Palace Attendant () was a title in

Imperial China The earliest known written records of the history of China date from as early as 1250 BC, from the Shang dynasty (c. 1600–1046 BC), during the reign of king Wu Ding. Ancient historical texts such as the '' Book of Documents'' (early chapte ...

comparable to that of ''Chief Minister'', also known as '' Grand chancellor'' or ''Counselor-in-chief''. These are in turn collective terms designating the chief policy maker of the central government in Imperial China. They designated the head of the central government during the

Qin Qin may refer to: Dynasties and states * Qin (state) (秦), a major state during the Zhou Dynasty of ancient China * Qin dynasty (秦), founded by the Qin state in 221 BC and ended in 206 BC * Daqin (大秦), ancient Chinese name for the Roman Emp ...

and

Han Han may refer to: Ethnic groups * Han Chinese, or Han People (): the name for the largest ethnic group in China, which also constitutes the world's largest ethnic group. ** Han Taiwanese (): the name for the ethnic group of the Taiwanese p ...

dynasties and during the

Three Kingdoms The Three Kingdoms () from 220 to 280 AD was the tripartite division of China among the dynastic states of Cao Wei, Shu Han, and Eastern Wu. The Three Kingdoms period was preceded by the Han dynasty#Eastern Han, Eastern Han dynasty and wa ...

period, the "highest official advisor to the

Emperor An emperor (from la, imperator, via fro, empereor) is a monarch, and usually the sovereignty, sovereign ruler of an empire or another type of imperial realm. Empress, the female equivalent, may indicate an emperor's wife (empress consort), ...

History

The term ''Chief Minister'' denoted a chancellor (''xiangguo'', 相國; ''chengxiang'', 丞相) in

Western Han The Han dynasty (, ; ) was an Dynasties in Chinese history, imperial dynasty of China (202 BC – 9 AD, 25–220 AD), established by Emperor Gaozu of Han, Liu Bang (Emperor Gao) and ruled by the House of Liu. The dynasty was preceded by th ...

and

Qing The Qing dynasty ( ), officially the Great Qing,, was a Manchu-led imperial dynasty of China and the last orthodox dynasty in Chinese history. It emerged from the Later Jin dynasty founded by the Jianzhou Jurchens, a Tungusic-speaki ...

. In Western Han, the Chief Minister's

lieutenants A lieutenant ( , ; abbreviated Lt., Lt, LT, Lieut and similar) is a commissioned officer rank in the armed forces of many nations. The meaning of lieutenant differs in different militaries (see comparative military ranks), but it is often sub ...

, ''da sikong'', ''lyushi dafu'' (censor-general), ''da sima'' and ''taiwei'' (respectively, commander and defender-in-chief), were also chief ministers. In Easter Han it nominally denoted a ''situ'' (chancellor), ''sikong'' (censor-general), and ''taiwei'' (defender-in-chief). In the Six Dynasties period the term ''Chief Minister'' denoted several holders of power serving as top administrators. Among them are ''zhongshun jian'' (inspector general of the Secretariat), ''zhongshu ling'' (President of the Secretariat), ''shizhong'' (palace attendant), and ''shangshu ling'' and ''puye'' (president and vice-president of the Department of State Affairs). During the

Tang dynasty The Tang dynasty (, ; zh, t= ), or Tang Empire, was an Dynasties in Chinese history, imperial dynasty of China that ruled from 618 to 907 AD, with an Zhou dynasty (690–705), interregnum between 690 and 705. It was preceded by the Sui dyn ...

and the

Sui dynasty The Sui dynasty (, ) was a short-lived imperial dynasty of China that lasted from 581 to 618. The Sui unified the Northern and Southern dynasties, thus ending the long period of division following the fall of the Western Jin dynasty, and layi ...

, the Three Departments' chiefs were "chief ministers by default," though during the Sui unofficial, "''de facto''" chief ministers were appointed as well. The status and functions of ''Shizong'' underwent great changes. It designated a close minister serving the Emperor.

Notable ''Shizhong''

Lu Wan Lu Wan (died 194 BC) was an official and vassal king of the early Han dynasty. He served under Liu Bang (Emperor Gaozu), the founding emperor of the Han dynasty. Early life Lu Wan was from Feng Town (), which is in present-day Feng County, ...

(died 194 BC),

Western Han dynasty The Han dynasty (, ; ) was an Dynasties in Chinese history, imperial dynasty of China (202 BC – 9 AD, 25–220 AD), established by Emperor Gaozu of Han, Liu Bang (Emperor Gao) and ruled by the House of Liu. The dynasty was preceded by th ...

Wei Qing Wei Qing (died 106 BC), courtesy name Zhongqing, born Zheng Qing in Linfen, Shanxi, was a Chinese military general and politician of the Western Han dynasty who was acclaimed for his campaigns against the Xiongnu, and his rags to riches life. ...

(died 106 BC), Western Han dynasty * Chen Qian (522–566), Chen dynasty *

Chen Shubao Chen Shubao (, 10 December 553 – 16 December 604), also known as Houzhu of Chen (), posthumous name Duke Yáng of Chángchéng (), courtesy name Yuánxiù (元秀), childhood name Huángnú (黃奴), was the fifth and last emperor of the Chines ...

(553–604), Chen dynasty *

Lü Pi Lü Pi (), also Yujiulü Pi (), the Duke of Hedong (河東王) (died 461), was a Northern Wei general of Rouran descent. He was a member of the Rouran's royal house, who surrendered to the Northern Wei. Pi was the brother of Empress Gong, the con ...

(died 461),

Northern Wei dynasty Wei (), known in historiography as the Northern Wei (), Tuoba Wei (), Yuan Wei () and Later Wei (), was founded by the Tuoba (Tabgach) clan of the Xianbei. The first of the Northern dynasties, it ruled northern China from 386 to 535 during the ...

Yuan Xie Yuan Xie (元勰) (died 508), né Tuoba Xie (拓拔勰, changed 496), courtesy name Yanhe (彥和), formally Prince Wuxuan of Pengcheng (彭城武宣王), later posthumously honored as Emperor Wenmu (文穆皇帝) with the temple name of Suzu (肅� ...

(died 508), Northern Wei dynasty

References

{{Reflist Government of Imperial China Government of the Sui dynasty Government of the Tang dynasty