Principal counsels and ceremonial departments

Jump to navigation Jump to search

The Principal Counsels (列卿, rjat-khrjang) are the Themiclesian emperor's highest-ranking advisors apart from the chancellor and vice chancellor(s). Those occupying analogous positions towards the empress and the emperor's legal mother and grandmonther are also principal counsels. As a characteristic, they and their departments are all based in the capital city, 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, has deprived them and the chancellor and vice chancellor(s) of policy authority during the 4th century. Some retain a degree of official function today.

Etymology

The term rjat-k′rjang is a adjectival-nominal compound term which can be semantically dissected into its components. rjat, from Old Menghean *br(j)at, means "each"; *br(j)at is a cognate of *b(j)at, meaning "to separate", through the distributive infix *-r-, hence "each". The glyph that writes rjat consists of a semantic component for a knife, with another conventionally interpreted as a carcass; the compound meaning is to separate flesh from the skeleton, hence "separate". The glyph for k′rjang, originally "companion", depicts two individuals sharing a meal.

Emperor's counsels

Chancellor

The Chancellor (相邦, sjangh-prong) is not technically a counsel, but the leader of the counsels. The Shinasthana name sjangh-prong means "reviewer of state", literally meaning one who is charged with state affairs [in toto], i.e. head of government. The Chancellor is usually the most powerful officer of the administration, though in later centuries has been relegated to a ceremonial and procedural role. In the latter function, all reports by the Outer Court are submitted to the emperor in the name of the Chancellor, with the customary phrase sjangh-prong-′djang-st′ja (相邦上書), "the chancellor submits this paper"; this phrase is applied with or without an appointed chancellor, and in his absence, the Chief Clerk to the Chancellor applies the seal of the Chancery to satisfy legal requirements. It is also applied to any military official desiring the emperor's leave, acknowledging the supermacy of the civil administration over the armed forces.

Vice Chancellor

The Vice Chancellor (丞相, gljing-sjangh) is also not technically a counsel, but the deputy of the Chancellor. Though most deputies in the Themiclesian administration do not have independent authority, the Vice Chancellor is an exception, as the office of Chancellor is not always filled. Certain monarchs have also used the Vice Chancellor to share the authority of the Chancellor. Depending on the period, 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′-gljing-sjangh), and the other the Left Vice Chancellor (左丞相, dzar′-gljing-sjangh). If the Chancellorship is vacant, then the Right Vice Chancellor takes his place, but his authority is generally not as complete as a Chancellor.

President of Tribunes

The tribunes 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, ngjah-srje-gljêng)
    • Tribune of Invigilation (監御史, kram-ngjah-srje): supervision of 1) prefectures and 2) army forces on expedition
    • Naval Tribune (航御史, gang-ngjah-srje): supervision of Navy officers and adjudication of certain legal disputes between sailors and merchants
  • Royal Secretary of Tribunes (御史中丞, ngjah-srje-trjung-gljêng)
    • Attendant Tribune (侍御史, lje'-ngjah-srje): investigation of certain allegations of official misconduct
    • Tribune of Security (禁防御史, kljemh-pjang-ngjah-srje): supervision of security around the emperor
    • Tribune of Seals (符節御史, bja-kjik-ngjah-srje): supervision of issuance of credentials to mobilize militias
    • Tribune of Correspondence (治書侍御史, lrjeh-st'ja-lje'-ngjah-srje'): supervision of written communication to the emperor
    • Tribune of the Hall (殿中侍御史, denh-trjung-lje'-ngjah-srje): investigation of misconduct by officials in the palace

Inner Administrator

The Inner Administrator (内史, nubh-srje’) manages the finances of the gwênh-kwal (縣官), the region directly administered by the government, as opposed to that under feudal titles.

  • Great Exchequer (邦大內, prong-dadh-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. The Great Exchequer is named in opposition to the Minor Exchequer, which receives other revenues.
  • Minor Exchequer (邦少內, prong-stjawh-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, t'adh-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, lrjeh-sjok): anti-rot and anti-rodent measures in the Great Granary
  • Director of Ceramics (甄官, krin-kwal): regulation of ceramics production in the Inner Region (due to use of firewood and risk of fire)
  • Director of Dyes (平準, brjêng-’skjul’)
  • Director of Grain Husking (導官, ’lu-kwal): 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, ser-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 the mausolea of deceased emperors to be created counties in their own right, and a number of households would be forcibly moved to the vicinity to accompany the mausoleum; rather than paying taxes to the government, their residents instead would be charged with maintenance of the mausoleum. Their residents were also exempt from participating in the local militia before it was limited. Due to exemption from taxation and corvée service, these counties became favoured places for merchant families, who could travel more widely without being summoned for local works projects; the duties of maintaining the mausoleum were early commuted to payment for those who did not wish to participate. Maintenance work on mausolea typically lapsed into negligence after several generations passed, while taxation exemption remained; this exemption was considered the "residual grace" of the deceased emperor entombed there. Such "mausolea county" were under the control of the Great Chamberlain.

  • Director of Oracles (大卜, t'adh-pok): tortoise shell oracles, used to select days for state and cult ceremonies
  • Director of Claivoyance (大筮, t'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, t'adh-tjoh): casting of spells and warding off hexes around royal premises
  • Director of Sacrifices (大宰, t'adh-dze'): oversight of sacrifices offered cult shrines and the emperor's ancestral temples
  • Director of History (大史, t'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, t'adh-'je): oversight of the Guild of Physicians of Themiclesia, and arrangement of medical services to the emperor
  • Director of Xruh Mausoleum (孝陵, xruh-rjeng): management of the Hruh Mausoleum, the tomb of Emperor Mrjing
  • Director of Drjang Mausoleum (長陵, drjang-rjeng): management of the Drjang Mausoleum, the tomb of Emperor Gwredh
  • Director of Tjaw Mausoleum (昭陵, tjaw-rjeng): management of the Tjaw Mausoleum, the tomb of Emperor T'rjung
  • Director of Lang Mausoleum (陽陵, lang-rjeng): management of the Lang Mausoleum, the tomb of Emperor Xruh
  • Director of Xwang Mausoleum (皇陵, xwang-rjeng): management of the Xwang Mausoeum, the tomb of Emperor Muh
  • Director of Lan Mausoleum (延陵, lan-rjeng): management of the Lan Mausoleum, the tomb of Emperor Gar
  • Director of Kaw Mausoleum (高陵, kaw-rjeng): management of the Kaw Mausoeum, the tomb of Emperor Xên
  • Director of Mausolea (諸陵, tja-rjeng): management of other official mausolea, such as those of the empresses-consort, and other royal relatives

Court Justiciar

The Court Justiciar (廷尉, ding-'wjeis) is the senior-most judicial officer in Themiclesia and the chief justice of the Exchequer Chamber.

  • Under Justiciar (監, kram)
  • Puisne Justiciar (平, brjêng)
  • Justiciar Secretary (丞, gljêng)

Marshal of the Capital

中尉

  • Director of Capital Armoury (武庫, mja-k'lah): storage of weapons in the armouries of the capital city
  • Director of Charms (淨室, tsjêngh-st'jit): herald of the emperor
  • Director of Penal Labour (中司空, trjung-slje-k'ong): use of penal labour in the capital city's official construction projects; sinecure after 1854
  • Colonel of Capital Crossbowmen (中發弩, trjung-pjat-na'): oversight of artillery manufactories in the Inner Region
  • Colonel of Capital Chariotry (中輕車, trjung-kêng-k'lja): manufacture and maintenance of chariots in the Inner Region, for ceremonial reasons
  • Colonel of Capital Infantry (中材官, trjung-dze-kwal): training of infantry militias in the Inner Region
  • Colonel of Capital Cavalry (中騎, trjung-gjar): training of cavalry militias in the Inner Region
  • Director of Capital Defensive Works (中壘, trjung-rii'): maintenance and operations in fortifications in the Inner Region
  • Director of Capital Ships (中船, trjung-sdjon): boat traffic and policing in the Inner Region

Marshal of Guards

The Marshal of the Guards (衛尉, gwrjaih-′wjedh) 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 muster different royal guard units, usually in a desperate defence of the capital city, one of the Marshals may be appointed a General of Royal Guards (衛將軍).

  • Colonel-in-chief (公車司馬, kong-k′lja-slje-mra′): reception of letters and goods at the palace gates
  • Director of Hian-lang Left Guards (顯陽左衛士, hên′-lang-dzar-gwrjaih-dzrje′): administration relating to the Left Regiment of the Hên-lang Guards
  • Director of Hian-lang Right Guards (顯陽右衛士, hên′-lang-gwrje′-gwrjaih-dzrje′): administration relating to the Right Regiment of the Hên-lang Guards

Master of Embassies

典客

  • Director of Interpretation (譯, lak)
  • Director of Envoys (大行, t'adh-gang)
  • Director of Left Embassies (左邸, tsar'-ti')
  • Director of Right Embassies (右邸, gwrje'-ti')

Master of Associated States

屬邦

Marshal of Peers

The Marshal of Peers (主爵中尉, Tjo′-tsjakw-trjung-′wjedh) symbolically administers Themiclesia's peers under the rank of prince (王, gwjang), princes falling under the administration of the Master of Embassies.

Marshal of the Galleries

Gentlemen-at-Arms (郎中, rang-trjung) evolved out of private retainers serving the Themiclesian monarch. While the 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 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, were never deprecated. 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 was ordered to elect gentlemen-at-arms; subsequently, this was deemed the most legitimate and honourable way to enter the body, and in time it evolved into the Themiclesian Parliament. 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, dadh-′jat-tja): leader of court ushers, officials who direct ceremonies
  • Colonel-General of the Privy Cavalry (從騎尉): 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 peace and granted a salary-rank of 2,000 bushels.

President of the Privy Council

Master of the Horse

大僕

  • Director of Royal Stables (中廄, trjung-kjuh)
  • Director of Vehicles (車府, k'lja-pjo)
  • Director of Sedans (乘黃, djeng-gwang)
  • Director of Riding Horses (騎馬, gjar-mra)
  • Director of Great Stables (大廄, dadh-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, tsar-kjuh)
  • Director of Right Stables (右廄, gwrje-kjuh)
  • Director of Small Stables (小廄, sjaw-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)

Master of the Ancestry

宗正

  • Director of Penal Labour (中司空, trjung-slje-kong)
  • Director of Great Princess Royal Brjiang (平大長公主家, brjêng-dadh-trjang'-kong-tjo-kra)
  • Director of Princess Royal Go (侯長公主家, go-trjang'-kong-tjo-kra)
  • Director of Princess Royal Sje-mra (司馬公主家, sje-mra-kong-tjo-kra)
  • Director of Princess Gwran (寰公主家, gron-kong-tjo-kra)
  • Director of Princess Hwjei (暉公主家, hljui-kong-tjo-kra)
  • Director of Princess Nga (梧公主家, nga'-kong-tjo-kra)

Privy Treasurer

  • Grand Architect (大匠, dadh-dzjangh): plans for building construction
  • Director of East Woods (東章, tong-tjang): forests and timbers for royal use
  • Director of Cuisine (大官, t'adh-kwal): catering for court ceremonies
  • Director of Armours (武庫, mja-kah): 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 Royal Stores (御府, ngjah-pjo'): storage of goods presented to the royal household
  • Director of Premises (居室, kja-stjit): hygiene around the palace
  • Director of East Textiles (東織室, tong-tjek-stjit): production of silks
  • Director of West Textiles (西織室, ser-tjek-stjit): production of other fabrics
  • Director of Lyric Poetry (樂府, ngljakw-pjo'): music and lyrical poetry
  • Director of Service (宦者, hwranh-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 Left Engineers (左工徒, dzar-kong-da): construction workers for normal building projects
  • Director of Right Engineers (右工徒, gwrje-kong-da): construction workers for building projects outside of palaces
  • Director of Middle Engineers (中工徒, trjung-kong-da): shipwrights for the royal flotilla, royal guards during cruises
  • Director of Royal Armouries (考工室, k'u-kong-stjit): manufacture of legal weights and balances, handcuffs, foot irons, and others
  • Director of Royal Attire (尚衣, djang'-'jei): emperor's personal wardrobe
  • Director of Royal Comestibles (尚食, djang'-mljek): emperor's private kitchens
  • Director of Royal Caps (尚冠, djang'-kwons): emperor's personal hats
  • Director of Royal Correspondence (尚書, djang'-st'ja): Council of Correspondence, the government
  • 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
  • Director of Long Avenue (永巷, gwrjêng'-krongh): security for the storage sections of the palace
  • 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 Writing Implements (守宮, stju'-kjung): procurement of pens and inkwells
  • Director of Musical Instruments (清商, tsjêng-stjang): production of musical instruments
  • Director of Fanfares (鼓吹, ka'-t'jui): fanfares for processions
  • Director of Illustrious Woods (華林園, gwra-rjem-hrjon): royal gardens to the north of Xên-lang Palace
  • Director of Solarium (暴室, begwh-stjit): hothouse for growing summer foods during winter
  • Director of Royal Greens (左田, dzar-din): gardens for growing foods for retinues and servants
  • Director of Seals and Credentials (符璽, bjo-snji'): manufacturer of seals and credentials
  • Director of Ports and Passes (關津, kwran-tsjin): customs income, internal security, and (formerly) the Colonial Army
  • Director of West Woods (西章, ser-tjang): shipwrights for the Themiclesian Navy
  • Director of Fleets (航, gang): Themiclesian Navy
  • Director of Naval Engineers (海寺工, hme'-lje-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, pjang-kwal): the Impress Service for the Navy
  • 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
  • Director of Privy Symphony (寺樂, lje-ngrakw): chamber orchestra for the emperor
  • Director of Pillar Mountain (氐柱, tê-djogh): tourism at a popular mountain not far from Kien-k'ang
  • Director of Iron Sales (鐵市, hlik-dje'): taxes on the sale of iron goods
  • Director of Iron Weapons (鐵兵, hlik-prjang): manufacture of iron weapons (opposed to bronze) for royal use
  • Director of Sea Salt (海鹽, hme-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 Mini Gardens (弄田, lungh-din): emperor's play garden
  • Director of Clay (詔事, tjawh-dzrjeh): procurement and manufacture of earthenware and porcelain for royal use, and sometimes for sale
  • Director of Clocks (更, krang): keeper of time in the palace, management of the bells and drums
  • Director of Mulberry Woods (桑林, sang-rjem): royal mulberry woods for silkworms
  • Director of Special Stores (特庫, dek-k'ah): storage for sacrificial goods, such as brocade and jade
  • Director of Ponds (池, djar): ponds in the palace
  • Director of Rabbits (罕士, kal-dzrje): manager of rabbit population in the palace
  • Director of Bells (均, kwljel): minting of bells for the ancestral temples
  • Director of Dogs (狡士, kraw'-dzrje): keeping of dogs for royal company
  • Director of Water (寺水, lje-sljui): keeper of the palace's wells and springs
  • Director of Waterworks (宮水, kjung-sljui): custodian of artificial fountains
  • Director of Royal Gardens (苑, ngrjonh): royal hunting grounds and upkeep
  • Director of Recruitment (募人, magh-njing): hiring of staff for the royal household
  • Director of Vehicular Affairs (車官, k'lja-kwal): custodian of motor vehicles for the emperor
  • Director of Teamsters (榦官, galh-kwal): movement of items from one part of the palace to another
  • Director of Great Stores (大府, dadh-pjo): store of imperial ancestors' belongings
  • 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'-ngjen): royal silver mines
  • Director of Iron Mining (采鐵, tse'-hlik): royal iron mines
  • Director of Gold Mining (采金, tse'-krjem): royal gold mines
  • Director of Oranges (橘, kwljet): royal orange farms and orange products
  • Director of Tortoise Shells (書府, st'ja-pjo'): storage of tortoise shells after divination

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-tjam-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.

  • Grand Architect (中大匠, trjung-dadh-dzjangh): plans for building construction
  • Middle Director of East Woods (中章, trjung-tjang): forests and timbers for royal use
  • Middle Director of Cuisine (中大官, trjung-t'adh-kwal): catering for court ceremonies
  • Middle Director of Armours (中武庫, trjung-mja-kah): storage of weapons in the royal palace
  • Middle Director of Left Crafts (中左匠, trjung-dzar-dzjangh): bronze artifacts
  • Middle Director of Right Crafts (中右匠, trjung-gwrje'-dzjangh): other metal artifacts
  • Middle Director of Royal Stores (中御府, trjung-ngjah-pjo'): storage of goods presented to the royal household
  • Middle Director of Premises (中居室, trjung-kja-stjit): hygiene around the palace
  • Middle Director of East Textiles (中織室, trjung-tjek-stjit): production of silks
  • Middle Director of Lyric Poetry (中樂府, trjung-ngljakw-pjo'): music and lyrical poetry
  • Middle Director of Service (中宦者, trjung-ghwranh-tja'): administration of the emperor's retinue
  • Middle Director of Furnishings (中內者, trjung-nubh-tja'): upholstry, furniture, and drapery
  • Middle Director of Pantries (中饈, trjung-snju): procurement of food for the royal kitchen, management of royal animal and vegetable farms
  • Middle Director of Middle Engineers (中中工徒, trjung-trjung-kong-da): shipwrights
  • Middle Director of Royal Attire (中尚衣, trjung-djang'-'jei): empress' personal wardrobe
  • Middle Director of Royal Comestibles (中尚食, trjung-djang'-mljek): empress' private kitchens
  • Middle Director of Royal Caps (中尚冠, trjung-djang'-kwons): empress' personal hats
  • Middle Director of Royal Correspondence (中尚書, trjung-djang'-st'ja): Council of Correspondence, the government
  • Middle Director of Royal Baths (中尚浴, trjung-djang'-ljuk): empress' personal baths
  • Middle Director of Royal Pendants (中尚佩, trjung-djang'-begh): empress' personal jewelry
  • Middle Director of Royal Mattresses (中尚帷, trjung-djang'-hjui): empress' personal bed and its upholstry
  • Middle Director of Long Avenue (中永巷, trjung-gwrjêng'-krongh): security for the storage sections of the palace
  • Middle Director of Left Treasury (中左藏, trjung-dzar-dzang): empress' money treasury
  • Middle Director of Right Treasury (中右藏, trjung-gwrje-dzang): empress' artifacts treasury
  • Middle Director of Fanfares (中鼓吹, trjung-ka'-t'jui): fanfares for processions
  • Middle Director of Solarium (中暴室, trjung-begwh-stjit): hothouse for growing summer foods during winter
  • Middle Director of Seals and Credentials (中符璽, trjung-bjo-snji'): manufacturer of seals and credentials
  • Middle Director of Privy Symphony (中寺樂, trjung-lje-ngrakw): chamber orchestra for the emperor
  • Middle Director of Iron Sales (中鐵市, trjung-hlik-dje'): taxes on the sale of iron goods
  • Middle Director of Iron Weapons (中鐵兵, trjung-hlik-prjang): manufacture of iron weapons
  • Middle Director of Sea Salt (中海鹽, trjung-hme-ljam): collection and sale of salt from the royal beaches
  • Middle Director of Salt Mines (中鹽, trjung-ljam): collection and sale of salt from mines south of River Gar
  • Middle Director of Clay (中詔事, trjung-tjawh-dzrjeh): procurement and manufacture of earthenware and porcelain for royal use, and sometimes for sale
  • Middle Director of Clocks (中更, trjung-krang): keeper of time in the palace, management of the bells and drums
  • Middle Director of Mulberry Woods (中桑林, trjung-sang-rjem): royal mulberry woods for silkworms
  • Middle Director of Special Stores (中特庫, trjung-dek-k'ah): storage for sacrificial goods, such as brocade and jade
  • Middle Director of Water (中寺水, trjung-lje-sljui): keeper of the palace's wells and springs
  • Middle Director of Royal Gardens (中苑, trjung-ngrjonh): royal hunting grounds and upkeep
  • Middle Director of Recruitment (中募人, trjung-magh-njing): hiring of staff for the royal household
  • Middle Director of Teamsters (中榦官, trjung-galh-kwal): movement of items from one part of the palace to another
  • Middle Director of Jade Mining (中采珠, trjung-tse'-tjo): royal jade mines
  • Middle Director of Silver Mining (中采銀, trjung-tse'-ngjen): royal silver mines
  • Middle Director of Iron Mining (中采鐵, trjung-tse'-hlik): royal iron mines
  • Middle Director of Gold Mining (中采金, trjung-tse'-krjem): royal gold mines
  • Middle Director of Tortoise Shells (中書府, trjung-st'ja-pjo'): storage of tortoise shells after divination

Middle Master of the Horse

中太僕

  • 中左廄
  • 中右廄
  • 中宮廄
  • 中車府
  • 中家馬

Middle Marshal of the Guard

中衛尉

  • 中武庫
  • Director of Middle Left Guards (中左衛士, trjung-dzuar-gwrjaih-sdrje): administration relating to the Left Regiment of the Middle Guards
  • Director of Middle Right Guards (中右衛士, trjung-gwrje'-gwrjaih-sdrje): administration relating to the Right Regiment of the Middle Guards
  • Director of East Guards (東衛士, tong-gwrjaih-sdrje): administration relating to the East Guards
  • Director of Gweng-hljuns Guards (宏訓衛士, gweng-xljunh-gwrjaih-sdrje): administration relating to the Gweng-xljunh Guards
  • Director of Gwreng-ngjars Guards (弘義衛士, gwreng-ngjarh-gwrjaih-sdrje): administration relating to the Gwreng-ngjarh Guards
  • (and others)
  • 中公車司馬