Grand Councillor

The grand chancellor (''zaixiang, tsai-hsiang''), also translated as counselor-in-chief, chancellor, chief councillor, chief minister, imperial chancellor, lieutenant chancellor and prime minister, was the highest-ranking executive official in the imperial Chinese government. The term was known by many different names throughout Chinese history, and the exact extent of the powers associated with the position fluctuated greatly, even during a particular dynasty. During the Six Dynasties period, the term denoted a number of power-holders serving as chief administrators, including ''zhongshun jian'' (Inspector General of the Secretariat), ''zhongshu ling'' (President of the Secretariat), ''shizhong'' ( Palace Attendant), ''shangshu ling'' and ''puye'' (president and vice-president of the Department of State Affairs).

History

In the Spring and Autumn period, Guan Zhong was the first chancellor in China, who became chancellor under the state of Qi in 685 BC. In Qin, during the Warring States period, the chancellor was officially established as "the head of all civil service officials." There were sometimes two chancellors, differentiated as being "of the left" (senior) and "of the right" (junior). After emperor Qin Shi Huang ended the Warring States period by establishing the Qin dynasty (221–206 BC), the chancellor, together with the imperial secretary, and the grand commandant, were the most important officials in the imperial government, generally referred as the Three Lords.

In 1 BC, during the reign of Emperor Ai, the title was changed to ''da si tu'' (大司徒). In the Eastern Han dynasty, the chancellor post was replaced by the Three Excellencies: Grand Commandant (太尉), Minister over the Masses (司徒) and Minister of Works (司空). In 190, Dong Zhuo claimed the title "Chancellor of State" (相國) under the powerless Emperor Xian of Han, placing himself above the Three Excellencies. After Dong Zhuo's death in 192, the post was vacant until Cao Cao restored the position as "imperial chancellor" (丞相) and abolished the Three Excellencies in 208. From then until March 15, 220, the power of chancellor was greater than that of the emperor. Later this often happened when a dynasty became weak, usually some decades before the fall of a dynasty.

During the Sui dynasty, the executive officials of the three highest departments of the empire were called "chancellors" (真宰相) together. In the Tang dynasty, the government was divided into three departments: the Department of State Affairs (尚書省), the Secretariat (中書省), and the Chancellery (門下省). The head of each department was generally referred to as the ''chancellor''.

In the Song dynasty, the post of chancellor was also known as the "Tongpingzhangshi" (同平章事), in accordance with late-Tang terminology, while the vice-chancellor was known as the ''jijunsi''. Some years later, the post of chancellor was changed to "prime minister" (首相 ''shou xiang'') and the post of vice-chancellor was changed to "second minister" (次相 ''ci xiang''). In the late Southern Song dynasty, the system changed back to the Tang naming conventions.

During the Mongol-founded Yuan dynasty, the chancellor was not the head of the Secretariat, but the Crown Prince (皇太子) was. After the establishment of the Ming dynasty, the post became the head of the Zhongshu Sheng again. The post was abolished after the execution of Hu Weiyong, who was accused of treason (though his conviction is still strongly disputed in present times because of a lack of evidence to prove his guilt).
The History of Chancellor of China
'', QQ.com. Still, appointments of the people who held the highest post in the government were called "appointment of prime minister" (拜相) until 1644.

List of chancellors of China

see also

List of chancellors of Shang dynasty

Zhou dynasty

*Jiang Ziya
* Duke of Zhou
* Duke Huan of Zheng
* Duke Zhuang of Zheng
* Guan Zhong of Qi state (died in 645 BC)
*Bao Shuya of Qi state
* Yan Ying of Qi state
* Fan Li of Qi State and Yue state
* Wu Zixu of Wu state
* Bo Pi of Wu state
* Cheng Dechen of Chu state
*Sunshu Ao of Chu state
* Wu Qi of Chu state
*Lord Chunshen of Chu state
*Lord Mengchang of Qi state
* Tian Dan of Qi state
* Li Kui of Wei state
* Hui Shi of Wei State
* Lin Xiangru of Zhao state
* Li Mu of Zhao state
* Su Qin of Yan state
* Yue Yi of Yan state
* Baili Xi of Qin state
* Shang Yang of Qin State
* Zhang Yi of Qin State

Qin dynasty

* Fan Ju
* Lü Buwei (251–238 BCE in office)
* Lord Changping
* Kui Zhuang
* Wang Guan
* Li Si (?–208 BCE in office)
* Feng Quji
* Zhao Gao (208–207 BCE in office)

Han dynasty

* Xiao He (206–193 BCE in office); Chen Xi (197 BCE), over Zhao
* Cao Shen (193–190 BCE in office)
* Chen Ping (190–179 BCE in office)
* Zhou Bo
* Guan Ying
* Zhou Yafu
* Huo Guang
* Shi Dan 史丹 (see Emperor Yuan of Han)
* Wang Mang
* Liu Yan (Bosheng)
* Deng Yu (25–27 in office)
* Wu Han
* Yuan An
* Dou Xian
* Li Gu
* Liang Ji
* Dou Wu
* Chen Fan
* Qiao Xuan
* Cao Song
* Zhang Wen
* Liu Yu
* Dong Zhuo
* He Jin
* Wang Yun
* Ma Midi
* Xun Shuang
* Huangfu Song
* Zhu Jun
* Cao Cao (196-220 in office)
* Cao Pi

Three Kingdoms

Eastern Wu

* Sun Shao (221–225)
* Gu Yong (225–243)
* Lu Xun (244–245)
* Bu Zhi (246–247)
* Zhu Ju (249–250)
* Sun Jun (253–256)
* Sun Chen (258)
* Puyang Xing (262–264)
* Zhang Ti (279–280)

Shu Han