A Study On The Ritual Officials And Their Evolution In The Pre-Qin To Sui Dynasty

In the field of traditional ceremony culture research,San Li","Wu Li" are two very important concepts,the former refers to the ritual theory,that is the study of Confucian classics mainly about "Zhou Li","Yi Li" and "Li Ji";the latter refers to the ritual institution,that is "Ji Li","Jia Li","Bin Li","Jun Li","Xiong Li",which is the main subject of the history of ritual institution.Mr.Liang Mancang proposing "Si Li"to summarize Chinese ritual culture,that is "Li Xue","Li Zhi","Li Su","Li Xing".This paper puts particular emphasis on Protocol Officers,which are a central official appointed by the emperor and mainly engaged in ceremonial activities.In theocratic times,the ritual of Heaven、Earth and Ancestors was operted by Zhizong.In the meantime,the witches and Historiographers were in charge of divination and sacrifice.As the king’s power grew in Western Zhou Dynasty,the historiographers began to divide up their duties.Chunguan is one of the six systems of Zhou Li.It mainly include 69 the officials in charge of ceremony.These officials mainly took charge of ceremony in Zhou dynasty.The moral degeneration of society is getting worse in the Spring and Autumn Period and Warring States period.The various schools of thought and their exponents during the period from pre-Qin times were rised up.Zhougong maked ceremony and music,Confucius argued that restrain yourself and return courtesy to benevolence.Confucianism has been paid more and more attention by later emperors.Confucians also became an important source of ritual officials.From Qin to Sui dynasty,the greastest change in the centralofficial system is the evolvement from the Three Dukes and Nine Chamberlain system of Qin and Han dynasty to Departments of State Affairs system of Sui dynasty.Therefore,the purport of this topic is to study the evolution of the Protocol Officers in this context,trying to understand the history of the Ministry of Rites.There are four major parts to discuss the Evolution of Protocol Officers From Han Dynasty to Sui Dynasty.The source of ancient Chinese culture is "history".So the first chapter mainly discuss the source of the Protocol Officers,such as Witch and History in the Shang Dynasty,the Historical official in Zhou Dynasty,the "Chun Guan" of "Zhou Li",also discussed the Clan in "Yi Li".The most important official system in Qin and Han Dynasty is Three Dukes and Nine Chamberlain.The second chapter mainly discusses Chamberlain for Ceremonials,Chamberlain for Reception chosen from Nine Chamberlain.The Protocol Officers in Han Dynasty mostly inherited Qin Dynasty.The Protocol Officers based on Chamberlain for Ceremonials system in this period.Chamberlain for Ceremonials including many subsidiaries to management ceremony.Dahonglu is responsible for receiving foreign guests and Government etiquette.It is worth mentioning that another distinctive feature of the changes in the central authority of the Han Dynasty is that the increasing power of the minister.As well as,the minister constantly weakening Chamberlain for Ceremonials power.As for Chamberlain for Ceremonials system,great changes happened when the President of a board of ceremonies has been set up in The Eastern Jin.Others Protocol Officers such as Chamberlain for Ceremonials and Dahonglu are similar to the previous dynasty.Chambrlain for Ceremonials Erudite was newly set up in Cao wei.Because it was a completely new officer in the Chamberlain for Ceremonials system,shows that the Protocol Officer is changing to specialization.The Sui Dynasty absorbed the achievements of the previous generation to establish Three Departments and Six Ministries system.The Department of State Affairs is the highest administrative agency of the Central Committee of Sui Dynasty.It commanding six departments.Among them,Director of the Board of Rites is the most impotant Protocol Officer.In addition,the Protocol Officers of Sui Dynasty are "Three Temples and one College",specifically include Taichang Temple,Guanglu Temple,Honglu Temple,Guozijian.Director of the Board of Rites and "Three temples and one College" raise the Protocol Officers to a new height and affects the later courtesy officer.