A Study On The XuanFuShi System Of Song Dynasty

Xuan Fushi, also called Xuan Fu, Xuan Shi, Xuan Xiang, Xuan Wei, is major official in Song Dynasty who charges military affairs in war zone and has the top power in local areas.Famous politician and prime minister in feudal China Li Gang once said, "From the forefather, Xuan Fu was the most important position which can be held by current archon." Xuan Fushi system had been framed in prime period of Northern Song Dynasty, being used or abandoned for several hundred years. After Northern Song Dynasty and Southern Song Dynasty, Yuan Dynasty, Ming Dynasty and Qing Dynasty also set up this position. From these, it can been seen the importance of the Xuan Fushi.In Tang Dynasty, Xuan Fushi who has minor power,was sent to local areas to make disaster relief and pacify residents. After the mission Xuan Fushi would go back to the center authority. In the prime period of Northern Song Dynasty, appointment of Xuan Fushi followed the Tang Dynasty. In the middle of Song Dynasty, as the long-time war with XiXia and the peasant uprisings pressure, the functions of Xuan Fushi were changed from temporary official for pacifying to military official for command operations. In the late period of Northern Song Dynasty. followed the severe war situation and peasant uprisings, Xuan Fushi system advanced frequently and its'Jurisdiction broadened. The position of the officials who hold a post of Xuan Fushi appears lower and lower, even some eunuch held this position. In the Southern Song Dynasty, as the long-term war with Jin, Yuan, Xuan Fushi system became much more stable. And it appeared Chuan-Shan, Jing-hu, Jiang-Huai defense regions. The qualification became far lower, Xuan Fushi's power in military and finance broadened. In the late Southern Song Dynasty, as the upgrade of the war among Song, Meng, Yuan, and the important minister as, Xuan Fushi as the example, the installation of Xuan Fushi was frequent. What's more, the three major areas dominated by Xuan Fushi changed in different history period.Vice-officials in Xuan Fushi includes Xuan Fu Fushi and Xuanfu Panguan. Actually in Northern Song Dynasty, Xuanfu Fushi was set separately. Pan Guan is high-ranking officials. Xuanfu Fushi helps Xuan Fushi deal with some affairs. In Southern Song Dynasty, Wen Chen was assigned as Xuan Fushi, Wu Chen was assigned as Vice-Xuan Fushi. Xuanfu Panguan helps Xuan Fushi and Vice-Xuan Fushi deal with government affairs, to which at least Zhi Zhou was assigned. Xuan Fushi have the right of the appointment and removal of Xuanfu Panguan. In Northern Song Dynasty, there are one or two officials as Xuanfu Panguan. Vice-Xuan Fushi and Xuanfu Panguan have the similar power who keep watch over the army. In Xuan fushi government, there are many officials including Wenzi officials, Canmou officials, Canyi officials etc. who are not registered. The officials in Xuan fushi government get from various fields. Some are from Lu-level, some from Zhou, some from the center government. As Xuan Fushi have the right of recommend, the officials in Xuan fushi government subordinate to Xuan fushi. The intimate relationship of them is the power to run the Xuan Fushi government.As the result of the politics and military of the Tang and Song Dynasty, the change of Xuan Fushi system started from its' function. The conspicuous feature in Song Dynasty is the strengthen of military and public safety. It includes war command with the surrounding areas, recruitment, reviewing the military, logistics, building the fortification, repression rebel and peasant uprisings and so on. Personnel Management is another important functions of Xuan Fushi. They can recommend and use talented person and award the officials in the local areas. In special areas, like Sichuan, Xuan Fushi can manage civil service exam test and the officials take-off and landing. Except those, they have the fundamental functions:disaster relief, reclaimed farmland, irrigation. In order to guarantee the supply of the military, satisfy their own desire, please the emperor and other reasons, they have more power in finance, who can print the bank. As the power in finance, Xuan Fushi consolidate their military strength and become the actual leader. Besides, Xuan Fushi have the power in foreign affairs, civilization and religion. All reflect its function variety.As the most important position in local areas in Song Dynasty, Xuan Fushi have complex relationship with government and officials in all levels. From the middle of the Northern Song Dynasty, Xuan Fushi has privilege in official take-off and landing. In Southern Song Dynasty, Xuan Fushi system developed rapidly because of the war with Jin. It is inevitable that Xuan Fushi have contradiction with the center government who restraint the power expansion and separatism. Whereas, faced with invasion of Jin, Meng, Yuan, the center government have to give the Xuan Fushi Enough power to fight with them. The focus between the center government and Xuan Fushi is the increase and decrease of the power. The central government adopted various methods to restrict the power of Xuan Fushi. Road-level inter-agency has different relation with Xuan Fushi which was dominated by Du Du Fu. As the position of Xuan Fushi and Zhi Zhishi is similar, they have contradiction inevitably. Under normal circumstances, Xuan Fushi are superior than Zhi Zhishi and govern them. Except Zhi Zhishi, Xuan Fushi also dominated Jing Lvshi, Zhao Taoshi, Zhao Fushi, Zhen Fushi and so on. Zong Lingsuo as the financial government in the local area, they have more contradiction with Xuan Fushi. The officials in Lu, Zhou, County, all take orders from Xuan Fushi.As the development of the Xuan Fushi system, it has the following features:broadered power in military and finance, lower qualification, fixed area, more dominated officials,Wen minister as the major official, Wu minister as the minor official. Even some even some eunuch held this position.The history function of Xuan Fushi system in Song Dynasty reflects in various field, especially in military. In Northern Song Dynasty, they have been the command leader to fight with Xi Xia and Liao. In Southern Song Dynasty, the army lead by the three major Xuan Fushi were the main power to preserve the half of the territory. Even in the late period of the Southern Song Dynasty, Xuan Fushi's army hold down the Yuan's army for forties years. And their relief, safety guard lighten the residents'suffering and have significant influence on the society. The appointment and removal of the right, Civil service exam got some talented persons for the Song government. It is undeniable that the system has some defects. For instance, Tong Guanzhong, Wu Xi. Generally speaking, Xuan Fushi system, as the important local political system, have great influence on the history and are recognized and inherited by Yuan, Ming Qing Dynasty.