The Three Lords and Nine Ministers system () was a central administrative system adopted in ancient China that was officially instituted in the Qin dynasty (221 BC – 206 BC) and was replaced by the Three Departments and Six Ministries () system since the Sui dynasty (AD 589–618).
Divisions
Three Lords
Three Lords referred to three highest rank officials in the imperial government, namely: Grand Chancellor (丞相) Imperial Secretary (御史大夫) Grand Commandant (太尉)
Nine Ministers
Nine Ministers comprised all the ministers of importance in the central government. They were: Minister of Ceremonies (太常, formally known as 奉常) Supervisor of Attendants (光祿勛, formally known as 郎中令) Commandant of Guards (衛尉) Minister of Coachmen (太僕) Commandant of Justice (廷尉) Grand Herald (大鴻臚, formally known as 典客 or 大行令) Director of the Imperial Clan (宗正) Grand Minister of Agriculture (大司農, formally known as 治粟內史) Small Treasurer (少府)
See also Five Directorates Government of the Han dynasty Nine Courts Political systems of Imperial China
References Citations
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