| The Ming Dynasty has two capitals of Beijing and Nanjing, which both have a set of central political institutions that is a major feature of the Ming Dynasty politics. The Nanjing institutions are most considered as no powerful and prestigious departments, but in fact, at least the Nanjing Board of War is not. The Nanjing Board of War had some power whose status higher than the others Nanjing institutions. The Nanjing minister of War concurrently is held the title of grand adjutant that is a key position in Nanjing. The Nanjing board of War, which is an important organization in Ming Dynasty, has prominent duty in southern capital. However, there is currently little research on the Nanjing Board of war. So the article will study on setting and responsibilities of the Nanjing Board of War.The capital was moved to Beijing that was designated as the primary capital in the18th year of the Ming Emperor Yongle. Then, the emperor ordered to attach "Nanjing" to the Nanjing administrations. The organizational system of the Nanjing Board of war was the same as the Beijing Board of war, which included officials named minister and shilang and so on and many institutions such as wuxuansi, zhifangsi, chejiasi and wukusi. The duties of the Nanjing Board of War in Ming Dynasty were mainly charging local military affairs ships and horses, managing military officers and academy, administering the postal delivery system and the wall repair of the Nanjing. Besides, it also included governing local, managing the relief work, engaging in some memorial activities, discussing the affairs on military and politics of the Nanjing.The ministers of the Nanjing Board of War were the leader of this institution and they were mainly successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations. Most of the ministers had experience of undertaking the Nanjing officials who were rather familiar with the Nanjing official works. The Nanjing minister of War held the title of grand adjutant (canzan jiwu) and the Nanjing grand commandant (Nanjing shoubei) and the Nanjing eunuch grand commandant (Nanjing shoubei taijian) managed official works. The three were the most powerful officials in the Nanjing administration. Therefore, the Nanjing Board of War was more powerful in southern capital, which was different from the Board of Civil Official is the most honorable in the northern capital.The Nanjing Board of War in Ming Dynasty is an important organization of the central authority, which has the multiplicity of affairs and the important duties compared with other institutions in Nanjing. However, the Nanjing Board’s responsibilities had decreased because of it was bound by the Beijing Board of War from the18th year of the Ming Emperor Yongle. |
