Jiaqing Dynasty Guangxing Case Study

This dissertation focuses on the Guangxing case which is a representative of disciplining official circles by the emperor of JiaQing, and reveals the intrinsic association between encouraging the free airing of views, opening capital appealing, judging to appoint and the case of Guangxing. So it reflects in some way the official status of JiaQing region, the relationship of emperor and minister, operation and balance of power under the bureaucratic system, and then reveals deep-seated reasons behind the failure of disciplining official circles.The fourth year of JiaQing dynasty, the emperor issues the decree of encouraging the free airing of views in order to achieve the purpose of "reporting the information of common people". Because the capital appealing cases can intuitively reflect the circumstances of local officialdom, the emperor further opens the control about capital appealing and sends officials to try some important cases. In eleventh year, twelfth year, JiaQing emperor sends Guangxing to investigate capital appealing cases of Henan and Shandong province.In thirteen year of JiaQing dynasty, the emperor dealed with the case of embezzling palace supply. In this case, emperor dismissed duties of Guangxing who was the important culprit, but did not call to account, and punished Yinghe et al who were ministers of the Imperial Household Department and should undertake the joint responsibility. At the same time, the emperor ordered the Shandong governor Jilun to investigate whether Guangxing perverted justice for a bribe in the process of trying in Shandong province in eleventh year, twelfth year. In the process of investigating the case of Guangxing, the JIaQing emperor firstly focused on the demands of Guangxing. However, with the report of large amounts of money, emperor began to pay attention to bribery.The accusation of perverting justice for a bribe was eventually confirmed through the investigation of taking bribes in Shandong and Henan provice and estates of Guangxing. After Guangxing was executed, the emperor punished the local officials who gave the bribe as well as supervisors who neglect his duty in order to achieve the purpose of regulatiing of officialdom.