Historical Studies (Chinese Edition)

No.5, 2013

 

Documents of the Office of Prime Minister and the Operation of Imperial Power in the Song Dynasty                                             

(Abstract)

 

Zhang Yi

 

The zhongshu zházi (中书劄子) were official documents used in the office of the Prime Minister in the Northern Song dynasty for handling routine political matters and giving administrative orders. After the time of Yuan Feng, in order to adapt to the change of central power, this kind of document was renamed the shàngshushěng zházi (尚书省劄子), or shěnzhá（省劄）for short. It was a new development within the context of strengthening Song imperial power, and its use in turn fostered the evolution of imperial politics. This kind of document and the related institutions expanded the scope of imperial involvement and intervention in routine political matters and at the same time encouraged a subtle pattern of power and responsibility which provided more room for the exercise of imperial power.