A Study On Supervisors In The Ming Dynasty

Supervisors, which consist of Jishizhong and Yushi, are a special community that in charges of censoring inside Ming Dynasty bureaucrat, and the organization of its buildup is Censorate and Six Section. The most perfect Ming Censorate System is built and supervisors' authority of office, selection, status, going up or down are definitely stipulated, which are the important guarantees that supervisors can realize their political functions. Thanks to the influence of creative institution in the beginning of Ming Dynasty and the supporting of valuable advising courage, supervisors play a good role in maintaining the power of emperor, clarifying the official management, mollifying society self-contradictory and strengthening border defense during the period of Jiajing, Longqing and Wanli.To some extend, supervisors' functions do good to postpone the pace that Ming Dynasty continues decaying and declining, which furthers Ming Dynasty' rule for many years instead of making it die out after being suffered a series of serious social crises. At the same time, however, because there are many changes in social politics, economics, thought and culture, Ming Dynasty is situated in an important turning point during the period of Jiajing, Longqing and Wanli. Supervisors change qualitatively in great scope because of the wrecking of Censorate System, shaking of faith especially the trampling of emperor. Therefore, supervisors turn to be perfunctory and irresponsible, corrupted and decayed. They also play up to those in power, or indulge in overt and covert struggle, disturb national affairs. Their changes strengthen the political corruption, poison the social custom, and accelerate the declining and falling of Ming Dynasty. Enventualy, supervisors are destroyed accompanying with Ming Dynasty. Its lessons should be introspected deeply.