was named commander-in-chief of all pledged forces, in continuation of the old treaty relationships. These pledged forces, termed Territorial Forces (方兵, pjang-prjang), are one of the four primary components of the modern army, with the Consolidated Army, Reserve Army, and local militias.
- Director of Translations (譯, lak): translations for missions and subjects of dependent states visiting the Demesne
- Director of Labour (工室, kong-stjit): manufacture of sundries for trade with or gifts to dependent states
- Director of Armouries (武庫, mja-k′lah): store of weapons to be lent to dependent states or other uses
- Exchequer (内, nubh): receiver for gifts and other revenues from dependent states
- Marshal (尉, ′judh): manager of pledged forces
Marshal of Peers
The Marshal of Peers (主爵中尉, tjo′-tsjakw-trjung-′judh) administers Themiclesia's peers under the rank of palatine prince (王, gwjang), who fall under the administration of the Comptroller of Embassies.
Gallery Marshal
The Gallery Marshal (郎中令, rang-trjung-ringh) leads the Gentlemen-at-Arms (郎中, rang-trjung), who evolved out of private retainers serving the Themiclesian monarch. While their original role was mostly civil, they were also expected to act as a bodyguard. Intimacy to the throne allowed them to fill a range of roles, such as secretaries to the monarch and his ministers, librarians, and court authors and poets. In the Hexarchy, these roles remained fluid, and inductees were expected to show aptitude in several of them. Approaching unification in 100s, some gentlemen were ordered to tend to state papers in specific contexts. This experience made them valuable and proximal to the state administrators. By the 3rd century, the gentlemen-at-arms were viewed as a cadre of future civil servants, though their role as retainers and bodyguards, growing peripheral, was never repealed. The body had restricted admission: candidates either had to prove literacy and considerable wealth, or were admitted dynastically. In 292, the gentry of every prefecture were ordered to elect gentlemen-at-arms. This became the most legitimate and honourable way to enter service, and in time these gentlemen were distinguished and given the most influential secretarial positions. Their elective and representative nature allowed for a limited degree of representative government, and they evolved into the Themiclesian House of Commons. Historians have assessed that this institution was crucial to the formation of the administrative aristocracy.
- Gentlemen-Captain (郎中司馬, rang-trjung-slje′-mra): leader of a company of Gentlemen-at-Arms
- Great Usher (大謁者, ladh-′jat-tja): leader of court ushers, officials who direct ceremonies
- Colonel of the Privy Cavalry (中從騎尉, trjung-dzjong-grjar-′judh): ceremonial commander of the Gentlemen-at-Arms cavalry contingent (中從騎, trjung-dzjong-grjar), used for official processions. Despite commanding fewer than 100 cavalrymen, the Colonel-general was regarded as the most senior military officer during peacetime and granted a salary-rank of 2,000 bushels.
President of the Privy Council
The Privy Council (中大夫省, trjung-ladh-pja-srêng′) is the sovereign's chief body of non-partisan advisors. It consists of all former cabinet ministers, though only former prime ministers are regularly summoned for the council's meetings. Membership is in two classes, the Privy Councillors, former prime ministers, and Councillors-at-Large, former cabinet ministers. Unlike its Tyrannian namesake, the Privy Council is not the parent organization of the cabinet, nor is its advice legally reqiured in executive functions. Instead, it mediates the exercise of the emperor's private prerogatives with the government, supervises the running of his household and those of his relatives, and informs the throne about political activities. While the emperor must always abide by his ministers' advice, the bi-partisan Privy Council generally allows the emperor to gain better insight into government policies and form informed opinions and make proper statements. This prevents open conflicts, intentional or unintentional, between the crown and his ministers.
- Privy Councillors (中大夫, trjung-ladh-pja)
- Councillor-at-Large (散大夫, sêr′-ladh-pja)
- Colonel-general of the Privy Chariotry (副車尉, pjegh-kl′ja-′judh)
Master of the Horse
The Master of the Horse (太僕, t′adh-bok) was responsible for provisioning the court and militias with horses, which due to their importance in warfare was a regulated resource. His department oversaw several major horse ranches that spanned thousands of hectares that reared and tended to horses of all uses. By connection, he also oversaw the raising of livestock that provisioned the court and occasionally was sold on markets. His subordinates oversaw the many stables that served the government's needs.
- Director of Royal Stables (中廄, trjung-kjuh)
- Director of Vehicles (車府, tl′ja-pjo′)
- Director of Sedans (乘黃, djeng-gwang)
- Director of Riding Horses (騎馬, gjar-mra′)
- Director of Great Stables (大廄, ladh-kjuh)
- Director of Tjang Stables (章廄, tjang-kjuh)
- Director of Palace Stables (宮廄, kjung-kjuh)
- Director of Metropolitan Stables (都廄, ta-kjuh)
- Director of Left Stables (左廄, dzar′-kjuh)
- Director of Right Stables (右廄, gwrje′-kjuh)
- Director of Small Stables (小廄, smjaw′-kjuh)
- Director of Steering Stables (御廄, ngjah-kjuh)
- Director of Lower Stables (下廄, gra′-kjuh)
- Director of Upper Household Horses (上家馬, djang′-kra-mra)
- Director of Lower Household Horses (下家馬, gra-kra-mra)
Comptroller of Waters
The Comptroller of Waters (水衡令 / 水黃令, sl′jui-grang-ringh) controlled acquatic resources outside of royal lands, such as waterways, irrigation projects, dredging of rivers, shipping, and the civic marine. Prior to the establishment of the military navy, the Comptroller of Waters was the principal administrator responsible for providing a navy in case of disturbances at sea. After the military navy was founded under the Privy Treasurer, the portfolio of the Comptroller of Waters was reduced to civic matters; however, both merchant and war ships are still registered by the Comptroller. The relationship between the Comptroller and prefectural marines is similar to that between the Master of the Horse and prefectural cavalries. His principal assistant in administering resources is the Marine Prefect (護水使者, gagh-sl′jui-srje′-tja′), whose military role was gradually supplanted by the Department of Fleets, evolving into the Great Admiralty of today. Prefectural marines have been subsumed by the Department of Fleets since the middle ages. Of the Civil Officers of the navy, the Marine Prefect is the most senior; however, this title is also sometimes granted to admirals as a reward for successes in battle. The royal household counterpart of the Comptroller of Waters is the Director of Palace Waters (寺水令, lje′-sl′jui′-ringh), who manages aquatic resources on royal lands, and of the Marine Prefect, the Director of Middle Engineers (中工室, trjung-kong-stjit). Until the modern period, the royal marine for the sovereign's personal journeys was separate from the navy.
Due to the importance of the shipping and the navy, the Marine Prefect later acquired several distinct role in administering Columbia, essentially treating the entire subcontinent as a large royal forest and extracting resources from it. These tasks ranged from logging, crafting, mining, to minting coins. In 1434, every tree in Columbia over 3 feet in diameter, 3 feet from the ground, was declared state property of Themiclesia and could not be logged without permission from the Marine Prefect. Equally, since he controlled bronze deposits, he oversaw the minting of coins, which numbered in the millions in some years shipped back to Themiclesia for government use. Since natural resources in Columbia were far less exploited than in Themiclesia, the Marine Prefect's department eclipsed that of the Comptroller of Waters, though the latter remained the legal superior. Geographically separated from Themiclesia, appointment to this office was exceedingly lucrative and almost always enriched the holder immesurably, sometimes generating disputes with individuals and communities that inhabited the continent. In 1204, the Themiclesian court promulgated the Statute on Extortions, which permitted redress if the Marine Prefect expropriated "lawfully owned" properties; this in turn led to a body of international litigations between the natives of Columbia, Hallians, and other nationalities against Themiclesia's activities and a clash of legal systems.
- Director of Waterways (都水, ta-sl′jui′): dredging, damming, and maintenance of rivers and other waterways
- Director of Price Controls (均輸, kwljel-l′ja): assessing local prices of goods and transporting goods to equalize prices
- Director of Shipping (輯濯, kjep-dikw): shipping of government and private goods
- Director of Aquatic Engineers (水寺工, sl′jui′-slje-k′ong): penal labour for aquatic projects
- Director of Mints (黃官, gwrang-kwar): minting of coins
- Director of West Woods (西章, sner-tjang): shipwrights for the Themiclesian Navy
Comptroller of Works
The Comptroller of Works (大匠, ladh-dzjangh) was responsible for the central government's building, engineering projects, and manufacture of weapons and other goods.
- Left Brigade (左校, dzar-krawh): a brigade of construction workers
- Right Brigade (右校, gwrje′-krawh): do.
- Director of East Woods (東章, tong-tjang): management of state forests in Themiclesia
Comptroller of the House
The Comptroller of the House (宗正, tsung-tjengh) oversaw the households of untitled members of the royal family; those titled would fall under the supervision of the Marshal of Peers or the Comptroller of Embassies. His subordinates are the heads of households serving unmarried princes and princesses. He was responsible for preparing the royal family's family tree and a list of all its current members. Likewise, the Comptroller of the House arranged for their education and public relations and functioned as a court for the adjudication of offences committed by members of the royal family; criminal cases against them must be brought at this court, which with parliamentary assent may remanded to ordinary courts, and civil cases between themselves as well.
- Director of Penal Labour (中司空, trjung-slje-kong): offences by members of the royal family result in the same sentences applicable to commoners, but they serve their sentences under this department, which segregates them from ordinary prisoners.
- Director of Great Princess Royal Brjiang (平大長公主家, brjêng-ladh-trjang′-klong-tjo-kra)
- Director of Princess Royal Go (侯長公主家, go-trjang′-klong-tjo-kra)
- Director of Princess Royal Sje-mra (司馬公主家, slje-mra′-klong-tjo-kra)
- Director of Princess Gwran (寰公主家, gron-klong-tjo-kra)
- Director of Princess Hwjei (暉公主家, l′jui-klong-tjo-kra)
- Director of Princess Nga (梧公主家, nga′-klong-tjo-kra)
Pass Marshal
The Pass Marshal (備塞尉, brjegh-segh-′judh) controlled several aspects of Themiclesian administration. In the Demesne Land, he managed internal boundaries and passes and ports on public highways; as such, he also oversaw the issuance of permits to move armaments and certain controlled substances through them. Internal boundaries were those between the centrally-controlled parts of the Demesne Land and those under subordinate loci of power. On the borders, he stationed troops. In Columbia, he controlled the trade routes and their fortifications. Due to the distance Columbian fortifications were from Themiclesia, some of Themiclesia's first professional soldiers were hired to defend them on a long-term basis, using local rather than conveyed resources; these forces eovlved into the Colonial Army. Whereas the Marine Prefect controlled economic and civilian affairs in Themiclesian-controlled parts of Columbia, the Pass Marshal was widely seen as his military counterpart. The Marshal of States (屬邦尉, tjo′-prong-′judh) also participated in defence of borders, managing the troops pledged to Themiclesia on the other side of the border.
- Director of Demesne Passes (中關令, trjung-kron-ringh)
- Director of the Portcullia Port (岌津令, skjep-tsjin-ringh)
- Director of the Maracaibo Port (精津令, tsjêng-tsjing-ringh)
- Director of the Gwrjing-goi Port (永和津令, gwrjang′-goi-tsjin-ringh)
- Exchequer of the Passes (津內令, tsjin-nubh-ringh)
Privy Treasurer
The Privy Treasurer (少府, sm′jaws-pjo′) originated as a department serving the emperor's household, controlling his private property and fabricating items for royal use. Since the emperor owned many of the forests that produced timber and hosted game, anyone logging, hunting, fishing, and trapping in it was fined an entrance fee and either paid for the goods they obtained from them or had to submit part of their acquisitions to the department. The Privy Treasury also actively exploited the land by large, collective agricultural and mineral enterprises; some of their products went to the royal household, but a large portion was also sold on markets, proceeds also going to the department. By extention, it attended to the many personal needs of the royal household. In 502, King Ngjon of the Rjang dynasty prohibited private minting of coins and declared all bronze ores in the Demesne land royal property; the bronze allowed the Privy Treasury to become a mint, further enlarging its wealth and economic prowess. Prior to the Rjang dynasty, the Privy Treasurer's department already was one of the largest, and the resources it held second only to those of the Inner Administrator.
The Privy Treasurer has been called the "junkyard of the bureaucracy", in that new government departments that did not have an appropriate principal counsel as a superintendant were all granted to the Privy Treasury. Its jurisdiction in later ages have thus extended from service to the royal palaces, to curation of artifacts, to management of natural resources and money, to manufacture of goods and weapons, and to the running of a military navy. With respect to its enormous jurisdiction, the Privy Treasurer has six secretaries that take care more coherent parts of the portfolio, and the Privy Treasurer is usually a sinecure, filled by a lord in waiting.
- Secretary of the Left (左丞, dzar′-′tjeng)
- Director of Cuisine (大官, t′adh-kwar): catering for court ceremonies
- Director of Premises (居室, kja-stjit): hygiene around the palace
- Director of Lyric Poetry (樂府, ngljakw-pjo′): music and lyrical poetry
- Director of Service (宦者, ghwranh-tja'): administration of the emperor's retinue
- Director of Furnishings (內者, nubh-tja'): upholstry, furniture, and drapery
- Director of Cats (貓, mraw): cats for entertainment
- Director of Pantries (饈, snju): procurement of food for the royal kitchen, management of royal animal and vegetable farms
- Director of Long Avenue (永巷, gwrjang′-krongh): security for stores in the palace
- Director of Privy Symphony (寺樂, mlje′-ngrakw): chamber orchestra for the emperor
- Director of Teamsters (榦官, garh-kwar): movement of items from one part of the palace to another
- Director of Clocks (更, krang): keeper of time in the palace, management of the bells and drums
- Director of Vehicular Affairs (車官, tl′ja-kwar): custodian of motor vehicles for the emperor
- Director of Fanfares (鼓吹, ka′-t′jui): fanfares for processions
- Secretary of the Right (右丞, gwrje′-′tjeng)
- Director of Mini Gardens (弄田, lungh-lin): emperor's play garden
- Director of Ponds (池, djar): ponds in the palace
- Director of Rabbits (罕士, kar-dzrje′): manager of rabbit population in the palace
- Director of Dogs (狡士, kraw′-dzrje′): keeping of dogs for royal company
- Director of Water (寺水, lje′-sl′jui′): keeper of the palace's wells and springs
- Director of Waterworks (宮水, kjung-sl′jui′): custodian of artificial fountains
- Director of Royal Gardens (苑, ngrjonh): royal hunting grounds and upkeep
- Director of Illustrious Woods (華林園, gwra-rjem-ghrjen): royal gardens to the north of Hên-lang Palace
- Director of Solarium (暴室, begwh-stjit): hothouse for growing summer foods during winter
- Director of Royal Greens (左田, dzar-lin): gardens for growing foods for retinues and servants
- Secretary of Finances (庫丞, tl′jah-′djêng)
- Director of Royal Stores (御府, ngjah-pjo′): general storage of goods presented to the royal household
- Director of Left Treasury (左藏, dzar-dzang): emperor's money treasury
- Director of Right Treasury (右藏, gwrje-dzang): emperor's artifacts treasury
- Director of Recruitment (募人, magh-njing): hiring of staff for the royal household
- Secretary of Service (殿中丞, denh-trjung-′tjeng)
- Director of Royal Attire (尚衣, ′djang′-′jer): emperor's personal wardrobe
- Director of Royal Comestibles (尚食, ′djang′-mljek): emperor's private kitchens
- Director of Royal Caps (尚冠, ′djang′-konh): emperor's personal hats
- Director of Correspondence (尚書, ′djang′-st′ja): the Cabinet in modern practice
- Director of Royal Baths (尚浴, ′djang′-ljuk): emperor's personal baths
- Director of Royal Pendants (尚佩, ′djang′-begh): emperor's personal jewelry
- Director of Royal Mattresses (尚帷, ′djang′-hjui): emperor's personal bed and its upholstry
- Secretary of Manufactures (工丞, kong-′tjeng)
- Director of Armours (武庫, mja-tl′ah): storage of weapons in the royal palace
- Director of Left Crafts (左匠, dzar-dzjangh): bronze artifacts
- Director of Right Crafts (右匠, gwrje′-dzjangh): other metal artifacts
- Director of Left Engineers (左工室, dzar-kong-da): construction workers for normal building projects
- Director of Right Engineers (右工室, gwrje′-kong-da): construction workers for building projects outside of palaces
- Director of East Textiles (東織室, tong-tjek-stjit): production of silks
- Director of West Textiles (西織室, sner-tjek-stjit): production of other fabrics
- Director of Writing Implements (守宮, sn′ju′-kjung): procurement of pens and inkwells
- Director of Musical Instruments (清商, tsjêng-stjang): production of musical instruments
- Director of Clay (詔事, tjawh-dzrjeh): procurement and manufacture of earthenware and porcelain for royal use, and sometimes for sale
- Director of Pillar Mountain (氐柱, ti′-djogh): tourism at a popular mountain not far from Kien-k'ang
- Director of Iron Sales (鐵市, l′ik-dje'): taxes on the sale of iron goods
- Director of Iron Weapons (鐵兵, l′ik-prjang): manufacture of iron weapons (opposed to bronze) for royal use
- Director of Instruments (內官, nubh-kwar): manufacture of sundries and scales, rulers, weights, restraints, and torture and execution tools; mutilation and execution of royalty, nobility, and minors
- Secretary of Ceremonies (儀丞, ngjar-′tjeng)
- Director of Bells (均, kwjer): minting of bells for the ancestral temples
- Director of Great Stores (大府, ladh-pjo′): store of imperial ancestors' belongings
- Director of Tortoise Shells (書府, st′ja-pjo′): storage of tortoise shells after divination
- Director of Cults (祠祀, sl′je-sghje): small cults
- Director of Special Stores (特庫, lek-tl′ah): storage for sacrificial goods, such as brocade and jade
- Director of Left Symphony (左樂, dzar′-ngrakw): one of two symphonies for the royal court, specializing in domestic and prairie music
- Director of Right Symphony (右樂, gwrje′-ngrakw): one of two symphonies for the royal court, specializing in Casaterran music
- Secretary of Goods (內黃丞, nubh-gwrang-′tjeng)
- Director of Couriers (都共, ta-kjung): movement of items from the palace to the residences of administrators
- Director of Jade Mining (采珠, tse′-tjo): royal jade mines
- Director of Silver Mining (采銀, tse′-ngrjen): royal silver mines
- Director of Iron Mining (采鐵, tse′-l′ik): royal iron mines
- Director of Gold Mining (采金, tse′-krjem): royal gold mines
- Director of Oranges (橘, kljut): royal orange farms and orange products
- Director of Sea Salt (海鹽, me′-ljam): collection and sale of salt from the royal beaches
- Director of Left Salt Mines (左鹽, dzar′-ljam): collection and sale of salt from mines north of River Gar
- Director of Right Salt Mines (右鹽, gwrje′-ljam): collection and sale of salt from mines south of River Gar
- Director of Mulberry Woods (桑林, smang-rjem): royal mulberry woods for silkworms
These officers following are not under the jurisdiction of any secretary.
- Director of Seals and Credentials (符璽, bjo-snji'): manufacturer of seals and credentials (under supervision of the Tribune of Credentials)
The naval departments are, by custom, under the direction of the Director of Fleets, or later his staff, the Great Admiralty.
- Director of Fleets (航, gang): Themiclesian Navy
- Director of Naval Engineers (海寺工, m′e′-mlje′-kong): cannon foundries, gunsmiths, and other weapons for the Themiclesian Navy
- Director of Passengers (冗人, njung′-njing): some fiscal functions of the Navy and the Themiclesian Marine Corps
- Director of Impressment (海官, m′e′-kwar): the Impress Service for the Navy
Empress' counsels
Traditionally, the empress' seat is the Middle Palace. As a result, her principal counsels have the prefix "middle" attached. As the emperor's legal and ritualistic peer, the empress-consort's bureaucracy titularly enjoys the same stature as their analogues to the emperor, though their powers are much more limited. In earlier times, the empress usually held revenue rights over one or several prefectures, as marital customs dictate, so her officials have presence and authority beyond the empress' palace. Later, after administrative consolidation carried out under the Restored Meng dynasty, the emperor's bureaucracy collected the empress' revenues on her behalf, though her officials still nominally received them before paying them into her treasury.
Middle Treasurer
The Middle Treasurer (中詹事, trjung-tljam-dzrje′) is the primary manager of the Empress' household and controls most of its establishment. Many of the officials under the Middle Treasurer are similar in name and function to those of the Privy Treasurer, who was originally the majordomo of the emperor's palace and household. The latter's jurisdiction has, due to the emperor's political powers, breached the limits of the palace, while the Middle Treasurer's has not to the same degree. Before the Meng dynasty, the empress held several prefectures as her household land; though her officials were not directly invovled in its quotidian administration, they did participate in extraction of materials from those areas, and for this they had some interactivity with locals.
Middle Master of the Horse
The Middle Master of the Horse (中太僕, trjung-ladh-bok) manages the empress' horses and travels. The empress and her bureaucracy has no legal role in managing the national military.
Middle Marshal of the Guard
The Middle Marshal of the Guard (中衛尉, trjung-gwrjaih-′judh) commands the palace guard regiments of the Middle Palace.
Palatine counsels
As Themiclesia technically maintains a pluralistic constitution, each of the four palatine states also possesses a defective copy of the central government of Themiclesia. The defects are largely a reflection of the absence of an actual prince palatine ruling the area. Due to efforts to suppress regionalism through the last 1,500 years, palatine states are only nominally distinct from the area under direct governance from Kien-k'ang. Practical differences today are limited to formatting documents and addressing recipients, since 23 of the 41 prefectures are palatine. Certain peers are also technically palatine, but these have been part of the national political process from a very early age. As palatines were a vestige of the political system created by the Treaty of Five Kings, they were maintained by later dynasties to profess heritage from that era.
While many of these positions have severely diminished to no function, they remained a useful tool to settle officials out of favour at the central court or to give rank and income to someone who otherwise had none. In 1848, the Lord of Rjai-lang, a reformist prime minister, stopped the appointment of 50 principal counsels that did little to nothing, their portfolios absorbed by the central counterparts centuries ago. However, he began appointing them again in 1855, largely to appease civil servants who felt threatened by his rapid reformist programme. Appointment continued throughout the 19th century as a tool to increase government ministers' salaries, to legitimate ministers without portfolio, or to give a title to commissions without precedents. Most frequently, however, these positions were used as a glamourous reward for political contributions without granting actual power. During the Pan-Septentrion War, Themiclesia dismissed all palatine counsels under a policy to reduce civil service pay, since all palatine counsels were paid at the top tier (Third Class, 2,000 bushels).
Palatine counsels normally include:
- Chancellor: sinecure
- Vice Chancellor: sinecure
- President of Tribunes: supervision of bureaucrats within the palatine, as a deputy of the President of Tribunes of Themiclesia
- Inner Administrator: prefectural governor for counties within the palatine seat; financial functions suppressed
- Capital Marshal:
- Marshal of Peers: sinecure
- Comptroller of Embassies: sinecure
- Comptroller of States: certain minority polities are subjects of palatine states
- Justiciar: regional court of appeal
- Master of the Horse: supply of horses in the palatine
- President of the Privy Council: sinecure
- Comptroller of Works: public works in the palatine
Palatine counsels normally do not include:
- Gallery Marshal: not appointed without a prince palatine
- Privy Treasurer: functions suppressed
- Comptroller of Waters: late creation
- Comptroller of the House: not appointed without a prince palatine
- Great Chamberlain: not appointed without a prince palatine
- Pass Marshal: late creation
- Marshal(s) of Guards: not appointed without a prince palatine
Other 2,000-bushel officials
There are many other officials who are ranked at 2,000-bushels but are not considered part of the panoply of principal counsels. The most prominent of these are prefectural magistrates and marshals, who conduct civilian and military business in their prefectures, respectively. In contrast with these officials who are located regionally, those in the central government are termed demesne-2,000-bushels (中二千石, trjung-njih-sn′ing-djak); those governing prefectures were called prefecture-2,000-bushels (郡二千石, ′kljur-njih-sn′ing-djak), and palatine counsels are state-2,000-bushels (邦二千石, prong-njih-sn′ing-djak). Additionally, many demesne officials were created or elevated to this rank well after the period in which principal counsels have led the government; as a result, they are not considered principal counsels. Many of them are also military officers. They are (with the year they were established at that rank):
- Warden Beyond the River (河外監, gar-ngwadh-k.ram; 682), who controlled certain goverment functions in the northeast.
- Marine Prefect (護水使者, gagh-stjui-srje′-tja′; 1582), who governed the extraction of natural resources in Columbia.
- General of the Colonial Army (阜將軍, pjegh-tsjang-kwjin; 1348), who led Themiclesia's standing army in Columbia.
- Admirals (航監, 1220 through 1758), who form a committee to govern the navy and lead its expeditions.
- Colonel-general of Signals (都中尉, ta-trjung-′judh; 1758), who led the Royal Signals Corps.
- Captain-general of Marines (冗人尉, njung-njing-′judh; 1758), who governed the armed portion of the navy's passengers.
- Lieutenant-General of the Colonial Army (阜嬖將軍, pjegh-pêk--tsjang-kwjin; 1758)
- Chief Justice (廷理, lêng-rje′; 1758), who led the Supreme Court.
- Puisne Justices (廷監, lêng-k.ram; 1758), who sat on the Supreme Court's bench.
Notes